Search

In this paper, we use the lens of embodied language cognition and intersemiosis to argue for the importance of developing creative approaches to language work in classroom settings and we cite as an example some activities from a workshop that was developed for modern foreign languages (MFL) trainee teachers in London (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hR-LQ0xOE). The workshop resulted from a collaboration between an applied linguist (Coffey) and an artist-educator (Patel), and combined their shared understanding of language use as an emotional, embodied enterprise etched into our autobiographical identities. We suggest that working with intersemiotic approaches to language has the potential to reinvigorate language pedagogy by challenging dominant metaphors both of 'language' and of 'learning'. The paper intends both to make a practical contribution in its reporting of activities, which we hope will inspire teachers and teacher educators to develop intersemiotic approaches for their own settings, and also to contribute to the broader scholarship that calls for 'reframing teacher cognition' (e.g. Coffey [2015]. Reframing teachers' language knowledge through metaphor analysis of language portraits. "The Modern Language Journal" 99, no. 3: 500-14), even 'liberating language education' (e.g. Lytra et al. [2022]. "Liberating Language Education." Bristol: Multilingual Matters), to imagine new orientations for how we engage with languages in our lives and our classrooms.

Environmental justice is multi-faceted. It is distributional, procedural and context interdependent. Achieving environmental justice therefore requires transdisciplinary thinking and collaborative practice with participants holding a variety of experiences and knowledges. This paper explores the different meanings of environmental justice in theory, and through artistic practices. It introduces and evaluates a series of creative workshops designed to enhance understanding of environmental justice. The workshops consisted of 1) imageinformed co-created cross-national Zoom conversations; 2) using colours and shapes to tease out meanings of environmental justice; and 3) mapping local environmental injustices while centring more-than-humans. It proposes that these creative methods are useful for capturing the meaning of environmental justice and the challenges of attaining it. We consider that our creative methods hold promise for engaging wider communities in projects to foreground environmental justice in decision-making, helping to expose the complexities in distributional injustice as well as injustices to more-than-humans. We also believe that such methods hold promise for achieving parity in participation, so reducing procedural environmental injustice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to systematically map and synthesise literature on interventions that promote the involvement of parents of school-aged children with disabilities in education. The study focused on peer-reviewed, primary intervention studies published in English between 2000 and 2021. Nine databases were searched, and 21 articles were identified and included in the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and narrative analysis was used to synthesise the data. The duration of the interventions varied from 7 to 36 months. Most studies were conducted within the context of high-income countries and focused on parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Most studies reported positive effects on one or more groups: parents, children, schools, and communities. However, there was heterogeneity in the outcome measures used, which limits comparability across interventions. The quality assessment revealed high-/medium-bias risks in most articles. Future research should include higher quality studies driven by theoretical models. The results support the need for more research on parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities, especially intervention studies within the context of low- and medium-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The national Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), started in 1987, provided training to hospital delivery room personnel to standardize knowledge and skills to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality and increase successful resuscitation during the first few critical minutes after birth. The Apgar score continues to be used as the best established index of immediate postnatal health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the NRP instruction in Illinois hospitals by examining Apgar scores among high-risk infants who are likely to benefit from the NRP. Methods. A retrospective 3-time period cohort design was used (before the introduction of the NRP, 1985-1988; transition when NRP training occurred, 1989-1990; and after NRP training was completed at least once for some delivery room personnel in each Illinois hospital, 1991-1995). Illinois computerized birth certificate files on a selected group of 636 429 high-risk neonates provided information on Apgar scores and maternal characteristics. The American Academy of Pediatrics provided instructor lists to determine when NRP training started and when it was fully implemented in Illinois. Illinois Department of Public Health provided data to categorize hospitals into levels based on type and intensity of neonatal services (Level I, II, II+, III). High-risk neonates were defined as meeting 1 of the following criteria: maternal age < 20 years old or > 35 years old, birth weight < 2500 g or > 4000 g, presence of a maternal medical risk factor, and no prenatal care or prenatal care started after the first trimester. Several exclusion criteria were applied including the following: birth records with missing data, multiple birth or congenital anomaly, and hospital information that indicate no birth deliveries in 1 of the 11 study years or delivery outside of a hospital. One-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores were divided into categories for analysis (0-3, 4-6, 7-10). No change or a decrease in a low (0-6) 1-minute Apgar when compared with the 5-minute Apgar was a primary measure to evaluate effect of NRP resuscitation. Variables examined included the following: race/ethnicity, maternal age, level of education, presence of maternal medical risk factor, trimester started prenatal care, complications of labor and delivery, and a low birth weight. Analysis consisted of [chi square] tests, relative risk calculations, and logistic regression to reveal independent associations with no change in low 1-minute Apgar score or continued low (0-6) 5-minute Apgar. Results. A total of 636 429 high-risk birth records was selected for detailed analyses out of 2 077 533 births in Illinois between 1985 and 1995 for 193 hospitals. The number of active NRP instructors in Illinois changed dramatically during the study period; for example, 1 to 6 between 1987 and 1988 to 1096 to 1242 between 1991 and 1995. The percentage of neonates reported to have low (< 7) 1-minute Apgar score decreased in 1991 to 1995 overall and for each of 4 hospital levels. Overall and by hospital level, there was a statistically significant lower proportion of high-risk newborns who showed a decrease or no change in their 5-minute Apgar scores after the NRP instruction. After adjusting for several maternal characteristics, logistic regression analysis revealed that high-risk newborns with a low 1-minute Apgar were more likely to increase their 5-minute Apgar after the NRP instruction in 1991 to 1995. Additional analyses indicated that very low birth weight and low birth weight newborns benefited the most from NRP instruction. Conclusion. Although previous research has shown that the NRP instruction improves knowledge and skill among health care personnel in the delivery room, both short-term and long-term, there has been little evidence to demonstrate NRP impact on infant morbidity. Several strategies were used in this study to control for bias and to adjust for secular trends in decreased infant morbidity during the study period. This study demonstrated sufficient support for the hypothesis that a significant improvement occurred among neonates in their Apgar score after the NRP instruction in Illinois. Empirical support is provided for the clinical effectiveness of NRP instruction. Pediatrics 2001;107:648-655; neonatal resuscitation training, Apgar scores, high-risk neonates, changes in Apgar scores., ABBREVIATION. NRP, Neonatal Resuscitation Program. The State of Illinois all-races infant mortality rate of 8.4 per 1000 live births in 1997 is 14th highest in the United States. (1) The [...]

To estimate prevalence and causes of avoidable blindness among people ≥50 years and to assess willingness to pay (WTP) for cataract surgery in tribal region of south Gujarat, India. A cross-sectional population based survey was conducted with 44 randomly selected clusters each having 50 people aged ≥50 years selected by probability proportional to size of sampling. Adults identified with cataract causing visual loss (<6/18) in any eye were interviewed to assess their WTP for surgery. Total of 2137 examined out of 2200 people enumerated (response rate 97.1%). The prevalence of blindness (Presenting Visual Acuity (PVA)<3/60 in better eye) was 2.23% (95% CI: 2.95%–1.51%). Cataract was main cause of blindness (67.3%) followed by corneal scarring (8.2%). Major barrier to cataract surgery cited by bilaterally blind people was lack of escort to the surgical facility (34.3%). Cataract surgical coverage (CSC) was 84.9% (eyes) and 92% (persons). Of the 492 people interviewed to assess WTP for their surgery, only 36.4% people were willing to pay. The tribal population has a high poverty profile in India. Within this group, cataract remains the main treatable cause of blindness despite a high CSC. Assessment of barriers suggested that a well-coordinated outreach programme with free transport facilities to the surgical facility is required along with strategies to improve accessibility and prioritising cataract blind in the community. One-third of people were willing to pay for their surgeries implying that cross subsidization or tier system could be feasible for eye care programme sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A screen of microRNA (miRNA) expression following differentiation in human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) identified changes in several miRNAs, including miR-24 and miR-205. We investigated how expression of Human Papilloma Virus Type-16 (HPV16) onco-proteins E6 and E7 affected expression of miR-24 and miR-205 during proliferation and differentiation of HFKs. We show that the induction of both miR-24 and miR-205 observed during differentiation of HFKs is lost in HFKs expressing E6 and E7. We demonstrate that the effect on miR-205 is due to E7 activity, as miR-205 expression is dependent on pRb expression. Finally, we provide evidence that miR-24 effects in the cell may be due to targeting of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27. In summary, these results indicate that expression of both miR-24 and miR-205 are impacted by E6 and/or E7 expression, which may be one mechanism by which HPV onco-proteins can disrupt the balance between proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For public eye health programs, blindness registers can be an important tool for informing service planning. This study examines how the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) used its blindness register data to drive several public health interventions. Cross-sectional analysis was performed for all active registrants (n = 1194) to determine the distribution of causes of registration according to age, sex, and geographical district. Cataract was the leading cause of registration (39.6%), followed by glaucoma (20.8%), diabetic retinopathy (10.2%), and childhood blindness (9.4%). The distribution of the causes of registration was fairly similar between men and women and across the various districts. However, in Stann Creek, whose population is largely of African descent, glaucoma exceeded cataract. For most causes, the majority of registrants were registered at age 50 or older. Follow-up was conducted four years later. Several interventions had been initiated, most notably bolstering cataract surgical services and creating screening programs for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The register itself was also improved to maximize its utility for future use. While standardized surveys may be the most appropriate method of estimating population-based measures such as prevalence or incidence, the blindness register is still a valuable source of data for public health planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding Health systems have now become the priority focus of researchers and policy makers, who have progressively moved away from a project-centred perspectives. The new tendency is to facilitate a convergence between health system developers and disease-specific programme managers in terms of both thinking and action, and to reconcile both approaches: one focusing on integrated health systems and improving the health status of the population and the other aiming at improving access to health care. Eye care interventions particularly in developing countries have generally been vertically implemented (e.g. trachoma, cataract surgeries) often with parallel organizational structures or specialised disease specific services. With the emergence of health system strengthening in health strategies and in the service delivery of interventions there is a need to clarify and examine inputs in terms governance, financing and management. This present paper aims to clarify key concepts in health system strengthening and describe the various components of the framework as applied in eye care interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a survey regarding the instruments for the surgery of cataract. According to the results, the daily care of the instruments changed throughout the responding eye units. It says that almost all of the surveyed eye units had someone who takes charge of the consumables and instruments. Moreover, the survey revealed that only few among the low-volume eye units surveyed used ultrasound cleaning because of its expensiveness.

