Community design: a collaborative approach for social integration

This paper describes a successful case of collaboration among a south-north project team, a Community Multimedia Centre (CMC), and community beneficiaries, for the design and implementation of a small-scale project to improve CMC services for the local community of Quelimane, in Mozambique. The project is part of RE-ACT, a broader scale research and development project which aimed to investigate the social meanings and understandings attributed by different stakeholders to Mozambican CMCs, and use these insights to co-design and implement CMC services with inherent relevance for the local communities. The case reported is considered the most successful of nine action research and co-design projects implemented through RE-ACT. The services designed for the Quelimane CMC can be considered a success not because of perfect alignment with initial goals but rather due to responsiveness and flexibility in the implementation approach: activities and goals were constantly revised by teams to cope with emerging challenges, while at the same time keeping a clear orientation towards set targets. The paper discusses five underlying factors thought to heighten the chances of success of action research and co-design projects involving local communities, ranging from local proactivity and initiative, to commitment to project success, and high perceived self-efficacy of local stakeholders

Miniquest: el agua como recurso fundamental para la vida

El proyecto se desarrolla con alumnos que cursan el segundo año de la ESB integrando dos asignaturas: Química y Matemática. El tema del agua está dentro de los contenidos del programa de Química y para realizar la sistematización, análisis y presentación de los datos, se utilizan contenidos matemáticos del nivel mencionado. La integración de las dos asignaturas le permite al alumno comprobar cómo distintas disciplinas se complementan para investigar sobre un mismo tema, teniendo un objetivo común, que es el de acercar a los alumnos al método científico. Para estudiar el contenido propuesto en el proyecto, los alumnos trabajan con la técnica de Miniquest, que es una actividad de aprendizaje orientada a la investigación y que se lleva a cabo utilizando recursos de Internet preseleccionados por el docente (Eduteka). Su implementación está destinada a promover en los alumnos la incorporación y/o profundización de conocimientos en una materia o un área específica, más que a conocer el manejo de una herramienta informática. Su estructura es constructivista y utiliza estrategias de aprendizaje cooperativo.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FAHCE

I can't fall behind! - aspirations technology and becoming a teacher in South Africa

This article contributes a theoretical perspective on aspirations and technology in ICT4D research. The paper examines the aspirations for professional development of undergraduate pre-service teachers in South Africa, and the extent to which these are marked by or influence the formation of technology attitudes. It is found that the relations between professional aspirations and attitudes towards technology are fairly complex, and of mutual determination: technology is seen as a capacity enabler, instrumental in helping pre-service teachers fulfil their professional aspirations, which in turn motivate them to understand and integrate technology in their future teaching. The implications of this argument for wider ICT4D scholarship are discussed

Un espacio para aprender ciencias rescatando nuestro patrimonio científico

Esta experiencia se desarrolló con la intención de constituir una forma novedosa para la construcción de ideas científicas. Los alumnos llevaron a cabo tareas de recuperación y restauración del instrumental perteneciente al Laboratorio de Física, que cuenta con dispositivos originales destinados a demostraciones y experimentos. Recibieron capacitación con el objeto de rescatar el instrumental, dirigidos por expertos en el tema, como físicos y museólogos.Eje 2: Educación y PúblicoRed de Museos de la Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Un espacio para aprender ciencias rescatando nuestro patrimonio científico

Esta experiencia se desarrolló con la intención de constituir una forma novedosa para la construcción de ideas científicas. Los alumnos llevaron a cabo tareas de recuperación y restauración del instrumental perteneciente al Laboratorio de Física, que cuenta con dispositivos originales destinados a demostraciones y experimentos. Recibieron capacitación con el objeto de rescatar el instrumental, dirigidos por expertos en el tema, como físicos y museólogos.Eje 2: Educación y PúblicoRed de Museos de la Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Un espacio para aprender ciencias rescatando nuestro patrimonio científico

Esta experiencia se desarrolló con la intención de constituir una forma novedosa para la construcción de ideas científicas. Los alumnos llevaron a cabo tareas de recuperación y restauración del instrumental perteneciente al Laboratorio de Física, que cuenta con dispositivos originales destinados a demostraciones y experimentos. Recibieron capacitación con el objeto de rescatar el instrumental, dirigidos por expertos en el tema, como físicos y museólogos.Eje 2: Educación y PúblicoRed de Museos de la Universidad Nacional de La Plat

A systematic review of progranulin concentrations in biofluids in over 7,000 people—assessing the pathogenicity of GRN mutations and other influencing factors

