Playful Talk: Negotiating Opportunities to Learn in Collaborative Groups

This case study examines the role of playful talk in negotiating the “how” of collaborative group work in a 6th-grade science classroom. Here we develop and test a Vygotsky-derived hypothesis that postulates playful talk as a mechanism for identity exploration and group status negotiation. Our findings indicate that students utilized the playful talk genre as a means to (a) position themselves and others as more or less competent within the group in order to create or foreclose opportunities to learn, (b) maintain and strengthen bonds that were developing within the group toward the goal of achieving higher levels of coordination and opportunities to learn, and (c) pivot toward a self-selected identity aimed sometimes at affecting one’s status within the group. Taken together, these 3 playful talk functions allowed the group to manage tensions that arose as a result of periods of low coordination and to open opportunities to learn for lower status group members. This study contributes to researchers’ understanding of affective aspects of collaborative learning, which are theorized as foundational to success in such endeavors.     

Artefacts at the liquid interface and their impact in miniaturized biochemical assay

Droplet microfluidic technology has the potential to significantly reduce reagent use, and therefore, lower costs of assays employed in drug discovery campaigns. In addition to the reduction in costs, this technology can also reduce evaporation and contamination which are often problems seen in miniaturized microtitre plate formats. Despite these advantages, we currently advise caution in the use of these microfluidic approaches as there remains a lack of understanding of the artefacts of the systems such as reagent partitioning from droplet to carrier oil and interaction of the biological reagents with the water-oil interface. Both types of artefact can lead to inaccurate and misleading data. In this paper, we present a study of the partitioning of a number of drug-like molecules in a range of oils and evidence of protein binding at the water-oil interface which results in reduced activity of a cytochrome P450 enzyme. Data presented show that the drug-like molecules partitioned the least into fluorocarbon oils and the interaction of the 1A2 cytochrome at the water-oil interface resulted in a lower or complete absence of enzyme activity. This loss of activity of cytochrome 1A2 could be restored by the use of secondary blocking proteins although changes in the pharmacology of known 1A2 inhibitors were observed. The artefacts described here due to reagents partitioning into the carrier oil or protein binding at the water-oil interface significantly impact the potential use of these microfluidic systems as a means to carry out miniaturized biological assays, and further work is needed to understand the impact and reduction of these phenomena.     

The match demands of international rugby sevens

The purpose of this study was to quantify the global match demands of international rugby sevens and to compare the match demands of forwards and backs, and between tournament rounds. To assess the match demands, global positioning system (GPS) and video analysis were collected from 27 international rugby sevens players from the same team across an entire International Rugby Board Sevens World Series season. Differences in running demands and match activities between forwards and backs were mostly trivial and small (ES = 0.05–0.84) while differences in running demands and match activities between Pool and Cup rounds were trivial (ES = 0.001–0.12). Cup round matches showed an increase in long-duration ball-in-play sequences (proportion ratio 0.46). These findings suggest international rugby sevens forwards and backs experience similar match demands while overall match demands remain consistent across tournament rounds.     

Innovation,growth and the transition to net-zero emissions

The climate crisis and the global economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis occur against a background of slowing growth and widening inequalities, which together imply an urgent need for a new environmentally sustainable and inclusive approach to growth. Investments in “clean” innovation and its diffusion are key to shaping this, accompanied by investments in complementary assets including sustainable infrastructure, and human, natural and social capital which will not only help achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, but will also improve productivity, living standards and the prospects of individuals. In this article, we draw on the theoretical and empirical evidence on the opportunities, drivers and policies for innovation-led sustainable growth. We highlight the importance of a coordinated set of long-term policies and institutions that can enable and foster private sector investments in clean innovation and assets quickly and at scale. In doing so, we draw inspiration from Chris Freeman's work on the system-wide drivers of innovation, and his early vision of achieving environmental sustainability by reorienting growth.     

The diminishing signaling value of patents between early rounds of venture capital financing

A long stream of research has documented the positive effects that patents bring about to emerging firms in high technology industries. The general consensus is that patents contribute to firm growth because they confer monopolistic market rights, offer protection from competitors, increase the negotiating position of patent holders and other benefits. What has received relatively less attention in the literature is whether patents act as a signal that attracts investors such as venture capital firms. The handful of studies that have addressed that question has not analyzed whether the signaling function of patents decreases after the initial attraction of venture capital, as information asymmetries between investors and target firms reduce. In this study we hypothesize that patent activity has a signaling value that diminishes once information asymmetries between investors and funded firms lessen. To study our proposition we draw upon a longitudinal dataset of more than 580 U.S.-based biotechnology firms to empirically demonstrate that biotechnology firms that have submitted patent applications substantially increase the level of funding they receive for their first round of financing. In line with a reduction of information asymmetries once the initial investment has materialized, patent applications and granted patents have no effect on the growth of venture capital funds raised during the second round of financing. We conclude the study with a discussion of avenues for new research, implications for policy makers that consider the usefulness of the current patent system and with insights that can be employed by managers of firms in knowledge intensive areas such as biotechnology.     

Sample size and power estimates for a confirmatory factor analytic model in exercise and sport: a Monte Carlo approach

Monte Carlo methods can be used in data analytic situations (e.g., validity studies) to make decisions about sample size and to estimate power. The purpose of using Monte Carlo methods in a validity study is to improve the methodological approach within a study where the primary focus is on construct validity issues and not on advancing statistical theory. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how Monte Carlo methods can be used to determine sample size and to estimate power for a confirmatory factor analytic model under model-data conditions commonly encountered in exercise and sport. Because the purpose is pursued by way of demonstration with the Coaching Efficacy Scale II-High School Teams, related sample size recommendations are provided: N > or = 200 for the theoretical model; N > or = 300 for the population model. Technical terms (e.g., coverage) are defined when necessary.     

Proposed modifications to the conceptual model of coaching efficacy and additional validity evidence for the Coaching Efficacy Scale II-High School Teams

The purpose of this study was to determine whether theoretically relevant sources of coaching efficacy could predict the measures derived from the Coaching Efficacy Scale II-High School Teams (CES II-HST). Data were collected from head coaches of high school teams in the United States (N=799). The analytic framework was a multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis with ordered-categorical indicators and observed covariates. Applying this framework to the conceptual model of coaching efficacy (CMCE) resulted in a statistical model equivalent to a multiple-group multivariate regression with latent outcomes. Results provided evidence for the ability of measures derived from the CES II-HST to be predicted by theoretically relevant sources of coaching efficacy and suggested modifications to the CMCE.