Supporting Professional Development Through MOOCs: the TESSA Experience

Policy aspirations for education across sub - Saharan Africa are requiring teachers to change from being transmitters of knowledge to facilitators of learning. This means that teacher education needs to change as well. At present, teacher preparation courses are highly theoretical, and many teacher educators have very limited sch ool teaching experience. Teacher Education in sub - Saharan Africa (TESSA), open educational resources (OER) can support teacher educators in developing the practical knowledge needed, yet many see them as resources for teachers rather than themselves. Also, curricula and examination systems may restrict the incorporation of OER into teacher preparation programmes. The TESSA MOOC - Making teacher education relevant for 21 st Century Africa - was designed to support teacher educators in changing their practice and better support teachers in the new curricula being developed. It focused on active teaching approaches, incorporating ICT into classroom learning, and using TESSA materials and other OER. It ran three times, over two years, and nearly 7000 participants , mainly from sub - Saharan Africa (SSA), registered. For many people it was their first experience of online learning. They studied on phones, in environments where electricity and connectivity were erratic, and supported each other in local communities. De spite the challenges, the completion rates for the first two presentations were encouragingly high compared with the norm for MOOCs. This paper analyses data from the pre - and post - course surveys from the first two presentations to understand who took pa rt, how they studied, what they learnt and how it has impacted on their practice

Metaplastic changes in the epithelium of radicular cysts: A series of 711 cases

This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of metaplastic changes in the epithelium of radicular cysts and to investigate how they relate to the clinical and radiographic characteristics of the cysts, based on a large series of radicular cysts. Biopsies of cysts of endodontic origin that were examined at the Department of Oral Pathology between 2004 and 2011 have been re-evaluated for this study. Only cases that were re-confirmed with clinical and histological diagnoses of a radicular or residual radicular cyst were included. The included cases were evaluated for the prevalence of metaplastic changes in the form of mucous secreting cells (MSC) or ciliated cells (CC). The relations between the metaplastic changes and the cyst type (radicular or residual radicular), as well as demographic, clinical and radiographic parameters, were statistically evaluated using Fischer and chi-square tests. Significance was set at p<0.05. A total of 711 cysts were included: 677 were radicular cysts (95%) and 34 (5%) were residual radicular cysts. 23 cases had histopathological diagnoses other than radicular or residual radicular cysts and were excluded from the study. MSC were present in 47 (6.6%) cysts. MSC were significantly more common in residual radicular cysts than in radicular cysts [8 (23.5%) and 39 (5.8%), respectively; p<0.001]. MSC-containing cysts were commonly found in asymptomatic patients (10.5%, p<0.001), and usually presented with well-defined radiographic borders (7.2%, p<0.05). CC were present in 34 (4.8%) cysts, with a markedly high prevalence in the maxillary molar sextant (15%, p<0.001). In the epithelium of radicular and residual radicular cysts the presence of specific metaplastic changes may be related to cyst type, symptomatology, radiographic findings and tooth location

Professional development in the digital age: supporting improvements in teacher education through MOOCs

Education policies across sub-Saharan Africa require teachers to change from being transmitters of knowledge to facilitators of learning. This means that teacher education needs to change as well and professional development which focuses on practical teaching is urgently needed. The Teacher Education for sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) MOOC - Making teacher education relevant for 21st Century Africa - was designed to support teacher educators in changing their practice. The MOOC modelled socio-cultural theories of learning and focused on issues identified by the TESSA network. It ran four times, over two years, and nearly 9000 participants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), registered. For many it was their first experience of online learning. They studied on phones, in environments where electricity and connectivity were erratic, and supported each other in local communities. We draw on survey data from the first two presentations and in-depth interviews with four MOOC graduates to understand who took part, how they studied, what they learnt and how it has impacted on their practice and professional identity. For some individuals the experience was transformational. The study highlights the potential of this form of professional development, to make a difference particularly in a policy environment which is seeking pedagogic change

Ethics in global research:Creating a toolkit to support integrity and ethical action throughout the research journey

