bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pythium, Phytophthora, and Phytopythium spp. Associated with Soybean in Minnesota, Their Relative Aggressiveness on Soybean and Corn, and Their Sensitivity to Seed Treatment Fungicides
Authors: Radmer L. , Anderson G. , Malvick D. M. , Kurle J. E. , Rendahl A. , Mallik A.
Published: August 2016

Pythium spp. cause seed decay, damping-off, and root rot in soybean and corn; however, their diversity and importance as pathogens in Minnesota are unknown. Our objectives were to identify the Pythium spp. present in Minnesota soybean fields, determine their aggressiveness on corn and soybean, and investigate their sensitivity to seed treatment fungicides. For identification, sequences obtained using internal transcribed space ITS4 and ITS1 primers were compared with reference sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Seedling and soil samples yielded over 30 oomycete species. Aggressiveness was determined using two methods; a seed assay, which also examined temperature effects on aggressiveness, and a seedling assay. Of 21 species evaluated, seven Pythium spp. were pathogenic on both soybean and corn, reducing root growth by 20% or more while two Pythium and one Phytopythium spp. were pathogenic only on soybean. Aggressiveness of many isolates increased as temperature increased from 15°C to 25°C. The sensitivity of 10 pathogenic species to azoxystrobin, ethaboxam, mefenoxam, pyraclostrobin, or trifloxystrobin was tested. EC50 values for mefenoxam and ethaboxam were 10−2 of those to strobilurin fungicides. Pythium spp. in Minnesota are diverse and a significant cause of seedling disease on soybean and corn. Most Pythium spp. isolated in this study were more sensitive to mefenoxam and ethaboxam than to strobilurin fungicides.
Effect of Support Group Intervention Applied to the Caregivers of Individuals With Heart Failure on Caregiver Outcomes
Authors: Barutcu Canan Demir , Mert Hatice
Published: August 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of support group intervention applied to the caregivers of individuals with heart failure on caregiver outcomes. Quasi-experimental research was conducted with 69 caregivers as control (n = 35) and intervention (n = 34) groups in the cardiology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The intervention group participated in support group meetings structured according to the Neuman Systems Model, and the data were collected from both the intervention and control groups before the intervention and 3 and 6 months later. Caregivers in the intervention group had significantly lower burden scores compared with the control group in all subdimensions except objective personal care, in terms of the group × time interaction in a statistical way (P < .05). Caregivers in the intervention and control groups had similar scores of depression symptoms (P > .05). The burden of caregivers in the intervention group showed a statistically significant decrease compared with the preintervention in all dimensions at 3 months. Thus, it is suggested to extend the support group interventions for caregivers of patients with heart failure and conduct these interventions in a longer period.
Concussion Management in the Collegiate Athlete
Authors: Aukerman Douglas F. , Phillips Nicholas R. , Graham Craig
Published: August 2016

Concussions have always been common in sports, but the awareness and associated diagnosis of the condition have been trending upward, gaining significant attention through medical literature, news media, and entertainment. Concussion management in the collegiate athlete is of specific concern, as over 460,000 young adults compete in collegiate athletics annually. The NCAA and other groups have strived to provide consensus guidelines, but many student-athletes still are not being managed as recommended. The return to play process should begin only after a student-athlete is symptom free and has returned to his or her baseline functioning. Return to play should follow a progressive, stepwise approach, using uniform steps that have been established through association recommendations. Returning to academics, or return to learn, often proves to be more challenging, as this process requires a multidisciplinary approach involving academic and administrative representatives in addition to the medical team. As further scientific evidence comes out, is it imperative that professionals providing concussion care remain up-to-date on this ever-evolving topic.
Treatment Perspectives Based on Our Current Understanding of Concussion
Authors: Gay Michael
Published: August 2016

Sports-related concussion also referred to in the literature as mild traumatic brain injury remains a popular area of study for physicians, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neuroimaging, athletic trainers, and researchers across the other areas of brain sciences. Treatment for concussion is an emerging area of focus with investigators seeking to improve outcomes and protect patients from the deleterious short-term and long-term consequences which have been extensively studied and identified. Broadly, current treatment strategies for athletes recovering from concussion have remained largely unchanged since early 2000s. Knowledge of the complex pathophysiology surrounding injury should improve or advance our ability to identify processes which may serve as targets for therapeutic intervention. Clinicians working with athletes recovering from sports-related concussion should have an advanced understanding of the injury cascade and also be aware of the current efforts within the research to treat concussion. In addition, how clinicians use the word “treatment” should be carefully defined and promoted so the patient is aware of the level of intervention and what stage of recovery or healing is being affected by a specific intervention. The purpose of this review is to bring together efforts across disciplines of brain science into 1 platform where clinicians can assimilate this information before making best practices decisions regarding the treatment of patients and athletes under their care.
A Case of Reactive Arthritis Associated With Lymphogranuloma Venereum Infection in a Woman
Authors: Foschi Claudio , Banzola Nicoletta , Gaspari Valeria , D’Antuono Antonietta , Cevenini Roberto , Marangoni Antonella
Published: August 2016

