Educational Publishing: An Industry in Transition in the Digital Age

The objective of this paper is twofold: first, to critically map educational publishing scholarship to date, particularly for the Australian market; and second, to reflect on an industry in transition, utilising the business theory of disruptive technology as a supporting framework

Life Before and After: Editors’ Work and Place in the COVID-19 Gig Economy

‘Good’ editorial practice – in this case, post-developmental copy-editing work – is typically measured by an editor’s ‘positive invisibility’ (J. Hargrave, Teaching Publishing and Editorial Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2022). Traditionally, editing has been considered a ‘role [that] tends to be pushed into the margins’, taking place ‘behind the scenes’ and existing ‘everywhere and, therefore, nowhere’ (S. Greenberg, ‘When the Editor Disappears, Does Editing Disappear?’, Convergence, 2010, p. 8); a hidden, mysterious business transparent only to those who practise it. Editorial practice is hence often (mis)judged by physical invisibility on the page: that is, an absence of error. An editor’s value is predicated on their positive invisibility, an outcome of which can be their marginalization. With the distinction between work and home life essentially eradicated in the COVID-19 gig economy of 2020–2021, central questions posed for this context were simply: ‘How did editors cope with the work-to-home transition?’, ‘Did editors become more invisible and/or marginalized during COVID-19?’, and, ‘If so, what was the nature of this invisibility and/or marginalization?’ Editors were contacted in 2020 and 2022 to describe their editorial practice and its potential (in)visibility before, during, and after the 2020–2021 pandemic lockdowns. Their responses exposed their at times polarized experiences and work – life challenges, and ongoing systemic problems in industry

Accessing numeric data via flags and tags: A final report on a real world experiment

An experiment is reported which: extended the concepts of data flagging and tagging to the aerospace scientific and technical literature; generated experience with the assignment of data summaries and data terms by documentation specialists; and obtained real world assessments of data summaries and data terms in information products and services. Inclusion of data summaries and data terms improved users' understanding of referenced documents from a subject perspective as well as from a data perspective; furthermore, a radical shift in document ordering behavior occurred during the experiment toward proportionately more requests for data-summarized items

Converging Winds: Logic Hybridization in the Colorado Wind Energy Field

This study explores the hybridization of field-level logics, a process that integrates previously incompatible logics within an organizational field. Through an inductive study of the wind energy field in Colorado, we find that logic hybridization resulted when social movement organizations, incumbent firms, and policy makers variously responded to incompatibility between economizing and ecologizing logics. Compromise and framing efforts catalyzed social movements to alter the balance of power in the field, which transformed the relationship between field logics. Hybrid organizations then emerged to establish, legitimize, and embed a new set of inter-linked frames, practices, and arrangements that integrated previously incompatible logics. Incumbent firms and policy makers further formalized and embedded the new hybridized logic in the field. Our findings suggest that the hybridization of field level logics is a complex process in which organizational actions and field-level conditions recursively influence each other over time

Influence of Community Characteristics on Urban Forest Management Programs in New York State

US state and federal urban forest management agencies endeavor to support municipal forestry programs. However, the variation in programs within and among states may complicate support delivery. Municipal programs are often categorized by population size and community affluence to identify common characteristics and needs and facilitate support. To describe local urban forest management programs in New York State, a survey of municipalities gathered information on urban forest management program components, intentions, and needs. In addition to examining the contributions of population size and affluence, this study also evaluated the influence of metropolitan areas on programs in small municipalities and compared all community categorizations using national program standards. The survey revealed that a high percentage of municipalities plant and maintain trees. Nearly half of municipalities have tree inventories and street tree advisory boards, and a low percentage have an urban forest management plan. Almost all reported needing technical and educational assistance. Larger communities were more likely to have a comprehensive urban forest management program than medium-sized communities, and medium communities were more likely than small communities. Communities with high median household income (MHI) were more likely to have comprehensive urban forestry management programs than less affluent communities. However, low MHI and middle MHI communities had equivalent programs. Small municipalities in counties with large metropolitan areas possessed attributes similar to larger municipalities, compared to small communities in counties without these areas. This may indicate that proximity to a large metropolis has the potential to provide a small community with additional resources. These results suggest that smaller and less affluent communities, especially those outside counties containing large metropolitan areas, need more urban forest management assistance than larger and more affluent communities. However, all survey respondents indicated the need for support

Applying Workspace Limitations in a Velocity-Controlled Robotic Mechanism

A robotic system includes a robotic mechanism responsive to velocity control signals, and a permissible workspace defined by a convex-polygon boundary. A host machine determines a position of a reference point on the mechanism with respect to the boundary, and includes an algorithm for enforcing the boundary by automatically shaping the velocity control signals as a function of the position, thereby providing smooth and unperturbed operation of the mechanism along the edges and corners of the boundary. The algorithm is suited for application with higher speeds and/or external forces. A host machine includes an algorithm for enforcing the boundary by shaping the velocity control signals as a function of the reference point position, and a hardware module for executing the algorithm. A method for enforcing the convex-polygon boundary is also provided that shapes a velocity control signal via a host machine as a function of the reference point position

Blast injuries in children: a mixed-methods narrative review.

Background and significance. Blast injuries arising from high explosive weaponry is common in conflict areas. While blast injury characteristics are well recognised in the adults, there is a lack of consensus as to whether these characteristics translate to the paediatric population. Understanding blast injury patterns in this cohort is essential for providing appropriate provision of services and care for this vulnerable cohort. Methods. In this mixed-method review, original papers were screened for data pertaining to paediatric injuries following blasts. Information on demographics, morbidity and mortality and service requirements were evaluated. The papers were written and published in English from a range of international specialists in the field. Patient and public involvement statement: No patients or members of the public were involved in this review. Results. Children affected by blast injuries are predominantly male and their injuries arise from explosive remnants of war, particularly unexploded ordinance. Blasts show increased morbidity and mortality in younger children, while older children have injury patterns similar to adults. Head and burn injuries represent a significant cause of mortality in young children, while lower limb morbidity is reduced compared to adults. Children have a disproportionate requirement for both operative and non-operative service resources, and provisions for this burden are essential. Conclusions. Certain characteristics of paediatric injuries arising from blasts are distinct from that of the adult cohort, while the intensive demands on services highlights the importance of understanding the diverse injury patterns in order to optimise future service provisions in caring for this the child blast survivor

Secondary non-invasive prenatal screening for fetal trisomy: an effectiveness study in a public health setting.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of secondary screening using non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in a routine NHS setting including test performance, turn-around times (TATs) and no-call (failure to obtain result) rates. To examine the influence of maternal and fetal characteristics on test performance. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: London teaching hospital. SAMPLE: A total of 8651 pregnancies undergoing screening for fetal trisomy using NIPT provided by an NHS cell-free DNA screening laboratory - the SAFE laboratory. METHODS: Screening test evaluation and TATs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify significant predictors of no-call results and reported by low fetal fraction (40%) and processing failure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Test performance, TATs and no-call rates, factors affecting no-call results. RESULTS: Average TAT was 4.0 days (95% CI 4.0-4.2 days). Test sensitivities for trisomies 21 and 13/18 were 98.9% (95% CI 95.9-99.9%) and 90.4% (95% CI 80.0-96.8%), respectively. The overall no-call rate was 32/8651 (0.37%, 95% CI 0.26-0.52%). The overall risk of a no-call result was influenced by gestational age, dichorionic twin pregnancy, history of malignancy and pregnancies affected by trisomy 13/18, but not by maternal weight or use of low-molecular-weight heparin. CONCLUSIONS: High-throughput NIPT can be effectively embedded into a public health NHS setting. TATs of 4 days and no-calls of <0.5% were well within clinically desirable tolerances. Gestational age, maternal weight, assisted reproductive techniques, use of low-molecular-weight heparin and past history of malignancy did not have major impacts on test no-call rates and should not constitute reasons for withholding the option of NIPT from women. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Turn-around times of 4 days, no-call (test failure) rates of 0.37% and highly accurate NIPT can be successfully embedded in the NHS