The circumstances of migrant families raising children with disabilities in five European countries: Updating knowledge and pursuing new research

In 2017, specialists in several fields (health, education, and social work) from five European countries (France, Georgia, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland) established a network to jointly pursue studies on migration and disability. An initial workshop provided an opportunity to discuss their previous individual work and to develop a comparative research project. This article presents the key aspects of the discussion and the resulting plans for collaborative study. First, migrant children with disabilities remain statistically invisible in some countries. Separate policies and systems address their needs as migrants and their needs as persons with disabilities. Second, in all countries covered by the research network, there is an important gap between legal norms and the circumstances of migrant families raising children with disabilities. The same holds true for collaboration between public agencies, or between those agencies and NGOs (serving persons with disabilities, migrants, and/or national minorities). Further comparative and cross-disciplinary study must focus on increasing the social participation of children with disabilities and their families through social, educational, and health interventions within an intercultural context

Support Mechanisms and Value Creation in Multi-Stakeholder Networks for Digital Innovation in Education: A Cross-Country Study

This study investigates the impact of support mechanisms on enhancing the participation of network members in diverse multi-stakeholder networks with a primary focus on digital innovation in education. The study was conducted in collaboration with national networks from partner countries of a H2020 project, which aims to accelerate digital innovation in and across schools. Twenty-six international stakeholders from various backgrounds, including teachers, school leaders, mentors, educational technologists, policy makers, and a researcher were interviewed (n = 14) or surveyed (n = 12). Using Wenger et al.’s [1] value creation framework, the study identified participants’ perceptions of various activities, interactions, and structures that enable network members to generate value. The results indicated overarching values for members to be associated with capacity building opportunities, joint projects, opportunities for expanding impact through recognized expertise, access to personalized support and guidance, and knowledge sharing platforms

Comparison of total antibody and interferon-γ T-cell responses in patients following infection with brucellosis in Georgia

Summary: Brucellosis is an ancient disease that still remains a significant threat to humans and is typically linked to exposure to infected animals and/or consumption of unpasteurized animal products. Despite this history, we have a relatively limited understanding of the host characteristics of this disease; consequently, further research is necessary. In this study, we examined the humoral immune response in 43 Georgian individuals that had been diagnosed with brucellosis 3–12 months before enrollment in the study, many of whom still had symptoms after the completion of antibiotic therapy. In total, 35 of 43 (83%) of the patients had antibodies that bound to Brucella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by COMPELISA, and 34 of 38 (89%) patients had demonstrable specific antibodies to Brucellergene™ antigens; the results from the two ELISAs were highly correlated (p = 0.031, r = 0.851). We also studied the cellular immune responses in 15 patients. All of the patients generated interferon (IFN)-γ in response to ex vivo stimulation with Brucella protein antigens, and the majority of the patients maintained measurable humoral responses to both LPS and protein antigens. From this initial study, we conclude that measurement of antibody and of cellular (IFN-γ) responses to brucellergene OCB protein epitopes may be worthy of further investigation as an alternative or adjunct to current diagnostics. Keywords: Brucella, Immune response, ELISPOT, ELISA, Brucellin, LP

Pharmacokinetics of eflapegrastim in a phase 2 open-label dose-ranging study in breast cancer patients receiving TC regimen

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Sustained efficacy of eflapegrastim in breast cancer patients in a phase 2, open-label, dose-ranging study

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