Understanding audiences from industry sectors in knowledge exchange

This essay discusses the concept of Knowledge Exchange between industry and academia. In particular it focuses on ways in which academic organisations can learn about different industry sectors in order to identify potential Knowledge Exchange partners and how they operate. Three case studies of scoping approaches taken in the understanding of these audiences are presented followed by a discussion of their different strengths and weaknesses. This essay concludes with presentation of an initial framework for scoping and suggestions for where this work can be developed in the future

Corticospinal and reticulospinal contacts on cervical commissural and long descending propriospinal neurons in the adult rat spinal cord; evidence for powerful reticulospinal connections

Descending systems have a crucial role in the selection of motor output patterns by influencing the activity of interneuronal networks in the spinal cord. Commissural interneurons that project to the contralateral grey matter are key components of such networks as they coordinate left-right motor activity of fore and hind-limbs. The aim of this study was to determine if corticospinal (CST) and reticulospinal (RST) neurons make significant numbers of axonal contacts with cervical commissural interneurons. Two classes of commissural neurons were analysed: 1) local commissural interneurons (LCINs) in segments C4-5; 2) long descending propriospinal neurons (LDPNs) projecting from C4 to the rostral lumbar cord. Commissural interneurons were labelled with Fluorogold and CST and RST axons were labelled by injecting the b subunit of cholera toxin in the forelimb area of the primary somatosensory cortex or the medial longitudinal fasciculus respectively. The results show that LCINs and LDPNs receive few contacts from CST terminals but large numbers of contacts are formed by RST terminals. Use of vesicular glutamate and vesicular GABA transporters revealed that both types of cell received about 80% excitatory and 20% inhibitory RST contacts. Therefore the CST appears to have a minimal influence on LCINs and LDPNs but the RST has a powerful influence. This suggests that left-right activity in the rat spinal cord is not influenced directly via CST systems but is strongly controlled by the RST pathway. Many RST neurons have monosynaptic input from corticobulbar pathways therefore this pathway may provide an indirect route from the cortex to commissural systems. The cortico-reticulospinal-commissural system may also contribute to functional recovery following damage to the CST as it has the capacity to deliver information from the cortex to the spinal cord in the absence of direct CST input

The Universities’ ‘Third Mission’ and the Experiences and Perceptions of Early Career Researchers in the Arts and Humanities

Increasingly the role of the university is shifting and its remit broadening. The two traditional missions of the university, teaching and research, have been joined by a ‘third mission’. Whilst the third mission has been defined in a number of different ways, Sam and van der Sijde (2014) argue that either broadly or narrowly defined, it relates to the contribution of the university to socio-economic development. This widening of scope is reflected in the concept of the ‘entrepreneurial university’ wherein the university is transformed into a more entrepreneurial actor engaging in innovation, technology transfer and working with external organizations (Clark, 1998). Thus the role of the university has changed significantly (Audretsch, 2014) and these changes have impacted upon academics themselves (Rinne and Koivula, 2009). Consequently, the environments in which researchers begin their careers have also changed and this, we argue, will impact their expectations and perceptions of their academic career. This paper considers the experiences of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) with respect to the third mission and the broader concept of Knowledge Exchange (KE) focusing on the less discussed Arts and Humanities (A&H) disciplines. Research into ECRs is hindered by the difficulty in defining the population. For instance, Akerlind (2005) emphasises the difficulties in defining postdoctoral researchers with no clear consensus on the role and substantial variations across universities. Moreover employment in academia is often provisional and insecure (McAlpine and Emmioglu, 2014), leading to a shifting population of study. These difficulties are further compounded in the Arts and Humanities where there is a smaller population of ECRs. Laudel and Glaser (2008) note that employment opportunities differ by academic subject, with postdoctoral research positions more common in science disciplines than in the humanities and social sciences. The qualitative data for the research presented in this paper was collected as part of an ECR training programme, Skills in Action, which built a network of A&H ECRs through a series of ‘Digital Salons’ (physical and digital discussions with provocateurs) and a two­day ‘Festival of Skills’ (consisting of interactive workshops and talks from established and peer speakers). Skills in Action participants were largely A&H ECRs but also included doctoral students and a minority of established researchers. Analysing the data gathered across the programme demonstrates that A&H ECRs are critically aware of the challenges they face in the evolving academic landscape, namely undertaking research and developing independent research profiles whilst negotiating fixed term contracts and collaborating with external actors across the private and third sectors. A questionnaire conducted at the festival supported discussions throughout the event, and indicated that A&H ECRs are already actively engaging in external engagement and collaborative practice, viewing it as a vital part of their work. Benefits from taking part in such activities include personal growth and career development, yet recognition of the value of such work is situated within an awareness of the current UK research context. This awareness can influence the extent and type of external engagement conducted by ECRs. The study was exploratory in nature and focused on understanding the UK A&H ECR community through developing and building connections. The sample was relatively small in size ( estimated at 50 ECRs across the digital and physical programme of events ), and self‐selecting, i.e. participants were those that were interested in the skills an d challenges associated with their role. However, the findings indicate that this is an area worthy of further study. The paper sheds light on the experiences of A&H ECRs adding to the body of knowledge about this under‐researched group. Understanding these experiences and perceptions may have practical implications for the University and its approach to ECRs and their academic careers. This paper considers the context of the Arts and Humanities researcher, in particular their attitudes and approach to external engagement, particularly pertinent when considering the third mission and the changing academic culture. Reflection on these practices should therefore be of interest not only to the Arts and Humanities but to all disciplines, as a means of identifying alternative, non‐science based pathways towards achieving the third mission

