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Civic engagement and energy transition in the Nordic-Baltic Sea Region: Parametric and nonparametric inquiries
No full textThe role of civic participation in issues directly or indirectly related to environmental quality is reputed to be on the rise globally. Bottom-up grassroots movements can be conducive to powering socially acceptable, smooth, and hence, more efficient transitions toward low-carbon energy futures. This factor can also unlock the potential of communities, improving the adaptation and social acceptability towards major changes and providing possible policy instruments. On contrary, bottom-up grassroots movements are unfavorable to the extension of renewable energy capacities, especially in the case of wind energy, if this causes costs for the local communities, which outweigh the corresponding benefits. Determining these dynamics is pivotal for addressing public ecological concerns and calls for quantitative regional studies. This paper addresses the nexus between civic engagement and energy transition in 11 countries of the Nordic-Baltic Sea Region. The study detects a strong positive relationship between civic engagement within environmental organizations and the share of renewable energy sources in the domestic electricity mixes of the countries of the Nordic-Baltic Sea Region. Nonparametric panel estimator with fixed effects reveals that the impact of civic engagement has been continuously rising – i.e. the significance of civic engagement as a factor in the energy transition has risen. Nevertheless, the study also finds that the magnitude of civic engagement over the years has been relatively stable in most countries of the region since 1981. In a few of them, civic engagement has been declining. The work argues that this decline could be attributed to the fact that politics, especially since 2005, deemed environmental issues as an important aspect of public policy – a factor that contributed to mainstreaming the phenomenon
Geopolitical risk and corporate investment: How do politically connected firms respond?
No full textThis letter reveals how political connection affects the relationship between geopolitical risk (GPR) and corporate investment. Using a large sample of U.S. firms from 1996 to 2018, we examine if political connection moderates the negative effect of GPR on corporate investments. Our analysis finds that politically connected firms can mitigate this negative relationship. Firms that make political action committee (PAC) contributions and lobby members of Congress invest more than their non-politically connected competitors. These results remain valid through a combination of robustness analyses
3D porous bioceramic based boron-doped hydroxyapatite/baghdadite composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
No full textMaking composite scaffolds is one of the well-known methods to improve the properties of scaffolds used in bone tissue engineering. In this study, novel ceramic-based 3D porous composite scaffolds were successfully prepared using boron-doped hydroxyapatite, as the primary component, and baghdadite, as the secondary component. The effects of making composites on the properties of boron-doped hydroxyapatite-based scaffolds were investigated in terms of physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. The incorporation of baghdadite contributed to making more porous scaffolds (over 40%) with larger surface area and micropore volumes. The produced composite scaffolds almost solved the low degradation problem of boron-doped hydroxyapatite through the exhibition of higher biodegradation rates, which matched the degradation rate appropriate for the gradual transfer of loads from implants to newly formed bone tissues. Besides higher bioactivity, enhanced cell proliferation, as well as higher osteogenic differentiation (in scaffolds with baghdadite weight greater than 10%), were observed in composite scaffolds due to both physical and chemical modifications that occurred in composite scaffolds. Although our composite scaffolds were slightly weaker than boron-doped hydroxyapatite, their compressive strengths were higher than almost all composite scaffolds made by baghdadite incorporation in the literature. In fact, boron-doped hydroxyapatite provided a base for baghdadite to show mechanical strength suitable for cancellous bone defect treatments. Eventually, our novel composite scaffolds converged the advantages of both components to satisfy the various requirements needed for bone tissue engineering applications and take us one step forward on the road to fabricating an ideal scaffold
Systematic differences in online reviews of hotel services between business and leisure travelers
No full textTo understand whether the purpose of travel affects differences in the evaluation of hotel services, we analyzed online reviews for 768 hotels in New York City. The results show that leisure travelers are predisposed to leaving online reviews with higher ratings and positive emotions than those posted by business travelers, while the latter\u27s review ratings are more widely dispersed, indicating greater inconsistency in their evaluations of hotel services. Based on our empirical evidence about systematic differences in online reviews of hotel services between business and leisure travelers, we can provide the hospitality industry with meaningful business implications
Resignation and Resilience: Bridging Effective Teaching to the Impacts of Complex and Layered School Culture
No full textThis article examines the relationship between teacher efficacy, leadership, and how they intersect with complex and layered school system dynamics. Using the Listening Guide Method for Qualitative Inquiry (the Listening Guide, Gilligan, 1993), teacher interviews are examined, resulting in thematic expressions of resignation or resilience. These qualitative data revealed that effective classroom teachers can overcome the limitations of existing bureaucratic structures through resilience anchored in individual self-efficacy. Teacher resilience, anchored in demonstrated self-efficacy, played a major role in teachers’ in-classroom experiences and ability to successfully navigate a complex and layered school system dynamics
The Chemokine Receptor CCR1 Mediates Microglia Stimulated Glioma Invasion
