Unreliability in Student Evaluation of Teaching Questionnaires: Focus Groups as an Alternative Approach

The conventional method used to measure teaching effectiveness is the student evaluation of teaching questionnaire (SET). Research on the validity and reliability of SETs is vast, though riddled with inconsistencies. The many “myths” of SETs are investigated and the incongruities are demonstrated. We hypothesize that the discrepancies in empirical studies come from misunderstanding and inappropriate actions by students. To address the complexity inherent in these problems, we suggest the use of focus groups as an alternative approach or complement to the standard SETs. A recommended format and guidelines for running classroom focus groups are provided. Institutional constraints and implementation concerns are addressed as well. This article lays the foundation for implementing a change in student assessment of teaching by proposing a method to compensate for bias in SETs, using focus groups as an evaluation tool, either as a stand-alone process or as a supplement to current methods

Viral Ecology and the Maintenance of Novel Host Use

Viruses can occasionally emerge by infecting new host species. However, the early phases of emergence can hinge upon ecological sustainability of the virus population, which is a product of both within‐host population growth and between‐host transmission. Insufficient growth or transmission can force virus extinction before the latter phases of emergence, where genetic adaptations that improve host use may occur. We examined the early phase of emergence by studying the population dynamics of RNA phages in replicated laboratory environments containing native and novel host bacteria. To predict the breadth of transmission rates allowing viral persistence on each species, we developed a simple model based on in vitro data for phage growth rate over a range of initial population densities on both hosts. Validation of these predictions using serial passage experiments revealed a range of transmission rates for which the native host was a source and the novel host was a sink. In this critical range of transmission rates, periodic exposure to the native host was sufficient for the maintenance of the viral population on the novel host. We argue that this effect should facilitate adaptation by the virus to utilize the novel host—often crucial in subsequent phases of emergence

Culture change in a museum: An action research analysis

The move of a museum in the western United States to larger quarters resulted in an increase in visitors and requests for tours. To respond to the greater number of tours, new volunteers (docents) were recruited and trained. But conflicts arose between the old and new docents. As Docent Chair, one of the authors worked with the Curator of Education to understand the culture change faced by the old docent group and integrate the old and new docent groups. This paper analyzes the culture change using Lewin’s Action Research model. The success of the culture integration was demonstrated when the old and new docents moved away from «this is how it should be done…» to «this is what I see…» in speaking about an event or problem. The language and perception changes were steps toward building a common meaning.A mudança, para instalações maiores, de um museu no Oeste dos Estados Unidos teve como resultado o aumento do número de visitantes e pedidos para visitas guiadas. A fim de responder a este aumento, foram recrutados e formados novos voluntários (docentes). No entanto, verificou- se o surgimento de conflitos entre os novos e os velhos docentes. Na posição de Docent Chair, um dos autores deste artigo colaborou com o Curator of Education no sentido de compreender a mudança de cultura sentida pelos velhos docentes e integrar os dois grupos. Este artigo analisa a mudança cultural utilizando o modelo de Investigação em Acção de Lewin. O sucesso da integração cultural fica ilustrado com a modificação de posturas dos grupos quando se referem a eventos ou problemas, de uma postura tipo «isto é como as coisas devem ser feitas…», para uma outra tipo «isto é o que eu acho…». As mudanças na linguagem e percepção foram passos na construção de significados partilhados

Therapeutic properties, SOD and catecholase mimetic activities of novel ternary copper(II) complexes of the anti-inflammatory drug Fenoprofen with imidazole and caffeine

