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Lesson study, a collaborative teacher professional development approach, has gained popularity internationally and leading the process with teachers plays a key role in making it sustainable in schools. This paper, which draws on a postgraduate university course for prospective school leaders, examines the dynamic roles in leading lesson study. Drawing on the literature on lesson study and leadership, we analyse how postgraduate students lead lesson study while navigating their status as an insider–outsider. Using a theoretical lens informed by the insider–outsider researcher debate, we propose a classification framework to understand lesson study leaders’ statuses. Presenting two case studies, we explore the strategies for the selection of LS participants, communication, and trust-building, as well as the leaders’ dilemmas and learning opportunities. Drawing on the findings, we highlight the central role of reflective practice in leading lesson study and offer insights for practitioners. This study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of leading lesson study and its implications for the preparation of prospective leaders.

ObjectiveTo compare secondary patient reported outcomes of perceptions of treatment success and function for patients treated for appendicitis with appendectomy vs. antibiotics at 30 days.Summary background dataThe Comparison of Outcomes of antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy trial found antibiotics noninferior to appendectomy based on 30-day health status. To address questions about outcomes among participants with lower socioeconomic status, we explored the relationship of sociodemographic and clinical factors and outcomes.MethodsWe focused on 4 patient reported outcomes at 30 days: high decisional regret, dissatisfaction with treatment, problems performing usual activities, and missing >10 days of work. The randomized (RCT) and observational cohorts were pooled for exploration of baseline factors. The RCT cohort alone was used for comparison of treatments. Logistic regression was used to assess associations.ResultsThe pooled cohort contained 2062 participants; 1552 from the RCT. Overall, regret and dissatisfaction were low whereas problems with usual activities and prolonged missed work occurred more frequently. In the RCT, those assigned to antibiotics had more regret (Odd ratios (OR) 2.97, 95% Confidence intervals (CI) 2.05-4.31) and dissatisfaction (OR 1.98, 95%CI 1.25-3.12), and reported less missed work (OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.27-0.56). Factors associated with function outcomes included sociodemographic and clinical variables for both treatment arms. Fewer factors were associated with dissatisfaction and regret.ConclusionsOverall, participants reported high satisfaction, low regret, and were frequently able to resume usual activities and return to work. When comparing treatments for appendicitis, no single measure defines success or failure for all people. The reported data may inform discussions regarding the most appropriate treatment for individuals.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02800785.

Abstract Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are being developed and designed to operate on existing roads. Their safe and efficient operation during roadworks, where traffic management measures are often introduced, is crucial. Two alternative measures are commonly applied during roadworks on motorways: (i) closing one or multiple lanes (ii) narrowing one or all lanes. The former can cause delays and increased emissions, while the latter can pose safety risks. This study uses a VISSIM‐based traffic microsimulation to compare the effectiveness of these two strategies on traffic efficiency and safety, considering various market penetration rates (MPR) of CAVs. The model was calibrated and validated with the data collected from M1 motorway in the United Kingdom. Results show that average delays per vehicle‐kilometre‐travelled decreased from 102.7 to 2.5 s (with lane closure) and 23.6 to 0.6 s (with narrow lanes) with 0% and 100% CAV MPR, respectively. Moreover, safety in narrow lanes improved by 4.8 times compared to 1.5 times improvement in lane closure with a 100% CAV MPR; indicating that narrow lanes would result in better safety performance. These findings could assist transport authorities in designing temporary traffic management measure that results in better CAV performance when navigating through roadworks.

