Being highly prolific in academic science: characteristics of individuals and their departments

Higher Education - The prolific (exceptionally high producers of scholarly publications) are strategic to the study of academic science. The highly prolific have been drivers of research activity...     

Researching the impact of teacher professional development programmes based on action research,constructivism, and systems theory

This paper deals with the topic of professional development programmes’ impact. Concepts and ideas of action research, constructivism, and systems theory are used as a theoretical framework and are combined to describe and analyse an exemplary professional development programme in Austria. Empirical findings from both quantitative and qualitative studies regarding the programme’s impact are provided and discussed. Moreover, implications for future programmes’ planning and implementation are provided.     

Tiered Internship Model for Undergraduate Students in Geospatial Science and Technology

This article discusses the development, implementation, and evaluation of a tiered internship program for undergraduate students in geospatial science and technology (TIMSGeoTech). The internship program assists education programs in providing skill development that is relevant and useful, and it aligns graduates and their skills with industry needs, through internship experiences. The unique internship tiers clarify the United States Department of Labor’s requirements on geospatial technician competencies and preparation. The vibrant internship process and its thorough evaluation improve the relevance of coursework to today’s geospatial applications and competencies, student academic performance, student retention and graduation rates, and employer’s satisfaction.     

Protein identification and localization using mass spectrometry and staining tests in cross-sections of polychrome samples

The identification and localization of the proteinaceous binders are essential issues in studies of painting materials and techniques, for further proposing valid restoration and conservation treatments of the painted or polychrome works of art. The challenge for analytical chemists and conservation scientists is the availability of methods able to simultaneously identify and map the presence of the binders in the multilayered structure of a sample and the possibility to use a very low amount of sample from the studied art object (considering also the criteria of minimum sampling). These methods should be fast, reproducible in different artefacts and in case of mixture of protein-based binders with other non-proteinaceous constituents (oils, resins, waxes, gums etc.) and also economical (both in terms of materials and time consume). In this context, the present paper proposes an innovative protocol of investigation using two complementary techniques – Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation – Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and staining tests (one visible and one fluorescent stain) assisted by Optical Microscopy (OM) on cross-section of samples – for the simultaneous identification and mapping of protein – and oil-based binders in paint materials. The novelty is based on the use of MALDI-TOF MS on cross-sections of paints together with a fluorescent stain for protein identification and mapping (mainly used in the area of proteomics) complementing the use of a traditional visible stain for oil-based material identification. The protocol was successfully applied on several samples taken from a Czech medieval polychrome sculpture, entitled “The Mourning of Jesus Christ” (16th century) belonging to the Moravian Gallery (Brno).     

Quality of WIL assessment design in higher education: a systematic literature review

We investigated the quality of work-integrated learning (WIL) assessment design in higher education programmes, through review of peer-reviewed studies published internationally and in English, 1990–2015. Such a review is timely in light of vested interests from a range of WIL stakeholders; high-level endorsement of WIL across university programmes; a regulatory environment requiring development and assurance of higher-order learning outcomes; and a WIL assessment literature that identifies a number of challenges and opportunities. We searched six electronic databases, yielding 20 intervention studies that met inclusion criteria. Findings reveal high-quality assessment design, albeit a need for greater involvement of industry/professional partners in assessment practices and stronger alignment between reflective assessment tasks and students' WIL experiences. The evidence base under review largely comprised qualitative and mixed methods studies, with the indication that the quality of the study design had improved over time, although variably across disciplinary fields. The key recommendation from this review is that resources are needed to support research-active WIL academics, partners and students to: (a) design and participate in assessment practices, which promote integration of student learning, across university and work settings, and achievement of higher-order learning outcomes and (b) pursue a collaborative research agenda involving robust evaluation research, inclusive of quantitative studies.     

The health and well-being of neglected, abused and exploited children: the Kyiv Street Children Project

OBJECTIVE: To report on the backgrounds and physical and emotional well-being of street children using two street shelters in Kyiv, Ukraine. This study is important because personal accounts of street children may highlight individual or family factors that are associated with vulnerability for and risk of poor mental health, and these could have serious repercussions for the future. This study also poses a challenge to research because street children are a highly elusive population that services find hard to reach. METHODS: Ninety-seven children were recruited and interviewed using a semistructured, psychosocial interview schedule; psychopathology was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). RESULTS: Seventy percent of street children scored for behavioral and emotional difficulties on the SDQ, and 74% scored for depression on the MFQ. Current health problems were reported by 78%, with 43% described as persistent or severe. Two thirds of the children in this sample were not homeless but had chosen life on the streets in preference to permanent residence with their families. Their "survival" history on the streets contributed to the development of three different profiles of vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of physical and emotional problems in a population of street children, many of whom were still connected to their families, emphasize the importance of developing different approaches for children with different vulnerabilities. This study also demonstrates the feasibility of embedding on-going field research into the service dimension of "front-line" social care agencies.     

俄罗斯Chukchi半岛新生代碱性岩的形成和演化：熔体和流体包裹体证据

Melt and fluid inclusions were studied in the minerals of Cenozoic olivine melanephelinites from the Chukehi Peninsula, Russia. The rock contain several generations of olivine phenocrysts varying in composition at mg=0.88 - 0.77. The phenocrysts bear fluid and melt inclusions recording various stages of melt crystallization in volcanic conduits and shallow magma chambers. Primary fluid inclusions are CO2-dominated with a density of up to 0.93 g/cm^3. All fluid inclusions are partially leaked, which is indicated by haloes of tiny fluid bubbles around large fluid inclusions in minerals. Melt inclusions contain various daughter crystals, which were completely resorbed in thermometric experiments at about 1230~C. Assuming that this temperature corresponds to the entrapment conditions of the CO2 fluid inclusions, the minimum pressure of the beginning of magma degassing is estimated as 800MPa. Variations in the compositions of homogenized silicate melt inclusions indicate that olivine was the earliest crystalline phase followed by clinopyroxene, nepheline and orthoclase. This sequence is in agreement with the mineralogy of the rocks. The melts are strongly enriched in incompatible trace elements and volatiles （in addition to CO2 , high C1, F, and S contents were detected）. There are some differences between the compositions of melts trapped in minerals from different samples. Variations in SiO2 , FeO, and incompatible element contents are probably related to melt generations at various levels in a homogeneous mantle reservoir.     

Extinction and blocking of conditioned inhibition in human causal learning

Two experiments investigated extinction and blocking of a conditioned inhibitor in a human contingency learning task. Lotz and Lachnit (2009) and Melchers, Wolff, and Lachnit (2006) reported extinction of inhibition only when participants experienced outcome levels lower than those used in training. In Experiment 1, which used more neutral instructions than the previously mentioned studies, we found that extinction of inhibition occurred, whether or not participants experienced lower outcome levels. In Experiment 2, we applied this outcome manipulation to blocking of a conditioned inhibitor. We found blocking of inhibition both when participants had experience with lower outcomes and when they did not. The results of our two experiments are consistent with Rescorla and Wagner’s (1972) associative model, and inconsistent with an inferential account of causal learning (De Houwer, Beckers, & Vandorpe, 2005).