The copper(II) ternary complexes of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Fenoprofen (Hfen) and the biologically relevant molecules imidazole (im) and caffeine (caf) as auxiliary ligands were investigated as novel anti-inflammatory agents. The new copper(II) complexes with formula [Cu(fen) 2(im) 2] (1) and Cu 2(fen) 4(caf) 2 (2) were synthesized from the dinuclear complex [Cu 2(fen) 4(dmf) 2] and characterized by IR, UV-Vis, EPR spectral and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Both complexes 1 and 2 present enhanced and prolongued anti-inflammatory properties against the parent drug calcium Fenoprofenate, Ca(fen) 2·2H 2O, with a better performance for complex 1. Ternary complexes are potential models for several mono and poly-nuclear metal enzymes. The measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activities of the complexes indicated a higher SOD mimic activity for complex 2 (IC 50 of 0.24 μM) than complex 1 (IC 50 of 0.70 μM), and also than the native enzyme evaluated by the same method (IC 50 of 0.480 μM). The catecholase activity of the complexes toward the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (dtbc) onto 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (dtbq) showed that both complexes have moderate catalytic oxidase activity.Fil: Agotegaray, Mariela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Dennehy, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Boeris, Mónica Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Grela, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Burrow, Robert A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Quinzani, Oscar Valentín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; Argentin

Ni-thiosaccharinate complexes: Synthesis, characterization and DFT studies. Biological properties as superoxide dismutase mimetics and as anti-carcinogenic agents

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of two nickel thiosaccharinate complexes, [Ni(tsac)2(PPh3)2] (1) and [Ni(tsac)2(dppe)]·CH3CN (2), where tsac = thiosaccharinate anion, PPh3 = triphenylphosphane and dppe = bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane. Elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectra and single crystal X ray diffraction studies of the complexes are presented. DFT optimizations of the two new compounds were performed in order to verify the FTIR vibrational assignations. The two nickel(II) thiosaccharinate complexes consist of mononuclear units in which the Ni atoms are the centre of square-planar coordination spheres, surrounded by two sulfur thiosaccharinate atoms and two phosphorous atoms from the phosphane ligands. In both complexes, the anions are mono-coordinated to the metal. In the [Ni(tsac)2(PPh3)2] structure, the phosphane moieties are located in trans position. In the [Ni(tsac)2(dppe)] structure, the dppe ligand chelates to the metal centre, as expected. Additionally, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity of the complexes was measured and it is reported herein. The effects of the complexes on cell proliferation were also studied and are described.Fil: Delgado, Fermin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Nicova, Eva. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Agotegaray, Mariela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: González Pardo, María Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Dorn, Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Burrow, Robert A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Dennehy, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; Argentin

Effects of Resistance to Bt Cotton on Diapause in the Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella

Fitness costs associated with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops are expected to delay the evolution of resistance. In a previous study where pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), larvae overwintered in outdoor insectaries, individuals from Bt-resistant strains had lower survival than individuals from Bt-susceptible strains or F1 progeny from crosses between resistant and susceptible adults. To investigate the physiological basis of such recessive cost, diapause duration was experimentally manipulated in the laboratory. Compared to a Bt-susceptible strain and F1 progeny, we hypothesized that Bt-resistant strains could exhibit a lower propensity or intensity of diapause, faster weight loss during overwintering, lower initial weight of diapausing larvae, and reduced longevity of moths emerging from diapause. Results were as expected for initial weight of diapausing larvae and longevity of overwintered male moths or female moths remaining in diapause for a short period. However, a higher diapause induction and intensity and slower weight loss occurred in F1 progeny and Bt-resistant strains than in a Bt-susceptible strain. Moreover, F1 progeny had greater overwintering survival than the Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible strains, and F1 female moths had the greatest longevity after sustaining long diapausing periods. All of these unexpected results may be explained by pleiotropic effects of resistance to Bt cotton that increased the strength of diapause in the F1 progeny and Bt-resistant strains. Incomplete resistance was reflected in disadvantages suffered by Bt-resistant individuals feeding on a Bt diet instead of a non-Bt diet, including lower diapause propensity, lower diapause intensity and reduced longevity of overwintered male moths. While this study suggests that the evolution of resistance to Bt cotton and feeding on a Bt diet in Bt-resistant individuals have pervasive effects on several traits associated with diapause, further field experiments are needed to elucidate the basis of the overwintering cost in the pink bollworm

Foodborne Illness Acquired in the United States—Major Pathogens

Each year, 31 pathogens caused 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness, resulting in 55,961 hospitalizations and 1,351 deaths

