Teachers\u27 attitudes toward computer technology and factors influencing their attitudes and adoption of computer technology in classroom instruction : a literature review

With the introduction of computer literacy into curriculum, teachers\u27 attitudes toward computer technology and computer adoption in the classroom teaching remain major concerns for educators. This paper is intended to review the literature on teachers\u27 attitudes toward the use of computer technology as an instructional tool in classroom teaching and factors influencing their attitudes toward their use of computers. Their attitudes differ but are positive about teaching with computers if some barriers are overcome and some problems are solved, such as lack of training and accessibility. The literature review reveals that teachers have concerns and anxieties concerning computer technology, its effectiveness in learning, the quality and availability of appropriate software, time required for learning computer technology and some other unanticipated problems through using the software in their teaching. Finally, the literature review suggests that sufficient teacher training and professional support are the crucial elements to changing teachers\u27 attitudes toward more positive direction and improving their classroom use of computers to achieve the successful implementation and integration of computer technology into curriculum in education

Study on Diffusion Mechanism of Viral Marketing Based on Social Networking Web Sites

With the development of information technology and social network, viral marketing model which is a newly network marketing has been adopted by most companies in the recent years. We use social network analysis to make the preliminary study on the diffusion mechanism of viral marketing, and focus on finding how to accelerate social contagion. This article offers some suggestions as the reference value to apply the viral marketing model for the companies in the future

Students at a Chinese radio and television university: Reasons for participation, and perceptions of their status as students and the quality of their learning

The purpose of this case study was to investigate students\u27 participation in distance education and perceptions of their status as students and the learning achieved within the context of a radio and television university in the North of China. This study focused on the students who had completed a two-year college program and been promoted to a four-year bachelor\u27s degree program. Data was collected and analyzed from observations, interviews and document reviews. Results of the study identified many reasons for students\u27 participation at the radio and television university to pursue their higher education. The primary reason for most was their inability to choose other universities due to the fact that they could not meet the minimum score requirements for admission after the national college entrance examinations. Other reasons included the location of the city, desire to have a fresh start, and the courage to carry on. Overall, students perceived their learning achieved at the university as valuable. However, the value of the learning achieved appeared to depend heavily on the type of job they could find after graduation. With competition against the increased number of graduates from traditional universities each year in the job market, graduates from this university were at disadvantage in seeking well-paid employment within their city. The results of the study suggested several directions for further research. Ideas for future research included (a) replicating this study within this university and at other radio and television universities in less developed areas, at distance learning institutions among various groups of students, as well as at traditional higher education institutions; (b) follow-up studies on graduates from radio and television universities; (c) more in-depth studies on employers\u27 perceptions of their employees who graduated from distance learning programs in comparison with graduates from traditional universities; and (d) studies on the motives and barriers affecting students\u27 participation in higher education offered through distance education institutions

Collaborative mechanism on profit allotment and public health for a sustainable supply chain

This paper explores the collaborative mechanism that motivates supply chain firms to collectively invest in environmental technology and produce environmental friendly products (EFPs) to reduce pollutant emissions and negative impacts on environment and public health. Our paper investigates how such firms can achieve the balance between economic feasibility and environmental and social sustainability under multiple sustainable constraints in terms of the triple bottom line dimensions. The work also describes the impacts of interrelated multiple sustainable constraints on optimal policy for the supply chain transfer price and profit allotment decisions. Our findings suggest that government intervention plays a dominant role in governing the supply chain firms’ behaviors in the context of environmental and public health sustainability. The profit allotment is determined through the process of negotiation of the transfer price interrelated with the government subsidy sharing between the supply chain firms

Determinants of the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains: Evidence from the Chinese dairy industry

In this study, we use an evidence-based approach to examine the factors that determine the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains using evidence from the Chinese dairy industry. We focus on the quality assurance of dairy products, which is considered one of the fundamental influential factors. We investigate interrelationships among the identified determinants, which include dairy production behavior, dairy cow culture model, government regulations, corporate social responsibility, and quality assurance, and examine how these determinants influence the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains. We employ the structural equation modeling approach in which grouped observable variables that represent the identified determinants are extrapolated from primary data collected through a questionnaire survey. Our key findings show that by mediating the effects of dairy production behavior and the dairy cow culture model, government regulation and corporate social responsibility significantly affect the quality assurance of dairy products. In turn, dairy production behavior and the dairy cow culture model significantly affect the competitive advantage of the dairy supply chain via the fully mediated effects of the quality assurance of dairy products. Specifically, the dairy cow culture model helps ensure the safety and quality of milk supply, allowing core dairy firms to control product quality throughout the dairy supply chain. Our empirical study shows that the identified determinants interact to assure the quality of dairy products and enhance the competitive advantage of the dairy supply chain in China

Investigation on the static fatigue mechanism and effect of specimen thickness on the static fatigue lifetime in WC–Co cemented carbides

The static fatigue mechanism and effect of specimen thickness on static fatigue lifetime for four WC–Co cemented carbides were studied with different binder contents and carbide grain sizes. Static fatigue tests under three-point bend loading were conducted on different sized specimens. The fracture surfaces of rupture specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy to investigate the static fatigue micromechanisms.Досліджено механізм статичної втоми і вплив товщини зразка на термін служби при статичній втомі для чотирьох твердих сплавів WC–Co з різним вмістом зв’язки і розміром зерен. Випробування на статичну втому при навантаженні за схемою триточкового вигину було проведено на зразках різних розмірів. Поверхні зламів зруйнованих зразків було вивчено c допомогою скануючої електронної мікроскопії з метою дослідження мікромеханізму статичної втоми.Исследованы механизм статической усталости и влияние толщины образца на срок службы при статической усталости для четырех твердых сплавов WC–Co с различным содержанием связующего и размером зерен. Испытания на статическую усталость при нагрузке по схеме трехточечного изгиба были проведены на образцах различных размеров. Поверхности изломов разрушенных образцов были изучены c помощью сканирующей электронной микроскопии с целью исследования микромеханизмов статической усталости

BU10038 as a safe opioid analgesic with fewer side-effects after systemic and intrathecal administration in primates

© 2019 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Background: The marked increase in mis-use of prescription opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop improved analgesics which have agonist action at both mu opioid peptide (MOP) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. BU10038 is a recently identified bifunctional MOP/NOP partial agonist. The aim of this study was to determine the functional profile of systemic or spinal delivery of BU10038 in primates after acute and chronic administration. Methods: A series of behavioural and physiological assays have been established specifically to reflect the therapeutic (analgesia) and side-effects (abuse potential, respiratory depression, itch, physical dependence, and tolerance) of opioid analgesics in rhesus monkeys. Results: After systemic administration, BU10038 (0.001–0.01 mg kg −1 ) dose-dependently produced long-lasting antinociceptive and antihypersensitive effects. Unlike the MOP agonist oxycodone, BU10038 lacked reinforcing effects (i.e. little or no abuse liability), and BU10038 did not compromise the physiological functions of primates including respiration, cardiovascular activities, and body temperature at antinociceptive doses and a 10–30-fold higher dose (0.01–0.1 mg kg −1 ). After intrathecal administration, BU10038 (3 μg) exerted morphine-comparable antinociception and antihypersensitivity without itch scratching responses. Unlike morphine, BU10038 did not cause the development of physical dependence and tolerance after repeated and chronic administration. Conclusions: These in vivo findings demonstrate the translational potential of bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonists such as BU10038 as a safe, non-addictive analgesic with fewer side-effects in primates. This study strongly supports that bifunctional MOP/NOP agonists may provide improved analgesics and an alternative solution for the ongoing prescription opioid crisis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Periostin Activation of Integrin Receptors on Sensory Neurons Induces Allergic Itch

Chronic allergic itch is a common symptom affecting millions of people and animals, but its pathogenesis is not fully explained. Herein, we show that periostin, abundantly expressed in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), induces itch in mice, dogs, and monkeys. We identify the integrin αVβ3 expressed on a subset of sensory neurons as the periostin receptor. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we inhibited the function of neuronal integrin αVβ3, which significantly reduces periostin-induced itch in mice. Furthermore, we show that the cytokine TSLP, the application of AD-causing MC903 (calcipotriol), and house dust mites all induce periostin secretion. Finally, we establish that the JAK/STAT pathway is a key regulator of periostin secretion in keratinocytes. Altogether, our results identify a TSLP-periostin reciprocal activation loop that links the skin to the spinal cord via peripheral sensory neurons, and we characterize the non-canonical functional role of an integrin in itch

Signal-induced Brd4 release from chromatin is essential for its role transition from chromatin targeting to transcriptional regulation

Bromodomain-containing protein Brd4 is shown to persistently associate with chromosomes during mitosis for transmitting epigenetic memory across cell divisions. During interphase, Brd4 also plays a key role in regulating the transcription of signal-inducible genes by recruiting positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to promoters. How the chromatin-bound Brd4 transits into a transcriptional regulation mode in response to stimulation, however, is largely unknown. Here, by analyzing the dynamics of Brd4 during ultraviolet or hexamethylene bisacetamide treatment, we show that the signal-induced release of chromatin-bound Brd4 is essential for its functional transition. In untreated cells, almost all Brd4 is observed in association with interphase chromatin. Upon treatment, Brd4 is released from chromatin, mostly due to signal-triggered deacetylation of nucleosomal histone H4 at acetylated-lysine 5/8 (H4K5ac/K8ac). Through selective association with the transcriptional active form of P-TEFb that has been liberated from the inactive multi-subunit complex in response to treatment, the released Brd4 mediates the recruitment of this active P-TEFb to promoter, which enhances transcription at the stage of elongation. Thus, through signal-induced release from chromatin and selective association with the active form of P-TEFb, the chromatin-bound Brd4 switches its role to mediate the recruitment of P-TEFb for regulating the transcriptional elongation of signal-inducible genes.National Natural Science Foundation of China[30930046, 30670408, 81070307]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian[C0210005, 2010J01231]; Science Planning Program of Fujian Province[2009J1010, 2010J1008]; National Foundation for fostering talents of basic science[J1030626

Assessing the economic performance of an environmental sustainable supply chain in reducing environmental externalities

This study investigates the mechanism that motivates supply chain firms to reduce environmental ex- ternalities while balancing the economic feasibility of the supply chain system under environmentally constrained circumstances in a competitive market. Taking government policy incentives into account, a quantitative model of an integrated supply chain that incorporates sustainable constraints is formu- lated to optimize supply chain firms’ operational strategies of producing environmental friendly products (EFPs). This study contributes to the literature with a better understanding the interplay and interrelation of multiple sustainable constraints and their impact on supply chain firms’ collaborative decisions. Our findings suggest that the decisions of operating EFPs are subject to sustainable constraints and that the government policy incentives play a dominant role overseeing supply chain firms’ environmental behav- iors toward sustainability