Voicing the professional doctorate and the researching professional's identity: Theorizing the EdD's uniqueness

Although there is increasing interest in how learning to become a researching professional is understood by students undertaking a professional doctorate of education (EdD), the topic remains under-researched and under-theorized. In this article, we provide a set of theorizations, starting with the purpose and distinctiveness of the professional doctorate and the researching professional identity as this is understood by students and staff participating in the EdD programme in one university in the United Kingdom (UK). This is followed by a retheorization of the researching professional as they develop a reflexive disposition to connect the workplace and the university as the subject and object of the same critical stance. We explore: how the professional doctorate may be understood as practices of diverse researching professionals at different phases and stages of their doctoral journey; the imperative of critical reflexivity as one moves from practitioner to researching professional; and the placing of 'practice' at the nexus of the workplace, the university (doctoral programme) and leading professional change. We conclude with a merging of theorizations building on the being and doing of reflexive practice by EdD doctoral educators/supervisors and doctoral students/researching professionals. Our theorizations are drawn from insights arising from recent EdD research projects (Burnard et al., 2016; Burnard et al., 2018; Heaton et al., forthcoming), and highlighted by narratives from two EdD students currently on a part-time EdD programme

Novel microsatellites and investigation of faecal DNA as a non-invasive population monitoring tool for the banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus)

Monitoring programs for populations of small or medium-sized animals often use live-capture or photo-monitoring trapping methods to estimate population size. The banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus), a small macropodiform marsupial, does not readily enter traps or have individually unique distinguishing physical features and is consequently difficult to monitor using these methods. Isolating DNA from faecal material to obtain individual genotypes is a promising monitoring technique and may present an alternative approach for this species. We developed novel species-specific microsatellite markers and undertook trials to assess faecal DNA degradation in ambient environmental conditions at two locations where this species has been translocated. The quality of DNA yielded from faecal pellets was evaluated through amplification failure and genotyping error rates of microsatellite markers. Error rates were compared for different treatments and exposure duration across multiple individuals. DNA was successfully obtained from all samples and error rates increased with exposure duration, peaking after 14–30 days depending on the site and treatment. The level of solar exposure was the most significant factor affecting degradation rate but both this and exposure duration had significant effects on amplification failure. Analysing DNA obtained from faecal pellets may represent a practical non-invasive method of deriving population estimates for this species and warrants further development

Genetic consequences of multiple translocations of the banded hare-qallaby in Western Australia

Many Australian mammal species now only occur on islands and fenced mainland havens free from invasive predators. The range of one species, the banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus), had contracted to two offshore islands in Western Australia. To improve survival, four conservation translocations have been attempted with mixed success, and all occurred in the absence of genetic information. Here, we genotyped seven polymorphic microsatellite markers in two source (Bernier Island and Dorre Island), two historic captive, and two translocated L. fasciatus populations to determine the impact of multiple translocations on genetic diversity. Subsequently, we used population viability analysis (PVA) and gene retention modelling to determine scenarios that will maximise demographic resilience and genetic richness of two new populations that are currently being established. One translocated population (Wadderin) has undergone a genetic bottleneck and lost 8.1% of its source population’s allelic diversity, while the other (Faure Island) may be inbred. We show that founder number is a key parameter when establishing new L. fasciatus populations and 100 founders should lead to high survival probabilities. Our modelling predicts that during periodic droughts, the recovery of source populations will be slower post-harvest, while 75% more animals—about 60 individuals—are required to retain adequate allelic diversity in the translocated population. Our approach demonstrates how genetic data coupled with simulations of stochastic environmental events can address central questions in translocation programmes

Absolute Determination of the 22Na(p,g) Reaction Rate in Novae

Gamma-ray telescopes in orbit around the Earth are searching for evidence of the elusive radionuclide 22Na produced in novae. Previously published uncertainties in the dominant destructive reaction, 22Na(p,g)23Mg, indicated new measurements in the proton energy range of 150 to 300 keV were needed to constrain predictions. We have measured the resonance strengths, energies, and branches directly and absolutely by using protons from the University of Washington accelerator with a specially designed beamline, which included beam rastering and cold vacuum protection of the 22Na implanted targets. The targets, fabricated at TRIUMF-ISAC, displayed minimal degradation over a ~ 20 C bombardment as a result of protective layers. We avoided the need to know the stopping power, and hence the target composition, by extracting resonance strengths from excitation functions integrated over proton energy. Our measurements revealed that resonance strengths for E_p = 213, 288, 454, and 610 keV are stronger by factors of 2.4 to 3.2 than previously reported. Upper limits have been placed on proposed resonances at 198-, 209-, and 232-keV. We have re-evaluated the 22Na(p,g) reaction rate, and our measurements indicate the resonance at 213 keV makes the most significant contribution to 22Na destruction in novae. Hydrodynamic simulations including our rate indicate that the expected abundance of 22Na ejecta from a classical nova is reduced by factors between 1.5 and 2, depending on the mass of the white-dwarf star hosting the nova explosion.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures; shortened paper, accepted in Phys. Rev.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without zoledronic acid on pathological response: A meta-analysis of randomised trials