Story blocks:Reimagining narrative through the blockchain

Digital technology is changing, and has changed the ways we create and consume narratives, from moving images and immersive storyworlds to digital long-form and multi-branched story experiences. At the same time, blockchain, the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, is revolutionizing the way that transactions and exchanges occur. As a globally stored and collaboratively written list of all transactions that have ever taken place within a given system, the blockchain decentralizes money and offers a platform for its creative use. There are already examples of blockchain technologies extending beyond the realm of currency, including the decentralization of domain name servers that are not subject to government takedown and identity management and governance. By framing key blockchain concepts with past and present storytelling practices, this article raises questions as to how the principles and implementation of such distributed ledger technologies might be used within contemporary writing practices - that is, can we imagine stories as a currency or value system? We present three experiments that draw on some of the fundamental principles of blockchain and Bitcoin, as an instantiation of a blockchain implemented application, namely, (1) the ledger, (2) the blocks and (3) the mining process. Each low-fi experiment was intentionally designed to be very accessible to take part in and understand and all were conducted as discrete workshops with different sets of participants. Participants included a cohort of design students, technology industry and design professionals and writing and interaction design academics. Each experiment raised a different set of reflections and subsequent questions on the nature of digital, the linearity (or not) of narratives and collaborative processes

Iron Molybdenum Cofactor: Catalyst In Dihydrogen Production And Nifen\u27s Role In The Femo-co Biosynthetic Pathway

Humankind’s tremendous industrial and technological progress over the last two centuries has been driven by the natural abundance and availability of fossil fuels. As those reserves deplete, the prudent course of action would be to develop other readily available fuel sources. Some research efforts using biomolecules involve the hydrogenases and nitrogenases with the goal of evolving dihydrogen. At the nitrogenase active site, the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen and protons to form ammonia and dihydrogen. Toward the goal of producing dihydrogen passively as an alternative fuel, a novel advanced material has been developed. CdSe nanoparticles complexed with FeMo-co, in both aqueous and organic solvent systems showed complex formation. When the system was interrogated by EPR spectroscopy, evidence of electron transfer was observed. The CdSeMSA●NafY●FeMo-co system when illuminated with visible light evolved dihydrogen consistently in four different experimental sets under the same reaction conditions. NifEN protein plays an important role in the biosynthesis of FeMo-co in addition to the involvement of NifU, NifS, NifB, NifX, NifH and NafY. After NifB synthesizes a FeMo-co precursor, 6-Fe NifB-co, NifEN further incorporates additional Fe, S, Mo, and (R)-homocitrate to complete the synthesis of FeMo-co. Molybdenum is provided to NifEN as its oxoanion, Mo(VI)O4 2- ; however, in FeMo-co molybdenum is in the oxidation state of Mo(IV). EPR spectroscopic investigation of NifEN turnover samples showed a signal at g = 2.00 that was dependent on molybdate concentration. Power and temperature profiles gave evidence that the g iv = 2.00 EPR signal was distinct from the Fe-S clusters in NifEN. The species observed at g = 2.00 was assigned to the reduction of Mo(VI) to Mo(V). How to utilize the effectiveness of FeMo-co and complex it to photoactive materials for the purpose of evolving dihyrogen upon illumination, thus providing a sustainable alternative energy source is one subject of this dissertation. A related subject is to gain an understanding of the biosynthetic pathway of FeMo-co by investigation of NifEN turnover experiments. This understanding should contribute towards the development of improved catalysts for meeting future energy demands

Social Identity in Deaf Culture: A Comparison of Ideologies

The emergence of Deaf culture and recent developments in identity research fueled by cultural diversity has ignited exploration of identity development in deaf people. The issue of how individuals go through the process of developing identities related to being deaf is now receiving much attention. Two major theoretical models in the literature, specifically racial identity development models and bicultural/acculturation models are presented and then discussed in terms of how they might apply to deaf people. Subsequently, we describe two separate measures that have been developed to empirically test the application of these models to deaf populations. While research on both measures indicates good psychometric properties, ongoing reconceptualization of social identity models that may explain how deaf people develop identities related to Deaf and hearing societies continues to be necessary. It is hoped that these measures will lead to better understanding of the relationship between aspects of identity and healthy psychological adjustment in deaf people