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial bone disease characterised by reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk. Family studies have made significant contribution in unravelling the genetics of osteoporosis. Yet, most of the underlying molecular and biological mechanisms remain unknown prompting the need for further studies. This review outlines the proper phenotyping and advanced genetic techniques in the form of high-throughput DNA sequencing used to identify genetic factors underlying monogenic osteoporosis in a family-based setting. The steps related to variant filtering prioritisation and curation are also described. From an evolutionary perspective, deleterious risk variants with higher penetrance tend to be rare as a result of negative selection. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) can identify rare variants with large effect sizes which are likely to be missed by candidate gene analysis or genome-wide association studies (GWAS) wherein common variants with small to moderate effect sizes are identified. We also describe the importance of replicating implicated genes, and possibly variants, identified following HTS to confirm their causality. Replication of the gene in other families, singletons or independent cohorts confirms that the shortlisted genes and/or variants are indeed causal. Furthermore, novel genes and/or variants implicated in monogenic osteoporosis require a thorough validation by means of in vitro and in vivo assessment. Therefore, analyses of families can continue to elucidate the genetic architecture of osteoporosis, paving the way for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a frequent postoperative complication that nurses commonly need to provide asepsis-specific meticulous care for. The application of a closed-incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) device is regarded as a novel technique that aims to lower the risk of external wound contamination. Aim The purpose of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of iNPWT on high-risk closed laparotomy incisions with the aim to inform nursing practitioners and physicians engaged in multieffort wound care practices. Nursing professionals play a crucial role in mitigating the incidence of SSIs, from the time of application, through ongoing assessment tissue condition, and ensuring asepsis, thereby enhancing patient care and safety. The Research Question Is prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy effective in reducing the incidence of (closed) surgical site wound infections postlaparotomy? PICO Elements The population studied included patients undergoing laparotomy surgery. The intervention under review included the application of iNPWT, compared to the use of standard gauze dressing. The expected outcome was SSI reduction. Methods and Results A systematized literature search was conducted using various databases to identify published studies that address the PICO question. The PRISMA checklist and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tools allowed to exclude irrelevant articles and to critically appraise the evidence, respectively. Eleven key articles were retrieved including four RCTs and seven systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The results indicated an overall positive association between iNPWT and a reduction in SSI in laparotomy surgeries when compared to standard dressings. Linking Evidence to Action Data across most studies reviewed support the benefits with the use of iNPWT as a preventive strategy to lower the rates of SSI, with some claiming no difference. Although heterogeneity in the studies precludes a definite conclusion, nurses may make a more informed decision when navigating the demands of SSI prevention targeted nursing care.

Primary mitochondrial diseases are a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorders resulting from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) defects. COX11 encodes a copper chaperone that participates in the assembly of complex IV and has not been previously linked to human disease. In a previous study, we identified that COX11 knockdown decreased cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) derived from respiration, and that ATP levels could be restored with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ) supplementation. This finding is surprising since COX11 has no known role in CoQ10 biosynthesis. Here, we report a novel gene-disease association by identifying biallelic pathogenic variants in COX11 associated with infantile-onset mitochondrial encephalopathies in two unrelated families using trio genome and exome sequencing. Functional studies showed that mutant COX11 fibroblasts had decreased ATP levels which could be rescued by CoQ10 . These results not only suggest that COX11 variants cause defects in energy production but reveal a potential metabolic therapeutic strategy for patients with COX11 variants.

A major threat to biodiversity is represented by Invasive Alien Species (IAS), particularly on freshwater ecosystems, which are already heavily altered by human activities. Two of the most pernicious IAS are the eastern and western mosquitofish, i.e., Gambusia holbrooki and G. affinis. These two poeciliids are morphologically very close to each other, and soon after their formal description, G. holbrooki was considered a subspecies of G. affinis. In the following years, several studies proved that these two entities belonged to two different species; nevertheless, it was only at the end of the 1990s that their separate taxonomic status was re-established. In the 1920s and 1930s, both G. holbrooki and G. affinis were asynchronously introduced from the United States into Europe and subsequently translocated globally as biocontrol agents of the malaria vector (i.e., the larvae of the Anopheles mosquitoes), with dramatic consequences for the inland water native fauna. However, due to taxonomic uncertainties and nomenclatural instability, for years, there were doubts about which Gambusia species had been introduced in different regions. The first available molecular studies confirmed the occurrence of G. holbrooki in Europe, but no evidence confirming the occurrence of G. affinis was found. Despite this, some records report the occurrence of western mosquitofish in Italy and Malta. Considering the negative effects that the mosquitofish has on the native biota, it is of paramount importance to know the precise biological diversity of the native and non-native species to better implement environmental management strategies to properly preserve the already-fragile waterbodies. Therefore, to check for the possible occurrence of G. affinis in Italy and Malta, we conducted extensive sampling in Sicily (Italy) and in the Maltese archipelago, aiming to verify the identity of Gambusia populations occurring in the study area. Based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, we consistently observed the occurrence of only G. holbrooki in the investigated area, finding, almost exclusively, the most common haplotype known for the species in the whole invaded range (i.e., “HOL1”).

Purpose – Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are often due to human users acting according to their own ethical priorities. With the goal of providing tailored training to cybersecurity professionals, the authors conducted a study to uncover profiles of human factors that influence which ethical principles are valued highest following exposure to ethical dilemmas presented in a cybersecurity game. Design/methodology/approach – The authors’ game first sensitises players (cybersecurity trainees) to five cybersecurity ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, autonomy and explicability) and then allows the player to explore their application in multiple cybersecurity scenarios. After playing the game, players rank the five ethical principles in terms of importance. A total of 250 first-year cybersecurity students played the game. To develop profiles, the authors collected players' demographics, knowledge about ethics, personality, moral stance and values. Findings – The authors built models to predict the importance of each of the five ethical principles. The analyses show that, generally, the main driver influencing the priority given to specific ethical principles is cultural background, followed by the personality traits of extraversion and conscientiousness. The importance of the ingroup was also a prominent factor. Originality/value – Cybersecurity professionals need to understand the impact of users' ethical choices. To provide ethics training, the profiles uncovered will be used to build artificially intelligent (AI) non-player characters (NPCs) to expose the player to multiple viewpoints. The NPCs will adapt their training according to the predicted players’ viewpoint.

In 2019, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guideline on the endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis modified the individual predictors of choledocholithiasis proposed in the widely referenced 2010 guideline to improve predictive performance. Nevertheless, the primary literature, especially for the 2019 iteration, is limited. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to examine the diagnostic performance of the 2010, and where possible the 2019, predictors. PROSPERO protocol CRD42020194226. A comprehensive literature search from 2001 to 2020 was performed to identify studies on the diagnostic performance of any of the 2010 and 2019 ASGE choledocholithiasis predictors. Identified studies underwent keyword screening, abstract review, and full-text review. The primary outcomes included multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each criterion. Secondary outcomes were reported sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive value. A total of 20 studies met inclusion criteria. Based on reported ORs, of the 2010 guideline "very strong" predictors, ultrasound with stone had the strongest performance. Of the "strong" predictors, CBD > 6 mm demonstrated the strongest performance. "Moderate" predictors had inconsistent and/or weak performance; moreover, all studies reported gallstone pancreatitis as non-predictive of choledocholithiasis. Only one study examined the new predictor (bilirubin > 4 mg/dL and CBD > 6 mm) proposed in the 2019 guideline. Based on this review, aside from CBD stone on ultrasound, there is discordance between the proposed strength of 2010 choledocholithiasis predictors and their published diagnostic performance. The 2019 guideline appears to do away with the weakest 2010 predictors.

In the original publication [...]

This paper investigates unplugged computing as a formal pedagogical strategy to teaching computing to a Maltese secondary class of Year 9 students. It aims at identifying the effectiveness of this pedagogy outlining the strengths and weaknesses in its application, taking into consideration the level of attainment for students, as well as the impact on teachers' lesson preparation. This research study is based on the delivery of five unplugged activities. It analyses students' reaction when exposed to such unplugged activities to assess the viability of using this pedagogy when teaching computing concepts in a formal setting. The study concludes that unplugged computing is an effective pedagogical strategy that helps attain a high level of engagement and student involvement, encouraging teamwork and collaboration. Students experience a wide attention span and good retention through the constant link of computing scenarios to real-life examples and the use of tangible non-computing related objects. Notwithstanding, the study also identifies certain limitations of this pedagogy, mainly that it is not sufficient as a standalone pedagogy, but needs to be applied in conjunction with other pedagogies to be able to cover all the expected learning objectives of the curriculum.

Background and aimsNoninvasive predictors of choledocholithiasis have generally exhibited marginal performance characteristics. We aimed to identify noninvasive independent predictors of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-confirmed choledocholithiasis and accordingly developed predictive machine learning models (MLMs).MethodsClinical data of consecutive patients undergoing first-ever ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis from 2015-2019 were abstracted from a prospectively-maintained database. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. MLMs were then trained to predict ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis using pre-ERCP ultrasound (US) imaging only and separately using all available noninvasive imaging (US/CT/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography). The diagnostic performance of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) "high-likelihood" criteria was compared to MLMs.ResultsWe identified 270 patients (mean age 46 years, 62.2% female, 73.7% Hispanic/Latino, 59% with noninvasive imaging positive for choledocholithiasis) with native papilla who underwent ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis, of whom 230 (85.2%) were found to have ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. Logistic regression identified choledocholithiasis on noninvasive imaging (odds ratio (OR) = 3.045, P = 0.004) and common bile duct (CBD) diameter on noninvasive imaging (OR=1.157, P = 0.011) as predictors of ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. Among the various MLMs trained, the random forest-based MLM performed best; sensitivity was 61.4% and 77.3% and specificity was 100% and 75.0%, using US-only and using all available imaging, respectively. ASGE high-likelihood criteria demonstrated sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 25.0%; using cut-points achieving this specificity, MLMs achieved sensitivity up to 97.7%.ConclusionsMLMs using age, sex, race, presence of diabetes, fever, body mass index (BMI), total bilirubin, maximum CBD diameter, and choledocholithiasis on pre-ERCP noninvasive imaging predict ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis with good sensitivity and specificity and outperform the ASGE criteria for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire into the English language, broadening the applicability of this patient-reported outcome measure and improving the monitoring of patients with diabetic foot disease.MethodsThe validation study into English was conducted in two phases: cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation study. Short Form-12 Version 2, EuroQoL-5D and Foot Function Index were used to analyze the criterion validity. Item response, internal consistency, standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change and construct validity were calculated in the validation phase.ResultsAn English version of the questionnaire (DFSQ-UMA-En) was successfully obtained. A total of n = 193 participants were tested to confirm the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Internal consistency values ranged from very good to excellent (Cronbach’s α =0.889–0.981), and reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.854–0.959). Standard error measurement value was =2.543. Criterion validity ranged from r = 0.429 to r = 0.844. For construct validity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test was =0.752.ConclusionDFSQ-UMA-En is a valid and reliable tool with good readability and comprehension features. This questionnaire addresses foot self-care behaviors in patients with diabetic foot disease, standing out as essential for early diagnosis and prevention strategies in clinical and research settings.

Background  Luminal stenting is safe, effective, and at times the preferred method for relieving gastrointestinal obstruction. However, stent placement is not technically feasible when lesions cannot be traversed with a guidewire, resulting in the need for more invasive methods of palliation and urgent/emergent surgical intervention. In this series, we report our experience with cap-assisted stenting to improve lumen visualization in obstructed segments of the gastrointestinal tract and salvage cases that may have otherwise resulted in technical failure. Methods  A clear cap (i. e. distal attachment) was affixed to the scope tip to facilitate visualization and stenting in two cases of gastroduodenal obstruction and three cases of colonic obstruction. Indications for stent placement included malignant obstruction, diverticulitis-associated obstruction, and Crohn's disease-associated stricture. Results  In this report, we demonstrate that use of a clear cap facilitated endoscopic stenting in challenging cases of malignant and benign gastroduodenal and colonic obstruction. Conclusions  A clear cap for endoscopic stenting can be used in cases in which standard techniques are unsuccessful or those anticipated to be technically difficult at the outset. Cases with tortuous anatomy or particularly tight, friable, or exophytic obstructive lesions may benefit most from this novel technical modification.

Objectives: Bio-psycho-social frailty is related to increased risk of death and utilization of health services. This paper reports the predictive validity of a 10-min multidimensional questionnaire on the risk of death, hospitalization and institutionalization. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed based on data from the “Long Live the Elderly!” program, involving 8,561 community-dwelling Italian people >75, followed for an average of 516.6 days (Median = 448, P25–P75: 309–692). Mortality, hospitalization, and institutionalization rates according to frailty levels assessed by the Short Functional Geriatric Evaluation (SFGE) have been calculated. Results: Compared with the robust, the pre-frail, frail, and very frail faced a statistically significant increase in the risk of mortality (RR = 1.40, 2.78 and 5.41), hospitalization (OR = 1.31, 1.67, and 2.08) and institutionalization (OR = 3.63, 9.52, and 10.62). Similar results were obtained in the sub-sample of those with only socio-economic issues. Frailty predicted mortality with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70 (95% CI 0.68–0.72) with sensitivity and specificity of 83.2% and 40.4%. Analyses of single determinants of these negative outcomes showed a multivariable pattern of determinants for all the events. Conclusions: The SFGE predicts death, hospitalization and institutionalization by stratifying older people according to the levels of frailty. The short administration time, the socio-economic variables and the characteristics of personnel administering the questionnaire make it suitable for being used in public health as a screening tool for a large population, to put frailty at the core of the care for community-dwelling older adults. The difficulty in capturing the complexity of the frailty is witnessed by the moderate sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire.