Purpose The addition of bisphosphonates to adjuvant therapy improves survival in postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients. We report a meta-analysis of four randomised trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) +/– zoledronic acid (ZA) in stage II/III BC to investigate the potential for enhancing the pathological response. Methods Individual patient data from four prospective randomised clinical trials reporting the effect of the addition of ZA on the pathological response after neoadjuvant CT were pooled. Primary outcomes were pathological complete response in the breast (pCRb) and in the breast and lymph nodes (pCR). Trial-level and individual patient data meta-analyses were done. Predefined subgroup-analyses were performed for postmenopausal women and patients with triple-negative BC. Results pCRb and pCR data were available in 735 and 552 patients respectively. In the total study population ZA addition to neoadjuvant CT did not increase pCRb or pCR rates. However, in postmenopausal patients, the addition of ZA resulted in a significant, near doubling of the pCRb rate (10.8% for CT only versus 17.7% with CT+ZA; odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–4.55) and a non-significant benefit of the pCR rate (7.8% for CT only versus 14.6% with CT+ZA; OR 2.62, 95% CI 0.90–7.62). In patients with triple-negative BC a trend was observed favouring CT+ZA. Conclusion This meta-analysis shows no impact from the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT on pCR. However, as has been seen in the adjuvant setting, the addition of ZA to neoadjuvant CT may augment the effects of CT in postmenopausal patients with BC

General properties of the pion production reaction in nuclear matter

The pion production reaction $\pi^+ \to \pi^+\pi^{\pm}$ on $^{45}Sc$ was studied at incident pion energies of $T_{\pi^{+}}$ = 240, 260, 280, 300, and 320 MeV. The experiment was performed using the $M11$ pion-channel at TRIUMF, and multiparticle events, ($\pi^+,\pi^+\pi^{\pm}$) and ($\pi^+,\pi^+\pi^{\pm}p$), were detected with the CHAOS spectrometer. Results are reported in the form of both differential and total cross sections, and are compared to theoretical predictions and the reaction phase space. The present investigation of the T-dependence of the $\pi^+ A \to \pi^+\pi^{\pm} A'$ reaction complements earlier examinations of the A-dependence of the reaction, which was measured using $^{2}H$, $^{4}He$, $^{12}C$, $^{16}O$, $^{40}Ca$, and $^{208}Pb$ targets at $\sim$280 MeV. Some general properties of the pion-induced pion production reaction in nuclear matter will be presented, based on the combined results of the two studies.Comment: 23 pages, Latex, accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.

Anti-tumour activity of bisphosphonates in preclinical models of breast cancer

There is increasing evidence of anti-tumour effects of bisphosphonates from pre-clinical studies, supporting a role for these drugs beyond their traditional use in treatment of cancer-induced bone disease. A range of model systems have been used to investigate the effects of different bisphosphonates on tumour growth, both in bone and at peripheral sites. Most of these studies conclude that bisphosphonates cause a reduction in tumour burden, but that early intervention and the use of high and/or repeated dosing is required. Successful eradication of cancer may only be achievable by targeting the tumour cells directly whilst also modifying the tumour microenvironment. In line with this, bisphosphonates are demonstrated to be particularly effective at reducing breast tumour growth when used in combination with agents that directly target cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that the effects of bisphosphonates on breast tumours are not limited to bone, and that prolonged anti-tumour effects may be achieved following their inclusion in combination therapy. This has opened the field to a new strand of bisphosphonate research, focussed on elucidating their effects on cells and components of the local, regional and distal tumour microenvironment. This review highlights the recent developments in relation to proposed anti-tumour effects of bisphosphonates reported from in vitro and in vivo models, and summarises the data from key breast cancer studies. Evidence for effects on different processes and cell types involved in cancer development and progression is discussed, and the main outstanding issues identified

The ππ\pi\pi interaction in nuclear matter from a study of the π+A→π+π±A′\pi^+ A \to \pi^+ \pi^{\pm} A' reactions

The pion-production reactions $\pi^+ A \to \pi^+\pi^{\pm} A'$ were studied on $^{2}H$, $^{12}C$, $^{40}Ca$, and $^{208}Pb$ nuclei at an incident pion energy of $T_{\pi^{+}}$=283 MeV. Pions were detected in coincidence using the CHAOS spectrometer. The experimental results are reduced to differential cross sections and compared to both theoretical predictions and the reaction phase space. The composite ratio $\cal C$$_{\pi\pi}^A$ between the $\pi^{+}\pi^{\pm}$ invariant masses on nuclei and on the nucleon is also presented. Near the $2m_{\pi}$ threshold pion pairs couple to $(\pi\pi)_{I=J=0}$ when produced in the $\pi^+\to \pi^+\pi^-$ reaction channel. There is a marked near-threshold enhancement of $\cal C$$_{\pi^+\pi^-}^A$ which is consistent with theoretical predictions addressing the partial restoration of chiral symmetry in nuclear matter. Furthermore, the behaviour of $\cal C$$_{\pi^+\pi^-}^A$ is well described when the restoration of chiral symmetry is combined with standard P-wave renormalization of pions in nuclear matter. On the other hand, nuclear matter only weakly influences $\cal C$$_{\pi^+\pi^+}^A$, which displays a flat behaviour throughout the energy range regardless of $A$.Comment: 30 pages, 16 figures, PS format, accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys