bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From making gadgets to making talents: exploring a university makerspace
Authors: Pettersen Inger Beate , Kubberød Elin , Vangsal Fredrik , Zeiner Axel
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The maker movement has been gaining increased attention worldwide and has recently spread to universities, strengthening the entrepreneurial university. Makerspace communities are seen as open and democratic social spaces where knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning are essential. However, few scholars have examined the social learning dynamics in makerspace communities. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to these recent calls to investigate makerspaces and their relevance in enhancing learning in a university context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a case study design to explore the social learning dynamics in the maker community. The authors used observations and interviews to gather rich data from ten members, including two founders. The study occurred over a five-month period.

Findings

In contrast to free-choice activities, this makerspace community practised a highly hierarchical and well-managed regulation of activities. The high emphasis on project work and serious play illustrates a community where technology is a means of delivering value through projects rather than a means to play and learn in itself.

Practical implications

Seen in the light of rapid technological development, educators are facing the danger of teaching outdated skills. The makerspace model represents an advanced type of pedagogy and mastery development in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and has the potential to inspire educational designs while challenging traditional education.

Originality/value

The research provides insights into makerspace as a producer of talents, repositioning of technology transfer and value creation from an entrepreneurial university.
Potential pathways for proficiency training in computer maintenance technology among prospective electronic technology education graduates
Authors: Chukwuedo Samson Onyeluka , Ogbuanya Theresa Chinyere
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cause–effect relationship between vocational support and the levels of acquisition of practical skills via learning self-efficacy during a training intervention in computer maintenance technology among vocational electronic technology students.

Design/methodology/approach

Quasi-experimental research was employed. The participants were 84 undergraduates of vocational electronic technology education in Nigeria. The study applied the modified stages of the Dreyfus model of skills acquisition as the training model. The study proposed a four-simple mediation models based on the first four stages of the modified Dreyfus model of skills acquisition (namely, novice, advanced beginner, competent and proficient stages) via practical skills learning self-efficacy.

Findings

The result showed significant effects of perceived vocational support in practical skills training on the levels of acquisition of practical skills in computer maintenance technology. Learning self-efficacy mediated the relationship between perceived vocational support and three levels of practical skills acquisition (advanced beginner, competent and proficient).

Research limitations/implications

All possible mediation pathways were not covered in this study. However, the study x-rayed the tendency of pathways in training intervention in vocational education and allied fields of study.

Practical implications

This study has empirically provided evidence to support the Dreyfus model of skills acquisition, as a plausible practical skills training model. Hence, the study can serve as a model for other researchers for replication in other fields of study.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that revealed potential pathways in work-related practical skills training interventions. The study has also validated the Dreyfus model as a potential skill acquisition model for practical skills training.
Developing a processual employability model to provide education for career self-management
Authors: Krouwel Sam Jan Cees , van Luijn Anna , Zweekhorst Marjolein B.M.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a practical model for the evaluation and adaptation of educational programmes in order to incorporate employability development focussed on enabling graduates to self-manage their career.

Design/methodology/approach

The model integrates several perspectives on and conceptualisations of the nature of employability and its development. The integration of various elements is justified on the basis of existing research and the experience of local educational practitioners.

Findings

The model integrates insights from the Graduate Employability Development model (Harvey et al., 2002), the CareerEDGE model (Dacre Pool and Sewell, 2007), the Career Management Employability model (Bridgstock, 2009) and adopts three career competencies as outcome indicators (Akkermans et al., 2013). The resulting model describes in simple terms what educational practitioners may adapt in the process of employability development to enhance the ability of prospective graduates to manage their own careers.

Research limitations/implications

The model remains theoretical and the relations it implies require further validation. Involving graduates and students in evaluating the model may contribute to validating its scope and applicability.

Practical implications

The model provides a practical tool to retrospectively and prospectively evaluate the institutional provision of employability development education. It may serve as a basis for adaptation to other programmes.

Originality/value

By adopting a processual perspective on employability, the model shifts away from the possession of a predefined set of characteristics, and towards enabling students to actively influence their own employability.
Developing inclusive and quality learning environments in HEIs
Authors: Gill Seerat , Singh Gurparkash
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to redefine quality in the context of “access” providing higher education institutions (HEIs), through a theoretical lens, in order to find solutions to the wicked problem of access vs quality and “inclusiveness vs excellence” debate in higher education (HE).

Design/methodology/approach

This theoretical paper builds upon institutional theory and resource dependency theory to, first, analyse access vs quality debate and, second, provide answers to the undesirable and at times conflicting “trilemma” of scale, cost and quality in HEIs. To achieve the second objective, the paper offers a different perspective to address trilemma by proposing a synergistic coexistence between inclusiveness and excellence through “transformative” quality and learning theory.

