Performance of Cold-Formed Steel Shear Walls with Frame Blocking and Double-Sheathing

This paper summarizes a laboratory based research program on blocked and double-sheathed cold-formed steel framed shear walls. The intent was to develop walls whose in-plane shear resistance exceeds that of configurations currently listed in the AISI S400 Standard. The results showed that the frame blocking can be used in the construction of walls whose resistance is at the limit of that found in AISI S400; however, the blocking will not adequately restrain the framing members if thicker sheathing is used. An approach was needed to minimize the effect of the eccentric loading caused by the sheathing and to account for the combination of axial compression and bending on the chord studs. Shear walls with steel sheathing placed on both sides of the framing demonstrated resistances up to twice those listed in AISI S400, without damage to the framing members, and similar ductility characteristics to previously tested CFS shear walls

Using Robotics to Support the Acquisition of STEM and 21st-Century Competencies: Promising (and Practical) Directions

To enhance how educators use robotics to support the development of STEM and 21st century competencies, we report findings from focus groups and interviews with 133 elementary teachers and 46 elementary students, 19 video-recorded classroom observations, and a teacher survey from Ontario, Canada. We find that teachers use robotics in a variety of ways to support the development of cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills. Despite the potential benefits, our participants identified several factors that limit the adoption of robotics teaching and learning on a wider scale, including insufficient curriculum and assessment integration, resources, and professional development and support. We provide practical policy guidelines to support the broader integration of robotics and reflect on how these recommendations may inform teaching and learning in a (post-) COVID-19 classroom.Dans le but d’améliorer la façon dont les éducateurs utilisent la robotique pour soutenir le développement des compétences du XXIe siècle et des STIM, nous rapportons ici les résultats de groupes de discussion et d’entretiens individuels avec 133 enseignants et 46 élèves du primaire, de 19 observations de vidéos enregistrées en classe et d’un sondage auprès des enseignants effectué en Ontario, au Canada. Nous constatons que les enseignants utilisent la robotique de diverses manières pour soutenir le développement des compétences cognitives, interpersonnelles et intrapersonnelles. Malgré les avantages potentiels, nos participants ont identifié plusieurs facteurs qui limitent l’adoption de l’enseignement et de l’apprentissage de la robotique à plus grande échelle. Notamment, l’intégration insuffisante dans les curriculums et les évaluations, une pénurie de ressources, et un manque de développement et de soutien professionnel. Nous suggérons des directives politiques pratiques pour soutenir l’intégration plus efficace de la robotique, et considérons la manière dont ces recommandations pourraient éclairer l’enseignement et l’apprentissage dans une salle de classe (post) Covid-19

Canadian K-12 Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons and Reflections

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented disruption to education and schooling at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Operating in a context of great uncertainty, education leaders were tasked with making key decisions with potentially far-reaching impacts on the educational and mental and physical health of students and families. Drawing on 9 cross-sectoral focus groups with school board administrators, representatives from education industry partners, and K-12 educational policy research organizations, this paper provides a historical record of the evolution of decision-making and points to promising lines of inquiry and lessons that can be learned from this moment in education.

Physical separation techniques in water purification: an inquiry-based laboratory learning experience

This article outlines a structured investigative activity for students in lower secondary school. It was developed for the Australian Mathematics and Science Partnership Programme, a government initiative intended to promote the employment of more hands-on investigations in secondary science within Australian schools. The investigation focuses on water purification and is intended to develop conceptual knowledge of this topic and also high-level skills such as experimental design, particularly in relation to identifying and controlling variables. The investigation is outlined in detail and was trialed with practicing science teachers, school students and preservice secondary teachers. All of these groups provided feedback in various forms that indicated the investigation was valuable, relevant, interesting and allowed students to take some responsibility for their own inquiry learning

A Novel Immune Evasion Strategy of Candida albicans: Proteolytic Cleavage of a Salivary Antimicrobial Peptide

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is an opportunistic infection considered to be a harbinger of AIDS. The etiologic agent Candida albicans is a fungal species commonly colonizing human mucosal surfaces. However, under conditions of immune dysfunction, colonizing C. albicans can become an opportunistic pathogen causing superficial or even life-threatening infections. The reasons behind this transition, however, are not clear. In the oral cavity, salivary antimicrobial peptides are considered to be an important part of the host innate defense system in the prevention of microbial colonization. Histatin-5 specifically has exhibited potent activity against C. albicans. Our previous studies have shown histatin-5 levels to be significantly reduced in the saliva of HIV+ individuals, indicating an important role for histatin-5 in keeping C. albicans in its commensal stage. The versatility in the pathogenic potential of C. albicans is the result of its ability to adapt through the regulation of virulence determinants, most notably of which are proteolytic enzymes (Saps), involved in tissue degradation. In this study, we show that C. albicans cells efficiently and rapidly degrade histatin-5, resulting in loss of its anti-candidal potency. In addition, we demonstrate that this cellular activity is due to proteolysis by a member of the secreted aspartic proteases (Sap) family involved in C. albicans pathogenesis. Specifically, the proteolysis was attributed to Sap9, in turn identifying histatin-5 as the first host-specific substrate for that isoenzyme. These findings demonstrate for the first time the ability of a specific C. albicans enzyme to degrade and deactivate a host antimicrobial peptide involved in the protection of the oral mucosa against C. albicans, thereby providing new insights into the factors directing the transition of C. albicans from commensal to pathogen, with important clinical implications for alternative therapy. This report characterizes the first defined mechanism behind the enhanced susceptibility of HIV+ individuals to oral candidiasis since the emergence of HIV

