The international strategies of Czech universities:substantive or symbolic?

Although the internationalisation of higher education has been researched since the 1980s, there are important gaps - theoretical and empirical – relating to the managerial processes behind international strategy formulation and implementation in universities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate how, why, and to what extent are the international strategies, which lead to internationalisation, formulated and implemented in public universities in the Czech Republic. This study uses the lens of institutional theory, including the possible use of symbolic and substantive international strategies, to investigate these phenomena. However, there is a theoretical gap in institutional theory concerning the role of individuals in organisational decision making. There is no published research on the international strategies of universities in Central Europe. This is an important empirical gap given the possible effect on these strategies of the post socialist transition since 1989. The public universities in the Czech Republic are the focus of this study. They are not allowed to charge tuition fees to domestic students. Nevertheless, they have tried to internationalise since the 1990s under pressure from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS), the academic village and international rankings. This research explores the way the international strategies at those universities have been formulated as an organisational response to those external pressures. It also explores what are the main purposes of the international strategies, and whether they are symbolic, as well as substantive, in nature. Finally, it investigates the role of individuals in the formulation and implementation of those strategies. An abductive research strategy was deployed, and a qualitative research design was created. Data was collected from documents, including mission and vision statements and international strategies, and semi-structured interviews with 42 members of staff at 11 Czech universities, whose job role related to internationalisation. Content analysis was applied to the documentary data and thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts. The research findings – theoretical and empirical - reveal that most Czech public universities use symbolic international strategies, as well as substantive ones. This is due to the rapid institutionalisation of the internationalisation process, as well as to external pressures. Although in some cases, the symbolic strategies might appear disingenuous, their application can be seen as a pragmatic response to ensure the development of their university. It was also identified that the universities tend to conform to institutional pressures. However, the focus of legitimation is the expectations of MEYS, from which they receive the bulk of their funding. Indeed, their international strategies can be seen, at least in part, as an outcome of recommendations from MEYS. This, in turn, increases homogenisation within Czech higher education. Therefore, if the occurrence of symbolic strategies is to be reduced, the contribution of MEYS to the governance of Czech universities may need to be reshaped

Inhaled Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles: Their in Vivo Fate and Effect on Target Organs

The increasing amount of heavy metals used in manufacturing equivalently increases hazards of environmental pollution by industrial products such as cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles. Here, we aimed to unravel the CdO nanoparticle destiny upon their entry into lungs by inhalations, with the main focus on the ultrastructural changes that the nanoparticles may cause to tissues of the primary and secondary target organs. We indeed found the CdO nanoparticles to be transported from the lungs into secondary target organs by blood. In lungs, inhaled CdO nanoparticles caused significant alterations in parenchyma tissue including hyperemia, enlarged pulmonary septa, congested capillaries, alveolar emphysema and small areas of atelectasis. Nanoparticles were observed in the cytoplasm of cells lining bronchioles, in the alveolar spaces as well as inside the membranous pneumocytes and in phagosomes of lung macrophages. Nanoparticles even penetrated through the membrane into some organelles including mitochondria and they also accumulated in the cytoplasmic vesicles. In livers, inhalation caused periportal inflammation and local hepatic necrosis. Only minor changes such as diffusely thickened filtration membrane with intramembranous electron dense deposits were observed in kidney. Taken together, inhaled CdO nanoparticles not only accumulated in lungs but they were also transported to other organs causing serious damage at tissue as well as cellular level

Inhaled Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles: Their in Vivo Fate and Effect on Target Organs

The increasing amount of heavy metals used in manufacturing equivalently increases hazards of environmental pollution by industrial products such as cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles. Here, we aimed to unravel the CdO nanoparticle destiny upon their entry into lungs by inhalations, with the main focus on the ultrastructural changes that the nanoparticles may cause to tissues of the primary and secondary target organs. We indeed found the CdO nanoparticles to be transported from the lungs into secondary target organs by blood. In lungs, inhaled CdO nanoparticles caused significant alterations in parenchyma tissue including hyperemia, enlarged pulmonary septa, congested capillaries, alveolar emphysema and small areas of atelectasis. Nanoparticles were observed in the cytoplasm of cells lining bronchioles, in the alveolar spaces as well as inside the membranous pneumocytes and in phagosomes of lung macrophages. Nanoparticles even penetrated through the membrane into some organelles including mitochondria and they also accumulated in the cytoplasmic vesicles. In livers, inhalation caused periportal inflammation and local hepatic necrosis. Only minor changes such as diffusely thickened filtration membrane with intramembranous electron dense deposits were observed in kidney. Taken together, inhaled CdO nanoparticles not only accumulated in lungs but they were also transported to other organs causing serious damage at tissue as well as cellular level

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Stimulate the Immune Response and Decrease Antioxidant Defense in Mice After Six-Week Inhalation

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are increasingly used in various industry sectors. Moreover, medical application of CuO NPs as antimicrobials also contributes to human exposure. Their toxicity, including toxicity to the immune system and blood, raises concerns, while information on their immunotoxicity is still very limited. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effects of CuO NPs (number concentration 1.40×106 particles/cm3, geometric mean diameter 20.4 nm) on immune/inflammatory response and antioxidant defense in mice exposed to 32.5 µg CuO/m3 continuously for 6 weeks. After six weeks of CuO NP inhalation, the content of copper in lungs and liver was significantly increased, while in kidneys, spleen, brain, and blood it was similar in exposed and control mice. Inhalation of CuO NPs caused a significant increase in proliferative response of T-lymphocytes after mitogenic stimulation and basal proliferative activity of splenocytes. CuO NPs significantly induced the production of IL-12p70, Th1-cytokine IFN-γ and Th2-cytokines IL-4, IL-5. Levels of TNF-α and IL-6 remained unchanged. Immune assays showed significantly suppressed phagocytic activity of granulocytes and slightly decreased respiratory burst. No significant differences in phagocytosis of monocytes were recorded. The percentage of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and CD3-CD19+ cell subsets in spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes did not differ between exposed and control animals. No changes in hematological parameters were found between the CuO NP exposed and control groups. The overall antioxidant protection status of the organism was expressed by evaluation of GSH and GSSG concentrations in blood samples. The experimental group exposed to CuO NPs showed a significant decrease in GSH concentration in comparison to the control group. In summary, our results indicate that sub-chronic inhalation of CuO NPs can cause undesired modulation of the immune response. Stimulation of adaptive immunity was indicated by activation of proliferation and secretion functions of lymphocytes. CuO NPs elicited pro-activation state of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in exposed mice. Innate immunity was affected by impaired phagocytic activity of granulocytes. Reduced glutathione was significantly decreased in mice exposed to CuO NPs