Global challenge-led research seeks to contribute to solution-generation for complex problems. Multicultural, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral teams must be capable of operating in highly demanding contexts. This brings with it a swathe of ethical conflicts that require quick and effective solutions that respect both international conventions and cultural diversity. The objective of this article is to describe the process of creating a toolkit designed to support global researchers in navigating these ethical challenges. The process of creating the toolkit embodied the model of ethical research practice that it advocates. Specifically, at the heart of ethical decision-making is consideration of the following: Place , solutions must be relevant to the context in which they are to be used; People , those impacted by the outcomes must be partners in co-creation; Principles , ethical projects must be guided by clear values; and Precedent , the existing evidence-base should guide the project and, in turn, the project should extend the evidence-base. It is the thesis underlying the toolkit that consideration of these 4Ps provides a strong basis for understanding ethical conflicts and allows for the generation of potential solutions. This toolkit has been designed in two phases of collaborative work. More than 200 researchers participated from more than 30 countries and more than 60 different disciplines. This allowed us to develop a model for contextual, dynamic analysis of ethical conflicts in global research that is complementary to traditional codes of ethics. It emphasizes the need to consider ethical analysis as an iterative, reflective, process relevant at all stages of the research journey, including, ultimately, in evaluating the legacy of a project. The toolkit is presented as an open access website to promote universal access. A downloadable “pocket guide” version is also now available in 11 languages

Variabilitas Fenotipe beberapa Genotipe Kunyit (Curcuma domestica Val.) Lokal Papua di Kabupaten Manokwari

Kunyit merupakan tanaman rempah yang berpotensi sebagai bahan pangan fungsional. Penggunaan kunyit sebagai tanaman rempah menyebabkan tanaman ini banyak dibudidayakan hampir di seluruh indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menduga keragaman fenotipe beberapa jenis kunyit koleksi lokal Papua. Penelitian ini menggunakan teknik deskriptif kualitatif untuk menggambarkan variasi fenotipe dari data pengamatan morfologi dan hasil tanaman kunyit.Variabel yang diamati dalam penelitian mengikuti Pedoman Penyusunan Deskripsi Varietas Hortikultura yang dikeluarkan oleh Direktorat Perbenihan Hortikultura, Dirjen Hortikultura Kementerian Pertanian tahun 2011, yaitu tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, diameter batang, panjang daun, lebar daun, berat per rimpang pertanaman. Analisis keragaman menunjukkan koefisien keragaman fenotipe (KKF)  berkisar dari rendah sampai dengan tinggi. Karakter yang memiliki KKF rendah adalah lebar daun; karakter yang memiliki KKF sedang adalah tinggi tanaman, panjang daun, panjang rimpang dan diameter rimpang, sedangkan karakter yang memiliki KKF tinggi adalah bobot rimpang per tanaman.  Hasil analis komponen utama (AKU) menunjukan bahwa terdapat dua komponen yang berkontribusi terhadap keragaman fenotipe dari 8 kunyit lokal Papua yang diamati. Karakter yang mampu mampu mempengaruhi keragaman komponen pertama dari 8 genotipe lokal Papua antara lain tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, diameter batang, panjang daun, lebar daun, berat per rimpang dengan kontribusi sebesar 63,384% dan nilai Eigenvalue 3,803. Karakter yang mempengaruhi keragaman komponen kedua adalah panjang rimpang dan diameter rimpang dengan total kontribusi sebesar 20,753% dan Eigenvalue 1,245. Terdapat 2 klaster utama yang terbentuk berdasarkan analisis keragaman dari karakter vegetatif dan generatif 8 genotipe kunyit lokal yang diamati pada tingkat ketidakmiripan 0,87, yaitu klaster 1 yang terdiri dari genotipe Amban 2 dan kluster 2 yang terdiri dari genotipe bintuni, SP3, SP6, Jayapura 2, Jayapura, Arfai dan Amban

Extending TCGA queries to automatically identify analogous genomic data from dbGaP [version 1; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Data sharing is critical to advance genomic research by reducing the demand to collect new data by reusing and combining existing data and by promoting reproducible research. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a popular resource for individual-level genotype-phenotype cancer related data. The Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) contains many datasets similar to those in TCGA. We have created a software pipeline that will allow researchers to discover relevant genomic data from dbGaP, based on matching TCGA metadata. The resulting research provides an easy to use tool to connect these two data sources