Characterisation of Innate Fungal Recognition in the Lung

The innate recognition of fungi by leukocytes is mediated by pattern recognition receptors (PRR), such as Dectin-1, and is thought to occur at the cell surface triggering intracellular signalling cascades which lead to the induction of protective host responses. In the lung, this recognition is aided by surfactant which also serves to maintain the balance between inflammation and pulmonary function, although the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we have explored pulmonary innate recognition of a variety of fungal particles, including zymosan, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, and demonstrate that opsonisation with surfactant components can limit inflammation by reducing host-cell fungal interactions. However, we found that this opsonisation does not contribute directly to innate fungal recognition and that this process is mediated through non-opsonic PRRs, including Dectin-1. Moreover, we found that pulmonary inflammatory responses to resting Aspergillus conidia were initiated by these PRRs in acidified phagolysosomes, following the uptake of fungal particles by leukocytes. Our data therefore provides crucial new insights into the mechanisms by which surfactant can maintain pulmonary function in the face of microbial challenge, and defines the phagolysosome as a novel intracellular compartment involved in the innate sensing of extracellular pathogens in the lung

Creative destruction in science

Drawing on the concept of a gale of creative destruction in a capitalistic economy, we argue that initiatives to assess the robustness of findings in the organizational literature should aim to simultaneously test competing ideas operating in the same theoretical space. In other words, replication efforts should seek not just to support or question the original findings, but also to replace them with revised, stronger theories with greater explanatory power. Achieving this will typically require adding new measures, conditions, and subject populations to research designs, in order to carry out conceptual tests of multiple theories in addition to directly replicating the original findings. To illustrate the value of the creative destruction approach for theory pruning in organizational scholarship, we describe recent replication initiatives re-examining culture and work morality, working parents\u2019 reasoning about day care options, and gender discrimination in hiring decisions. Significance statement It is becoming increasingly clear that many, if not most, published research findings across scientific fields are not readily replicable when the same method is repeated. Although extremely valuable, failed replications risk leaving a theoretical void\u2014 reducing confidence the original theoretical prediction is true, but not replacing it with positive evidence in favor of an alternative theory. We introduce the creative destruction approach to replication, which combines theory pruning methods from the field of management with emerging best practices from the open science movement, with the aim of making replications as generative as possible. In effect, we advocate for a Replication 2.0 movement in which the goal shifts from checking on the reliability of past findings to actively engaging in competitive theory testing and theory building. Scientific transparency statement The materials, code, and data for this article are posted publicly on the Open Science Framework, with links provided in the article

“So what if ChatGPT wrote it?” Multidisciplinary perspectives on opportunities, challenges and implications of generative conversational AI for research, practice and policy

Transformative artificially intelligent tools, such as ChatGPT, designed to generate sophisticated text indistinguishable from that produced by a human, are applicable across a wide range of contexts. The technology presents opportunities as well as, often ethical and legal, challenges, and has the potential for both positive and negative impacts for organisations, society, and individuals. Offering multi-disciplinary insight into some of these, this article brings together 43 contributions from experts in fields such as computer science, marketing, information systems, education, policy, hospitality and tourism, management, publishing, and nursing. The contributors acknowledge ChatGPT’s capabilities to enhance productivity and suggest that it is likely to offer significant gains in the banking, hospitality and tourism, and information technology industries, and enhance business activities, such as management and marketing. Nevertheless, they also consider its limitations, disruptions to practices, threats to privacy and security, and consequences of biases, misuse, and misinformation. However, opinion is split on whether ChatGPT’s use should be restricted or legislated. Drawing on these contributions, the article identifies questions requiring further research across three thematic areas: knowledge, transparency, and ethics; digital transformation of organisations and societies; and teaching, learning, and scholarly research. The avenues for further research include: identifying skills, resources, and capabilities needed to handle generative AI; examining biases of generative AI attributable to training datasets and processes; exploring business and societal contexts best suited for generative AI implementation; determining optimal combinations of human and generative AI for various tasks; identifying ways to assess accuracy of text produced by generative AI; and uncovering the ethical and legal issues in using generative AI across different contexts