Weapons of mouse destruction: a 3D strategy for combating cut-and-paste plagiarism using the JISC Plagiarism Advisory Service

This article describes an action research project undertaken in the Business Information Technology (BIT) subject group of a post-1992 University Business School to combat the growing menace of cut-and-paste plagiarism. The authors regard plagiarism—the passing off as one’s own, the words and ideas of another—as an academic malpractice that should be deterred, detected and dealt with appropriately. We use these three themes, or dimensions, to structure our account here of an expanding portfolio of tools and techniques we have deployed over a period of three years. Recently the Joint Information Systems Committee’s (JISC) Plagiarism Advisory Service (PAS) has become central to our efforts, and whilst it is certainly useful in structuring student perceptions, detecting and highlighting sections of cut and paste, and providing professional disciplinary evidence, we draw attention to the potentially pivotal role it can play in structuring student perceptions of plagiarism. In particular, we advise that the JISC PAS is used carefully as part of a more considered approach to student plagiarism rather than as a quick and easy panacea. Pilot studies carried out across six undergraduate and postgraduate units have revealed a growing awareness, amongst both academic and student enthusiasts, of the strengths and limitations of this service. Potentially, these limitations, combined with the restricted sanctions available according to university regulations, could constitute a small risk that some students may calculate and be willing to take. We feel it is important whilst working within this framework to adopt other complimentary strategies in order to make the wholesale or part copying of another’s work an irrational choice, even for the desperate student. This article draws upon current plagiarism literature, field observations and a survey of plagiarism perceptions conducted on over 150 final year undergraduate students. We present the findings from our ongoing action research in the form of a ‘3D’ strategy that attempts to share best practice in deterring, detecting, and dealing appropriately with cut-and-paste plagiarism. Our findings indicate that students do perceive the JISC PAS as effective across all three dimensions, but this perception can be altered significantly depending upon how the service is presented as part of a broader set of strategies to combat student plagiarism. In particular, we have found that allowing students to see the comparison report output from the JISC PAS, not only heightens student anxiety regarding speculative accusations of plagiarism, but also significantly reduces their confidence in the service as a reliable and effective detection method

Can Handheld Thermal Imaging Technology Improve Detection of Poachers in African Bushveldt?

Illegal hunting (poaching) is a global threat to wildlife. Anti-poaching initiatives are making increasing use of technology, such as infrared thermography (IRT), to support traditional foot and vehicle patrols. To date, the effectiveness of IRT for poacher location has not been tested under field conditions, where thermal signatures are often complex. Here, we test the hypothesis that IRT will increase the distance over which a poacher hiding in African scrub bushveldt can be detected relative to a conventional flashlight. We also test whether any increase in effectiveness is related to the cost and complexity of the equipment by comparing comparatively expensive (22000 USD) and relatively inexpensive (2000 USD) IRT devices. To test these hypotheses we employ a controlled, fully randomised, double-blind procedure to find a poacher in nocturnal field conditions in African bushveldt. Each of our 27 volunteer observers walked three times along a pathway using one detection technology on each pass in randomised order. They searched a prescribed search area of bushveldt within which the target was hiding. Hiding locations were pre-determined, randomised, and changed with each pass. Distances of first detection and positive detection were noted. All technologies could be used to detect the target. Average first detection distance for flashlight was 37.3m, improving by 19.8m to 57.1m using LIRT and by a further 11.2m to 68.3m using HIRT. Although detection distances were significantly greater for both IRTs compared to flashlight, there was no significant difference between LIRT and HIRT. False detection rates were low and there was no significant association between technology and accuracy of detection. Although IRT technology should ideally be tested in the specific environment intended before significant investment is made, we conclude that IRT technology is promising for anti-poaching patrols and that for this purpose low cost IRT units are as effective as units ten times more expensive

Managing grassland for wildlife: the effects of rotational burning on tick presence and abundance in African savannah habitat

Ticks are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites that have negative effects on animals through blood loss and vectoring disease. Controlling ticks is a major aspect of wildlife management in many areas, including African savannah where ticks are a long-standing problem. Rotational burning of vegetation is widely thought to reduce ticks but empirical data are lacking. We investigate the effect of block rotational burning on tick populations in a South African wildlife reserve. We measured tick presence/abundance using tick drags in multiple blocks of five different burn ages (areas burned 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years previously). We also assessed herbivore diversity using dung as a proxy. Tick presence was highest in areas burned 2-3 years previously. It was lowest in recently-burned areas (probably due to fire-induced mortality or loss of field-layer refugia) and areas burned ≥ 4 years previously (probably because the lack of palatable grass meant herbivore abundance was lower; this is supported by significantly lower herbivore presence in old burns and significant positive correlation between tick numbers and herbivore presence). Burn age and, to a lesser extent, block, were significantly related to tick presence and abundance at both larval and nymph stages. The model that best explained tick numbers, though, included the interaction between burn age and block due to substantial inter-block variability in mid-burn blocks relative to lower variability in blocks at the start or end of the burn cycle. This suggests that burn age and block-specific conditions together influence tick abundance, with habitat heterogeneity likely being an important modifier of the effect burning has on tick numbers. Although annual burning of large areas would not be feasible while maintaining suitable grazing, we suggest that additional annual burning of potential wildlife (and therefore tick) hotspots, such as around waterholes, could reduce tick populations and improve wildlife management

