Brexit, trade and UK advanced manufacturing sectors: a Midlands' perspective

The paper examines how Brexit has impacted on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers in the UK Midlands, and to what extent such firms are reconfiguring their supply chains with the increase in trade barriers with Brexit. To do this, the paper aims to add to macro studies in the area by using a mixed-methods approach that combines descriptive quantitative analysis of secondary data with a complementary qualitative research analysis based on a novel interview dataset. The latter is generated from 14 semi-structured interviews conducted in late 2021 with senior managers and directors in advanced manufacturing firms across the East and West Midlands regions of the UK. A key finding of this paper is that the imposition of new non-tariff barriers through Brexit has proved particularly challenging to smaller firms in manufacturing supply chains. The findings of our research highlight the need for policy support for smaller firms engaging in EU-wide supply chains, particularly around skillsets and access to talent, cost reduction for exports and facilitating trade. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Is post-acute sequelae COVID-19 (Long-COVID) a post-viral postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome?

Objectives: To compare autonomic function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in those with post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and healthy controls. Method(s): A total of 60 participants were recruited (PASC = 20, POTS = 20, controls = 20). There were no significant differences in age or other demographics between groups. PASC was defined as >=3 months of persistent unexplained symptomology post SARS-CoV-2 infection. 10-minute active standing test was undertaken using Finapres NOVA to measure beat-to-beat haemodynamic response. Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31) was used to assess autonomic symptomology and the Euroquol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) survey to assess HRQoL (scale of 0-1 with '1' representing full health). The 5-point hypermobility questionnaire (5-PHQ) was used to assess generalized joint hypermobility (defined as score >=2). Result(s): 95% of PASC subjects fulfilled the standing test criteria for POTS (DELTA heart rate, bpm: 42 +/- 10 vs. 48 +/- 14 in POTS and 16 +/- 6 in controls;p < 0.001) and significantly increased autonomic symptoms per COMPASS-31 score as compared to controls (39 +/- 11 vs. 51 +/- 15 in POTS and 12 +/- 14 in controls;p < 0.001). Individuals with PASC and POTS had higher rates of joint hypermobility than controls (45% vs. 75% vs. 25% respectively;p = 0.006) and significantly reduced HRQoL utility scores (0.61 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.64 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.09 respectively;p < 0.001). Conclusion(s): Autonomic dysfunction and reduced HRQoL is prevalent in sufferers with PASC and bear high similarity to those with POTS. This is in keeping with the often-observed post-viral illness-mediated POTS. Our data calls for routine involvement of autonomic physicians in the care of subjects with PASC.

Using Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest advertising campaigns to increase enrollment in newborn screening research

IntroductionSocial media ad campaigns can be an efficient, cost-effective way to recruit for studies online, especially as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person recruitment. Early Check, a large ongoing study offering testing for a panel of conditions for all newborns in North Carolina, uses social media ad campaigns, along with direct mail, email, print materials in health care settings, and messages through patient portals to contact pregnant women and mothers with eligible newborns. All materials refer women to the online Early Check portal for consent and enrollment in the study. MethodsTo evaluate social media options for outreach and recruitment, we ran two paid ad campaigns on Pinterest in May and July 2021 and compared performance to simultaneous Facebook and Instagram campaigns. ResultsFacebook and Instagram cost $136.53 per sign-up in May and July. Our first Pinterest campaign in May resulted in 206,416 impressions, 529 link clicks, and a cost per sign-up of $536.56. After adjusting the campaign to incorporate lessons learned about the platform, the second Pinterest campaign in July resulted in 225,286 impressions, 621 link clicks, and a cost per sign-up of $216.55. DiscussionOthers looking to implement social media ad campaigns for public health recruitment should note that ad costs have increased since 2020. However, social media ad campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest remain a cost-effective and convenient way to recruit participants for studies, especially when in-person efforts are not feasible. Ad campaign strategy should also be tailored to the specific platform. Facebook and Instagram ads should be run together in the same campaign to optimize the budget across both platforms and should run using an on-off schedule. Pinterest campaigns should run for a longer period to optimize continually for sign-ups over time.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE UK’S GREEN NEW DEAL: “Green Industrial Revolution,” “Building Back Better,” and beyond