We report the first case of reactive arthritis associated with lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in an Italian human immunodeficiency virus–negative woman with urogenital and rectal Chlamydia trachomatis L2 serovar infection. The LGV-associated arthritis has to be considered even when classic symptoms of arthritis are missing and in case of asymptomatic or cryptic LGV localizations.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Practices and Interest in Self-Testing Options Among Young, Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in North Carolina
Authors: Hurt Christopher B. , Soni Karina , Miller William C. , Hightow-Weidman Lisa B.
Published: August 2016

Background

Young, black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) experience disproportionately high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence in the United States. Relative to other at-risk populations, less is known about their HIV testing behaviors and preferences regarding self-testing.

Methods

We used an online survey to investigate testing practices and interest in self-testing among HIV-uninfected, 18- to 30-year-old YBMSM in North Carolina.

Results

From July 2014 to March 2015, 212 completed the survey; median age was 24 years. Among 175 (83%) who had ever been tested, 160 (91%) reported testing in the prior year, 124 (71%) tested at least every 6 months, and 71 (40%) tested at least quarterly. About three quarters (77%; n = 164) were aware of HIV self-testing; 35 (17%) had ever purchased rapid (n = 27) or dried blood spot-based (n = 14) kits. Participants aware of kits had greater intention to test in the next 6 months, were more likely to have income for basic necessities and to ask sex partners about HIV status, and were less likely to have a main sex partner or to have had transactional sex. Among 142 participants at least somewhat likely to self-test in the future, convenience (35%), privacy (23%), and rapid result delivery (18%) were the principal motivators.

Conclusions

Eight of every 10 YBMSM have ever been tested for HIV, but intertest intervals remain unacceptably long for many. Awareness of and interest in self-testing is substantial, but few have used this method. Expanded use of self-tests could help increase the frequency of HIV testing in this epidemiologically important population.
Higher HPV16 and HPV18 Penile Viral Loads Are Associated With Decreased Human Papillomavirus Clearance in Uncircumcised Kenyan Men
Authors: Senkomago Virginia , Backes Danielle M. , Hudgens Michael G. , Poole Charles , Meshnick Steven R. , Agot Kawango , Moses Stephen , Snijders Peter JF. , Meijer Chris JLM. , Hesselink Albertus T. , Schlecht Nicolas F. , Bailey Robert C. , Smith Jennifer S.
Published: August 2016

Background

Whether higher penile human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load is associated with a lower rate of HPV clearance remains unknown.

Objectives

We examined the association between penile HPV16 and HPV18 viral load and subsequent HPV clearance in uncircumcised Kenyan men.

Study Design

Participants were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative, sexually active, 18- to 24-year-old men randomized to the control arm of a male circumcision trial in Kisumu, Kenya. Men provided exfoliated penile cells from two anatomical sites (glans/coronal sulcus and shaft) every 6 months for 2 years. GP5+/6+ polymerase chain reaction was used to identify 44 HPV-DNA types. Human papillomavirus viral load testing was conducted using a LightCyler real-time polymerase chain reaction assay; viral load was classified as high (>250 copies/scrape) or low (≤250 copies/scrape), for nonquantifiable values. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression modeling were used to examine the association between HPV viral load and HPV clearance.

Results

A total of 1097 men, with 291 HPV16 and 131 HPV18 cumulative infections over 24 months were analyzed. Human papillomavirus clearance at 6 months after first HPV detection was lower for high versus low viral load HPV16 infections in the glans (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46–0.92)] and shaft (aHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.16–0.90), and HPV18 infections in the glans (aHR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01–0.17).