Supporting Parents Living in Disadvantaged Areas of Edinburgh to Create a Smoke-Free Home Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): A Two-Phase Qualitative Study

Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in the home is largely associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Disadvantaged parents face specific challenges creating a smoke-free home, often caring for children in accommodation without access to outdoor garden space. Existing smoke-free home interventions largely fail to accommodate these constraints. Innovative approaches are required to address this inequality. In this two-phase study, we engaged with parents living in disadvantaged areas of Edinburgh, Scotland, to explore tailored approaches to creating a smoke-free home and develop and pilot-test an intervention based on their views and preferences. In Phase 1, qualitative interviews with 17 parents recruited from Early Years Centres explored alternative approaches to smoke-free home interventions. In Phase 2, an intervention based on parents’ views and preferences was pilot-tested with parents recruited through Early Years and Family Nurse Partnership centres. Seventeen parents took part in an interview to share their views/experiences of the intervention. Data from both study phases were thematically analysed. Phase 1 findings suggested that parents associated nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with quit attempts but supported the idea of NRT use for temporary abstinence to create a smoke-free home, viewing this as a safer option than using e-cigarettes indoors. In Phase 2, 54 parents expressed an interest in accessing NRT to create a smoke-free home, 32 discussed NRT product choice during a home visit from a smoking adviser, and 20 collected their free NRT prescription from the pharmacy. NRT was used for up to 12 weeks in the home, with ongoing advice available from pharmacy staff. During qualitative interviews (n = 17), parents self-reported successfully creating a smoke-free home, quitting smoking, and reduced cigarette consumption, often exceeding their expectations regarding changes made. The intervention was acceptable to parents, but the multi-step process used to access NRT was cumbersome. Some participants were lost to this process. Parents living in disadvantaged circumstances may benefit from access to NRT for temporary abstinence in the home to assist them to protect their children from SHS exposure. Further research using a more streamlined approach to NRT access is required to determine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of this approach

Basic science232. Certolizumab pegol prevents pro-inflammatory alterations in endothelial cell function

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a leading cause of death. Chronic systemic inflammation involving tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) could contribute to endothelial activation and atherogenesis. A number of anti-TNF therapies are in current use for the treatment of RA, including certolizumab pegol (CZP), (Cimzia ®; UCB, Belgium). Anti-TNF therapy has been associated with reduced clinical cardiovascular disease risk and ameliorated vascular function in RA patients. However, the specific effects of TNF inhibitors on endothelial cell function are largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the mechanisms underpinning CZP effects on TNF-activated human endothelial cells. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to a) TNF alone, b) TNF plus CZP, or c) neither agent. Microarray analysis was used to examine the transcriptional profile of cells treated for 6 hrs and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysed gene expression at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hrs. NF-κB localization and IκB degradation were investigated using immunocytochemistry, high content analysis and western blotting. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect microparticle release from HAoECs. Results: Transcriptional profiling revealed that while TNF alone had strong effects on endothelial gene expression, TNF and CZP in combination produced a global gene expression pattern similar to untreated control. The two most highly up-regulated genes in response to TNF treatment were adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1 (q 0.2 compared to control; p > 0.05 compared to TNF alone). The NF-κB pathway was confirmed as a downstream target of TNF-induced HAoEC activation, via nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB, effects which were abolished by treatment with CZP. In addition, flow cytometry detected an increased production of endothelial microparticles in TNF-activated HAoECs, which was prevented by treatment with CZP. Conclusions: We have found at a cellular level that a clinically available TNF inhibitor, CZP reduces the expression of adhesion molecule expression, and prevents TNF-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, CZP prevents the production of microparticles by activated endothelial cells. This could be central to the prevention of inflammatory environments underlying these conditions and measurement of microparticles has potential as a novel prognostic marker for future cardiovascular events in this patient group. Disclosure statement: Y.A. received a research grant from UCB. I.B. received a research grant from UCB. S.H. received a research grant from UCB. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5 × 10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist