Search

Have you ever deeply considered the intersections between research and education, particularly for second-level students? Traditionally, the convergence of these two realms is most often noted when considering the integration of research findings into educational practices or the involvement of, typically a small number, of students in research activities. While these practices have demonstrated efficacy, the fields of scientific research and education are evolving rapidly, necessitating a reevaluation of how we can optimize their convergence. In our discourse, we delve into these evolving trends, uncover the potential for greater integration, and, ultimately, enhance outcomes using the citizen science initiative Kefir4All as an illustrative example.

Assessment and feedback remain one of the biggest challenges when designing work-integrated learning (WIL) programs. Motivated by the paucity of student-facing research, this study explores the student experiences of assessment and feedback on work-placement modules across a variety of programs within a single university. Two hundred and seventy students from different disciplines who had completed a work-placement module the previous academic year participated by contributing quantitative and qualitative data via a survey. The data reveals that, both within and across programs, participants found assessment divisive. For some, assessment supported employability and the development of key graduate attributes while others reported that the assessment process did not support learning, as it was not relevant, or distracting. The findings reveal a gap between the theory and practice of how authentic assessment is actualized across a range of work-placement modules and carry practical implications for higher education institutions striving to enhance WIL experiences.

The importance of finding alternative protein sources to partially replace dietary meat intake has been emphasised. A comparison of different plant-based protein sources, namely cereals (wheat, barley, oats), brassicas (oilseed rape) and legumes (peas, beans), in terms of economic, environmental and nutritional metrics, would help identify optimal strategies for protein production. Due to potential complementarity in a crop rotation production system, including cereals, brassicas and legumes should be investigated as a potential action for stakeholders. This study focuses on the Republic of Ireland, an interesting case study given the limited share of legumes in arable land despite somewhat favourable bio-physical conditions and an increased emphasis on crop rotation financial support under the latest Irish Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan. Our results indicate that legume production is more efficient than oilseed rape and cereal production in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protein yield, but legumes’ gross margin per hectare is less that of cereals. Greenhouse gas emissions per 100 g of protein is also lower for legumes compared to other crops. All scenarios modelled enhanced crop rotations in Ireland and led to an increase in gross margin and protein yield, as well as a decrease in GHG emissions per hectare. Crop rotations including cereals, legumes and brassicas have the potential to support agricultural GHG emissions reduction in Ireland. To realise these benefits, public policies should address the barriers to protein crop production such as the lack of market outlets. Rewarding the agronomic risks associated with legume production should also be emphasised.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is considered to be one of the most virulent, treatment-refractory malignancies. Recent molecular insights into the biology of thyroid cancer have transformed ATC management, and BRAF/MEK targeted therapy is now incorporated into guideline-based multidisciplinary care. We report visceral perforation in the setting of an extreme response to such therapy in a patient with ATC. Molecularly targeted therapy afforded a dramatic but life-threatening response to treatment. This report highlights the complexities of care for the patient and treating clinicians.

Abstract There is continuous research into driving cycles (DCs) as researchers across the globe seek to define driving characteristics, energy consumption, and emissions in a local context. For decades, data collection for the development of DCs has been conducted in three ways: chase car, instrumented vehicle, or a combination of both. Many studies have moved on to cheap and easily available global positioning system (GPS) technology, while others record vehicle data directly through the on‐board diagnostics (OBD) port. However, there are major limitations to GPS data collection such as frequent inaccuracies and loss of coverage in urban environments. For this reason, both OBD and GPS vehicle speed data have been collected. Then, the recorded data has been analysed to capture any differences in sampling rates and dropping data. Finally, basic DCs were created from smoothed GPS and OBD data and compared. DCs were developed with a microtrip‐based method, and a relative error term was used to compare candidate DCs to the collected data. DCs were compared based on kinematic characteristic parameters that are most used in the field. The results of this study could be used to assess the validity of GPS‐based DCs compared to OBD cycles using low‐cost devices.

The place of work in organization studies and management has waxed and waned. Yet, today, social and technological developments have raised again interest in the study of work and this curated discussion brings together experts in key approaches to this topic. Seven contributions have been selected to provide a panorama of what we know about work while pointing to some uncharted territories worthy of future exploration. The contributions outline the principles behind and value of systemic, contextualized, or holistic view of work and report insights on how changes in some work components reverberate in its broader ecology. We hope this curated discussion will make us more aware of the collective journey scholars have charted so far while posing new questions and opening or re-directing new avenues of inquiry.

Maternal gut microbiome impairment has garnered attention for its potential role in influencing neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, especially in situations that increase brain vulnerability such as perinatal asphyxia (PA). Maternal microbiome and fetal brain interplay emerge as a critical link between maternal health and offspring neurodevelopment. This study aims to generate a model to assess the impact of maternal dysbiosis triggered by gestational antibiotic administration and PA on offspring neurodevelopment. Wistar rats were subjected to antibiotics in drinking water from the 11th gestational day until birth. On the 6th postnatal day, pups were subjected to PA/normoxia, resulting in four experimental groups: control-normoxia, antibiotics-normoxia, control-asphyxia, and antibiotics-asphyxia. Early-life behavioral tests were conducted between postnatal days 7 and 9. The initial antimicrobial cocktail (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, clindamycin, amphotericin-B) led to an increased number of miscarriages, poor weight gain during pregnancy, reduced offspring weight, and changes in the maternal gut microbiome compared to control. Offspring presented impaired neurodevelopmental reflexes in both PA and antibiotic groups and increased hippocampal neuroinflammation. Due to these detrimental effects, a more pregnancy-safe antibiotic cocktail was used for a second experiment (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, meropenem). This resulted in no miscarriages or pregnancy-weight loss but was still linked to gut microbiome disruption. PA impaired neurodevelopmental reflexes and increased neuroinflammation, effects amplified by antibiotic administration. These preliminary findings reveal the cumulative potential of maternal dysbiosis and PA on neurodevelopment impairment, emphasizing caution in gestational antimicrobial use. Further investigations should include offspring long-term follow-up and maternal behavior and integrate probiotics to counteract antibiotic effects.

While there is significant research on the impact of food insecurity, there is less so through the lens of young people and the youth work response. Therefore, this research presents findings from a small-scale United Kingdom-based study asking what are young people’s and youth workers perceptions of food insecurity and the youth work response. Focus group research methodology was adopted. The research recognised that food insecurity is part of a wider issue of poverty and inequality, and we explored how this is perceived by young people and youth workers at the Personal, Cultural, and Structural levels whilst also situating issues of food insecurity in the global context. Themes of togetherness, relationship, otherness, disempowerment, and learning were identified as key components in the youth work response to food insecurity. A number of recommendations are made, including the importance of highlighting the power of youth work in responding to young people experiencing food insecurity. The youth work approach has application to all professions working to challenge issues of food insecurity and social injustice.

Edge-assisted IoT technologies combined with conventional industrial processes help evolve diverse applications under the Industrial IoT (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 era by bringing cloud computing technologies near the hardware. The resulting innovations offer intelligent management of the industrial ecosystems, focusing on increasing productivity and reducing running costs by processing massive data locally. In this research, we design, develop, and implement an IIoT and edge-based system to monitor the energy consumption of a factory floor’s stationary and mobile assets using wireless and wired energy meters. Once the edge receives the meter’s data, it stores the information in the database server, followed by the data processing method to find nine additional analytical parameters. The edge also provides a master user interface (UI) for comparative analysis and individual UI for in-depth energy usage insights, followed by activity and inactivity alarms and daily reporting features via email. Moreover, the edge uses a data-filtering technique to send a single wireless meter’s data to the cloud for remote energy and alarm monitoring per project scope. Based on the evaluation, the edge server efficiently processes the data with an average CPU utilization of up to 5.58% while avoiding measurement errors due to random power failures throughout the day.

Research exploring the advantages and limitations of different laboratory modes on student learning is critical so that engineering instructors can design hybrid/blended laboratories to maximise student learning. However, limited research explores the impact of take-home laboratories on student learning. This article documents the impact that the "HELP" take-home laboratory had on student perceptions of conceptual and professional learning across four European universities within the discipline of electronic engineering. Impact was evaluated through a student questionnaire that included Likert-scale and open-ended questions and was completed by 74 participants. The research extends what is known by revealing how take-home laboratories supported student understanding. Participants report that having flexible access and more time to build and test real circuits enhanced their understanding. Participants also reported that take-home laboratories supported the development of specific professional skills. Based on the student perspective, an implication of this research is that take-home laboratories can legitimately complement other laboratory modalities.

A large number of variants identified through clinical genetic testing in disease susceptibility genes, are of uncertain significance (VUS). Following the recommendations of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the frequency in case-control datasets (PS4 criterion), can inform their interpretation. We present a novel case-control likelihood ratio-based method that incorporates gene-specific age-related penetrance. We demonstrate the utility of this method in the analysis of simulated and real datasets. In the analyses of simulated data, the likelihood ratio method was more powerful compared to other methods. Likelihood ratios were calculated for a case-control dataset of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), and compared with logistic regression results. A larger number of variants reached evidence in favor of pathogenicity, and a substantial number of variants had evidence against pathogenicity - findings that would not have been reached using other case-control analysis methods. Our novel method provides greater power to classify rare variants compared to classical case-control methods. As an initiative from the ENIGMA Analytical Working Group, we provide user-friendly scripts and pre-formatted excel calculators for implementation of the method for rare variants in BRCA1, BRCA2 and other high-risk genes with known penetrance.

The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) calls for a comprehensive exploration of its complex etiology, with a focus on sex-specific vulnerability, particularly the heightened susceptibility observed in postmenopausal women. Neurometabolic alterations during the endocrine transition emerge as early indicators of AD pathology, including reduced glucose metabolism and increased amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition. The fluctuating endocrine environment, marked by declining estradiol levels and reduced estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) activity, further exacerbates this process. In this context, here we explore the potential of forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) as a critical mediator linking metabolic disturbances to hormonal decline. We propose that FOXO3 plays a key role in the intersection of menopause and AD, given its dysregulation in both AD patients and postmenopausal women, modulating cellular metabolism through interactions with the AMPK/AKT/PI3K pathways. This relationship highlights the intersection between hormonal changes and increased AD susceptibility. This review aims to open a discussion on FOXO3's contribution to the metabolic dysregulation seen in menopause and its impact on the progression of AD. Understanding the functional role of FOXO3 in menopause-associated metabolic changes could lead to targeted therapeutic strategies, offering novel insights for managing for this condition.

Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have inconsistently been implicated as risk factors for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). We evaluated whether the association of ACE with disease differs between IMID and other chronic diseases.Design Nested retrospective case-control study.Setting We used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), which recruited participants aged 45–85 years between 2010 and 2015.Participants We included 12 627 CLSA participants: 2 102 who reported diagnoses of IMID (258 multiple sclerosis (MS), 1 692 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 160 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)), 5 519 with diabetes, 170 with epilepsy, 3 889 with asthma and 1 125 with no chronic diseases. ACE, including childhood maltreatment (physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect) and household dysfunction, were queried using questions from the Childhood Experiences of Violence Questionnaire-Short Form and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health Wave III questionnaire.Primary and secondary outcome measures We first evaluated whether the association of maltreatment differed across diagnoses (IMID, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, no chronic diseases). Second, we evaluated whether the association between maltreatment differed across IMID. We repeated our analyses for different types of ACE.Results Maltreatment or household dysfunction was experienced by 64% of participants and 30% experienced both. On multivariable analysis, history of any maltreatment, sexual abuse, any household dysfunction and having ≥3 types of ACE were all associated with increased risk of IMID compared with no chronic disease. The association between ACE and IMID did not differ across MS, RA and IBD.Conclusion ACE are common among Canadians with and without chronic diseases. History of any maltreatment or household dysfunction is associated with increased risk of chronic disease.