Discussion

High versus low HPV viral load was associated with a reduced HPV clearance for HPV16 infections in the glans and shaft, and for HPV18 infections in the glans, among young uncircumcised men. Reduced clearance of high viral load HPV16 and HPV18 infections in men may increase HPV transmission to their female partners as well as enhance the development of penile lesions in comparison to men with low viral load HPV infections.
Collision Signet-Ring Stromal Tumor and Steroid Cell Tumor of the Ovary: Report of the First Case
Authors: McGregor Stephanie M. , Schoolmeester J. Kenneth , Lastra Ricardo R.
Published: August 2016

To date, the vast majority of collision tumors in the ovary include either a teratoma, sex cord-stromal tumor, or both. Here we report the first case of a collision tumor consisting of a steroid cell tumor and a signet-ring stromal tumor.
Cloaking through cancellation of diffusive wave scattering
Authors: Farhat M. , Chen P. Y. , Guenneau S. , Bağcı H. , Salama K. N. , Alù A.
Published: August 2016

A new cloaking mechanism, which makes enclosed objects invisible to diffusive photon density waves, is proposed. First, diffusive scattering from a basic core–shell geometry, which represents the cloaked structure, is studied. The conditions of scattering cancellation in a quasi-static scattering regime are derived. These allow for tailoring the diffusivity constant of the shell enclosing the object so that the fields scattered from the shell and the object cancel each other. This means that the photon flow outside the cloak behaves as if the cloaked object were not present. Diffusive light invisibility may have potential applications in hiding hot spots in infrared thermography or tissue imaging.
Effects of Auxins on PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2) Dynamics Are Not Mediated by Inhibiting PIN2 Endocytosis
Authors: Jásik Ján , Bokor Boris , Stuchlík Stanislav , Mičieta Karol , Turňa Ján , Schmelzer Elmon
Published: August 2016

By using the photoconvertible fluorescence protein Dendra2 as a tag we demonstrated that neither the naturally occurring auxins indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid, nor the synthetic auxin analogs 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid nor compounds inhibiting polar auxin transport such as 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid, were able to inhibit endocytosis of the putative auxin transporter PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) root epidermis cells. All compounds, except Indole-3-butyric acid, repressed the recovery of the PIN2-Dendra2 plasma membrane pool after photoconversion when they were used in high concentrations. The synthetic auxin analogs 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid showed the strongest inhibition. Auxins and auxin transport inhibitors suppressed also the accumulation of both newly synthesized and endocytotic PIN2 pools in Brefeldin A compartments (BFACs). Furthermore, we demonstrated that all compounds are also interfering with BFAC formation. The synthetic auxin analogs caused the highest reduction in the number and size of BFACs. We concluded that auxins and inhibitors of auxin transport do affect PIN2 turnover in the cells, but it is through the synthetic rather than the endocytotic pathway. The study also confirmed inappropriateness of the BFA-based approach to study PIN2 endocytosis because the majority of PIN2 accumulating in BFACs is newly synthesized and not derived from the plasma membrane.
Mechanisms of void shrinkage in aluminium
Authors: Zhang Zezhong , Liu Tianyu , Smith Andrew E. , Medhekar Nikhil V. , Nakashima Philip N. H. , Bourgeois Laure
Published: August 2016

Voids can significantly affect the performance of materials and a key question is how voids form and evolve. Voids also provide a rare opportunity to study the fundamental interplay between surface crystallography and atomic diffusion at the nanoscale. In the present work, the shrinkage of voids in aluminium from 20 to 1 nm in diameter throughin situannealing is imaged in a transmission electron microscope. It is found that voids first shrink anisotropically from a non-equilibrium to an equilibrium shape and then shrink while maintaining their equilibrium shape until they collapse. It is revealed that this process maximizes the reduction in total surface energy per vacancy emitted. It is also observed that shrinkage is quantized, taking place one atomic layer and one void facet at a time. By taking the quantization and electron irradiation into account, the measured void shrinkage rates can be modelled satisfactorily for voids down to 5 nm using bulk diffusion kinetics. Continuous electron irradiation accelerates the shrinkage kinetics significantly; however, it does not affect the energetics, which control void shape.
EXPLORING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO WEB-BASED COURSE ASSESSMENT
Authors: Jian Niu , Junhong Xiao , Zhongfeng Wang , Lanxiang He
Published: August 2016

Web-based course assessment is a new thing at China's Open University – China Radio and Television Universities (China RTVUs). This article reports an innovative pilot study in this research area. The experimental course for integrated web-based assessment in this study is Advanced English Writing, which is a compulsory course in the B.A. English programme at China Central Radio and Television University (CCRTVU). The study started in March 2005 and it is still in progress at the moment. This article first describes the webbased assessment design of the course and the implementation procedures. Then it moves on to report some initial feedback from the student participants on the pilot study. The article ends with a tentative plan for further actions based on the current study.
QUALITY EDUCATION IN INDIA: A MISSION REVISITED FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Mukerji Siran , Tripathi Purnendu
Published: August 2016