Findings

“Transformative” quality uses reframing the problem, appraising culture and quality concepts, and eventually develops transformative interventions in access providing HEIs to improve their quality and enhance inclusiveness. Inclusiveness in HEIs needs to be addressed through the investigation of specific hypotheses, for which a closer examination of factors impacting the quality of access providing HEIs has been conducted. The goal is to facilitate a perfect mélange of inclusiveness and excellence in HE and, thus, create a new learning environment.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes towards the access vs quality debate through transformative quality by developing transformative interventions and investigating factors affecting quality in HE.

Practical implications

The contribution has several policy, managerial and governance implications. Addressing these implications will enable the promotion of the third mission of HE, that is, to develop graduates who meaningfully engage with the society and their profession.

Originality/value

Quality and inclusiveness is a serious global problem requiring immediate attention and rigorous theory-informed frameworks. Through the investigation of specific factors and proposing meaningful interventions, this paper identifies the need to study a critical issue having global implications and investigates how it can be resolved.
Evaluation of an English language peer tutoring intervention
Authors: Mackenzie Lee
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Desertion rates in Colombian universities remain unacceptably high. In the field of foreign languages, academic failure is particularly concerning since English language instruction is compulsory in most universities. To address the issue of poor student performance and high dropout rates, the University of Colombia has set up a peer tutoring scheme (PTS) for English as a foreign language (EFL) students in order to inform programme development. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was informed by realist evaluation principles. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with eight PTS stakeholders supplemented by documentary analysis of the programme’s publicity material on the PTS website. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Findings reveal discrepancies between the “espoused theory” about how the programme operates and the “theory-in-use”. In particular, according to stakeholders, the programme does not appear to be used by many of those EFL students who would benefit from it, which suggests that the programme is not as effective as it could be. Student and teacher contextual factors and mechanisms may explain the reasons for issues with programme effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

Formative evaluations such as the current study can provide rich contextual information, but cannot be generalised to other settings. Also, this study does not explore the perspective of peer tutors and tutees, which means key variables may have been overlooked. Further research into the perspectives of tutors and tutees would therefore be needed to firm up these conclusions.

Practical implications

Due to the scarcity of literature into EFL peer tutoring interventions in higher education (HE), it is hoped that these findings will have relevance for similar contexts. The current evaluation highlights the influence of contextual factors such as willingness to ask for help, student motivation, student priorities, tutor credibility, teacher workload, timetabling and scheduling issues and involvement from teachers on the success of open-access peer tutoring programmes for EFL students in higher educational settings.

Originality/value

As far the researcher is aware, this is the first evaluation of an EFL peer tutoring programme in a private HE context in Colombia, and one of only a handful of studies into EFL peer tutoring programmes. The findings therefore have implications for those working in similar contexts.
Inducing stock market lexicons from disparate Chinese texts
Authors: Zhao Futao , Yao Zhong , Luan Jing , Liu Hao
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to construct a stock market sentiment lexicon by incorporating domain-specific knowledge extracted from diverse Chinese media outlets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel method to automatically generate financial lexicons using a unique data set that comprises news articles, analyst reports and social media. Specifically, a novel method based on keyword extraction is used to build a high-quality seed lexicon and an ensemble mechanism is developed to integrate the knowledge derived from distinct language sources. Meanwhile, two different methods, Pointwise Mutual Information and Word2vec, are applied to capture word associations. Finally, an evaluation procedure is performed to validate the effectiveness of the method compared with four traditional lexicons.

Findings

The experimental results from the three real-world testing data sets show that the ensemble lexicons can significantly improve sentiment classification performance compared with the four baseline lexicons, suggesting the usefulness of leveraging knowledge derived from diverse media in domain-specific lexicon generation and corresponding sentiment analysis tasks.

Originality/value

This work appears to be the first to construct financial sentiment lexicons from over 2m posts and headlines collected from more than one language source. Furthermore, the authors believe that the data set established in this study is one of the largest corpora used for Chinese stock market lexicon acquisition. This work is valuable to extract collective sentiment from multiple media sources and provide decision-making support for stock market participants.
Mechanization level assessment and technology identification for productivity improvement in petrochemical facility maintenance
Authors: Yin Zhe , Caldas Carlos , de Oliveira Daniel , Hwang Bon-Gang , Shan Ming
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Facility maintenance is critical for the operation and management of petrochemical plants. Maintenance work completed with higher productivity eventually contributes to better plant performance. Mechanization reduces workforce demand and can increase the productivity of maintenance work. The purpose of this paper is to assess the current mechanization level of the maintenance activities and then identify applicable technology solutions for productivity improvement in petrochemical facility maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes a mechanization level assessment method for global maintenance data collection and analysis. Subject matter experts’ interviews and market scanning were used to identify corresponding technology solutions.

Findings

The study discovered numerous maintenance activities with lower mechanization levels and identified more than 50 technology solutions applicable for maintenance productivity improvement.

Originality/value

This paper provides a roadmap for petrochemical maintenance work participants to assess their mechanization level status quo and identify technology solutions for higher maintenance work productivity. The method adopted is replicable and customizable for further applications with different plant conditions in the petrochemical sector and other industrial contexts.
Arctic expedition cruise tourism and citizen science: a vision for the future of polar tourism
Authors: Taylor Audrey R. , Barðadóttir Þórný , Auffret Sarah , Bombosch Annette , Cusick Allison Lee , Falk Edda , Lynnes Amanda
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework for using citizen science – defined as a data collection method through which non-professionals engage in contributing to authentic scientific inquiry – within the expedition cruise industry to contribute significantly to the collection of environmental data from hard-to-access Arctic areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review trends in Arctic expedition cruise tourism and current needs in Arctic research and monitoring, and clarify where the expedition cruise tourism industry could have the most impact by providing data to the scientific community. The authors also compare the regulatory context in the Antarctic to that in the Arctic and discuss how these differences could affect the widespread use of citizen science. At last, the authors describe some general principles for designing citizen science programs to be successful on board, and highlight several existing programs that are being recognized for their contributions to a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic.

Findings

The authors find that citizen science data from the expedition cruise industry are underutilized as a tool for monitoring Arctic change. Numerous examples illustrate how citizen science programs on-board expedition ships can successfully collect robust scientific data and contribute to enhancing the knowledge and stewardship capacity of cruise passengers. Inclusion of citizen science data from the expedition cruise industry should be considered a critical part of international Arctic observing networks and systems.

Social implications

Active participation in Arctic citizen science by tourists on expedition cruise ships has many potential benefits beyond the collection of high quality data, from increasing passengers’ knowledge and understanding of the Arctic while on board, to affecting their attitudes and behaviors after they return home.

Originality/value

The potential for tourism to contribute to Arctic observing systems has been discussed previously in the scientific literature; the authors narrow the focus to citizen science programs in the expedition cruise industry, and provide concrete examples, in the hope that this will streamline acceptance and implementation of these ideas by researchers and tourism practitioners.
Importance-performance analysis to inform visitor management at marine wildlife tourism destinations
Authors: Simpson Greg D. , Patroni Jessica , Teo Albert C.K. , Chan Jennifer K.L. , Newsome David
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to postulate that the technique of Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) is currently underutilised in visitor management studies reported in the peer-reviewed marine wildlife tourism (MWT) research literature. Further, this paper provides insight into how IPA could inform future research and management of tourism experiences at marine wildlife destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper synthesises learning gained from the natural area tourism and recreation literature that report the application of IPA in MWT and insights from a recent study at the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia.

Findings

Although currently underutilized in MWT research, IPA is a relatively straightforward, easy to interpret, and, if correctly applied, a powerful tool that managers and researchers can employ to investigate and enhance visitor satisfaction in the short-term and for longer-term sustainability of the industry through visitor-informed tourism management.

Originality/value

Having identified the opportunity to enhance visitor experiences, site management and target species welfare through increased IPA research, this review provides a plain language introduction to the application of IPA and direct access to comprehensible academic discourses and exemplars for the technique. Moreover, in light of increasing tourism demand, IPA can assist in determining management options for the future.
Academic social networks and collaboration patterns
Authors: Chen Po-Yen
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study attempts to use a new source of data collection from open government data sets to identify potential academic social networks (ASNs) and defines their collaboration patterns. The purpose of this paper is to propose a direction that may advance our current understanding on how or why ASNs are formed or motivated and influence their research collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first reviews the open data sets in Taiwan, which is ranked as the first state in Global Open Data Index published by Open Knowledge Foundation to select the data sets that expose the government’s R&D activities. Then, based on the theory review of research collaboration, potential ASNs in those data sets are identified and are further generalized as various collaboration patterns. A research collaboration framework is used to present these patterns.

Findings

Project-based social networks, learning-based social networks and institution-based social networks are identified and linked to various collaboration patterns. Their collaboration mechanisms, e.g., team composition, motivation, relationship, measurement, and benefit-cost, are also discussed and compared.

