The bearing of studies of expertise and experience on ethnography

In a recent article published in this journal, Atkinson and Morris explore the kinds of expertise and competence needed by ethnographic researchers. In doing so, they refer to the work of Collins and Evans and, in particular, the idea of interactional expertise, which they dismiss as largely unhelpful to their project. In this response, we show that the Atkinson and Morriss miss-represent this work in important ways and that, if these mistakes are corrected, interactional expertise provides a useful way of addressing the methodological concerns they identify

Cobalt removal from wastewater using pine sawdust

Agricultural wastes can cause environmental problems if not well managed, but there is a lot of potential to use these wastes as raw material in other processes. In this investigation, pine sawdust was evaluated as an adsorbent in the treatment of wastewater containing cobalt ions. A two-level three-factor full-factorial experimental design with centre points was used to study the interactive effect of the operating parameters in order to achieve the best conditions for the batch adsorption of cobalt ions. A response surface analysis was also conducted to further understand the interactions amongst the factors such as adsorbent dose, solution pH and initial concentration. In addition, adsorption isotherms, namely the Freundlich and Langmuir, were used to characterize the removal of cobalt from the wastewater. It was observed that the combined effect of low adsorbent dose, high pH and high initial concentration of wastewater resulted in the highest adsorption capacity. The Freundlich isotherm provided a better fit to the experimental data than the Langmuir isotherm. Moreover, pine sawdust showed adsorption capabilities for cobalt, and hence it could be an option in the quest to use waste to treat wastewater

Understanding Collaborative Teaching and Learning in Adult Literacy: Practices in Canada and the United Kingdom

The purpose of this study was to investigate how adult students learn collaboratively with other peers in both formal and non-formal adult literacy programs and what teaching styles best support this learning. A multi-site case study research design was used involving several different literacy organizations in Eastern Ontario, Canada, and in Central London, United Kingdom. Findings suggest that collaborative learning is the cement that bonds the various building blocks in a community of literacy practice across small, large and tutorial types of programs. Central in this framework is the component called the Instructor’s Philosophy and Teaching Perspective which helps explain the teaching and learning transactions

The Interplay between Formal and Informal Training for Basic-Level Workers: Comparing Experiences in Canada and the United Kingdom

This study investigated the types of formal and informal training activities of basic level employees using a qualitative multi-site case study research design. Seven programs from Canada and four programs from the North and South of England were chosen from small, medium and large businesses. The range of formal and informal training activities is described as well as a preliminary analysis of informal learning as both an activity and as a process for workers improving their literacy skills

STS as science or politics

In a recent editorial for this journal, Sismondo makes two claims. First, he states that STS bears no responsibility for the emergence of post-truth politics. Second, he claims that debates about the nature of expertise that take place within STS are irrelevant in this context. In contrast, we argue that whether or not STS had a causal influence on the emergence of post-truth politics, there is a clear resonance between the two positions and that the current political climate makes empirically informed and scientific analyses of expertise and the form of life of science more important than ever. We argue that treating STS’s contribution to these matters as essentially political rather than scientific surrenders any special role we have as experts on the organisation and values of science and leaves STS as just one political actor among other

Modelling architecture in the world of expertise

Architecture and Studies of Expertise and Experienc

Mediating Influence of Information Technology Infrastructure in the Relationship Between Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities and Supply Chain Performance of Public Universities in Kenya

Research conducted under Research Authorization Permit NACOSTI/P/IT/97613/18539 of 20th September, 2017 issued by National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation, Kenya. The Technical University of Kenya sponsored the PhD Course. Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the mediating effect of information technology infrastructure in the relationship between Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities (SCPIC) and Supply Chain Performance (SCP) of public universities in Kenya. Information technology was hypothesized to have a positive mediation influence on the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. The study was grounded on Resource Dependency Theory and adopted a descriptive survey design.  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 31 public universities in Kenya. The response rate was 81%. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show a statistically significant relationship between SCPIC and supply chain performance. The approach for testing the mediation was adopted from Memon, Cheah, Ramayah, Ting, & Chuah, (2018). The results show that the relationship between SCPIC and SCP is mediated by information technology infrastructure. The study contributes to our understanding of the effect of information technology infrastructure in the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of universities. From the study, an integrated information technology infrastructure enables consistent and real-time transfer of information between supply chain management related applications and functions that are distributed across partners. The study recommends that public universities should invest in technology not only in their institutions but also in partnership with stakeholders like suppliers so as to streamline operations in the supply chain for organizational competitiveness. Keywords: Supply chain process integration capabilities, Information technology infrastructure, Supply chain performanc

Joint Effect of Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities, Information Technology Infrastructure and Government Policy on Supply Chain Performance of Public Universities in Kenya

Although the individual effects of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on performance have to some extent been researched on, the joint effect has not been subjected to research. The objective of the study was to establish the joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. It was hypothesized that the joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya is different from their individual effects. The study was guided by the resource based view (RBV). The study adopted a descriptive survey design.  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 31 public universities in Kenya with a target of 62 respondents one from procurement and one from the information communication technology departments respectively. The response rate was 81 per cent. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the collected data. The results of the study indicate that there is a joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya of R2 =0.688, F= 34.586, at P< 0.05. The implication of the study is that policy makers and implementers have to formulate superior supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy to achieve high levels of supply chain performance in public universities. This can build robust and agile end to end supply chains, policies, procedures, and practices for attainment of competitive advantages in operations. Keywords: Supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure, government policy, supply chain performance, public universities DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-11-06 Publication date: November 30th 202

Low Connexin Channel-Dependent Intercellular Communication in Human Adult Hematopoietic Progenitor/Stem Cells: Probing Mechanisms of Autologous Stem Cell Therapy

Human bone marrow is a clinical source of autologous progenitor stem cells showing promise for cardiac repair following ischemic insult. Functional improvements following delivery of adult bone marrow CD34+ cells into heart tissue may require metabolic/electrical communication between participating cells. Since connexin43 (Cx43) channels are implicated in cardiogenesis and provide intercellular connectivity in the heart, the authors analyzed the expression of 20 connexins (Cx) in CD34+ cells and in monocytes and granulocytes in bone marrow and spinal cord. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detected only low expression of Cx43 and Cx37. Very low level dye coupling was detected by flow cytometry between CD34+ cells and other Cx43 expressing cells, including HL-1 cardiac cells, and was not inhibited by specific gap junction inhibitors. The results indicate that CD34+ cells are unlikely to communicate via gap junctions and the authors conclude that use of CD34+ cells to repair damaged hearts is unlikely to involve gap junctions. The results concur with the hypothesis that bone marrow cells elicit improved cardiac function through release of undefined paracrine mediators

991-73 Ultrarapid Subthreshold Stimulation Delivered via Epicardial Patches can Terminate Reentrant Ventricular Tachycardia in a Canine Model

Although Ultrarapid subthreshold stimulation (USTS) delivered via endocardial electrodes to a critical site of a tachycardia circuit is able to terminate reentrant arrhythmias, it requires detailed electrophsyiologic mapping. We evaluated USTS given via epicardial patches to terminate ventricular tachycardia (VT).MethodsCanines underwent coronary artery ligation to produce apical infarction. 3–5 days after infarct, two defibrillator patches were sutured epicardially and pacing thresholds determined. VT was induced and USTS was applied at 90% threshold, with a train of 10 stimuli, cycle length 50ms, and pulse width 2ms. If there was no effect, increasing trains and pulse widths were used. Threshold was re-tested post-termination to insure subthreshold output. Six dogs survived and had 136 VTs induced.Results91/136 (67%) of induced VT episodes were terminated. 41 (30%) terminated after 1 delivery of USTS; 50 (37%) terminated after 2–17 sets of USTS; 22 (16%) were reset; 23 (17%) were unaffected. Of 91 terminations, there was a 66% probability of VT termination within the first three sets of USTS delivery.ConclusionsUSTS may be successfully applied via epicardial patches to terminate induced reentrant VT in the canine model, without the need for extensive mapping of the VT circuit