India, one of the largest country in Asian continent, with a population of over one billion has been striving towards achieving sustainable development in all the spheres of the society through scientific and technological, socio-cultural and economic progress. It has been trying to bring about radical changes in the society through various modes and education remains one of the primary tools of accomplishing the developmental objective. In pursuit of this objective, the government has been establishing a number of educational institutions at all levels i.e. at school and at higher education level. It has also been supporting private and non-governmental organizations which are in this sector for reaching education to masses. Data show that distance education institutions are catering to much larger segment of population as compared to conventional mode of institutions. This large enrollment and the added responsibility of reaching education to the people with a diverse mode of delivery puts enormous responsibility on these institutions to maintain quality standards of education through distance mode. In the light of what has been stated above, the article identifies the various dimensions of quality in distance mode of education and proposes strategies for maintaining quality standards and quality control mechanism.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF E-LEARNING-BASED LEARNING PREPARATION MODEL BY PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER EDUCATION STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA IN ISLETS AREA
Authors: Suhartono  , Ardiasih Lidwina Sri , Noviyanti Mery
Published: August 2016

The open and distance learning system implemented in Universitas Terbuka (UT) requires students to do self-learning, individually or in groups. Therefore, the students of UT must be able to motivate themselves to self-study and use their time effectively. The use of integrated learning media as one of the learning resources can support them in their learning activities. The use of internet, as a part of e-Learningbased Learning Preparation, is one way for students to perform learning activities. In the study group, students can use the internet services provided in mobile telecenters and local government offices. The implementation result of this model in Kepulauan Seribu, a group of islets located in the Jakarta Bay, in which the sample were taken from students living in Pramuka Islet, Harapan Islet, Tidung Islet, Panggang Islet, Untung Jawa Islet, and Pari Islet, showed that e-Learning-based Learning Preparation Model can motivate distance students to actively study in their groups. Due to geographical constraints of those islets, it is difficult to meet their peers in groups frequently. Using the regularly scheduled study groups and the computers connected to the internet, students can easily access the information and minimize the frequency of transportation for face-to-face meetings. About 70% of the students have accessed the learning resources through internet and get experiences and knowledge during eight months period of the study in 2006.
E-MATHEMATICS: PRE-INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPLEMENT INSTRUCTION AND THEIR IMPACT OF STUDENT'S ONLINE PARTICIPATION AND FINAL EXAM SCORE
Authors: Ng Richard , Kaur Abtar , Sheikh Mohamed Siti Farina , Latif Latifah Abdol , Bahroom Ramli
Published: August 2016

Open University Malaysia (OUM), Malaysia's first open and distance learning with over 70.000 students, offers more than 51 programs to-date. More than 90% of its students are working adults who are unable to leave their jobs or families behind to pursue their dream of getting a degree. The blended learning approach adopted by OUM provides the flexibility for working adult's to obtain the required paper qualification and to upgrade their knowledge. One of the important elements of blended learning is the use of online discussion forum where learning takes place beyond classroom. Mathematics, a traditionally difficult course, forms part of the prerequisite for students to obtain a business degree at OUM. The adult learners at OUM generally have left school for at least five years and most of them have low grades in Mathematics at O' Level. Thus it is a big challenge for these adult learners to undertake a Mathematics course via online with minimum Face-to-Face contact with their tutors. This paper focuses on the implementation of pro-instruction workshop and supplemental instruction to find its impact on student's online participation and exam results of 88 students. The contents of the online forum were also analyzed using a 34-item instrument derived from the Community of Inquiry model. Results obtained showed that there was a strong correlation between workshop participation and final exam score. Independent samples t-test conducted showed that there was a significant difference between the mean score of online discussion ratio and final examination between participants attached to a tutor conducting the workshop and extended coaching compared to participants attached to another tutor using the normal teaching guide. The means COI score obtained for mathematics between the two tutors indicated that there is a difference in the teaching and cognitive presence but almost similar in the social presence.
PREPARING UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA FOR A WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL RANKING SYSTEM
Authors: Diki  , Puspitasari Susy , Jasrial  , Djaya Agus
Published: August 2016