Originality/value

In traditional, ASNs have usually been known as co-authorship networks or co-inventorship networks due to the limitation of data collection. This study first identifies some ASNs that may be formed before co-authorship networks or co-inventorship networks are formally built-up, and may influence the outcomes of research collaborations. These information allow researchers to deeply dive into the structure of ASNs and resolve collaboration mechanisms.
Security status of electronic records preservation in central China
Authors: Xiao Qiuhui , Xu Xiaotong , Liu Panpan
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Recently, increasing importance has been given to electronic records in China, despite the lack of understanding that institutions and organizations have regarding the security status of electronic records preservation. Wuhan, the largest city in central China, serves as a case to investigate the preservation security of electronic records. Challenges to security are summarized, and solutions are proposed to support policy-developing and operational guidance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi method is applied to analyze the advice of nine experts, select survey items and design questionnaires. Data are collected from 34 archives in Wuhan through field surveys, oral interviews and e-mails, which are analyzed and illustrated with three representative cases.

Findings

Main achievements of electronic records preservation are concluded in the electronic records management system, carrier types and storage formats, and data backup. Problems are summarized as a lack of awareness and capability of defending against security risks, disaster recovery capability, and understanding of electronic record characteristics. Solutions are proposed as follows: carrying out regular security risk evaluation, adopting new technologies, implementing application-level backup, strengthening technology-related education and attracting more IT talent to join the archive discipline. In addition, it is critical to promote an understanding of the characteristics of electronic records.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the security status of electronic records in central China by surveys and case studies. Critical problems and corresponding solutions are raised to support policy-developing and operational guidance for the research and practice of all kinds of institutions that implement electronic records preservation.
Construction principle of NES shock absorber and its application in frame structure
Authors: Yang Haixu , Zhu Feng , Wang Haibiao , Yu Liang , Shi Ming
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure of nonlinear dampers and the dynamic equations, and nonlinear realization principles and optimize the parameters of nonlinear dampers. Using the finite element method to analyze the seismic performance of the frame structure with shock absorber.

Design/methodology/approach

The nonlinear shock absorber was installed in a six-storey reinforced concrete frame structure to study its seismic performance. The main structure was designed according to the eight degree seismic fortification intensity, and the time history dynamic analysis was carried out by Abaqus finite element software. EL-Centro, Taft and Wenchuan seismic record were selected to analyze the seismic response of the structure under different magnitudes and different acceleration peaks.

Findings

Through the principle study and parameter analysis of the nonlinear shock absorber, combined with the finite element simulation results, the shock absorption performance and shock absorption effect of the nonlinear energy sink (NES) nonlinear shock absorber are given as follows: first, the damping of the NES shock absorber is satisfied, and the linear spring stiffness and nonlinear stiffness of the shock absorber are based on the relationship k1=kn×kl2, so that the spring design length is fixed, and the linear stiffness of the shock absorber can be obtained. The nonlinear shock absorber has the characteristics of high rigidity and frequency bandwidth, so that the frequency is infinitely close to the frequency of the main structure, and when the mass of the shock absorber satisfies between 0.056 and 1, a good shock absorption effect can be obtained, and the reinforced concrete with the shock absorber is obtained. The frame structure can effectively reduce the seismic response, increase the natural vibration period of the structure and reduce the damage loss of the structure. Second, the spacer and each additional shock absorber have a small difference in shock absorption effect. After the shock absorber parameters are accurately calculated, the number of installations does not affect the shock absorption effect of the structure. Therefore, the shock absorber is properly constructed and accurately calculated. Parameters can reduce costs.

Originality/value

New shock absorbers reduce earthquake-induced damage to buildings.
Spare the rod and spoil the child? A study on employee workplace deviant behavior
Authors: Qi Lei , Liu Bing , Mao Kaixian
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In the background of the post-financial crisis era and the transition of China’s economic development, the frequent occurrence of workplace deviant behavior in the economic field, such as stealing, bribery, caused a huge impact on the enterprise. In recent years, the deviant behavior of employees has been increased noticeably. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of paternalistic leadership on employee deviant behavior in workplace. To have a deep understanding of the relationship between paternalistic leadership and employee deviant behavior, the author’s design rule oriented ethical climate and self-interest oriented ethical climate as two mediators in this research model.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on social learning theory and stressor-emotion model, this study conducts an investigation of influence mechanism between paternalistic leadership and workplace deviant behavior. Time-lagged data was collected from 226 employees from six cities in China. To test the hypothesis that the authors developed in this paper, the authors use empirical models from the existing literature about paternalistic leadership on employee deviant behavior. They establish multiple linear regressions to test the hypotheses.

