bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical literacy and the social justice project of education
Authors: Janks Hilary
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to problematise the notion of social justice and the moral project that underpins critical literacy education. In plural societies, do we all have a shared understanding of what social justice is or how education, currently a dividing practice, might contribute to a better social order? Do we know what “better” looks like and for whom?

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper which examines some of the complexities involved in the constitution of a shared moral order for the creation of social justice in a plural society.

Findings

There are no findings as such. The paper constructs an argument which makes clear that moral decisions depend on reason.

Research limitations/implications

South African examples together with examples from Europe, Burma, the USA and the UK are included to support the argument. This paper makes suggestions as to how readers can connect examples elsewhere with their own contexts and why distance is sometimes helpful.

Practical implications

The paper underlines the importance of ethics and morality for deciding whether interests at work in texts, discourses and practices should be supported or resisted. It also suggests that critical literacy has to recognize that the ground is shifting away from texts and discourse to include a focus on material practices that affects the planet and all the living and non-living entities entangled there.

Social implications

The paper argues that the ability to critically interrogate texts, broadly defined, is fundamentally important for democratic citizenship.

Originality/value

Social justice is widely used in the literature on education as if there were a shared understanding of what it is. This paper invites readers to consider the complications caused by different constructions of norms and morality in different communities and the implications of this for classrooms.
Child labor in the supply chain
Authors: Chelliah John
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the risks faced by companies through the use of child labor in their outsourced global supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores recent research and commentary on child labor in global supply chains.

Findings

This paper reveals the risk of brand damage to large organizations as a result of child labor inputs in their supply chains.

Practical implications

This study guides practitioners of human resources in advising management on strategic and tactical approaches in sanitizing supply chains of child labor.

Social implications

This paper draws attention to the risks associated with the presence of child labor in the supply chain and need for large companies to practice social responsibility beyond their borders.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates how child labor is not just an ethical issue but a legal one as well and how injustices suffered by children can through public awareness campaigns destroy brand value of the ultimate benefactor companies.
How to survive mistreatment by customers
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Wang Haibo
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the present research is to investigate the mechanisms by which conflict with customers (i.e. customer mistreatment) contributes to employees’ work withdrawal.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tests its hypotheses by means of a field study of a sample of front-line health care workers in China. Data were collected in three waves over four months; a total of 398 health care workers completed the questionnaires and represented the final sample. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that mistreatment by customers contributes to employees’ work withdrawal, and emotional exhaustion serves as a mediator in this linkage. In addition, social support moderates the positive relation between customer mistreatment and employees’ emotional exhaustion, whereas conscientiousness moderates the positive relation between emotional exhaustion and withdrawal behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The sample used may not fully justify the generalizability of the research results. Without distinguishing different sources of social support may be another limitation. In addition, this study could be improved by using a multi-source survey design.

Practical implications

To help employees effectively cope with interpersonal conflict with customers, organizations should take action to promote communication between employees and their supervisors and coworkers. It is also advisable for organizations to adjust their selection strategies and hire front-line employees high in conscientiousness.

Originality/value

This research presents a resource-based framework to illuminate the detrimental effects of prolonged exposure to customer mistreatment on health care workers’ withdrawal behavior in Chinese context. Furthermore, this study examines factors that may serve to mitigate the harmful effects of customer mistreatment and regards workplace social support and conscientiousness as two different kinds of resources that can play dissimilar roles when employees are coping with customer mistreatment.
Location and neighbourhood conditions for housing choice and its rental value
Authors: De Utpal Kumar , Vupru Vitsosie
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to understand the relative impacts of structural characteristics of house, its locational attributes and neighbourhood characteristics on the choice of house and the rent paid by the individual tenants. The micro level study helps in understanding the issues of urban housing and help in policy formulation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tried to identify the socio-economic, locational and neighbourhood factors that influence tenant households in determining their residential choices in an urban area of North-east India. Also, the extent of impacts of those characteristics on the monthly rent for housing is analysed. The analysis is based on the primary data collected from the sample residents of Dimapur Town in Nagaland. The sample units are selected by cluster sampling technique from all the wards. Regression technique is used under hedonic pricing technique to examine the impacts of various potential factors on the rent.

Findings

The analysis reveals that family size, income, education of the head of family, water availability, security, convenience to access workplace, road conditions, etc. have significant positive impacts on the monthly rent. However, the impacts of some locational and neighbourhood variables vary across social and economic groups.

Research limitations/implications

Time series data on the growth of house price are not available, so that the authors could examine the escalation of house price and rising scarcity of houses in the selected town.