Universitas Terbuka (UT) aims at achieving a world class standard. As one of the criteria of a world class university is the world ranking, it is planned that the university should achieve a high position within the ranking. At present, the ranking systems are the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Times Higher Education Supplement (THES). Positions of open universities in world university ranking are in the lower tier, both according to the THES and SJTU. However, ranking have a positive impact toward universities. Hence, it is possible that through the effort of achieving a high ranking, UT will have the benefit of improving its quality of services toward its stakeholders. If it is possible that ranking system criteria also fits the achievement of quality, there should be an advantage of gaining a high position in world ranking for UT. Therefore the question is how to improve the position of an open university within the international university ranking. Although the main priority of UT mission is to provide access of quality education to those who for some reason cannot attend conventional education, UT has opportunities for improving its rank among world university ranking. The advantage of the ranking is that it can support the effort to become a world class university. UT should improve international cooperation, both in teaching and research, while the research activities should be improved, both in its quality and its publications in accredited international journals. Lastly, the effort for achieving a high position in world ranking should not ignore the main mission of UT to provide access to education.
UTILIZATION OF METADATA FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SHARING AND REUSE OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Authors: Yamada Tsuneo , Morimoto Yosuke
Published: August 2016

In order to sustain the development and utilization of learning content under the limited financial and human resources, the sharing and reuse of open educational resources (OERs) have been promoted in various school levels and disciplines. In many countries, central organization(s) collect both learning content and its metadata, and provide them to learners and teachers with distinctive value‐added services from their portals. Collaborations among the national portals have also emerged beyond borders.Global Learning Object Brokered Exchange (GLOBE) is an international consortium of the hub organizations, which manage a federated repository and/or a meta‐referatory in each country and region. GLOBE was established in September 2004 by five founding members, and now twelve organizations in the world participate in. By adopting IEEE LOM version 1.0 for the metadata standards, SQI for the query language, and OAI‐PMH for harvesting, GLOBE realized a global search and delivery infrastructure for lifelong learning (LLL). At present, while the repositories all over the world store huge number of learning content and metadata, the variance of the quality becomes much bigger. In addition, because the effectiveness of learning content is relative and dependent on contextual factors, both optimizations specialized in learner characteristics and localizations to each language/culture are indispensable. The users need some supports on the quality and pedagogical guidance when they find their right content. GLOBE, based on multilingualism, multiculturalism and pluralism, collaborates to build up standardized services on the quality assurance of the content utilizing the “Educational” items of LOM. In AAOU framework also, the organizations can promote “openness”, and share the quality learning content and educational information by using a standardized content search and delivery infrastructure.
Course delivery and module learning via learning objects (knowledge map) in mobile learning environment
Authors: Sheng-Hung Chung
Published: August 2016

This paper focuses on the integration of the learning objects and knowledge map as the learning sequence suggestion in the mobile learning environment and explains the technologies involved, the applications and the issues of usability, accessibility, evaluation and effectiveness. Mobile learning has open up new path for learning support and opportunities to reach wider audience (learner) for education. This research focuses on using the knowledge map to store the characteristics of each learning object via concept schemas and represent the corresponding learning accessibility in the mobile learning environment. The proposed architecture provides a medium for the learning accessibility of learners through mobile applications and wireless portable devices such as smart phones, PDAs and tablet PCs. The approach using the combination of "touch" and "observe" spatial learning objects provides an intelligent solution to creating, sharing and improving the efficiency of mobile learning. The proposed mobile learning environment architecture consists of knowledge map components mainly, navigation, concept schemas and learning object path. By using these knowledge structures, this study may enhance and enrich the concept and activity of adaptive learning in different individuals and communities. The spatial knowledge map constructed was useful in identifying the characteristics of the learning objects (e.g., learning object 1: lesson with navigating sentences, learning object 2: lesson with navigating sentence and code explanation, etc) and automatically matches the most appropriate learning contentand path suitable for learners. The architecture of the platform discussed in this study using the learning objects approach and knowledge map would facilitate a more widespread use of mobile learning, including courses or modules delivery of individualised learning path and learning style analysis.
Enhancing learning through the discussion forum
Authors: Subramaniam Nantha Kumar
Published: August 2016

Asynchronous online discussion forums play an important role in adult online courses, and have many possible functions. Our experience in using the discussion forums in online courses for task-based collaborative discussion has led us to many questions about the optimal ways of using online discussion to support collaborative learning, such as how should instructors structure online discussions in a way that it promotes collaborative learning? What should instructors do to enhance learners' reflective thinking, critical thinking, or problem solving in online collaborative discussions? The challenges of using forum in learning have also been highlighted by many researchers. In this paper, we present a so-called “smart” discussion forum to support, monitor and facilitate task-based collaboration for the learning process of adult learners to advance their development of critical thinking.
Floundering among adult learners in classrooms: Fact or fallacy?
Authors: Subramaniam Nantha Kumar , Kandasamy Maheswari
Published: August 2016