Rapid targeted mutational analysis of human tumours: a clinical platform to guide personalized cancer medicine

Targeted cancer therapy requires the rapid and accurate identification of genetic abnormalities predictive of therapeutic response. We sought to develop a high-throughput genotyping platform that would allow prospective patient selection to the best available therapies, and that could readily and inexpensively be adopted by most clinical laboratories. We developed a highly sensitive multiplexed clinical assay that performs very well with nucleic acid derived from formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) tissue, and tests for 120 previously described mutations in 13 cancer genes. Genetic profiling of 250 primary tumours was consistent with the documented oncogene mutational spectrum and identified rare events in some cancer types. The assay is currently being used for clinical testing of tumour samples and contributing to cancer patient management. This work therefore establishes a platform for real-time targeted genotyping that can be widely adopted. We expect that efforts like this one will play an increasingly important role in cancer management

Patients with Surgical Wounds Healing by Secondary Intention: A Prospective, Cohort Study

Background: Surgical wounds healing by secondary intention can be difficult and costly to manage and are profoundly under researched. This prospective inception, cohort study aimed to derive a better understanding of surgical wounds healing by secondary intention and to facilitate the design of future research investigating effective treatments. Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with surgical wounds healing by secondary intention and the surgeries that preceded their wounds; to clearly delineate the clinical outcomes of these patients, specifically focusing on time to wound healing and its determinants; to explore the types of treatments for surgical wounds healing by secondary intention; and to assess the impact surgical wounds healing by secondary intention have on patients’ quality of life. Design: Prospective, inception cohort study. Setting: Acute and community settings in eight sites across two large centres in the United Kingdom (Hull and Leeds, UK). Methods: Patients with a surgical wounds healing by secondary intention (an open wound, < 3 weeks’ duration, resulting from surgery), were recruited and followed up for at least 12 months. Key outcome events included: time to healing; treatment type; infection; hospital re-admission and further procedures; health-related quality of life and pain. Results: In total, 393 patients were recruited. Common co-morbidities were cardiovascular disease (38%), diabetes (26%) and peripheral vascular disease (14.5%). Baseline median SWHSI area was 6 cm2 (range 0.01-1200). Abdominal (n=132), foot (n=59), leg (n=58) and peri-anal (n=34) wounds were common. The majority of wounds (236, 60.1%) were intentionally left open following surgery; the remainder were mostly dehisced wounds. Healing was observed in 320 (81.4%) wounds with a median time to healing of 86 days (95% CI: 75-130). Factors associated with delayed healing included wound infection at any point and baseline wound area above the median. Health-related quality of life scores were low at baseline but improved with time and healing. Conclusions: This is the first inception cohort study in patients with surgical wounds healing by secondary intention. Patient characteristics have been clearly defined, with prolonged healing times and adverse events being common impacting on patient’s health-related quality of life. Areas for, and factors crucial to the design of, future research have been identified. Key Words: Surgical wounds, secondary intention, inception cohort, characteristics, clinical outcomes, treatments, quality of life

An exploration of student learning for sustainability through the WikiRate student engagement project

The launch of the UN Global Compact\u27s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME1) in 2007 can be seen as a widespread acknowledgement that students of business and management need a form of education that enables them to make a positive contribution to both business and society. PRME\u27s aim of realising the United Nations\u27 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through responsible management education is built on six guiding Principles, designed to encourage business schools and universities to recognise their role as change agents and champions of sustainable development. Consequently over 700 signatories to PRME have committed to adapt their institutional strategies, curricula, research agendas, and external engagement activities to develop the capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business and society at large and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy (PRME, Principle 12)

Restorative justice with female offenders: The neglected role of gender in restorative conferencing

This article presents findings from a new qualitative study into female offenders’ experiences of restorative conferencing in England and Wales. It is argued that gendered factors of crime and victimization have a definite impact on the restorative conference process, particularly in the areas of complex and interacting needs, differently natured conference engagements, and risks around shame, mental health, and stereotypical ideals of female behavior. For women to reap the full benefits of restorative justice, it is argued that the particular needs and circumstances of female offenders must not only be acknowledged, but also incorporated into the field and mainstreamed into practice