Findings

This study reveals the direct effect of authoritarian leadership on employee deviant behavior and the moderated roles of benevolent leadership and moral leadership, also analysis the mediated mechanism of self-interest oriented ethical climate and rule oriented ethical climate. The results show that the higher the degree of authority leaders show in the organization, the easier to stimulate workplace deviance of employee, self-interest oriented ethical climate and rule oriented ethical climate play mediated role between authoritarian leadership and workplace deviant behavior. The interaction of benevolent leadership and moral leadership with authoritarian leadership can weaken the self-interest oriented ethical climate but has nothing to do with rule oriented ethical climate.

Originality/value

This study has three main contributions to the previous literature. First, this study explores the relationship between authoritarian leadership and employee workplace deviance, which could enrich the research on these negative behaviors in the Chinese context. Second, this study unpacks the “black box” in which authoritarian leadership influences employee workplace deviant behavior. Third, this study further examines the impacts of different combinations of the three factors of paternalistic leadership.
Knowledge hiding in two contrasting cultural contexts
Authors: Issac Abraham Cyril , Baral Rupashree
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to decipher the role of culture in determining knowledge-hiding tendencies of individuals. This study attempts to understand the different strategic factors (SFs) engendering knowledge hiding, model it and finally estimate the driving and dependency potency of these factors in two different cultural contexts – occidental and oriental.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertook content analysis of the pertinent literature to trace out the antecedents. These SFs engendering knowledge hiding were later modeled using total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) with the aid of R programming language and consequently subjected to Matriced’ Impacts Croise’s Multiplication Appliquée a un Classement (MICMAC) analysis to categorize these factors into: autonomous, depending, linkage and driving.

Findings

The analysis establishes personality traits as a common driving factor engendering knowledge hiding in both the cultural contexts. Emotional intelligence is a key driving factor in an occidental cultural context whereas interpersonal distrust drives knowledge hiding in an oriental cultural setting. The task in hand, its uncertainty and complexity are the other critical factors causing knowledge hiding in the oriental cultural context.

Practical implications

The study suggests organizations in the occidental setting to streamline their recruitment policy, giving due importance to the personality traits and emotional quotient of individuals. As task uncertainty and complexity are the critical driving factors in the oriental context, the organizations should undertake a delicate balancing act between reducing risk, removing uncertainty and progressing.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is probably the first-ever attempt to apply comprehensive TISM and MICMAC on knowledge hiding, which characterizes the antecedents of knowledge hiding in two opposite cultural contexts and thereby offers to provide the required impetus for further research on the influence of culture in knowledge-hiding behavior.
Metabolic endotoxemia and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review about potential roles of prebiotics and probiotics
Authors: Moludi Jalal , Maleki Vahid , Jafari‐Vayghyan Hamed , Vaghef‐Mehrabany Elnaz , Alizadeh Mohammad
Published: January 2020

Translocation of microbiome‐derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the bloodstream (metabolic endotoxaemia) is associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD); however, the direction of this association is not fully understood. It has been revealed by some studies that alterations in the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) lead to increased intestinal permeability and translocation of LPS to the blood circulation. LPS may trigger toll‐like receptor 4‐ (TLR‐4) mediated inflammatory responses; this could lead to a chronic low‐grade pro‐inflammatory condition named metabolic endotoxaemia (ME), which is typically observed in CVD patients. ME is promoted by increased intestinal permeability. Moreover, dysbiosis leads to production of trimethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO), a gut bacterial metabolite suggested as a new risk factor in CVD development. Probiotics, extensively reviewed for decades, are live microorganisms which, when taken in adequate amounts, have beneficial effects on the host metabolism. Prebiotics are a type of dietary fibre that act as nourishment for the good bacteria in the gut and decrease the population of pathogen bacteria that produce greater amounts of endotoxins. Although an association has been postulated between ME and CVD, the results of studies investigating the role of antibiotic therapy in preventing the disease have been inconsistent. In this review, we discuss how prebiotics and probiotics modulate gut microbiota and consequently might help with prevention and/or treatment of CVD associated with ME.
Spatio‐temporal insights into microbiology of the freshwater‐to‐hypersaline, oxic‐hypoxic‐euxinic waters of Ursu Lake
Authors: Baricz Andreea , Chiriac Cecilia Maria , Andrei Adrian‐Ștefan , Bulzu Paul‐Adrian , Levei Erika Andrea , Cadar Oana , Battes Karina Paula , Cîmpean Mirela , Șenilă Marin , Cristea Adorján , Muntean Vasile , Alexe Mircea , Coman Cristian , Szekeres Edina Kriszta , Sicora Cosmin Ionel , Ionescu Artur , Blain David , O'Neill William Kenneth , Edwards Jessica , Hallsworth John Edward , Banciu Horia Leonard
Published: January 2020

