Continuous Professional Development and Work Conditions for English-Language Teaching Practitioners in Ireland: Where do we go from here?

In Ireland, English-language schools have historically constituted a lucrative sector for their owners and the Irish exchequer. However, teachers of English as a foreign language have not reaped financial rewards on an equitable scale. Two online surveys were conducted in 2020 and 2021 to ascertain teachers’ attitudes to continuous professional development and to their workplace conditions in privately-run schools. Findings from both surveys reflect a highly skilled, highly qualified and highly motivated cohort with a strong commitment to engaging in continuous professional development and a keen sense of their own professionalism. However, this was not found to be reflected in their work conditions. The results raise integral questions on stakeholder status

RANGING PATTERNS AND HABITAT UTILIZATION OF NORTHERN RIVER OTTERS, \u3ci\u3eLONTRA CANADENSIS\u3c/i\u3e, IN MISSOURI: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF A REINTRODUCED SPECIES

I studied the spacing patterns and habitat utilization by reintroduced northern river otters, Lontra canadensis, at two sites in Missouri because previous studies of otters indicate, plasticity of a species social structure will likely be due to the tactics employed in acquiring resources in any given area. Seven hypotheses were tested by employing radio-tracking, habitat assessment and geographic information system approaches: (1) home range (HR) and core area (CA) size differ by sex; (2) HR and CA size differ in breeding vs. non-breeding seasons; (3) percent range overlap differs by sex; (4) habitat utilization, as indicated by latrine use, differs seasonally; (5) primary prey type(s) found in scat differ seasonally; (6) environmental characteristics of areas used extensively by otters (latrines, dens, haul-outs) differ from adjacent, unused sites; and (7) stream-order effects and features associated with core area use are similar between two disjointed field sites, and can thus be used along with GIS-driven identifiers to generate predictions regarding suitable habitat for Midwestern river otter populations. Evidence is presented on differences in ranging patterns of otters by location, sex, and seasonality, as well as differences in core area use and accompanying habitat characteristics for the two populations. The following hypotheses were corroborated: (1) male otters had larger HRs and CAs than female otters; (2) female otters maintained small, non-overlapping home ranges; (3) males exhibit a greater percentage of inter- and intra-sexual HR and CA overlap than females; and (4) HR and CA size, and percent overlap differ between a large, riverine ecosystem and a small, meandering stream ecosystem. However, hypotheses examining temporal use of space by otters were not supported. In conclusion, this study suggested that northern river otters exhibit a variety of spacing patterns in different parts of their range, similar to those discovered in other solitary carnivores. Seasonal use of space was different from that typically found in solitary carnivores; differences may be related to habitat characteristics associated with stream order and wetland ecosystems. Overall, although introduced otters came from disjointed regions differing in habitat features and ecological pressures, reintroduced otters have done very well in Missouri

Enhanced Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Shortens the Duration of Respiratory Disease in Thoroughbred Yearlings

AbstractBovine colostrum (BC) is used in humans as a nutritional supplement for immune support and has been shown to reduce Respiratory disease (RD). Other nutritional supplements, minerals and vitamins including mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), zinc and vitamins A, C and E have also been used for immune support. The aim of this prospective blinded randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of a BC, MOS, zinc and vitamin based enhanced bovine colostrum supplement (BCS) on incidence and duration of RD occurring in yearling horses. 109 yearlings on two Thoroughbred farms in Central Kentucky were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups. Yearlings were supplemented once daily for 17 to 25 weeks with 100 g of a high quality commercial BCS (containing 50 g BC) or a full fat soy flour placebo, which were applied as a “top-dress” to feed. Yearlings were observed daily and evaluated weekly for signs of RD. All yearlings completed the study. The proportion of the study period during which each yearling exhibited illness was considerably shorter for BCS yearlings (least squares mean = 23% of the study period) than placebo yearlings (least squares mean = 34% of the study period, P = .002). The average duration of illness was shorter for BCS yearlings (1.96 weeks) than placebo yearlings (4.39 weeks, P < .0001). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of RD in these study yearlings

Fitting ODE models of tear film breakup

Several elements are developed to quantitatively determine the contribution of different physical and chemical effects to tear breakup (TBU) in normal subjects. Fluorescence (FL) imaging is employed to visualize the tear film and to determine tear film (TF) thinning and potential TBU. An automated system using a convolutional neural network was trained and deployed to identify multiple TBU instances in each trial. Once identified, extracted FL intensity data was fit by mathematical models that included tangential flow along the eye, evaporation, osmosis and FL intensity of emission from the tear film. Optimizing the fit of the models to the FL intensity data determined the mechanism(s) driving each instance of TBU and produced an estimate of the osmolarity within TBU. Initial estimates for FL concentration and initial TF thickness agree well with prior results. Fits were produced for $N=467$ instances of potential TBU from 15 normal subjects. The results showed a distribution of causes of TBU in these normal subjects, as reflected by estimated flow and evaporation rates, which appear to agree well with previously published data. Final osmolarity depended strongly on the TBU mechanism, generally increasing with evaporation rate but complicated by the dependence on flow. The method has the potential to classify TBU instances based on the mechanism and dynamics and to estimate the final osmolarity at the TBU locus. The results suggest that it might be possible to classify individual subjects and provide a baseline for comparison and potential classification of dry eye disease subjects

Senior medical students as assistants in medicine in COVID-19 crisis : a realist evaluation protocol

Introduction The assistant in medicine is a new and paid role for final-year medical students that has been established in New South Wales, Australia, as part of the surge workforce management response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility requires the applicant to be a final-year medical student in an Australian Medical Council-accredited university and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. While there are roles with some similarities to the assistant in medicine role, such as assistantships (the UK) and physician assistants adopted internationally, this is completely new in Australia. Little is known about the functionality and success factors of this role within the health practitioner landscape, particularly within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the complexity of this role, a realist approach to evaluation has been undertaken as described in this protocol, which sets out a study design spanning from August 2020 to June 2021. Methods and analysis The intention of conducting a realist review is to identify the circumstances and mechanisms that determine the outcomes of the assistant in medicine intervention. We will start by developing an initial programme theory to explore the potential function of the assistant in medicine role through realist syntheses of critically appraised summaries of existing literature using relevant databases and journals. Other data sources such as interviews and surveys with key stakeholders will contribute to the refinements of the programme theory. Using this method, we will develop a set of hypotheses on how and why the Australian assistants in medicine intervention might â € work' to achieve a variety of outcomes based on examples of related international interventions. These hypotheses will be tested against the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered from all relevant stakeholders. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval for the larger study was obtained from the Western Sydney Local Health District (2020/ETH01745). The findings of this review will provide useful information for hospital managers, academics and policymakers, who can apply the findings in their context when deciding how to implement and support the introduction of assistants in medicine into the health system. We will publish our findings in reports to policymakers, peer-reviewed journals and international conferences

Vision and Change Through the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching using Next-Generation Sequencing (GCAT-SEEK)

Development of the Genome Consortium on Active Teaching using Next Generation Sequencing (GCAT-SEEK) is described. Workshops, educational modules, assessment resources, data analysis software and computer hardware available for faculty are described

Enhancing the health of women living with HIV: the SMART/EST Women’s Project

The principal objective of these multisite studies (Florida, New York, New Jersey: epicenters for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] among women) was to develop and implement effective combinations of behavioral interventions to optimize the health status of the most neglected and understudied population affected by the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in the United States: poor women of color living with HIV. The two studies enrolled nearly 900 women randomly assigned to “high intensity” (cognitive–behavioral stress management training combined with expressive–supportive therapy [CBSM]+ group) or “low intensity” (individual psychoeducational program) treatment conditions over a period of 9 years. The initial study of the stress management and relaxation training/expressive–supportive therapy (SMART/EST) Women’s Project (SWP I) focused on reducing depression and anxiety, as well as improving self-efficacy and overall quality of life for women with case-defined AIDS. Findings from this study demonstrated the utility of CBSM+ in reducing distress (depression, anxiety) and denial, while improving social support, self-efficacy, coping skills, and quality of life. The second study (SWP II), which included all women living with HIV, extended these findings by demonstrating that exposure to CBSM+ significantly improved the ability of the participants to take advantage of a health behavior change program encouraging the adoption and maintenance of healthier lifestyle behaviors (high levels of medication adherence, appropriate nutritional intake and physical activity, safer sexual practices, and reduced alcohol use/abuse) essential for optimal health in the context of living with HIV. SWP II also determined that the intervention program was equally beneficial to less-acculturated segments of the affected population (ie, non-English speaking HIV+ women) through the creation of culturally and linguistically sensitive Spanish and Creole versions of the program. A third study (SWP III) is currently underway to “translate” this evidence-based treatment program into Community Health Centers in Miami, New York City, and metropolitan New Jersey

A new tool for the chemical genetic investigation of the Plasmodium falciparum Pfnek-2 NIMA-related kinase

Background: Examining essential biochemical pathways in Plasmodium falciparum presents serious challenges, as standard molecular techniques such as siRNA cannot be employed in this organism, and generating gene knock-outs of essential proteins requires specialized conditional approaches. In the study of protein kinases, pharmacological inhibition presents a feasible alternative option. However, as in mammalian systems, inhibitors often lack the desired selectivity. Described here is a chemical genetic approach to selectively inhibit Pfnek-2 in P. falciparum, a member of the NIMA-related kinase family that is essential for completion of the sexual development of the parasite. Results: Introduction of a valine to cysteine mutation at position 24 in the glycine rich loop of Pfnek-2 does not affect kinase activity but confers sensitivity to the protein kinase inhibitor 4-(6-ethynyl-9H-purin-2-ylamino) benzene sulfonamide (NCL-00016066). Using a combination of in vitro kinase assays and mass spectrometry, (including phosphoproteomics) the study shows that this compound acts as an irreversible inhibitor to the mutant Pfnek2 likely through a covalent link with the introduced cysteine residue. In particular, this was shown by analysis of total protein mass using mass spectrometry which showed a shift in molecular weight of the mutant kinase in the presence of the inhibitor to be precisely equivalent to the molecular weight of NCL-00016066. A similar molecular weight shift was not observed in the wild type kinase. Importantly, this inhibitor has little activity towards the wild type Pfnek-2 and, therefore, has all the properties of an effective chemical genetic tool that could be employed to determine the cellular targets for Pfnek-2. Conclusions: Allelic replacement of wild-type Pfnek-2 with the mutated kinase will allow for targeted inhibition of Pfnek-2 with NCL-00016066 and hence pave the way for comparative studies aimed at understanding the biological role and transmission-blocking potential of Pfnek-2. © 2016 The Author(s)