Syriac Theology: Past and Present

This volume takes us back to the roots of Christianity and exemplifies the significance of Syriac Theology for our time. Bringing together articles by scholars from diverse disciplines, this volume aims at a deeper understanding of the legacy, importance, and challenges of Syriac Theology. The articles in the first part of the volume focus on the biblical, exegetical, and christological tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The articles in the second part of the volume explore the dialogical intertextuality between Syriac Christianity, Rabbinic Judaism, and the Quran

A molecular mechanism of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Artemisinins are the cornerstone of anti-malarial drugs. Emergence and spread of resistance to them raises risk of wiping out recent gains achieved in reducing worldwide malaria burden and threatens future malaria control and elimination on a global level. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed parasite genetic loci associated with artemisinin resistance. However, there is no consensus on biochemical targets of artemisinin. Whether and how these targets interact with genes identified by GWAS, remains unknown. Here we provide biochemical and cellular evidence that artemisinins are potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PfPI3K), revealing an unexpected mechanism of action. In resistant clinical strains, increased PfPI3K was associated with the C580Y mutation in P. falciparum Kelch13 (PfKelch13), a primary marker of artemisinin resistance. Polyubiquitination of PfPI3K and its binding to PfKelch13 were reduced by the PfKelch13 mutation, which limited proteolysis of PfPI3K and thus increased levels of the kinase, as well as its lipid product phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P). We find PI3P levels to be predictive of artemisinin resistance in both clinical and engineered laboratory parasites as well as across non-isogenic strains. Elevated PI3P induced artemisinin resistance in absence of PfKelch13 mutations, but remained responsive to regulation by PfKelch13. Evidence is presented for PI3P-dependent signalling in which transgenic expression of an additional kinase confers resistance. Together these data present PI3P as the key mediator of artemisinin resistance and the sole PfPI3K as an important target for malaria elimination

The Emerging Role of Complement Proteins as a Target for Therapy of IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a common cause of end-stage renal disease. Evaluation of a kidney biopsy is necessary for diagnosis, with routine immunofluorescence microscopy revealing dominant or co-dominant IgA immunodeposits usually with complement C3 and sometimes IgG and/or IgM. IgA nephropathy reduces life expectancy by more than 10 years and leads to kidney failure in 20–40% of patients within 20 years of diagnosis. There is accumulating clinical, genetic, and biochemical evidence that complement plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. The presence of C3 differentiates the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy from the subclinical deposition of glomerular IgA. Markers for the activation of the alternative and mannan-binding lectin (MBL) pathways in renal-biopsy specimens are associated with disease activity and portend a worse renal outcome. Complement proteins in the circulation have also been evaluated in IgA nephropathy and found to be of prognostic value. Recently, genetic studies have identified IgA nephropathy-associated loci. Within these loci are genes encoding products involved in complement regulation and interaction with immune complexes. Put together, these data identify the complement cascade as a rational treatment target for this chronic kidney disease. Recent case reports on the successful use of humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab are consistent with this hypothesis, but a better understanding of the role of complement in IgA nephropathy is needed to guide future therapeutic interventions

Diagnosis and management of adhesive capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis is a musculoskeletal condition that has a disabling capability. This review discusses the diagnosis and both operative and nonoperative management of this shoulder condition that causes significant morbidity. Issues related to medications, rehabilitation, and post surgical considerations are discussed

Comparison of outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release for idiopathic, diabetic and secondary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: a systematic review

Introduction: Arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a treatment option. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release among idiopathic, diabetic and secondary adhesive capsulitis. Hypothesis: Different aetiological groups yield variable outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database in April 2017. Comparative studies that reported range of motion or functional outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release in patients with adhesive capsulitis were included. A systematic review of the studies was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Six studies met the eligibility criteria. The overall population included 463 patients; 203 idiopathic, 61 diabetic and 199 secondary cases. Of four studies comparing idiopathic and diabetic patients, three reported significantly worse range of movement and function in the diabetic group at various follow up points. No significant difference in function and motion was reported between the idiopathic and secondary groups. Recurrent pain was highest in diabetic patients (26%) compared to idiopathic groups (0%) and the secondary group had a higher rate of revision surgery when compared to the idiopathic group (8.1% vs. 2.4%) Discussion: Arthroscopic capsular release has a high success rate regardless of the underlying aetiology. However, diabetic patients are reported to have more residual pain, reduced motion and inferior function compared to idiopathic cases. The rate of revision capsular release is higher among patients with post-surgical adhesive capsulitis when compared to idiopathic cases. Level of evidence: Level IV, systematic review