Blended pedagogy is an important delivery mechanism for open and distance learning. Here, face-to-face meetings in the blended pedagogy model remain as an important platform for teaching and learning. While there are many instructional techniques employed in faceto- face meetings, there is an urgent need to determine how face-to-face interactions in the blended pedagogy can be elevated to boost students' learning. This paper investigates whether productive failure (PF) as an instructional strategy boosts students' understanding of the subject matter in a face-to-face tutorial. PF instructional design advocates the delaying of support for learners during learning. The more they struggle, and even fail, while trying to master new information, the better they are likely to recall and apply that information later. Current research on the impact of PF treatments has shown that effective learning is achieved when learners are presented with a cycle of low structure, high structure and low structure activities. PF instructional design has been used successfully, especially in secondary schools in which learners have regular contact with the instructor. It is unknown whether the use of PF instructional design among adult learners in face-to-face interaction will yield such a positive effect. Can PF instructional design be used in tutorials that cater for adult learners resulting in fruitful learning outcomes? This paper reports an initial study of a quasi-experiment that compares a “productive failure” instructional design with a traditional “lecture and practice” instructional design for a 2-hour tutorial session attended by adult learners. A total of 17 adult learners participated in the study. Learners experienced either a traditional lecture and practice teaching cycle or a PF cycle, where they solved complex problems in small groups without the provision of any support or scaffolds up until a consolidation lecture by their teacher during the last hour of the tutorial. Findings suggest that learners from the PF condition produced a variety of problem models and methods for solving the problems but were unsuccessful in their efforts, be it in groups or individually. They also reported low confidence in their solutions. Despite failing in their group and individual problem-solving efforts, learners from the PF condition performed better than their counterparts from the lecture and practice condition on both knowledge and higherorder application problems based on the post-test. Implications of PF instructional design for adult learners based on these findings are presented.
The Potential of Mobile Phones to Transform Teacher Professional Development to Build Sustainable Educational Futures in Bangladesh
Authors: Walsh Christopher S , Woodward Clare , Solly Mike , Shrestha Prithvi
Published: August 2016

Futures thinking is used by governments to consider long-term strategic approaches and develop policies and practices that are potentially resilient to future uncertainty. English in Action (EIA), arguably the world's largest English language teacher professional development (TPD) project, used futures thinking to author possible, probable and preferable future scenarios to solve the project's greatest technological challenge: how to deliver audio-visual TPD materials and hundreds of classroom audio resources to 75,000 teachers by 2017. Authoring future scenarios and engaging in possibility thinking (PT) provided us with a taxonomy of question-posing and question-responding that assisted the project team in being creative. This process informed the successful pilot testing of a mobile-phone-based technology kit to deliver TPD resources within an open distance learning (ODL) platform. Taking the risk and having the foresight to trial mobile phones in remote rural areas with teachers and students led to unforeseen innovation. As a result, EIA is currently using a mobile-phone-based technology kit with 12,500 teachers to improve the English language proficiency of 700,000 students. As the project scales up in its third and final phase, we are using the new technology kit — known as the 'trainer in your pocket' — to foster a 'quiet revolution' in the provision of professional development for teachers at scale to an additional 67,500 teachers and nearly 10 million students.
Examining Student Experience of Blended Learning from the Perspective of the Community of Inquiry Framework
Authors: Ching Lam* Jeanne Yuet
Published: August 2016

Blended learning evolved from educational technology and it connects learning in and beyond the classroom. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) is a framework for blended learning from a socio-constructivist perspective in which learning is based on educational experiences in the environment with collaboration and interaction. The purpose of this paper is to explore student experience in a blended learning course from the viewpoint of the CoI. A case study approach using qualitative methods is used in the research. By examining the experiences of the students, social presence, cognitive presence and teaching presence were found. Although these three elements are required for educational experiences in blended learning, an unexpected issue about students' learning in the community without teaching presence was identified. This paper suggests that the role of learning autonomy and its relation to the community should be considered in the CoI framework. The value of this paper is that it confirms the elements in the CoI and proposes the addition of a new element in the framework.
A copper electroplating formula for BVHs and THs filling at one process
Authors: Liu Jia , Chen Jida , Zhang Zhu , Yang Jiali , He Wei , Chen Shijin
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new copper electroplating formula which is able to fill blind microvias (BVHs) and through holes (THs) at one process through a direct current (DC) plating method.