Practical implications

Rental housing accounts for a significant percentage of housing in many urban centres. It is particularly important for the migrants and urban poor for whom it is the only source of accommodation. Location choice depending on capability, availability, requirement and neighbourhood conditions are integral parts of selection of accommodation in a city. Hence the present study has its relevant practical implications.

Social implications

Housing choice in a hilly urban area like Dimapur assumes a special significance for the presence of heterogeneous ethnic, social and cultural groups with majority of Tribal inhabitants with varied requirements and lifestyle.

Originality/value

No study on housing choice or pricing of residential accommodation has been done in North-East India. Here along with the socio-economic characteristics of the individuals, structural characteristics of house, neighbourhood and locational characteristics are used simultaneously to find out the impact of various factors on the total prices through hedonic pricing method.
Change management through leadership: the mediating role of organizational culture
Authors: Al-Ali Abdulla Ahmed , Singh Sanjay Kumar , Al-Nahyan Moza , Sohal Amrik Singh
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of change leadership on organizational culture and change management practices in public-sector firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also examines the mediating role of organizational culture on the interactions between leadership and change management programmes in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical test of the hypotheses using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were applied to data collected from 210 middle-management respondents of public-sector organizations in the UAE.

Findings

The findings suggest that change-oriented leadership has a positive and significant direct effect on planned change (ß = 0.20, p < 0.01) and a positive and significant but indirect effect on planned change (ß = 0.279, p < 0.01) and emergent change (ß = 0.262, p < 0.01) change. Furthermore, hierarchical culture was found to positively and significantly impact directly on both planned (ß = 0.480, p < 0.001) and emergent (ß = 0.245, p < 0.01) change management in the UAE public-sector service organizations.

Practical implications

Based on the study’s findings, the role of the hierarchical culture in effecting change in the UAE public-sector organizations provides new and significant insights into the research literature on organizational culture as regards change management issues and the challenges facing these organizations.

Originality/value

The study makes a significant original contribution toward knowledge on the management of organizational change in UAE public-sector service organizations. It has practical implications for managers and leaders confronting organizational change management in the UAE.
Sustainability learning challenges in a Brazilian government organization
Authors: Duarte Fernanda de Paiva
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the views of employees from a local government organization in Brazil regarding the status of “sustainability learning” in their workplace. Sustainability learning refers to knowledge produced to address environmental risks.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study design highlighting the personal experience of participants in relation to sustainability learning. Data collected through seven face-to-face, semi-structured interviews during a six-week fieldwork. Purposive sampling was used, and recruitment was carried out through the snow balling method. Deductive and inductive logic were used in data analysis.

Findings

Sustainability-focused learning only took place informally in the organization studied. The organization did not have formal systems to embed sustainability learning in its rules, processes and practices. It was also found that organizational politics acted as an impediment to sustainability learning, as people in power often blocked support for sustainability related initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

Data would have been richer if more than one case study was developed, as this would have enabled inter-organizational comparisons and richer analysis.

Practical implications

This research is useful for practitioners, as it contributes to a better understanding of desirable sustainability learning practices and processes, and challenges that prevent it from occurring effectively in organizations.

Social implications

This research contributes to a better understanding of sustainability learning in an “emerging economy” such as Brazil. The implementation of sustainability learning practices in emerging economies poses particular challenges given their emphasis on economic growth. Understanding these challenges can enable managers working with sustainability to formulate better strategies to ensure a smoother transition to a sustainable future.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is twofold: first, it examines sustainability learning in the specific context of a government institution in an emerging economy; second, it draws attention to organizational politics as a major impediment to the systematic implementation of sustainability learning practices.
Job attitudes between unionized and non-unionized employees
Authors: Chang Joshua , Travaglione Antonio , O’Neill Grant
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study job attitudes between unionized and non-unionized employees in Australia as recent research on attitudes among unionized employees has centred on topics such as attitudes towards unionization and involvement, but not on work-related attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a data set of over 5,000 responses from the Australia at Work survey. Ten attitudinal survey questions adapted from the Australian Workplace Industrial Relations Survey and the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes were used to compare work-related attitudinal differences between unionized and non-unionized employees.

Findings

Findings show that unionized employees perceive less manager–employee consultation, health and safety, dispensability, time flexibility, workload flexibility, managerial trust, fair treatment and pay equity.

