The effect of network size on intra-network knowledge processes

This paper addresses a neglected topic in the knowledge management literature: how the size of a network of actors affects the nature of intra-network social relations and knowledge processes. It makes a theoretical contribution to developing understanding in this area drawing on a range of literatures including practice-based perspectives on knowledge, the literature on the embeddedness of social relations, and relevant knowledge management literature. The central focus of this paper is on the relationship between network size, network density, and how these variables affect intra-network knowledge processes. It suggests that as network size increases network density is likely to decrease (as it becomes problematic for the actors in such networks to retain strong ties with a significant proportion of the network's members), which it will be suggested has significant ramifications for intra-network knowledge processes. This paper concludes by reflecting on the implications of the ideas developed for network-based forms of organizing, and innovation processes.     

Association of Elevated Serum Lipoprotein(a), Inflammation,Oxidative Stress and Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension in Non-diabetes Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular risk factor. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], inflammation, oxidative stress and chronic kidney disease (CKD) exacerbate the response to tissue injury and acts as markers of the vascular disease, especially in glomerulosclerosis. We compared the clinical characteristics of 138 non-diabetes hypertensive women (ndHT) patients with 417 non-diabetes normotensive subjects and tested the association of hypertension with Lp(a), inflammation, CKD and oxidative stress by using multiple logistic regression. BP, BMI, waist circumference, creatinine, Lp(a), inflammation and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher and CKD state in the ndHT patients (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed hypertension associated with increased Lp(a), inflammation, ORs and 95 % CIs were 2.52 (1.33, 4.80), 2.75 (1.44, 5.27) after adjusting for their covariates. Elevated serum Lp(a) and inflammation levels concomitants with increased oxidative stress and CKD were the major risk factors associated with hypertension and implications for the increased risk of HT and vascular disease.     

变化世界中的科学素养:科技博物馆和科学中心能发挥什么作用？

当今世界正以前所未有的速度发生着各种各样的变化。一些大的趋向,即所谓的世界大趋势,在一定程度上影响每个人的生活。科学、技术和创新在这个不断变化的世界中发挥着重要作用。科学素养比以往任何时候都更加重要。科技博物馆和科学中心作为公众参与科学技术的重要角色,面临着一系列的机遇和挑战。在不断变化的世界里,它们在提高公众科学素养方面能发挥什么作用?如何使它们在提高科学素养方面更具相关性和影响力?本文通过分析当前世界在全球化、人口变化、技术变革、信息爆炸、可持续发展等方面的现实,论述科学素养的必要性以及科技博物馆和科学中心在变化的世界中应该如何发挥作用。     

Continuing education module: finding the path

In this guest editorial, the challenges and pain of childbirth are presented as essential components of important life transitions. The role of pain in childbirth is explored. Childbirth is discussed as a "flow experience," and recommendations for assisting women to meet the challenges of labor and birth are presented.     

Critical factors influencing secondary school pupil’s decisions to study computing in tertiary education: Gender differences

This paper aims to determine the factors affecting the decisions of both male and female secondary school pupils whether or not to pursue undergraduate studies in Computing. It is based on research conducted in Greece, on a sample of 248 pupils, 135 of whom were female. All were aged 17 and about to decide on their future undergraduate studies. Questionnaires were used, addressing issues in the following four main categories: a) the reasons pupils chose/rejected Computing, b) how family and friends, the media and the school environment contribute to their decision, c) how pupils perceived their future after studying Computing and d) how pupils perceived the profile of a computer professional in terms of gender.

Children with autism illuminate the role of social intention in word learning

To what extent do children with autism (AD) versus typically developing children (TD) rely on attentional and intentional cues to learn words? Four experiments compared 17 AD children (M age=5.08 years) with 17 language- and 17 mental-age-matched TD children (M ages=2.57 and 3.12 years, respectively) on nonverbal enactment and word-learning tasks. Results revealed variability in all groups, but particularly within the AD group. Performance on intention tasks was the most powerful predictor of vocabulary in the AD group but not in the TD groups. These findings suggest that word learning cannot be explained exclusively by either attentional or intentional processes, and they provide evidence of a special role for intentional understanding in the vocabulary development of AD children.     

Getting sloshed in outer space

We document some basic facts about how liquids behave in the low gravity of outer space and how this poses challenges to space scientists and engineers who need to design and test systems that handle fluids in outer space while working in the 1-g environment on Earth. N Ananthkrishnan is Director, Coral Digital Technologies (P) Ltd, a Bangalore-based company working in the area of multidisciplinary simulation and system integration of aerospace, naval and surface vehicles, and in the design and development of autonomous unmanned/micro air vehicles.     

日本国家级教育政策研究机构的改革与职能定位——基于日本国立教育政策研究所的分析

日本的国家级教育政策研究机构包括国家级政府主导的公务机关性质的教育政策研究机构、独立行政法人性质的教育政策研究机构和大学或大学附属性质的教育政策研究机构。为了更有助于国家层面教育政策的整体规划和深度推进,日本文部科学省对原有的国家级教育政策研究机构进行了改革重组,强化了其服务于政府宏观教育决策的职能。以代表日本国家级教育政策研究机构的国立教育政策研究所为例,改革后其职能为:准确恰当并且迅速地应对教育行政上的诸多课题;回应教育基层实践的要求,进行全面综合地调查研究;向教育相关者提供教育研究情报信息;开展教育领域的国际性的共同研究;推进与地方政府的教育研究所或研究中心等的共同研究。日本国家级教育政策研究机构的改革与发展,为我国教育政策研究的科学化发展提供了参考和启示。     

公共教育服务体制创新:治理的视角

为了满足多元化的公共教育需求,解决公共教育产品短缺和公共教育服务不到位等问题,有必要从治理的视角重新思考政府在公共教育产品与服务中的角色和作用,运用治理的理念和精神变革公共教育服务体制,实现公共教育服务供给主体的多元化、公共教育治理权力的多中心化和公共教育服务结构的多样化。     

情感:情境教育理论构建的命脉

儿童时期是一个人一生奠基的关键时期。30年来,我不懈地追求儿童发展的规律,初步构建了以儿童为主体的、自成体系的情境教育理论框架。情感,让我迈出情境教育的第一步。在此基础上,我提出了情感活动与认知活动结合起来的教育主张,构建了情感与认知结合获得教学高效能的课程范式。在回顾整理情境教学的探索历程中,我概括出情境教学促进儿童发展的五要素,构建了情境教育的基础模式和基础原理,并对情境课程进行了网络构建。回顾情境教育理论构架的历程,我的爱与儿童的情的交融,构成了情境教育理论构架的内核。情是教育的魂,是情境教育的命脉。