This chapter traces the political and economic development of the UK’s version of the Green New Deal from its conception shortly before the Global Financial Crash of 2008 to the calls to Build Back Better during the COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines the ways in which its development has been shaped by the numerous dysfunctions and pathologies of contemporary British capitalism. We examine the increasingly vital need for a Green New Deal to include a “new social contract” today in the context of the inequalities exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic, as well as incorporate an increasingly radical set of policies designed to instigate systemic economic change. This, however, cuts against the grain of contemporary British politics. The response of the Conservative government and the Bank of England to the pandemic-induced economic downturn has been to mobilize public resources in aid of preserving or “locking in” the pre-existing economic model rather than seizing the opportunity to invest in structural transformation, regardless of the calamitous social and ecological outcomes pertaining to the status quo. Given the sizeable public outlay in the pandemic and current fears of inflation, the prospects of the British state orchestrating systemic changes that meet decarbonization targets have been greatly diminished as a result of recent crisis management policies. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Kyla Tienhaara and Joanna Robinson;individual chapters, the contributors.

SOUTH KOREAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ VIEWS OF ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many formidable challenges for educational institutions around the world. This case study sought to gain insight into South Korean university students’ satisfaction with online learning during the pandemic. It also obtained participant recommendations for improving online learning. Participants included 20 South Korean students studying at a university in central South Korea. Data included open-ended surveys, a focus group, and semi-structured interviews. Most students had mixed feelings in regard to satisfaction with online classes. A salient result is a need for more interaction in online classes. Students also provided a wide range of recommendations to improve online learning. Through these recommendations, university educators and administrators can better optimize online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the crisis has dissipated. © 2022, Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. All Rights Reserved.

Predicting social presence in videoconference-supported LMS courses: Mediation through L2 writing and speaking strategies

The issue addressed here concerns how second language (L2) speaking strategies mediate the relationship between L2 writing strategies and the social presence component of the community of inquiry (CoI) framework within the context of fully online courses that combined learning management system (LMS) for writing tasks and videoconferencing for live classroom discussion. L2 writing strategies related to planning and reviewing contribute to composing tests that students want to upload, present, and discuss, and this sharing is expected to foster classroom social behaviors and consequent language gains. For the current study, a cross-sectional survey of 256 university students was initiated to investigate the mediating effect L2 speaking strategies have on the relationship between L2 writing strategies and social presence. The results indicated positive path coefficients between review strategies and speaking strategies, review strategies and social presence, planning strategies and speaking strategies, and speaking strategies and social presence. Further, speaking strategies explain the relationship between planning strategies and social presence, indicating full mediation. Partial mediation was found for the path between review strategies and social presence. Recognizing how L2 writing and speaking strategies relate to one another and how that relationship influences a CoI illustrates the interconnectivity between language skills. Evidently, increased attention to planning and reviewing strategies results in a final composition worth sharing and discussing, and such sharing and discussion are building blocks to a vibrant social presence.

Shocks, resilience and regional industry policy: Brexit and the automotive sector in two Midlands regions

This article draws upon novel survey evidence to examine the possible regional impacts of Brexit as a ‘disruptive process’ to manufacturing operations and logistics in the automotive industry, in the context of the regional resilience literature. The current Brexit (and Covid-19) context, along with the sector’s need to re-orientate towards electrification, provides renewed urgency to reconsider industrial policy in spatial terms. The findings have salience not only in the context of anticipating and reacting to Brexit-induced economic shocks at a regional level, but also over the role of decentralized regional bodies. In this regard, the UK government’s agenda of ‘levelling up’ will be challenging, especially in the context of the place-based shocks likely to arise from Brexit as well as the impact of Covid-19. The article concludes that a more place-based regional industrial policy is required both to anticipate and to respond to shocks and also to reposition the sector in the region going forward. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Evaluation of electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers (E-MIPs) on disposable electrodes for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva.

We investigate electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers (E-MIPs) for the selective recognition of SARS-CoV-2 whole virus. E-MIPs imprinted with SARS-CoV-2 pseudoparticles (pps) were electrochemically deposited onto screen printed electrodes by reductive electropolymerization, using the water-soluble N-hydroxmethylacrylamide (NHMA) as functional monomer and crosslinked with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAm). E-MIPs for SARS-CoV-2 showed selectivity for template SARS-CoV-2 pps, with an imprinting factor of 3:1, and specificity (significance = 0.06) when cross-reacted with other respiratory viruses. E-MIPs detected the presence of SARS-CoV-2 pps in <10 min with a limit of detection of 4.9 log10 pfu/mL, suggesting their suitability for detection of SARS-CoV-2 with minimal sample preparation. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and principal component analysis (PCA), the capture of SARS-CoV-2 from real patient saliva samples was also evaluated. Fifteen confirmed COVID-19 positive and nine COVID-19 negative saliva samples were compared against the established loop-mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification (LAMP) technique used by the UK National Health Service. EIS data demonstrated a PCA discrimination between positive and negative LAMP samples. A threshold real impedance signal (ZRe) ≫ 4000 Ω and a corresponding charge transfer resistance (RCT) ≫ 6000 Ω was indicative of absence of virus (COVID-19 negative) in agreement with values obtained for our control non-imprinted polymer control. A ZRe at or below a threshold value of 600 Ω with a corresponding RCT of <1200 Ω was indicative of a COVID-19 positive sample. The presence of virus was confirmed by treatment of E-MIPs with a SARS-CoV-2 specific monoclonal antibody.

Calm down: A mediation model on the mitigating effect anxiety has on learner interactions and learning outcome

Learners in videoconference-mediated classrooms are expected to interact regardless of their varied demographic and behavioral characteristics, including susceptibility to foreign language (FL) anxiety. With a focus on apprehension, the present study aimed to better understand the influence students' FL anxiety has on the relationship between learner interactions and academic self-efficacy beliefs. To this end, questionnaire data was collected from 647 South Korean university students attending emergency remote online classes through Zoom's videoconference platform. Structural equation modeling was carried out to identify the mediating effect of FL classroom anxiety on the relationship between academic self-efficacy beliefs and interactions. Findings revealed full mediation on the path coefficient from learner-learner interaction to learning expectations, while no mediation effect was observed between learner-instructor interactions and learning expectations. Increasing levels of learner-learner interactions were associated with increasing FL anxiety, partly explaining the positive path between learner-learner interactions and expected academic performance. Unlike learner-instructor interactions, learner-learner interactions increase communication anxiety, consequently decreasing expected learning outcomes.

Interactivity during Covid-19: mediation of learner interactions on social presence and expected learning outcome within videoconference EFL courses

Social presence in education pertains to the connectedness students have with one another and is highly indicative of course satisfaction and performance. Further, social presence fosters motivation and promotes opportunities for collaboration, therefore, considered a critical factor in influencing second language acquisition. In the context of emergency remote online courses due to Covid-19, this study investigates the role of social presence in relation to learner interactions and learning outcome beliefs. To this end, this research is interested in learning how social presence influences learner-learner, learner-instructor, and learner-content interactions within videoconference-supported EFL classes. This study also identifies the mediating effects learner interactions have on the relationship between social presence and expected learning outcomes. This cross-sectional questionnaire study surveyed 547 South Korean university EFL students and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to measure direct and indirect relationships among the variables of interest. The findings indicate that students’ levels of social presence positively influenced rates of interactions with their classmates, the instructor, and course content. Results further provide insight pertaining to the academic achievement students expect when participating in videoconferencing courses, and how this relationship between social presence and academic learning outcome is distinctly mediated by learner-instructor and learner-content interactions. Findings give insight into the sorts of activities and practices instructors can employ;for instance, EFL instructors are recommended to clearly assess learner-learner interactions if such interactions are to have a significant influence on course outcome beliefs when using videoconferencing tools effectively in the post Covid-19 era. © 2021, Beijing Normal University.

Learning from experience in the midst of covid-19: Benefits, challenges, and strategies in online teaching

The onset of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) during the winter of 2020 presented challenges for education including transferring courses online, which gave experienced online lecturers an inherent advantage over their less tech-savvy counterparts. Online teaching poses challenges and affords opportunities for EFL instructors who rely on live communication for pronunciation and speech lessons. To help newcomers overcome the steep learning curve associated with computer-assisted language learning (CALL), this study maps expected benefits, challenges, and strategies of implementing an online EFL course among teachers with different levels of online teaching experience. A group of 43 EFL university instructors teaching communication courses in South Korea completed a survey measuring benefits and challenges for teachers, benefits, and challenges for students, communication channels, and activity types. Analysis of variance across no-, low-, and high-experience groups revealed several findings. Key differences between experience level included expected challenges for instructors and activity choice. Those with online teaching experience perceived fewer obstacles and used a wider array of communication channels and activities when doing so. All groups reported similar levels of expected benefits for instructors and teachers and challenges for students. The most popular benefits, challenges and strategies, and differences between the no-and high-experience groups are discussed and recommendations for future teacher training are given. © 2020, CALL-EJ. All rights reserved.