Purpose – To protect information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and resources against poor cyber hygiene behaviours, organisations commonly require internal users to confirm they will abide by an ICT Code of Conduct. Before commencing enrolment, university students sign ICT policies, however, individuals can ignore or act contrary to these policies. This study aims to evaluate whether students can apply ICT Codes of Conduct and explores viable approaches for ensuring that students understand how to act ethically and in accordance with such codes. Design/methodology/approach – The authors designed a between-subjects experiment involving 260 students’ responses to five scenario-pairs that involve breach/non-breach of a university’s ICT policy following a priming intervention to heighten awareness of ICT policy or relevant ethical principles, with a control group receiving no priming. Findings – This study found a significant difference in students’ responses to the breach versus non-breach cases, indicating their ability to apply the ICT Code of Conduct. Qualitative comments revealed the priming materials influenced their reasoning. Research limitations/implications – The authors’ priming interventions were inadequate for improving breach recognition compared to the control group. More nuanced and targeted priming interventions are suggested for future studies. Practical implications – Appropriate application of ICT Code of Conduct can be measured by collecting student/employee responses to breach/non-breach scenario pairs based on the Code and embedded with ethical principles. Social implications – Shared awareness and protection of ICT resources. Originality/value – Compliance with ICT Codes of Conduct by students is under-investigated. This study shows that code-based scenarios can measure understanding and suggest that targeted priming might offer a non-resource intensive training approach.

Scavenging energy from the earcanal’s dynamic motion during jaw movements may be a practical way to enhance the battery autonomy of hearing aids. The main challenge is optimizing the amount of energy extracted while working with soft human tissues and the earcanal’s restricted volume. This paper proposes a new energy harvester concept: a liquid-filled earplug which transfers energy outside the earcanal to a generator. The latter is composed of a hydraulic amplifier, two hydraulic cylinders that actuate a bistable resonator to raise the source frequency while driving an amplified piezoelectric transducer to generate electricity. The cycling of the resonator is achieved using two innovative flexible hydraulic valves based on the buckling of flexible tubes. A multiphysics-coupled model is established to determine the system operation requirements and to evaluate its theoretical performances. This model exhibits a theoretical energy conversion efficiency of 85%. The electromechanical performance of the resonator coupled to the piezoelectric transducer and the hydraulic behavior of the valves are experimentally investigated. The global model was updated using the experimental data to improve its predictability toward further optimization of the design. Moreover, the energy losses are identified to enhance the entire proposed design and improve the experimental energy conversion efficiency to 26%.

Abstract Background Sepsis is defined as a state of multisystem organ dysfunction secondary to a dysregulated host response to infection and causes millions of deaths worldwide annually. Novel ways to counteract this disease are needed and such tools may be heralded by a detailed understanding of its molecular pathogenesis. MiRNAs are small RNA molecules that target mRNAs to inhibit or degrade their translation and have important roles in several disease processes including sepsis. Main body The current review adopted a strategic approach to analyzing the widespread literature on the topic of miRNAs and sepsis. A pubmed search of “miRNA or microRNA or small RNA and sepsis not review” up to and including January 2021 led to 1140 manuscripts which were reviewed. Two hundred and thirty-three relevant papers were scrutinized for their content and important themes on the topic were identified and subsequently discussed, including an in-depth look at deregulated miRNAs in sepsis in peripheral blood, myeloid derived suppressor cells and extracellular vesicles. Conclusion Our analysis yielded important observations. Certain miRNAs, namely miR-150 and miR-146a, have consistent directional changes in peripheral blood of septic patients across numerous studies with strong data supporting a role in sepsis pathogenesis. Furthermore, a large body of literature show miRNA signatures of clinical relevance, and lastly, many miRNAs deregulated in sepsis are associated with the process of endothelial dysfunction. This review offers a widespread, up-to-date and detailed discussion of the role of miRNAs in sepsis and is meant to stimulate further work in the field due to the potential of these small miRNAs in prompt diagnostics, prognostication and therapeutic agency.