Cancer remains a widespread and significant global health issue, with consequential impacts on individuals, families, and societies across the globe. Although there have been noteworthy advancements in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer, the impact of this disease continues to be significant on health care systems and people worldwide. Furthermore, there are still differences in obtaining the advantages of modern cancer treatment, which can partly be attributed to the lack of standardized standards for providing top-notch cancer care. To tackle these difficulties, a multitude of projects and organizations have emerged to address the standard of cancer care on a global level. This paper provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the worldwide influence of programs and organizations that seek to improve the quality of cancer care. This document examines the progression of these initiatives, their cooperation with international organizations, possible paths for additional advancement, and suggestions for enhancing the standard of cancer treatment worldwide.

Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the majority of the studies have focused on gut bacterial communities; none have examined the fungal microbiota (mycobiota) in persons with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). We examined the gut mycobiota in persons with and without POMS through a cross-sectional examination of the gut mycobiota from 46 participants’ stool samples (three groups: 18 POMS, 13 acquired monophasic demyelinating syndromes [monoADS], and 15 unaffected controls). Using metataxonomic sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer region 2, the fungal profiles were compared between participants using visualizations, statistical tests, and predictive analysis. While the mycobiome α- (Shannon and inverse Simpson indices) and β-diversity differed across the three groups [analysis of variance (ANOVA), p

Protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and risk of long COVID has been associated with the depletion or over-abundance of specific taxa within the gut microbiome. However, the microbial mechanisms mediating these effects are not yet known. We hypothesized that altered microbial production of tryptophan and its downstream derivatives might contribute to inappropriate immune responses to viral infection. In patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 172), serum levels of tryptophan and indole-3-propionate (IPA) negatively correlated with serum levels of many proinflammatory mediators (including C-reactive protein and Serum amyloid A), while C-glycosyltryptophan (C-Trp), indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels were positively correlated with levels of acute phase proteins, proinflammatory cytokines, alarmins and chemokines. A similar pattern was observed in long COVID patients (n = 20) where tryptophan and IPA were negatively associated with a large number of serum cytokines, while C-Trp and IAA were positively associated with circulating cytokine levels. Metagenomic analysis of the fecal microbiota showed the relative abundance of genes encoding the microbial enzymes required for tryptophan production (e.g. anthranilate synthase) and microbial tryptophan metabolism was significantly lower in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 380) compared to healthy controls (n = 270). Microbial tryptophan metabolites reduced innate cell proinflammatory responses to cytosolic DNA sensor Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 and TLR-4 stimulation in vitro, while IL-10 secretion was enhanced. Microbial tryptophan metabolites also modified ex vivo human lymphocyte responses by limiting the production of TH1 and TH17 associated cytokines, while enhancing secretion of IL-22. These data suggest that lower levels of tryptophan production and tryptophan metabolism by gut microbes may increase the risk of severe and chronic outcomes to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to impaired innate and adaptive responses to infection. Screening patients for lower-level microbiome capacity for tryptophan metabolism may help identify at-risk individuals.

Understanding the interrelationship between the gut microbiota and host physiology, although still in its relative infancy, has taken important steps forward over the past decade. In the context of brain disorders including those characterized by neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative changes there have been important advances. However, initially research involved correlational analyses, had limited translational scope, and lacked functional assessments. Thus, largescale longitudinal clinical investigations that assess causation and underlying mechanisms via in depth analysis methods are needed. In neurodegeneration research, strong causal evidence now links the gut microbiome to Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's Disease (PD), as supported by human-to-animal transplantation studies. Longitudinal interventions are being conducted in AD, PD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Neurodevelopmental research has also seen a boon in microbiome-related clinical research including in autism, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia, which is confirming prior animal model work regarding the key time-windows in the gut microbiome important for infant cognition. While recent research advances represent important progress, fundamental knowledge gaps and obstacles remain. Knowing how and why the gut microbiome changes at the extremes of life will develop our mechanistic understanding and help build the evidence base as we strive toward counteracting microbial missteps with precision therapeutic interventions.