Purpose: Nkhoma Eye Hospital, Malawi provides high volume, high quality free cataract surgery to people in its catchment region of Central-Malawi. However, a previous survey in 2000 indicated that only 1 in 7 people with bilateral blindness from cataract had received surgery in a 10-mile radius of Nkhoma. Methods: We conducted a population-based survey in 2006 in the 32 villages within a 10-mile radius of Nkhoma Hospital in people aged ≥≥ 40 years in order to investigate the cataract surgical coverage (CSC) and barriers to cataract surgery. Results: The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity [VA] <3/60 in better eye) in 835 people aged ≥≥ 40 was 1.3% (95% CI 0.5--2.1), of which 36.4% was due to cataract. Overall, the CSC was 83.3%, and for eyes (VA<3/60) was 66.0%. The CSC was lower in females compared to males (73.3% vs. 100.0%. P < 0.001). The most common barrier to surgery was cost (58%). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a 5-fold increase in coverage in the 6 years, primarily by increasing efficiency of the service provider and providing a community screening and referral service. Supporting the ophthalmic personnel with appropriate infrastructure and management has been central to this shift. Implementing an active case finding and referral mechanism has enabled this unit to provide regular high volume cataract surgery. There is a need to understand the factors influencing perceptions about cost as a barrier in this community and the disparity between need and access to services for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 and E7 proteins exhibit deregulation of G2/M genes, allowing bypass of DNA damage arrest signals. Normally, cells with DNA damage that override the G2 damage checkpoint would precociously enter mitosis and ultimately face mitotic catastrophe and apoptotic cell death. However, E6/E7-expressing cells (E6/E7 cells) have the ability to enter and exit mitosis in the presence of DNA damage and continue with the next round of the cell cycle. Little is known about the mechanism that allows these cells to gain entry into and exit from mitosis. Here, we show that in the presence of DNA damage, E6/E7 cells have elevated levels of cyclin B, which would allow entry into mitosis. Also, as required for exit from mitosis, cyclin B is degraded in these cells, permitting initiation of the next round of DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression. Proteasomal degradation of cyclin B by anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is, in part, due to elevated levels of the E2-conjugating enzyme, Ubch10, and the substrate recognition protein, Cdc20, of APC/C. Also, in E6/E7 cells with DNA damage, while Cdc20 is complexed with BubR1, indicating an active checkpoint, it is also present in complexes free of BubR1, presumably allowing APC/C activity and slippage through the checkpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized at a wide range of NaCl solutions (c =0.01–3.0M). The particle diameter (d) was reduced from 7.7 to 6.8nm and the colloidal stability dropped with increasing c. The salt effect on the d was successfully elucidated with an aid of a homogeneous nucleation model. The saturation magnetization (M s) reduction and the lattice contraction (Δa) from −0.015 to −0.038Å with increasing c were observed due to the decrease of the d. From the Δa, the surface tension (γ) enhancement from 0.192 to 0.614N/m with increasing c was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have developed an ion-sensing nanoparticle that is comprised of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core encapsulated with a porous silica shell. The latter can be readily anchored with ligands capable of coordinating with positron-emitting metal. Evidently, this nanoparticle has a great potential for use in cell tracking with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and positron emission tomography (PET). Herein we report the synthesis, surface functionalization and characterization of the magnetic nanoparticle-based probes and evaluate their cell-labeling efficacy, cytoxicity and relaxivity in comparison to one of the most commonly utilized MRI contrast agents, Feridex®. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: When human cells are stressed during G2, they are delayed from entering mitosis via a checkpoint mediated by the p38 kinase , and this delay can be modeled by the selective activation of p38 with anisomycin . Here, we report, on the basis of live-cell studies, that 75 nM anisomycin transiently (1 hr) activates p38 which, in turn, rapidly and completely blocks entry into mitosis for at least 4 hr in all primary, telomerase- or spontaneously immortalized (p53+ and pRB+) human cells. However, the same treatment does not delay entry into mitosis in cancer cells, or the delay in entering mitosis is shortened, even though it induces a similar transient and comparable (or stronger) activation of p38. Because the primary substrate of p38, the MK2 kinase, is also transiently (1–2 hr) activated by anisomycin in both normal and cancer cells, checkpoint disruption in transformed cells occurs downstream of MK2. Finally, observations on isogenic lines reveal that the duration of the stress checkpoint is shortened in cells lacking both p53 and pRb and that the constitutive expression of an active H-Ras oncogene in these cells further attenuates the checkpoint via an ERK1/2-dependent manner. Thus, transformation leads to attenuation of the p38-mediated stress checkpoint. This outcome is likely selected for during transformation because it confers the ability to outgrow normal cells under stressful in vitro (culture) or in vivo (tumor) environments. Our data caution against using cancer cells to study how p38 produces a G2 arrest. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]