Workplace Learning in China: Transferring Training Into Practice to Improve Performance

Purpose: The present study seeks to examine the efficacy of different training modalities on increasing workplace learning, representatives' intent to transfer what they learned into their work, and importantly how training impacts actual work performance. These relationships are tested in the context of a Chinese division of a multinational pharmaceutical company, where pharmaceutical representatives are tasked with relaying relevant efficacy and safety information on pharmaceutical products to health care professionals who prescribe them to patients. Methods: The present study employed a three-group between-subjects experimental design. Representatives received varying forms of training (instruction only, instruction plus reflection, and instruction, reflection, plus direct feedback) based on experimental conditions. After three training sessions over the course of six weeks, representatives were assessed on how much they learned in the training and their actual work performance through observer assessment of meetings with health care professionals, facilitated by the representatives. Findings: In this study, it was found that the process of actively reflecting on what was learned in training led to increased learning, as well as increased performance, compared to simply studying the material. However, receiving direct feedback on training performance, combined with active reflection training, did not provide any further benefits in terms of learning or work performance. Notably, there were no differences in intent to transfer learned material to work, as all conditions reported high levels of transfer intention. Conclusion: The finding provides insightful evidence to support the benefits of fostering trainees' active reflections for work-based learning in the Chinese industry training scenario. In contrast, receiving direct comments on how students performed from a manager or trainer, as well as advise on how do better in the future, had no effect on increasing learning or performance. Although the effect of direct feedback is not statistically significant in this context, further research should be done in understanding individuals' thoughts and behaviors when received direct feedbacks received in workplace training. Relatively little workplace research has assessed both workplace learning and performance in the same study, specifically in the Chinese context. While training efficacy likely varies across cultures to begin with, compensation structures in China do not provide the same monetary incentives for workplace learning (i.e. chance to increase income) as Western culture. This means that any way to increase workplace learning should be of extra value, as employees otherwise may not engage in it at all.

Workplace learning in China: transferring training into practice to improve performance

Purpose: The present study seeks to examine the efficacy of different training modalities on increasing workplace learning, representatives\u27 intent to transfer what they learned into their work, and importantly how training impacts actual work performance. These relationships are tested in the context of a Chinese division of a multinational pharmaceutical company, where pharmaceutical representatives are tasked with relaying relevant efficacy and safety information on pharmaceutical products to health care professionals who prescribe them to patients. Methods: The present study employed a three-group between-subjects experimental design. Representatives received varying forms of training (instruction only, instruction plus reflection, and instruction, reflection, plus direct feedback) based on experimental conditions. After three training sessions over the course of six weeks, representatives were assessed on how much they learned in the training and their actual work performance through observer assessment of meetings with health care professionals, facilitated by the representatives. Findings: In this study, it was found that the process of actively reflecting on what was learned in training led to increased learning, as well as increased performance, compared to simply studying the material. However, receiving direct feedback on training performance, combined with active reflection training, did not provide any further benefits in terms of learning or work performance. Notably, there were no differences in intent to transfer learned material to work, as all conditions reported high levels of transfer intention. Conclusion: The finding provides insightful evidence to support the benefits of fostering trainees\u27 active reflections for work-based learning in the Chinese industry training scenario. In contrast, receiving direct comments on how students performed from a manager or trainer, as well as advise on how do better in the future, had no effect on increasing learning or performance. Although the effect of direct feedback is not statistically significant in this context, further research should be done in understanding individuals\u27 thoughts and behaviors when received direct feedbacks received in workplace training. Relatively little workplace research has assessed both workplace learning and performance in the same study,specifically in the Chinese context. While training efficacy likely varies across cultures to begin with, compensation structures in China do not provide the same monetary incentives for workplace learning (i.e. chance to increase income) as Western culture. This means that any way to increase workplace learning should be of extra value, as employees otherwise may not engage in it at all. (DIPF/Orig.

Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles Based on Anthracene and Tetraphenylethene for Nitroaromatics Detection in Aqueous Phase

The sensitive and selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives is of great significance to national security and human health. Herein, the novel linear polymer l-PAnTPE and cross-linked polymer PAnTPE nanoparticles based on anthracene and tetraphenylethene groups were designed and successfully synthesized via Suzuki-miniemulsion polymerization. The particle sizes of the polymers are around 73 nm, making them well dispersible in water. The cross-linked polymer PAnTPE exhibits porous structure, which is beneficial for the diffusion/adsorption of analytes. The fluorescence sensing towards nitroaromatics was performed in the aqueous phase, and l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE nanoparticles showed different quenching degree towards different nitroaromatics. Among them, the quenching constant KSV values of l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE towards 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) reach 1.8 × 104 M−1 and 4.0 × 104 M−1, respectively, which are 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than other nitroaromatic explosives, thus demonstrating the high sensitivity and selectivity of TNP detection in the aqueous phase. The sensing mechanism was further discussed to clarify this phenomenon by analyzing UV–Vis absorption, excitation, fluorescence spectra, cyclic voltammograms and fluorescence decay measurements. In addition, the paper strips tests exhibit that l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE have great potential in the application of fast, low-cost and on-site nitroaromatics detection

A Convenient and Cost Efficient Route Suitable for “One-Pot” Synthesis of Molnupiravir

Herein, we reported a convenient and cost efficient one-pot synthesis of molnupiravir from cytidine. This method utilized N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMF-DMA) as an extraordinary protecting agent to achieve site specific esterification at 5’-hydroxyl group of the nucleoside easily, and afforded this promising drug candidate (purity up to 99%, HPLC a/a) in 70% overall yield without chromatography purification, which is superior to the existing methods in aspect of the yield, the cost and the operation, and shows great potential value for commercial production. Furthermore, this excellent protecting agent was also successfully used in the synthesis of remdesivr from its parent nucleoside with a high total yield (76%).<br /

Shufeng Jiedu capsules protect rats against LPS-induced acute lung injury via activating NRF2-associated antioxidant pathway

Shufeng Jiedu capsule (SFJDC) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used for the treatment of respiratory infections for more than thirty years in Hunan (China). SFJDC protected rats against LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of SFJDC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing the major anti-inflammatory compounds of SFJDC and exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms. SFJDC dissolved in water was fingerprinted by UPLC/Q-TOF. Inflammation response was assessed by histopathological examination and ELISA assay. Arterial blood gases were also analyzed to evaluate the function of rat lungs. The expression levels of Kelch-like ECH-associating protein 1 (Keap1), Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO1), Cullin 3 (CUL3) and NQO1 were analyzed by Western blotting. Results indicated that SFJDC alleviated inflammation response by reducing the level of inflammatory cytokines, and upregulation of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in lung tissues. Furthermore, SFJDC suppressed LPS-induced upregulation of Keap 1 and CUL3 in rat lungs. The expression of NRF2 HO1 and NQO1 were further upregulated by SFJDC in the presence of LPS, indicating that SFJDC might activate the NRF2- associated antioxidant pathway. In conclusion, SFJDC treatment may protect the rat lungs from LPS by alleviating the inflammation response via NRF2- associated antioxidant pathwa

Dynamics design of a non-natural transcription factor responding to androst-4-ene-3,17-dione

The production of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD) by the steroidal microbial cell factory requires transcription factors (TFs) to participate in metabolic regulation. However, microbial cell factory lacks effective TFs that can respond to AD in its metabolic pathway. Additionally, finding and obtaining natural TFs that specifically respond to AD is a complex and onerous task. In this study, we devised an artificial TF that responds to AD, termed AdT, based on structure-guided molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. According to MD analysis of the conformational changes of AdT after binding to AD, an LBD in which the N- and C-termini exhibited convergence tendencies was used as a microswitch to guide the assembly of a DNA-binding domain lexA, a linker (GGGGS)2, and a transcription activation domain B42 into an artificial TF. As a proof of design, a AD biosensor was designed and constructed in yeast on the basis of the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of hormone receptor. In addition, the transcription factor activity of AdT was increased by 1.44-fold for its variant F320Y. Overall, we created non-natural TF elements for AD microbial cell factory, and expected that the design TF strategy will be applied to running in parallel to the signaling machinery of the host cell