No full textGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of adult brain tumor which is highly resistant to conventional treatment and therapy. Glioma cells are highly motile resulting in infiltrative tumors with poorly defined borders. Another hallmark of GBM is a high degree of tumor macrophage/microglia infiltration. The level of these tumor-associated macrophages/microglia (TAMs) correlates with higher malignancy and poorer prognosis. We previously demonstrated that inhibition of TAM infiltration into glioma tumors with the CSF-1R antagonist pexidartinib (PLX3397) can inhibit glioma cell invasion in-vitro and in-vivo. In this study, we demonstrate an important role for the chemokine receptor CCR1 in mediating microglia/TAM stimulated glioma invasion. Using two structurally distinct CCR1 antagonists, including a novel inhibitor “MG-1-5”, we were able to block microglial activated GL261 glioma cell invasion in a dose dependent manner. Interestingly, treatment of a murine microglia cell line with glioma conditioned media resulted in a strong induction of CCR1 gene and protein expression. This induction was attenuated by inhibition of CSF-1R. In addition, glioma conditioned media treatment of microglia resulted in a rapid upregulation of gene expression of several CCR1 ligands including CCL3, CCL5, CCL6 and CCL9. These data support the existence of tumor stimulated autocrine loop within TAMs which ultimately mediates tumor cell invasion
Plant Peroxisomal Polyamine Oxidase: A Ubiquitous Enzyme Involved in Abiotic Stress Tolerance
No full textPolyamines (PAs) are positively charged amines that are present in all organisms. In addition to their functions specific to growth and development, they are involved in responding to various biotic and abiotic stress tolerance functions. The appropriate concentration of PA in the cell is maintained by a delicate balance between the catabolism and anabolism of PAs, which is primarily driven by two enzymes, namely diamine oxidase and polyamine oxidase (PAO). PAOs have been found to be localized in multiple subcellular locations, including peroxisomes. This paper presents a holistic account of peroxisomal PAOs. PAOs are flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzymes with varying degrees of substrate specificity. They are expressed differentially upon various abiotic stress conditions, namely heat, cold, salinity, and dehydration. It has also been observed that in a particular species, the various PAO isoforms are expressed differentially with a spatial and temporal distinction. PAOs are targeted to peroxisome via a peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS) type 1. We conducted an extensive bioinformatics analysis of PTS1s present in various peroxisomal PAOs and present a consensus peroxisome targeting signal present in PAOs. Furthermore, we also propose an evolutionary perspective of peroxisomal PAOs. PAOs localized in plant peroxisomes are of potential importance in abiotic stress tolerance since peroxisomes are one of the nodal centers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and an increase in ROS is a major indicator of the plant being in stress conditions; hence, in the future, PAO enzymes could be used as a key candidate for generating abiotic stress tolerant crops
Prospect theory and a manager\u27s decision to trade a blind principal bid basket
No full textWe analyze asset managers\u27 decisions to execute substantial baskets of stocks. Such transactions can be executed in two ways. The first method is through blind auctions with unique features known as blind principal bids (BPBs). The manager learns the trading cost once the auction process determines the commission. The second method is to use an agency trade. In this case, the asset manager faces an actual trading cost that is unknown before execution due to market impact uncertainty. Using proprietary data, we investigate the manager\u27s choice between BPBs and agency trade in a natural experiment with large monetary stakes. The volume traded in each sample basket is significant, which can amount to over 0.5% of the NYSE daily share volume. Our findings show that managers\u27 behavior is more consistent with prospect theory than the expected utility framework. When asset managers trade BPB baskets, they are reluctant to realize the potential higher cost of agency trade and opt for the fixed cost of BPBs instead. Thus, our results complement the literature on the disposition effect by demonstrating that managers\u27 trading cost decisions exhibit “play it safe” behavior
Improvement in a post-stroke pediatric patient with hemiplegia: Use of a hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy with hybrid assistive limb
No full textBackground: Pediatric stroke is a rare medical condition that often leads to long-lasting motor and cognitive impairments. Although therapies for adults after a stroke are well described, treatments for motor deficits following a pediatric stroke are yet to be investigated. We report a case of pediatric stroke in the chronic phase, in which a combination of novel treatments resulted in a significant improvement in physical function. Case report: A seven-year-old girl with a left hemispheric cerebral infarction lost almost all right upper extremity motor function. Following onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, she underwent hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy augmented with a hybrid assistive limb for 90 h over 15 days. Evaluation after the training revealed significant improvements in physical function, daily activities, and occupational performance. Conclusions: This report highlights the importance of innovative combinations of techniques in the treatment of pediatric stroke
Has the time come for Heutagogy? Supporting neurodivergent learners in higher education
No full textAn increasing number of neurodivergent learners attend higher education. This necessitates examination of best-fit learning models to successfully support the current generation of college students. While pedagogy and andragogy have historical relevance, in isolation, they may lack alignment with the individualization embedded in neurodiversity-affirming practice. This study conceptualized a novel learning framework for neurodivergent college students through the lens of neurodiversity-affirming practice. Via constant comparative qualitative analysis of American university faculty interviews and framework juxtaposition, three themes were identified: pedagogy vs. andragogy, self-determination, and interdependency. Thematic analysis revealed uncertainty regarding best-fit learning framework, with consensus reached regarding complexity of serving neurodivergent adults in post-secondary settings. An innovative framework titled “Building a Heutagogical Bridge” was envisioned, describing the role of heutagogy, student-centered, self-determined learning, in connecting signature pedagogical and andragogical approaches. This study revealed the potentiality of implementing and assessing approaches to skillfully incorporate heutagogical, pedagogical, and andragogical principles in higher education settings. The perspectives of faculty from the USA within this study can inform neurodiversity-affirming practice in American universities, while providing implications for future study and practice in international college settings, where contexts, needs, and culture may differ