Design/methodology/approach

Test boards of printed circuit board (PCB) fragments with BVHs and THs for filling plating are designed. The filling plating is conducted in a DC plating device, and the filling processes and influence factors on filling effect of BVHs and THs are investigated. Dimple depths, surface copper thickness, thermal shock and thermal cycle test are applied to characterize filling effect and reliability. In addition, to overcome thickness, increase of copper on board surface during filling plating of BVHs and THs, a simple process called pattern plating, is put forwarded; a four-layered PCB with surface copper thickness less than 12 μm is successfully produced.

Findings

The filling plating with the new copper electroplating formula is potential to replace the conventional filling process of BVHs and THs of PCB and, most importantly, the problem of thickness increase of copper on board surface after filling process is overcome if a pattern plating process is applied.

Research limitations/implications

The dimple depth of BVHs and THs after filling plating is not small enough, though it meets the requirements, and the smallest diameter and largest depth of holes studied are 75 and 200 μm, respectively. Hence, the possibility for filling holes of much more small in diameter and large in depth with the plating formula should be further studied.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a new copper electroplating formula which achieves BVHs and THs filling at one process through a DC plating method. It overall reduces production processes and improved reliability of products resulting in production cost saving and production efficiency improvement.
People capability
Authors: Terouhid Seyyed Amin , Ries Robert
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to find out how construction organizations can achieve excellence and enhance excellence through knowledge and workforce management. The combination of knowledge and workforce management, referred to here as the People Capability, is the key area of concern in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model of organizational excellence is used as the basis for organizational excellence assessment and system dynamics is used as the modeling tool. Scenario analysis is conducted to identify the enabling factors that are more significant for organizational excellence, as well as how these factors operate and interact.

Findings

Based on the outcomes of the model, human resource development and training is the most important enabling factor that enhances organizational capabilities. Both workforce management and knowledge management are key components of People Capability, and they play crucial roles in the performance of construction firms. There is a high degree of dependence on these two components. Human resource development and training affect all capability areas and are key to the effective implementation of capability building programs.

Originality/value

Organizations might have various options in choosing different policies, and those policies can be planned and expressed in different manners and scales. How can an organization determine which scenarios end up producing desired performance results? Simulation techniques, especially system dynamics, have been used to answer these types of questions due to their ability to model causal relationships among various system components. The results of this research can help construction organizations identify effective knowledge and workforce management policies and capability-building programs that improve their organizational capabilities.
Email marketing in the era of the empowered consumer
Authors: Hartemo Mari
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify why, when and how e-mail marketing can be used to empower consumers and to give ideas for future scholarly research.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review studies 41 e-mail marketing and 54 consumer empowerment articles published in variety of academic journals between 1998 and 2014.

Findings

E-mail allows an active, interactive and personalized communication fulfilling the preferences of an empowered consumer. E-mail marketing can be used to empower consumers by sending e-mails based on permission, by making consumers active participants in the communication process and by making e-mails relevant for the recipients. However, current e-mail marketing strategies need to be updated to get the maximum benefit out of the channel.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the study is the broad domain of research, which hampered the in-depth analysis. However, the study was able to synthesize the scattered literature and create an overall picture of the topic as planned.

Practical implications

The paper encourages managers to use empowering e-mail marketing strategies and presents several suggestions for future e-mail marketing research.

Originality/value

The paper uses a new perspective, consumer empowerment as a lens for understanding e-mail marketing. Because e-mail marketing is currently very popular among marketers but is threatened by its negative image among consumers, it is important to understand how e-mail marketing can be developed so that it can also survive in the future.
The impact of mobile marketing initiatives on customers’ attitudes and behavioural outcomes
Authors: Kushwaha Gyaneshwar Singh , Agrawal Shiv Ratan
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine customers’ behavioural outcomes based on the actual attitudinal responses of mobile marketing initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 764 usable responses was included through a non-probability convenient sampling method. The data used in the study gathered from mobile users of 37 cities from nine states across India. The analysis of moment structures 22.0 and SmartPLS 3.0 statistical programmes were used for measurement validation and to test the structural model.

Findings

The study indicated that mobile marketing had a more significant effect on customers’ negative attitudes and followed by on positive attitudes. Despite the strong significant effect on customers’ negative attitudes, it does not display more significant effect on negative behavioural outcomes. Finally, the study suggested that customers’ positive attitudes display more favourable behavioural outcomes of mobile marketing initiatives.

