Non-STEM researchers’ use of technology for research activities: A phenomenographic analysis identifying varied experiences, the relationships between them and the structure of awareness

The government and funding bodies encourage researchers to develop their use of technology and related e-Infrastructure to enhance research. Due to the disciplinary nature of research, this study focuses on researchers from non-STEM areas, such as Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law, and aims to understand their experiences of using technology. The study used a phenomenographic approach to map and understand the experiences of 26 experienced researchers from 10 Further and Higher Education institutions in England. Marton and Booth’s extension of subject-object relationship (Piaget, Brentano) and the structure of awareness (Gestalt, Gurwitsch) were used to theorise the data. The findings describe researchers’ experiences of technology use by categorising them in four prominent ways: Irrelevant (in the background of research); Secondary (led by research); Integral (embedded in research); and Informing (complementing research). The thesis maps the outcome space of this phenomenographic analysis and shows that variation in the experiences of using technology amongst these researchers can be understood in terms of their structure of awareness, that is, which critical aspects are in their focus at that particular point. These critical aspects are informed by the way researchers have experienced research, and their experiences of technical support and development. The variations are also related to the subject-object relationship between the researcher and the direct object (technology) as well as between the researcher and the indirect object (aims or benefits). Furthermore, a particular researcher could experience technology use differently depending on these combinations of focus in different situations, and they could move from one way of experiencing to another by being aware of the different ways of experiencing through their peers or professional development programmes. The thesis offers insights into the range of ways in which researchers approach research tasks through the lens of technology use. It makes an original contribution through this description and analysis of the qualitatively varied ways in which researchers experience technology use in their research and the critical aspects that explain these variations. In addition, it makes a methodological contribution in relation to the use of a phenomenographic approach for understanding the issues and questions in the area of researchers’ use of technology

Syncytial basis for diversity in spike shapes and their propagation in detrusor smooth muscle

AbstractSyncytial tissues, such as the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder wall, are known to produce action potentials (spikes) with marked differences in their shapes and sizes. The need for this diversity is currently unknown, and neither is their origin understood. The small size of the cells, their syncytial arrangement, and the complex nature of innervation poses significant challenges for the experimental investigation of such tissues. To obtain better insight, we present here a three-dimensional electrical model of smooth muscle syncytium, developed using the compartmental modeling technique, with each cell possessing active channel mechanisms capable of producing an action potential. This enables investigation of the syncytial effect on action potential shapes and their propagation. We show how a single spike shape could undergo modulation, resulting in diverse shapes, owing to the syncytial nature of the tissue. Differences in the action potential features could impact their capacity to propagate through a syncytium. This is illustrated through comparison of two distinct action potential mechanisms. A better understanding of the origin of the various spike shapes would have significant implications in pathology, assisting in evaluating the underlying cause and directing their treatment

Modeling extracellular fields for a three-dimensional network of cells using NEURON

Background: Computational modeling of biological cells usually ignores their extracellular fields, assuming them to be inconsequential. Though such an assumption might be justified in certain cases, it is debatable for networks of tightly packed cells, such as in the central nervous system and the syncytial tissues of cardiac and smooth muscle. New method: In the present work, we demonstrate a technique to couple the extracellular fields of individual cells within the NEURON simulation environment. The existing features of the simulator are extended by explicitly defining current balance equations, resulting in the coupling of the extracellular fields of adjacent cells. Results: With this technique, we achieved continuity of extracellular space for a network model, thereby allowing the exploration of extracellular interactions computationally. Using a three-dimensional network model, passive and active electrical properties were evaluated under varying levels of extracellular volumes. Simultaneous intracellular and extracellular recordings for synaptic and action potentials were analyzed, and the potential of ephaptic transmission towards functional coupling of cells was explored. Comparison with existing method(s): We have implemented a true bi-domain representation of a network of cells, with the extracellular domain being continuous throughout the entire model. This has hitherto not been achieved using NEURON, or other compartmental modeling platforms. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the coupling of the extracellular field of every cell in a threedimensional model to obtain a continuous uniform extracellulat" space. This technique provides a framework for the investigation of interactions in tightly packed networks of cells via their extracellular fields. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Developing experienced researchers’ use of technology: examining some critical issues

Experienced researchers often have established ways of engaging with their research activities, which work for them. However, rapid technological advances are ubiquitous in the 21st century, and offer overwhelming amounts of information and novel ways of synthesising it. This can create technological overload distracting from the research itself; but it is not a factor researchers can ignore. Various collaborative efforts such as the Seven Pillars of Information Literacy - Research Lens (contributions from Society of College, National and University Libraries, Researcher Development Framework, and Research Information Network) are there to prepare researchers for the technology era. It focuses on various stages of dealing with information. But how does this translate in practice? How are these skills development and support systems implemented for researchers