The potential of the least polluted fraction (from 8 to 30 mm) of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) weathered bottom ash (WBA) as an alkali-activated cement precursor was evaluated. Alkali-activated WBA binders (AA-WBA) formulations were prepared through alkali-activation of WBA as sole precursor. Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) mixtures with different pH's were used as alkali-activator solution. The effect of alkali-activator solution pH on the final properties was assessed. Results showed the hydrolytic stability of all formulations. The selective chemical extractions and physicochemical characterisation revealed the formation of the C–S–H, C–A–S–H, and (N,C)–A–S–H gels. The promising compressive strength results demonstrated the potential of AA-WBA binders. The increase of pH in the alkali-activated solution promotes the formation of gel reaction products and enhance mechanical properties. This investigation promotes the green cements manufacturing and the use of secondary resources to reduce the impact of natural resources extraction used for the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production. Resumen: En el presente trabajo se evaluó el potencial como material precursor de la escoria procedente de la incineración de residuos urbanos (MSWI BA) en la formulación de cementos alcalinos. La fracción menos contaminada de escoria (8-30 mm), previamente madurada, se usó como único precursor para la formulación de aglutinantes alcalinos (AA-WBA). Como solución activadora se emplearon varias mezclas de silicato sódico (Na2SiO3) e hidróxido de sodio (NaOH) con diferentes concentraciones para evaluar el efecto del pH del activador en las propiedades finales del material. Los resultados verificaron la estabilidad hidrolítica de todas las formulaciones. La selección química extractiva y la caracterización físico-química reveló la formación de geles C-S-H, C-A-S-H y (N,C)-A-S-H. Los prometedores resultados de resistencia a compresión demostraron el potencial de los AA-WBA. El incremento del pH de la solución activadora contribuye a la formación de los productos de reacción y mejora las propiedades mecánicas. Esta investigación promueve la fabricación de cementos más respetuosos con el medio ambiente y el uso de materias primas provenientes de fuentes secundarias para minimizar la extracción de recursos naturales utilizados en la fabricación de cemento Portland.

A major threat to biodiversity is represented by Invasive Alien Species (IAS), particularly on freshwater ecosystems, which are already heavily altered by human activities. Two of the most pernicious IAS are the eastern and western mosquitofish, i.e., Gambusia holbrooki and G. affinis. These two poeciliids are morphologically very close to each other, and soon after their formal description, G. holbrooki was considered a subspecies of G. affinis. In the following years, several studies proved that these two entities belonged to two different species; nevertheless, it was only at the end of the 1990s that their separate taxonomic status was re-established. In the 1920s and 1930s, both G. holbrooki and G. affinis were asynchronously introduced from the United States into Europe and subsequently translocated globally as biocontrol agents of the malaria vector (i.e., the larvae of the Anopheles mosquitoes), with dramatic consequences for the inland water native fauna. However, due to taxonomic uncertainties and nomenclatural instability, for years, there were doubts about which Gambusia species had been introduced in different regions. The first available molecular studies confirmed the occurrence of G. holbrooki in Europe, but no evidence confirming the occurrence of G. affinis was found. Despite this, some records report the occurrence of western mosquitofish in Italy and Malta. Considering the negative effects that the mosquitofish has on the native biota, it is of paramount importance to know the precise biological diversity of the native and non-native species to better implement environmental management strategies to properly preserve the already-fragile waterbodies. Therefore, to check for the possible occurrence of G. affinis in Italy and Malta, we conducted extensive sampling in Sicily (Italy) and in the Maltese archipelago, aiming to verify the identity of Gambusia populations occurring in the study area. Based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, we consistently observed the occurrence of only G. holbrooki in the investigated area, finding, almost exclusively, the most common haplotype known for the species in the whole invaded range (i.e., "HOL1"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesson study, a collaborative teacher professional development approach, has gained popularity internationally and leading the process with teachers plays a key role in making it sustainable in schools. This paper, which draws on a postgraduate university course for prospective school leaders, examines the dynamic roles in leading lesson study. Drawing on the literature on lesson study and leadership, we analyse how postgraduate students lead lesson study while navigating their status as an insider–outsider. Using a theoretical lens informed by the insider–outsider researcher debate, we propose a classification framework to understand lesson study leaders' statuses. Presenting two case studies, we explore the strategies for the selection of LS participants, communication, and trust-building, as well as the leaders' dilemmas and learning opportunities. Drawing on the findings, we highlight the central role of reflective practice in leading lesson study and offer insights for practitioners. This study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of leading lesson study and its implications for the preparation of prospective leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing thyroid carcinoma is not always easy on basic haemtoxylin and eosin staining since nuclear features are inconsistent and controversial. In view of this, studies on the role of immunohistochemical markers in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid carcinoma are necessary. Proposed immunohistochemical markers for papillary thyroid cancer include Hector Battifora mesothelial-1 (HBME-1), and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) which have been studied in this project. Immunohistochemical staining of fifty-eight formalin-fixed paraffin embedded surgically removed thyroid tissue from the years 2008 and 2013 was undertaken to determine the diagnostic accuracy of these two markers. We have concluded that both Gal-3 and HBME-1 are useful markers to aid in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and also in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of Gal-3 over the 2years studied was found to be 96.2% and 92.6%, respectively, whilst HBME-1 was found to have sensitivity of 93.6% and specificity of 69.02%.