Practical implications

The paper would help the mobile marketers and advertisers to understand the impact of mobile marketing initiatives on customers’ attitudes and behavioural outcomes and how it can be managed to ensure the higher level of adoption and acceptance.

Originality/value

The results of the analysis indicated that when the users have favourable attitudes of mobile marketing initiatives, it can be highly effective in triggering of favourable behavioural outcomes.
Doctors as health managers: an oxymoron, or a good idea?
Authors: Loh Erwin
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature and summarises the benefits and limitations of having doctors in health management roles in today’s complex health environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the current literature on this topic.

Findings

Hospitals have evolved from being professional bureaucracies to being managed professional business with clinical directorates in place that are medically led.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include the difficulty doctors have balancing clinical duties and management, restricted profession-specific view and the lack of management competencies and/or training.

Practical implications

The benefits of having doctors in health management include bottom-up leadership, specialised knowledge of the profession, expert knowledge of clinical care, greater political influence, effective change champions to have on-side, frontline leadership and management, improved communication between doctors and senior management, advocacy for patient safety and quality, greater credibility with public and peers and the perception that doctors have more power and influence compared to other health professionals can be leveraged.

Originality/value

Overall, there are more benefits than there are limitations to having doctors in health management but there is a need for more management training for doctors.
Learning and development practices in international context: conceptual introspection towards bringing the best work place strategies
Authors: Pradhan Rabindra Kumar , Jena Lalatendu Kesari , Panigrahy Nrusingh Prasad
Published: August 2016

Purpose

In today’s competitive environment, long-term viability and sustainability of a firm requires a combination of both specialized and knowledge-based resources. Earlier research findings have surfaced the fact that by leveraging knowledge, successful multinational companies in the Western world are able to create a position for capitalizing on market imperfections in the field of human resource development and correspondingly achieving higher returns on their investments. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to examine the approaches of successful multinational enterprises (MNEs) from newer industrialized and developing economies, especially in the perspective of learning and development initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of this study is to introspect on the causal that influences toward fostering a better human resource development climate in the international context.

Findings

The proposition explores a road map to strategize organizational policies and practices as to how best to serve its expatriate internal customers.

Originality/value

The findings of this study has confirmed the link between cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment and performance, but still the scope lies in future research to carry out the specific context or conditions influencing the effectiveness of cross-cultural training programs by using quantitative statistical findings of country-wide successful MNE analysis in the learning and development domain and subsequently proposing the benchmarking practices for impersonation by the developing nations.
The neurology of professional performance
Authors: Lal Liaquat
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact on workplace performance and employee development of economic, technological, demographic and socio-political drivers, the consequential shift in job role design from an algorithmic to a heuristic model, and the importance of adopting management approaches that enhance intrinsic motivation, creativity and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews findings from research into intrinsic motivation, Neuroleadership (including circumstances that trigger neurological responses in the limbic system in response to the threat of social pain) and the work of the psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, to explore possible approaches to performance leadership that reflect insights from neurology into the actions and reactions of the human brain.

Findings

The article proposes a classification of employees that reflects their location on two axes: the development challenge faced and pressure experienced in doing so. In the case of three (out of a total of four) classifications where performance may prove to be either unsatisfactory or unsustainable, management strategies, styles and approaches to improve individual and organisational performance and employee engagement are suggested.

Originality/value

As the nature of both work and the workforce evolve, management approaches that focus on inspiring rather than controlling performance will be of greater organisational benefit. By acknowledging these paradigm shifts and drawing on recently learning about human brain function, revised approaches to people management and performance leadership can help organisations to optimise performance and build and maintain workplace environments in which creativity and innovation are more likely to flourish.
Understanding the human at work – how neurosciences are influencing HR practices
Authors: Cheese Peter , Hills Jan
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to describe the relevance and application of insights from the field of neuroscience on practice and thinking of human resources (HRs).

Design/methodology/approach

It draws on the experience, views and insights of the authors in providing the context, some of the key insights from neuroscience relevant to the field and examples of people management and development practices.

Findings

The paper reinforces the view of the relevance and importance of using better understanding of human behaviour through neuroscience to drive more effective people management and development practices.

Originality/value

Understanding and application of neuroscience insights to HR practices and processes is still in its early stages. The article challenges the need for a wider shift in thinking and philosophy across business to take a more human centred approach to address the shifts and challenges of the modern workplace and workforces.