Originality/value

Not much is known about the attitudinal differences between unionized and non-unionized employees, given the paucity of research on unionist job attitudes. Recent research in this area has centred on employee attitudes towards unionization and involvement as opposed to studying work-related attitudes. The findings can help the management predict behavioural responses between unionized and non-unionized employees for improved decision making.
Why is it so hard to reach agreement on terminology? The case of developmental language disorder (DLD)
Authors: Bishop Dorothy V. M.
Published: July 2017

A recent project entitled CATALISE used the Delphi method to reach a consensus on terminology for unexplained language problems in children. ‘Developmental language disorder’ (DLD) was the term agreed by a panel of 57 experts. Here I reflect on points of difficulty that arose when attempting to reach a consensus, using qualitative information from comments made by panel members to illustrate the kinds of argument used. One issue of debate was the use of labels, in particular the term ‘disorder’, which was seen as having both pros and cons. The potential for labels to stigmatize or create low expectations was a particular concern. However, labels could also ensure language problems were not trivialized and could help avoid stigma by providing an explanation for behaviours that might otherwise meet with disapproval. Further debate surrounded issues of how best to identify cases of disorder. Although it was agreed there should be a focus on cases with a poor prognosis, it was recognized that our knowledge of factors related to prognosis was still incomplete. Furthermore, there was a tension between use of standardized tests, which allow for a relatively objective and reliable assessment of language, and more qualitative observations, which can capture functional aspects of communication that are not always picked up on formal assessment. Debate also surrounded the issue of the relationship between DLD and other conditions. Some favoured drawing a distinction between DLD and language disorders associated with other conditions, and others regarded such distinctions as unnecessary. We concluded that it was misleading to assume co‐occurring conditions were causes of language disorder, but it was helpful to distinguish DLD from cases of language disorder associated with ‘differentiating conditions’ that had a known or likely biomedical origin, including brain injury, sensorineural hearing loss, genetic syndromes, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Furthermore, DLD could co‐occur with milder neurodevelopmental disorders that did not have a clear biomedical aetiology. Normal‐range non‐verbal IQ has traditionally been incorporated in the diagnosis of DLD, but this was rejected as unsupported by evidence. DLD is a category that has utility in identifying children who would benefit from speech–language therapy services, but it should not be thought of as a well‐defined condition. DLD has a multifactorial aetiology, is heterogeneous in terms of language features and overlaps with other neurodevelopmental disorders. Our notions of DLD are likely to be refined by further research into aetiology, associated characteristics and intervention effectiveness.
Genome‐wide identification and characterization of HSP gene superfamily in whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and expression profiling analysis under temperature stress
Authors: Wang Xin‐Ru , Wang Chao , Ban Fei‐Xue , Zhu Dan‐Tong , Liu Shu‐Sheng , Wang Xiao‐Wei
Published: July 2017

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are essential molecular chaperones that play important roles in the stress stimulation of insects. Bemisia tabaci, a phloem feeder and invasive species, can cause extensive crop damage through direct feeding and transmission of plant viruses. Here we employed comprehensive genomics approaches to identity HSP superfamily members in the Middle East Asia Minor 1 whitefly genome. In total, we identified 26 Hsp genes, including three Hsp90, 17 Hsp70, one Hsp60 and five sHSP (small heat shock protein) genes. The HSP gene superfamily of whitefly is expanded compared with the other five insects surveyed here. The gene structures among the same families are relatively conserved. Meanwhile, the motif compositions and secondary structures of BtHsp proteins were predicted. In addition, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the expression patterns of BtHsp gene superfamily were diverse across different tissues of whiteflies. Most Hsp genes were induced or repressed by thermal stress (40°C) and cold treatment (4°C) in whitefly. Silencing the expression of BtHsp70‐6 significantly decreased the survival rate of whitefly under 45°C. All the results showed the Hsps conferred thermo‐tolerance or cold‐tolerance to whiteflies that protect them from being affected by detrimental temperature conditions. Our observations highlighted the molecular evolutionary properties and the response mechanism to temperature assaults of Hsp genes in whitefly.
Gender diversity from the top: the trickle‐down effect in the Australian public sector
Authors: Gould Jill A , Kulik Carol T , Sardeshmukh Shruti R
Published: July 2017

Organisational strategies to achieve gender diversity have tended to focus on ‘bottom‐up’ approaches such as mentoring or leadership training. We investigate an alternative ‘top‐down’ approach: the trickle‐down effect. We integrate theories from the psychology and management literatures to hypothesise a positive relationship between female representation at two levels. Data from 20 departments in an Australian public service were collected for the period 2002–2012. Female executive representation in 1 year had a positive impact on female representation in the executive feeder group in the following year. The trickle‐down effect was strongest in the first 2 years, but still significant after 5 years. We investigated two moderators, department size and gender diversity target. The effect was stronger in large departments. Surprisingly, the gender diversity target strengthened the trickle‐down effect only when female executive representation was under 15%. Our finding of a trickle‐down effect suggests public sector departments should consider appointing women to senior roles as a top‐down strategy for increasing organisational gender diversity.
Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Compounds of Several Tissues of Pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) Grown in Korea
Authors: Nam Jin‐Sik , Jang Hye‐Lim , Rhee Young Ha
Published: July 2017

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) possesses antioxidant compounds and strong inhibitors of cancer cells, and is widely cultivated in North America, Canada, and Korea. We analyzed the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC, respectively) of pawpaw plants grown in Korea and the antioxidant activities of their roots, twigs, leaves, and fruit with respect to 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2′‐azino‐bis diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ferrous (Fe2+) chelating ability, and nitrite scavenging activity. Pearson's correlation analyses revealed a linear correlation between TPC and antioxidant activities (r2 >0.69). Root methanol extracts had higher TPC and antioxidant activities than other extracts, which was also consistent with those from the phenolic compounds found in those extracts. Therefore, antioxidant activities seem to depend on the TPC of each pawpaw tissue and pawpaw roots might be useful as a natural source of natural antioxidants.
Return of neonatal CPAP resistance – the Medijet device family examined using in vitro flow simulations
Authors: Falk Markus , Donaldsson Snorri , Jonsson Baldvin , Drevhammar Thomas
Published: July 2017

Aim

Medijet nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) generators are a family of devices developed from the Benveniste valve. Previous studies have shown that the in vitro performance of the Medijet disposable generator was similar to the Neopuff resistor system. We hypothesised that resistance would be the main mechanism of CPAP generation in the Medijet disposable generator.

Methods

The in vitro performance of the Medijet reusable and disposable systems, the Neopuff resistor system and the Benveniste and Infant Flow nonresistor systems were investigated using static and dynamic bench tests.

Results

Large differences in performance were found between the different systems. The disposable Medijet demonstrated high resistance, low pressure stability and high imposed work of breathing. The results also showed that encapsulating the Benveniste valve changed it into a resistor system.

Conclusion

The main mechanism of CPAP generation for the disposable Medijet generator was resistance. The Medijet device family showed increasing resistance with each design generation. The high resistance of the Medijet disposable generator could be of great value when examining the clinical importance of pressure stability. Our results suggest that this device should be used cautiously in patients where pressure‐stable CPAP is believed to be clinically important.
Lithium in drinking water and the incidence of bipolar disorder: A nation‐wide population‐based study
Authors: Kessing Lars V , Gerds Thomas A , Knudsen Nikoline N , Jørgensen Lisbeth F , Kristiansen Søren M , Voutchkova Denitza , Ernstsen Vibeke , Schullehner Jörg , Hansen Birgitte , Andersen Per K , Ersbøll Annette K
Published: July 2017

Objective

Animal data suggest that subtherapeutic doses, including micro doses, of lithium may influence mood, and lithium levels in drinking water have been found to correlate with the rate of suicide. It has never been investigated whether consumption of lithium may prevent the development of bipolar disorder (primary prophylaxis). In a nation‐wide population‐based study, we investigated whether long‐term exposure to micro levels of lithium in drinking water correlates with the incidence of bipolar disorder in the general population, hypothesizing an inverse association in which higher long‐term lithium exposure is associated with lower incidences of bipolar disorder.

Methods

We included longitudinal individual geographical data on municipality of residence, data from drinking water lithium measurements and time‐specific data from all cases with a hospital contact with a diagnosis of mania/bipolar disorder from 1995 to 2013 (N=14 820) and 10 age‐ and gender‐matched controls from the Danish population (N= 140 311). Average drinking water lithium exposure was estimated for all study individuals.

Results

The median of the average lithium exposure did not differ between cases with a diagnosis of mania/bipolar disorder (12.7 μg/L; interquartile range [IQR]: 7.9‐15.5 μg/L) and controls (12.5 μg/L; IQR: 7.6‐15.7 μg/L; P=.2). Further, the incidence rate ratio of mania/bipolar disorder did not decrease with higher long‐term lithium exposure, overall, or within age categories (0‐40, 41‐60 and 61‐100 years of age).

Conclusion

Higher long‐term lithium exposure from drinking water was not associated with a lower incidence of bipolar disorder. The association should be investigated in areas with higher lithium levels than in Denmark.
Factors influencing ocelot occupancy in Brazilian Atlantic Forest reserves
Authors: L. Massara Rodrigo , Paschoal Ana Maria de Oliveira , L. Bailey Larissa , F. Doherty Paul , Hirsch André , G. Chiarello Adriano
Published: July 2017

Over 80% of Atlantic Forest remnants are <50 ha and protected areas are embedded in a matrix dominated by human activities, undermining the long‐term persistence of carnivores. The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is an opportunistic species, but little is known about its tolerance to habitat alterations and the influence of other species on its occupancy in Atlantic Forest remnants. We used camera traps to assess ocelot occupancy in protected areas of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. We found a positive correlation between the occupancy of ocelots and top predators (jaguars, Panthera onca, and pumas, Puma concolor), and a weaker negative effect between the number of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) detected and ocelot occupancy. Ocelot detection was higher at sites with more eucalyptus, suggesting that ocelots frequently use these areas. Better‐protected areas surrounded by permeable matrices may be critical to the persistence of ocelots in the fragmented Atlantic Forest.
What social workers talk about when they talk about child care proceedings in the District Court in Ireland
Authors: Burns Kenneth , O'Mahony Conor , Shore Caroline , Parkes Aisling
Published: July 2017

Court proceedings are a fundamental and increasingly time‐consuming aspect of social work practice. However, to date, there is a relatively modest body of literature considering the experiences of social workers in instituting child care proceedings and giving evidence in court. This paper draws on data gathered as part of an in‐depth qualitative study of professional experiences of District Court child care proceedings in Ireland and presents findings regarding the experiences of social workers in bringing court applications for child protection orders. It seeks to answer 2 key questions: First, how do child protection and welfare social workers experience the adversarial nature of child care proceedings in the District Court? Second, what are the views of child protection and welfare social workers on the strengths and weaknesses of child care proceedings as a decision‐making model for children and young people? The main findings are that social workers expressed significant reservations about the predominantly adversarial model that currently operates in Irish child care proceedings and about the level of respect that social workers are afforded within the operation of the system.
The logical basis for coding ontologically dependent characters
Authors: Vogt Lars
Published: July 2017

The coding of dependent morphological characters represents a major methodological problem in phylogenetics. Based on a distinction of semantic and ontological logical character dependency, I suggest how inapplicables can be treated properly and introduce rules of mutually dependent character states, which specify how character states of one character determine character states in its ontologically dependent characters. Using various examples, I discuss a set of general rules that applies independently of whether the ontological dependency results from property instantiation, parthood or subsumption. When implemented in a matrix editor, these rules would significantly facilitate the coding procedure, speed up coding of large matrices and increase overall consistency. If implemented in algorithms for tree reconstruction, the rules would prevent inconsistent reconstructions of ancestral states, which is a common problem with inapplicables. In the second part of the paper I set out to explore the potential of using a semantic framework and semantic techniques for automatically detecting instances of ontological dependency and specific cases of semantic dependency and how they can be applied for automatically coding character state values for ontologically dependent characters using the general rules discussed in the first part of the paper. This approach utilizes graph‐based semantic representations of instance anatomy, which represent ontology‐based descriptions of the anatomical organization of individual organisms.
Cellular force assay detects altered contractility caused by a nephritis‐associated mutation in nonmuscle myosin IIA
Authors: Fukuda Shota P. , Matsui Tsubasa S. , Ichikawa Takafumi , Furukawa Taichi , Kioka Noriyuki , Fukushima Shuichiro , Deguchi Shinji
Published: July 2017

Recent progress in understanding the essential roles of mechanical forces in regulating various cellular processes expands the field of biology to one where interdisciplinary approaches with engineering techniques become indispensable. Contractile forces or contractility—inherently present in proliferative cells due to the activity of ubiquitous nonmuscle myosin II (NMII)—are one of such mechano‐regulators, but because NMII works downstream of diverse signaling pathways, it is often difficult to predict how the inherent cellular forces change upon perturbations to particular molecules. Here, we determine whether the contractility of individual cells is upregulated or downregulated based on an assay analyzing specific deformations of silicone gel substrates. We focus on the effect of mutations in the human MYH9 gene that encodes NMIIA, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases including nephritis. Our assay equipped with a high‐throughput data analysis capability reveals that a point mutation of E1841K but not I1816V significantly reduces the magnitude of the endogenous forces of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Given the increasingly recognized roles of the endogenous forces as a critical mechano‐regulator as well as that no apparent morphological changes were induced to cells even by introducing the mutations, our findings suggest a possibility that the detected reduction in the force magnitude at the individual cellular level may underlie the pathogenesis of the kidney disease.
Finance, Investment and Growth: Evidence for Italy
Authors: Capolupo Rosa
Published: July 2017

This paper investigates the finance–growth nexus in Italy over a period of more than forty years (1965–2009). After a review of the theoretical and empirical literature, the paper provides evidence that the aggregate indicators of financial depth, constructed by Beck et al. () and widely used in the literature, played no significant role in spurring economic growth, after controlling for the main determinants of growth and corrected for endogeneity biases. The indicator of private credit to GDP—considered the most important measure of financial development—adversely affected growth in the period studied. By contrast, financial development indicators have a positive impact when are associated directly with the real investment rate. The results are robust to the inclusion of various controls and changes in the conditioning set.
Classroom biographies: Teaching and learning in evolving material landscapes (c. 1960‐2015)
Authors: Tondeur Jo , Herman Frederik , De Buck Maud , Triquet Karen
Published: July 2017

Despite growing interest in redesigning the material landscape of education, relatively little is known about the impact of these evolving classrooms. This study aimed to gain insight into the physical learning environment and the potential pedagogical impacts thereof. A ‘biographical approach’ (c.1963‐2015) was used to explore the long‐term socio‐material landscapes where teachers and pupils, classroom material and spatiality, and teaching practices were entangled. Stimulated recall interviews were conducted in Flanders (Belgium) with primary school teachers. Teacher‐generated floorplans detailing their material classroom over time, transcribed oral accounts elaborating on these, and supportive data sources were aggregated and analysed by theme. The resulting identification of six key themes shed light on the evolving architectural and infrastructural developments, as well as triggers and teaching impacts thereof amongst the interviewed teachers. Findings show that negative school evaluations urging school intervention, and teachers’ proactive engagement within their classrooms, were the main catalysts of change. Moreover, evolving classroom layouts, in addition to the affordances of upgraded equipment, can be associated to changes in teachers’ practices. It can be concluded that the classroom is becoming an action context as the result of the inextricable mediating agencies identified.
Differential activation of neuronal and glial STAT3 in the spinal cord of the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Ohgomori Tomohiro , Yamasaki Ryo , Takeuchi Hideyuki , Kadomatsu Kenji , Kira Jun‐ichi , Jinno Shozo
Published: July 2017

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are activated by phosphorylation in the spinal cord of patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The major scope of our study is a comprehensive histological characterization of the mechanisms underlying neuronal and glial STAT3 activation in the pathogenesis of ALS using SOD1G93A mice. We calculated the fold changes (FCs, ratios vs. appropriate controls) of the numerical densities of the following phosphorylated STAT3‐positive (pSTAT3)+ cells – choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)+ α‐motoneurons, ionized calcium‐binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)+ microglia, and S100β+ astrocytes in SOD1G93A mice. The FCs of pSTAT3+ microglia and pSTAT3+ astrocytes were increased from 9 to 15 weeks of age and then plateaued until 21 weeks. In contrast, the FCs of pSTAT3+ α‐motoneurons peaked at 9 weeks and then decreased until 21 weeks. The immunoreactivity for nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI‐32), a marker of axonal impairment, was decreased in pSTAT3+ α‐motoneurons compared with pSTAT3− α‐motoneurons at 9 weeks of age. We then compared the following pharmacological models – the chronic administration of 3,3′‐iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), which models axonal impairment, and the acute administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a model of neuroinflammation. The FCs of pSTAT3+ α‐motoneurons were increased in IDPN‐treated mice, while those of pSTAT3+ microglia were increased in LPS‐treated mice. The FCs of pSTAT3+ astrocytes were higher in SOD1G93A mice at 9 weeks compared with IDPN‐ and LPS‐treated mice. Our results indicate that axonopathy and neuroinflammation may trigger the respective activation of neuronal and glial STAT3, which is observed during ALS pathogenesis.
Drosophila mutants lacking octopamine exhibit impairment in aversive olfactory associative learning
Authors: Iliadi Konstantin G. , Iliadi Natalia , Boulianne Gabrielle L.
Published: July 2017

Octopamine is a biogenic amine in invertebrates that is considered a functional homolog of vertebrate norepinephrine, acting as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and neurohormone. Octopamine regulates many physiological processes such as metabolism, reproduction and different types of behaviour including learning and memory. Previous studies in insects led to the notion that acquisition of an olfactory memory depends on the octopaminergic system during appetitive (reward‐based) learning, but not in the case of aversive (punishment‐based) learning. Here, we provide several lines of evidence demonstrating that aversive associative olfactory learning in Drosophila is also dependent on octopamine signalling. Specifically, we used Drosophila Tβh (tyramine‐β‐hydroxylase) mutants, which lack octopamine and are female sterile, to determine whether octopamine plays a role in aversive learning. We show that Tβh mutant flies exhibit a significant reduction in learning compared to control lines that is independent of either genetic background or the methods used to induce aversive olfactory memory. We also show that the learning deficits observed in Tβh mutants are not due to defects in sensorimotor behaviours. Finally, to unambiguously demonstrate that octopamine synthesis plays a role in aversive olfactory learning, we performed rescue experiments using the Gal4/UAS system. We show that expression of UAS‐Tβh in octopamine/tyraminergic neurons using Tdc2‐Gal4 in Tβh null mutant flies fully rescued both the aversive learning defects and female sterility observed in Tβh mutants.
Looking for laws in all the wrong spaces: Kant on laws, the understanding, and space
Authors: Messina James Anthony
Published: July 2017

Prolegomena §38 is intended to elucidate the claim that the understanding legislates a priori laws to nature (the ‘Legislation Thesis’). Kant cites various laws of geometry as examples and discusses a derivation of the inverse‐square law from such laws. I address 4 key interpretive questions about this cryptic text that have not yet received satisfying answers: (a) How exactly are Kant's examples of laws supposed to elucidate the Legislation Thesis? (b) What is Kant's view of the epistemic status of the inverse‐square law and, relatedly, of the legitimacy of the geometric derivation of that law? (c) Whose account of laws, the understanding, and space is Kant critiquing in the passage? (d) What positive account of the relationship between laws, the understanding, and space is Kant offering in the passage? My answer to (d) depends crucially on my answers to (a)–(c). As I interpret Kant, he holds that a wide range of a priori laws—including geometric laws, the inverse‐square law, and the universal laws discussed in the Analytic of Principles—are ‘grounded’ (a technical term defined in the paper) in categorial syntheses rather than the intrinsic nature of the space given to us in pure intuition.
The Impact of Global Economic Crisis and Austerity on Quality of Working Life and Work‐Life Balance: A Capabilities Perspective
Authors: Chatrakul Na Ayudhya Uracha , Prouska Rea , Beauregard T. Alexandra
Published: July 2017

This paper draws on the capabilities approach as a framework for examining the impact of the global economic crisis and austerity on quality of working life and work‐life balance. Our paper focuses on Greece, an extreme case of a country in economic crisis, characterized by a weak institutional basis. We build on the work of Barbara Hobson and colleagues who first applied the capabilities approach to explore work‐life balance capabilities. Our study contributes to the development of theory by emphasizing the sense of entitlement concept within the capabilities approach and by proposing a modified conceptual framework that encapsulates the link between capabilities, agency, and the sense of entitlement, where the latter acts as a cognitive ‘filter’ that enhances or weakens an individual's perception of her/his agency to enact on her/his capabilities. Drawing on the accounts of twenty Greek professional and managerial workers, we illustrate how the crisis and austerity measures have eroded working conditions and thus the sense of entitlement, leading to the weakening of our participants' agency and capabilities to achieve quality of working life and work‐life balance.
Nocturnal seizures are associated with more severe hypoxemia and increased risk of postictal generalized EEG suppression
Authors: Latreille Véronique , Abdennadher Myriam , Dworetzky Barbara A. , Ramel Judith , White David , Katz Eliot , Zarowski Marcin , Kothare Sanjeev , Pavlova Milena
Published: July 2017

Patients with epilepsy have 20‐fold risk of sudden death when compared to the general population. Uncontrolled seizures is the most consistent risk factor, and death often occurs at night or in relation to sleep. We examined seizure‐related respiratory disturbances in sleep versus wakefulness, focusing on periictal oxygen saturation. Respiratory measures were examined in 48 recorded seizures (sleep, n = 23, wake, n = 25) from 20 adult patients with epilepsy. Seizures from sleep were associated with lower saturation, as compared to seizures from wakefulness, both during ictal (sleep median = 90.8, wake median = 95.5; p < 0.01) and postictal periods (sleep median = 94.3, wake median = 96.9; p = 0.05). Compared to wake‐related seizures, seizures from sleep were also associated with a larger desaturation drop (sleep median = −4.2, wake median = −1.2; p = 0.01). Postictal generalized electroencephalography (EEG) suppression (PGES) occurred more frequently after seizures from sleep (39%), as compared to wake‐related seizures (8%, p = 0.01). Our findings suggest that nocturnal seizures may entail a higher sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) severity burden, as they are associated with more severe and longer hypoxemia events, and more frequently followed by PGES, both factors implicated in sudden death.
Altered metabolomic–genomic signature: A potential noninvasive biomarker of epilepsy
Authors: Wu Helen C. , Dachet Fabien , Ghoddoussi Farhad , Bagla Shruti , Fuerst Darren , Stanley Jeffrey A. , Galloway Matthew P. , Loeb Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2017

Objective

This study aimed to identify noninvasive biomarkers of human epilepsy that can reliably detect and localize epileptic brain regions. Having noninvasive biomarkers would greatly enhance patient diagnosis, patient monitoring, and novel therapy development. At the present time, only surgically invasive, direct brain recordings are capable of detecting these regions with precision, which severely limits the pace and scope of both clinical management and research progress in epilepsy.

Methods

We compared high versus low or nonspiking regions in nine medically intractable epilepsy surgery patients by performing integrated metabolomic–genomic–histological analyses of electrically mapped human cortical regions using high‐resolution magic angle spinning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, cDNA microarrays, and histological analysis.

Results

We found a highly consistent and predictive metabolite logistic regression model with reduced lactate and increased creatine plus phosphocreatine and choline, suggestive of a chronically altered metabolic state in epileptic brain regions. Linking gene expression, cellular, and histological differences to these key metabolites using a hierarchical clustering approach predicted altered metabolic vascular coupling in the affected regions. Consistently, these predictions were validated histologically, showing both neovascularization and newly discovered, millimeter‐sized microlesions.

Significance

Using a systems biology approach on electrically mapped human cortex provides new evidence for spatially segregated, metabolic derangements in both neurovascular and synaptic architecture in human epileptic brain regions that could be a noninvasively detectable biomarker of epilepsy. These findings both highlight the immense power of a systems biology approach and identify a potentially important role that magnetic resonance spectroscopy can play in the research and clinical management of epilepsy.
Profiling the immunome of little brown myotis provides a yardstick for measuring the genetic response to white‐nose syndrome
Authors: Donaldson Michael E. , Davy Christina M. , Willis Craig K. R. , McBurney Scott , Park Allysia , Kyle Christopher J.
Published: July 2017

White‐nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated populations of hibernating bats in eastern North America, leading to emergency conservation listings for several species including the previously ubiquitous little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus). However, some bat populations near the epicenter of the WNS panzootic appear to be stabilizing after initial precipitous declines, which could reflect a selective immunogenetic sweep. To investigate the hypothesis that WNS exerts significant selection on the immunome of affected bat populations, we developed a novel, high‐throughput sequence capture assay targeting 138 adaptive, intrinsic, and innate immunity genes of putative adaptive significance, as well as their respective regulatory regions (~370 kbp of genomic sequence/individual). We used the assay to explore baseline immunogenetic variation in M. lucifugus and to investigate whether particular immune genes/variants are associated with WNS susceptibility. We also used our assay to detect 1,038 putatively neutral single nucleotide polymorphisms and characterize contemporary population structure, providing context for the identification of local immunogenetic adaptation. Sequence capture provided a cost‐effective, “all‐in‐one” assay to test for neutral genetic and immunogenetic structure and revealed fine‐scale, baseline immunogenetic differentiation between sampling sites <600 km apart. We identified functional immunogenetic variants in M. lucifugus associated with WNS susceptibility. This study lays the foundations for future investigations of rangewide immunogenetic adaptation to WNS in M. lucifugus and provides a blueprint for studies of evolutionary rescue in other host–pathogen systems.
Initial experience with high dose rate brachytherapy of periorbital sarcoids in the horse
Authors: Hollis A. R. , Berlato D.
Published: July 2017

Periorbital sarcoids are a common condition in the horse and are difficult to treat due to their location and invasive nature. Radiotherapy is considered the gold standard treatment, and high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) may represent a safer and more effective method of delivering radiotherapy in the standing sedated horse. The objective of this retrospective clinical case series study was to describe the response rate and safety of HDRB for the treatment of periorbital sarcoids in the horse. Horses and ponies referred for HDRB treatment of confirmed periorbital sarcoids were eligible for inclusion in the study. Sarcoids were confirmed via clinical diagnosis and biopsy. Horses were given 2 fractions of 12.5 Gy per fraction, delivered a week apart, under standing sedation via a novel HDRB technique. Eight horses with periorbital sarcoids were treated with HDRB under standing sedation. A complete response occurred in all cases. No significant acute adverse effects were noted after treatment and the cosmetic result was excellent, with permanent epilation and leucotrichia the only long‐term sequelae. Follow‐up was available for between 10 and 12 months after treatment. The major limitation of this study is the lack of long‐term follow‐up and the small case numbers. It was concluded that HDRB appears to be an effective and safe method of treating periorbital sarcoids in the horse. Long‐term follow‐up is required to determine the risk of recurrence of treated lesions.