Lasting impacts of an Aboriginal youth leadership retreat: a case study of Alberta’s Future Leaders Program

In this paper, we use a postcolonial lens to analyze the impacts of Aboriginal youth’s participation in Alberta’s Future Leaders Program’s youth leadership retreat. While the retreat appeared to have positive lasting impacts on many of the participants, it seemed to have the greatest impact on those who already displayed Eurocentric leadership skills; it had little effect on those who did not display these skills prior to retreat participation and it focused on North American, Eurocentric approaches to leadership. By becoming more culturally relevant, we argue that the retreat could have broader impacts on a greater number of Aboriginal youth.     

Parental sensitivity and attachment in children with autism spectrum disorder: comparison with children with mental retardation, with language delays, and with typical development

This study on sensitivity and attachment included 55 toddlers and their parents. Samples included children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mental retardation, language delay, and typical development. Children were diagnosed at 4 years of age. Two years before diagnosis, attachment was assessed with the Strange Situation procedure, and parental sensitivity and child involvement during free play were assessed with the Emotional Availability Scale. Parents of children with ASD were equally sensitive as parents of children without ASD, but their children showed more attachment disorganization and less child involvement. More sensitive parents had more secure children, but only in the group without ASD. Less severe autistic symptoms in the social domain predicted more attachment security. Autism challenges the validity of attachment theory.     

Neoliberalism,new public management and the sustainable development agenda of higher education: history,contradictions and synergies

This paper explores the ideological and the practical relationship between neoliberalism and New Public Management (NPM) and the sustainable development agenda of western higher education. Using the United Kingdom and specifically English universities as an example, it investigates the contradictions and the synergies between neoliberal and NPM ideologies and the pursuit and practice of the sustainability agenda, focusing in particular on education for sustainable development (ESD) and ESD research. This paper reveals a range of challenges and opportunities in respect of advancing sustainability in higher education, within the prevailing neoliberal context. It illustrates using examples how neoliberal and managerialist control mechanisms, which govern institutional, departmental and individual academic, as well as student behaviour, are working conversely to both drive and limit the sustainability education agenda. The case is made for further exploration of how ‘nudging’ and ‘steering’ mechanisms within English HE might provide further leverage for ESD developments in the near future, and the implications of this for sustainability educators.     

Forging an identity as a linguistic minority: Intra- and intergroup aspects of language,communication and identity in Western Canada

Language has often been understood as the carrier of culture [Chiu, C. H., & Chen, J. (2004). Symbols and interactions: Application of the CCC model to culture, language, and social identity. In S. H. Ng, C. N. Candlin, & C. H. Chui (Eds.), Language matters: Communication, culture, and identity (pp. 155–182). Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press; Fishman, J. A. (1977). Language and ethnicity. In H. Giles (Ed.), Language, ethnicity and intergroup relations (pp. 15–57). London: Academic Press]. Contact with other cultural groups, however, effects many changes to the social context and linguistic répertoire of minority group members (e.g. [Phinney, J. S. (2003). Ethnic identity and acculturation. In K. M. Chun, P. B. Organista, & G. Marín (Eds.), Acculturation: Advances in theory, measurement, and applied research (pp. 63–81). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association]). While there is a link between language and culture, there is still a lack of firm understanding regarding the dynamics that surround the relationship between language, group interactions, and acculturative outcomes. The goal of this study is, therefore, to further delve into the components of social interactions and communication to map out these processes. A total of 218 Francophone students enrolled in French schools in Saskatchewan completed a questionnaire assessing their psychological adjustment, ethnic identity, social support, communication networks, intergroup contact, and linguistic confidence. The results indicated that social interactions with both the in- and outgroup were important for identity maintenance, adoption, and adjustment. The relevance of communication networks and social support in acculturative situations is discussed.     

Detection of macroenzymes: establishing upper reference limits for eight enzymes after polyethylene glycol precipitation

IntroductionThe presence of macroenzymes in blood can cause diagnostic confusion. Therefore, confirming the presence of macroenzymes is important to reduce unnecessary (non-)invasive investigations. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation is a simple and fast first-line method for the detection of macroenzymes. However, there is no consensus on the upper reference limit for the PEG-precipitable activity (%PPA) of monomeric enzymes. The aim of this study was to verify a PEG precipitation protocol for the detection of macroenzymes in our laboratory by establishing upper reference limits (URLs) and determining imprecision for eight enzymes after PEG precipitation. In addition, we aimed to clinically verify the URLs using samples containing macroenzymes as identified by electrophoresis.Materials and methodsPer enzyme, at least 40 leftover blood samples from adult patients with either normal or increased enzyme activities were diluted 1:1 with 25% PEG 6000 and 1:1 with 0.9% NaCl. Mixtures were incubated for 10 min at 37°C and centrifuged. Supernatant enzyme activity was measured on Cobas c702 and the %PPA was calculated.ResultsThe following URLs were obtained: 26% PPA for amylase, 29% PPA for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 61% PPA for alanine aminotransferase, 48% PPA for aspartate aminotransferase, 24% PPA for creatine kinase (CK), 55% PPA for gamma-glutamyltransferase, 65% PPA for lactate dehydrogenase, and 56% PPA for lipase. The within-lab imprecision was < 15%. Regarding the clinical verification, the two historical samples with proven macroCK showed a %PPA of 69% and 43%, respectively, and a sample with proven macroALP had a %PPA of 52%.ConclusionIn this study, URLs for monomeric enzyme activities after PEG precipitation for eight different enzymes were established. The URLs are suitable for clinical use, but are only partially in line with other studies. Therefore, our data highlight the importance of establishing laboratory-specific upper reference limits for %PPA to allow a correct interpretation.     

The governance and standardisation of research information in different science systems: A comparative analysis of Germany and Italy

This paper takes a policy‐analytical perspective on the evolution of standards of research information (RI) and provides a framework for analysing processes of RI standardisation in different research systems. It focuses on the choice of policy instruments on the macro level (government) and their effects with regard to policy reactions, decisions and practices on the meso level (Higher Education institutions). Next to providing a conceptual frame for analysing and comparing—direct and indirect—RI standardisation processes, the paper presents exploratory evidence with regard to the German and Italian science systems. The empirical analysis shows that policies (indirectly) regulating the institutional processing of RI (e.g., evaluation policies) might indeed lead to the standardisation of RI in a science system. Policy reactions on the meso or organisational level, which largely shape the standardisation dynamics, depend on the strategic relevance of the policy and on available implementation support.     

Cultivating Orchids May Help Conserve Wild Species in China

正Over-exploitation of economically valuable species is a major threat to biodiversity.Few studies have investigated the role of consumer behavior in driving over-exploitation of rare,wild species in the lucrative horticultural trade.Dr.Sophie Williams,a postdoc of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden(XTBG),and her collaborators conducted a study to investigate consumer preferences for particular attributes of ornamental