Ursu Lake is located in the Middle Miocene salt deposit of Central Romania. It is stratified, and the water column has three distinct water masses: an upper freshwater‐to‐moderately saline stratum (0–3 m), an intermediate stratum exhibiting a steep halocline (3–3.5 m), and a lower hypersaline stratum (4 m and below) that is euxinic (i.e. anoxic and sulphidic). Recent studies have characterized the lake's microbial taxonomy and given rise to intriguing ecological questions. Here, we explore whether the communities are dynamic or stable in relation to taxonomic composition, geochemistry, biophysics, and ecophysiological functions during the annual cycle. We found: (i) seasonally fluctuating, light‐dependent communities in the upper layer (≥0.987–0.990 water‐activity), a stable but phylogenetically diverse population of heterotrophs in the hypersaline stratum (water activities down to 0.762) and a persistent plate of green sulphur bacteria that connects these two (0.958–0.956 water activity) at 3–3.5 to 4 m; (ii) communities that might be involved in carbon‐ and sulphur‐cycling between and within the lake's three main water masses; (iii) uncultured lineages including Acetothermia (OP1), Cloacimonetes (WWE1), Marinimicrobia (SAR406), Omnitrophicaeota (OP3), Parcubacteria (OD1) and other Candidate Phyla Radiation bacteria, and SR1 in the hypersaline stratum (likely involved in the anaerobic steps of carbon‐ and sulphur‐cycling); and (iv) that species richness and habitat stability are associated with high redox‐potentials. Ursu Lake has a unique and complex ecology, at the same time exhibiting dynamic fluctuations and stability, and can be used as a modern analogue for ancient euxinic water bodies and comparator system for other stratified hypersaline systems.
A Tale as Old as (Devolved) Time? Sewel, Stormont and the Legislative Consent Convention
Authors: Evans Adam
Published: January 2020

The legislative consent convention forms one of a number of conventions that underpin the UK’s uncodified constitution and has been an important facet of the UK’s territorial governance post‐devolution. It provides that the UK government will not normally seek to legislate on devolved matters, and the devolution settlements, without the consent of the respective devolved legislatures. Commonly referred to as the ‘Sewel Convention’, the convention’s roots are often traced to the commitments made by Lord Sewel during the passage of the Scotland Act 1998. This article demonstrates, however, that the convention has a far deeper history that long predated Lord Sewel’s comments and goes back to the dawn of devolution in the United Kingdom, namely, the Northern Ireland Parliament that existed between 1921 and 1972. The article charts the development of the legislative consent convention from its roots in the failure of the UK government to challenge directly the Northern Ireland government over local government franchise reform in 1921, to its continued survival, even when Stormont collapsed in 1972, and argues that the convention survived owing to its role as a device of convenience and pragmatism for politicians in Westminster.
Managerial coaching and subordinates' workplace well‐being: A moderated mediation study
Authors: Zhao Hongdan , Liu Weiwei
Published: January 2020

Taking a self‐categorisation perspective, we predict that managerial coaching affects subordinates' workplace well‐being through perceived insider status and that Chinese traditionality moderates this indirect effect. To test these hypotheses, we designed a three‐stage research method to collect data from 276 subordinates in a large state‐owned enterprise located in Shanghai, China. Results indicated that (a) managerial coaching was positively related to subordinates' workplace well‐being; (b) perceived insider status mediated the linkage between managerial coaching and subordinates' workplace well‐being; and (c) Chinese traditionality moderated the indirect relationship between managerial coaching and subordinates' workplace well‐being via perceived insider status, such that the indirect effect was stronger for subordinates with low rather than high Chinese traditionality. This study sheds new light on the intervening process (i.e., perceived insider status) that explains how managerial coaching influences subordinates' workplace well‐being. The findings also extend the current literature by adding a substantive moderator (i.e., Chinese traditionality) to explain when and why subordinates increase their well‐being when faced with managerial coaching.
Expression of the Arcelin 1 gene from Phaseolus vulgaris L. in cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata L.) confers bruchid resistance
Authors: Grazziotin Maria A. G. D. , Cabral Glaucia B. , Ibrahim Abdulrazak B. , Machado Renato B. , Aragão Francisco J. L.
Published: January 2020