Background: Pathogenic heterozygous mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) are a key cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), leading to significantly reduced biofluid concentrations of the progranulin protein (PGRN). This has led to a number of ongoing therapeutic trials aiming to treat this form of FTD by increasing PGRN levels in mutation carriers. However, we currently lack a complete understanding of factors that affect PGRN levels and potential variation in measurement methods. Here, we aimed to address this gap in knowledge by systematically reviewing published literature on biofluid PGRN concentrations. Methods: Published data including biofluid PGRN concentration, age, sex, diagnosis and GRN mutation were collected for 7071 individuals from 75 publications. The majority of analyses (72%) had focused on plasma PGRN concentrations, with many of these (56%) measured with a single assay type (Adipogen) and so the influence of mutation type, age at onset, sex, and diagnosis were investigated in this subset of the data. Results: We established a plasma PGRN concentration cut-off between pathogenic mutation carriers and non-carriers of 74.8 ng/mL using the Adipogen assay based on 3301 individuals, with a CSF concentration cut-off of 3.43 ng/mL. Plasma PGRN concentration varied by GRN mutation type as well as by clinical diagnosis in those without a GRN mutation. Plasma PGRN concentration was significantly higher in women than men in GRN mutation carriers (p = 0.007) with a trend in non-carriers (p = 0.062), and there was a significant but weak positive correlation with age in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. No significant association was seen with weight or with TMEM106B rs1990622 genotype. However, higher plasma PGRN levels were seen in those with the GRN rs5848 CC genotype in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. Conclusions: These results further support the usefulness of PGRN concentration for the identification of the large majority of pathogenic mutations in the GRN gene. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of considering additional factors, such as mutation type, sex and age when interpreting PGRN concentrations. This will be particularly important as we enter the era of trials for progranulin-associated FTD.</p

“I can’t fall behind!” Aspirations, Technology and Becoming a Teacher in South Africa

This article contributes a theoretical perspective on aspirations and technology in ICT4D research. The paper examines the aspirations for professional development of undergraduate pre-service teachers in South Africa, and the extent to which these are marked by or influence the formation of technology attitudes. It is found that the relations between professional aspirations and attitudes towards technology are fairly complex, and of mutual determination: technology is seen as a capacity enabler, instrumental in helping pre-service teachers fulfil their professional aspirations, which in turn motivate them to understand and integrate technology in their future teaching. The implications of this argument for wider ICT4D scholarship are discussed

A systematic review of progranulin concentrations in biofluids in over 7,000 people—assessing the pathogenicity of GRN mutations and other influencing factors

Background: Pathogenic heterozygous mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) are a key cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), leading to significantly reduced biofluid concentrations of the progranulin protein (PGRN). This has led to a number of ongoing therapeutic trials aiming to treat this form of FTD by increasing PGRN levels in mutation carriers. However, we currently lack a complete understanding of factors that affect PGRN levels and potential variation in measurement methods. Here, we aimed to address this gap in knowledge by systematically reviewing published literature on biofluid PGRN concentrations. Methods: Published data including biofluid PGRN concentration, age, sex, diagnosis and GRN mutation were collected for 7071 individuals from 75 publications. The majority of analyses (72%) had focused on plasma PGRN concentrations, with many of these (56%) measured with a single assay type (Adipogen) and so the influence of mutation type, age at onset, sex, and diagnosis were investigated in this subset of the data. Results: We established a plasma PGRN concentration cut-off between pathogenic mutation carriers and non-carriers of 74.8 ng/mL using the Adipogen assay based on 3301 individuals, with a CSF concentration cut-off of 3.43 ng/mL. Plasma PGRN concentration varied by GRN mutation type as well as by clinical diagnosis in those without a GRN mutation. Plasma PGRN concentration was significantly higher in women than men in GRN mutation carriers (p = 0.007) with a trend in non-carriers (p = 0.062), and there was a significant but weak positive correlation with age in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. No significant association was seen with weight or with TMEM106B rs1990622 genotype. However, higher plasma PGRN levels were seen in those with the GRN rs5848 CC genotype in both GRN mutation carriers and non-carriers. Conclusions: These results further support the usefulness of PGRN concentration for the identification of the large majority of pathogenic mutations in the GRN gene. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of considering additional factors, such as mutation type, sex and age when interpreting PGRN concentrations. This will be particularly important as we enter the era of trials for progranulin-associated FTD.</p