Persistent decrease in the productivity of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) has been partly due to attack by bruchids including Zabrotes subfasciatus and Callosobruchus maculatus. Resistance to these insects in Phaseolus vulgaris L. has been shown to be associated with arcelins, a family of seed proteins encoded by a multigenic family of lectins on the APA locus. In this work, we report the construction of an expression vector containing Arc1 gene isolated from P. vulgaris and introduced into cowpea as a strategy to confer resistance to insect attack. Following transformation and selection, feeding experiments in which C. maculatus and Z. subfasciatus were fed with transgenic (L3 and L5) and non‐transgenic (control) grains showed that introduced gene protected the transgenic line. Significant differences (p < .05 and p < .01) were found in the number of eggs laid, the number of emerging insects and the loss of grain mass in L3, compared with control, for both insects. Similar observations were made in L5 with the exception of the number of laid eggs. The strategy here described may form the basis for the development of a cowpea variety tolerant to bruchids in a crop cultivated by farmers throughout Latin America and Africa.
Insect pollinators improve seed production in globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)
Authors: Mazzeo Gaetana , Scavo Aurelio , Lo Monaco Antonino , Longo Santi , Mauromicale Giovanni
Published: January 2020

The role of many insect species in crop pollination has been widely studied. The use of entomophilous pollination, commonly adopted for other crops, may be of key importance in order to improve seed yields in seed‐propagated globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) cultivars. In this regard, in a 2‐year field experiment, the role of two honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica and A. mellifera siciliana) and one bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) was evaluated on the seed production of two globe artichoke cultivars in caged‐protected environments. Overall, the number and weight of seeds plant−1 and head−1, 1,000 seed weight and fruit setting were higher in caged plants with imposed pollination than open field plants. The pollination efficiency was both insect and cultivar dependent. Both honeybee species performed better on the Mediterranean cultivar ‘Violetto di Sicilia’, while the bumblebee performed better on the Brazilian cultivar ‘NP4’. These results could be very useful to modernise the agronomic management of globe artichoke and reduce the costs of cultivation. In addition, such knowledge can be used to improve the seed production in globe artichoke seed‐propagated cultivars and cardoon. This will benefit the bioenergy, nutraceutical, cosmetic and ornamental applications.
Impact of Timing of Preprocedural Opioids on Adverse Events in Procedural Sedation
Authors: Bhatt Maala , Cheng Wei , Roback Mark G. , Johnson David W. , Taljaard Monica ,   the Sedation Safety Study Group of Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC)
Published: January 2020

Background

The risk of respiratory depression is increased when opioids are added to sedative agents. In our recent multicenter emergency department (ED) procedural sedation cohort, we reported a strong association between preprocedural opioids and sedation‐related adverse events. We sought to examine the association between timing of opioids and the incidence of adverse sedation outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of children aged 0 to 18 years who received sedation for a painful procedure in six Canadian pediatric EDs from July 2010 to February 2015. The primary risk factor was timing of opioid administration, adjusted for age, opioid type, preprocedural and sedation medications, and procedure type. Outcomes were 1) oxygen desaturation, 2) vomiting, and 3) positive pressure ventilation (PPV).

Results

Of the 6,295 children in the original cohort, 1,806 (29%) received a preprocedural opioid. Patients receiving preprocedural opioids had a higher incidence of oxygen desaturation (risk difference = 4.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9% to 5.8%), vomiting (risk difference 2.0%, 95% CI = 0.7% to 3.3%), and PPV (risk difference = 1.5%, 95% CI = 0.7% to 2.3%). Multivariable regression with timing of opioids modeled as a restricted cubic spline revealed the risk for each outcome was highest when opioids were administered in the 30 minutes prior to sedation. Timing of opioid administration was statistically significantly associated with oxygen desaturation and vomiting (p < 0.0001) but not with PPV (p = 0.113).

Conclusions

Timing of opioids was significantly associated with the risk of oxygen desaturation and vomiting. Being aware of this increased risk will help clinicians prepare for sedation and the potential need for patient rescue.
The role of midfrontal theta oscillations across the development of cognitive control in preschoolers and school‐age children
Authors: Adam Nicolas , Blaye Agnès , Gulbinaite Rasa , Delorme Arnaud , Farrer Chloé
Published: January 2020

The development of cognitive control enables children to better resist acting based on distracting information that interferes with the current action. Cognitive control improvement serves different functions that differ in part by the type of interference to resolve. Indeed, resisting to interference at the task‐set level or at the response‐preparation level is, respectively, associated with cognitive flexibility and inhibition. It is, however, unknown whether the same neural mechanism underlies these two functions across development. Studies in adults have revealed the contribution of midfrontal theta (MFT) oscillations in interference resolution. This study investigated whether MFT is involved in the resolution of different types of interference in two age groups identified as corresponding to different latent structures of executive functions. Preschool (4–6 years) and school children (6–8 years) were tested with a task involving interference at the response level and/or the task‐set level while (electroencephalogram) EEG was recorded. Behaviorally, response time and accuracy were affected by task‐set. Both age groups were less accurate when the interference occurred at the task‐set level and only the younger group showed decreased accuracy when interference was presented at the response‐preparation level. Furthermore, MFT power was increased, relative to the baseline, during the resolution of both types of interference and in both age groups. These findings suggest that MFT is involved in immature cognitive control (i.e., preschool and school‐ages), by orchestrating its different cognitive processes, irrespective of the interference to resolve and of the level of cognitive control development (i.e., the degree of differentiation of executive functions).
AVPR1A variation is linked to gray matter covariation in the social brain network of chimpanzees
Authors: Mulholland Michele M. , Navabpour Shaghayegh V. , Mareno Mary C. , Schapiro Steven J. , Young Larry J. , Hopkins William D.
Published: January 2020

The vasopressin system has been implicated in the regulation of social behavior and cognition in humans, nonhuman primates and other social mammals. In chimpanzees, polymorphisms in the vasopressin V1a receptor gene (AVPR1A) have been associated with social dimensions of personality, as well as to responses to sociocommunicative cues and mirror self‐recognition. Despite evidence of this association with social cognition and behavior, there is little research on the neuroanatomical correlates of AVPR1A variation. In the current study, we tested the association between AVPR1A polymorphisms in the RS3 promotor region and gray matter covariation in chimpanzees using magnetic resonance imaging and source‐based morphometry. The analysis identified 13 independent brain components, three of which differed significantly in covariation between the two AVPR1A genotypes (DupB−/− and DupB+/−; P < .05). DupB+/− chimpanzees showed greater covariation in gray matter in the premotor and prefrontal cortex, basal forebrain, lunate and cingulate cortex, and lesser gray matter covariation in the superior temporal sulcus and postcentral sulcus. Some of these regions were previously found to differ in vasopressin and oxytocin neural fibers between nonhuman primates, and in AVPR1A gene expression in humans with different RS3 alleles. This is the first report of an association between AVPR1A and gray matter covariation in nonhuman primates, and specifically links an AVPR1A polymorphism to structural variation in the social brain network. These results further affirm the value of chimpanzees as a model species for investigating the relationship between genetic variation, brain structure and social cognition with relevance to psychiatric disorders, including autism.
Hypermethylation of CSF3R is a novel cisplatin resistance marker and predictor of response to postoperative chemotherapy in hepatoblastoma
Authors: Fujiyoshi Sunao , Honda Shohei , Minato Masashi , Ara Momoko , Suzuki Hiromu , Hiyama Eiso , Taketomi Akinobu
Published: January 2020

Aim

Most hepatoblastoma patients undergo pre/postoperative cisplatin treatment. Approximately 20% patients are cisplatin resistant, and show poor prognosis and high recurrence rates. However, some cisplatin‐sensitive patients show early recurrence. We consider that a small population of cisplatin‐resistant cells may remain after preoperative chemotherapy. Previous studies showed a correlation between DNA hypermethylation and hepatoblastoma progression. Here, we examined whether DNA hypermethylation was related to cisplatin resistance and could be a potential indicator for cisplatin as postoperative chemotherapy.

Methods

We extracted DNA from 43 resected hepatoblastoma tumors. Methylation array analyses were performed in 11 samples, including six cisplatin‐sensitive and five cisplatin‐resistant samples. We also performed cDNA microarray analysis in parental and cisplatin‐resistant HuH6 cells. Through comparison of the datasets, we selected the strongest correlated cisplatin‐resistant candidate gene. Using bisulfite pyrosequencing, the candidate gene methylation level was assessed in 38 cisplatin‐sensitive patients after checking its usefulness as a substitute modality of methylation array. Correlations between the methylation status and clinical data were analyzed.

Results

CSF3R was the strongest correlated variable. Bisulfite pyrosequencing analysis also confirmed CSF3R was significantly hypermethylated in cisplatin‐resistant patients. Among the 38 cisplatin‐sensitive patients, recurrence curves showed that the CSF3R high methylation patients had significantly higher recurrence than CSF3R low methylation patients. The recurrence curve of methylation high patients was similar to that of cisplatin‐resistant patients.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that CSF3R hypermethylation was related to cisplatin resistance in HB patients and could be a predictor of postoperative chemotherapy, and indicate that CSF3R high methylation patients should be treated with non‐CDDP regimens.