Translating lifelong learning policies in Flanders : a case study

Over the last couple of years lifelong learning has been put forward strongly in policy documents drawn up at global and European level. Despite this attention to the importance of lifelong learning internationally, the participation rate in Flanders is low compared to the European average. This paper explores the actions the Flemish government takes to reinforce lifelong learning and to increase the number of people who engage in it. In a second step it analyzes how Ghent University is responding to the initiatives of the government and how lifelong learning policies are translated into concrete actions. To increase the number of participants, the university will undertake three key actions: (1) make it easier for professors to organize lifelong learning initiatives; (2) design the lifelong learning initiatives as flexibly as possible, starting from the educational needs of the target audience; and (3) discuss and co-create the content of the associated training with external stakeholders such as alumni and industry professionals

Occupational Exposure to Solvents and Associated Neurotoxicity in Construction Painters: A Systematic Review

Background Existing evidence suggests that occupational exposure to solvents can have devastating and adverse effects on cognitive function. Individuals in the construction industry, specifically construction painters, often come in contact with these harmful chemicals on a regular basis. A solvent is a liquid that can dissolve, suspend, or extract other materials without chemical change to the solvent itself. They are present in a wide range of industries and can be used for extraction of fats and oils, degreasing, or manufacturing of paints and plastics. Their main routes of exposure are through inhalation and skin absorption, and they have a tendency to accumulate in lipid-rich tissues like the brain. It is estimated that 49 million metric tons of solvents are produced every year in the United States, and approximately 10 million people are exposed daily. Many solvents used in occupational settings have been shown to adversely affect the central nervous system (CNS), causing a wide range of neurotoxic effects. Symptoms can range from mild nausea, dizziness, and irritability to more serious cases of impaired memory and behavior or alterations to the nervous system. A systematic review was conducted to assess the evidence of occupational solvent exposure and associated symptoms of neurotoxicity in construction painters. Methods A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed and SCOPUS using the Navigation Guide methodology. Titles and abstracts were screened for relevance to the review topic, and appropriate records were chosen based on the specified inclusion criteria. Each record was assessed for risk of bias, and quality and strength of evidence were rated across the body of evidence. Results/Discussion A total of seven records were included in this review. Risk of bias was generally low, and quality of evidence was rated moderate. The overall strength of evidence was rated sufficient, as findings from each record suggested that solvent exposure was associated with symptoms of neurotoxicity. Future research should focus on identifying other vulnerable populations with past and current solvent exposure to better understand their toxic effects. Conducting cohort studies with large sample sizes and appropriate, robust exposure assessments is key to confirming associations over a longer period of time. Conclusion There is sufficient evidence supporting the association between occupational exposure to solvents and neurotoxicity in construction painters. It is crucial we take action to protect workers by reducing or eliminating exposure to ultimately prevent the onset of neurotoxicity and other adverse health outcomes

Evidence for Integrin – Venus Kinase Receptor 1 Alliance in the Ovary of Schistosoma mansoni Females Controlling Cell Survival

Parasites of the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis, a life-threatening infectious disease for humans and animals worldwide. Among the remarkable biological features of schistosomes is the differentiation of the female gonads which is controlled by pairing with the male and a prerequisite for egg production. Eggs, however, are not only important for the maintenance of the life-cycle; they also cause the pathological consequences of schistosomiasis. Part of the eggs gets trapped in host tissues such as liver and spleen and trigger inflammatory processes, finally leading to liver cirrhosis. Research activities of the last decade have indicated that different families of cellular and receptor-type kinases but also integrins contribute to the control of mitogenic activity and differentiation the female goands. In this context an unusual class of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has been identified, the venus kinase receptors (SmVKRs). By biochemical and molecular approaches we demonstrate that SmVKR1 activation can be achieved by cooperation with a signaling complex consisting of the beta integrin receptor Smß-Int1 and the bridging molecules SmILK, SmPINCH, SmNck2. Besides unravelling a novel way of SmVKR1 activation, we provide evidence that this complex controls the differentiation status of oocytes by regulating cell death-associated processes

RedisGraph GraphBLAS Enabled Graph Database

RedisGraph is a Redis module developed by Redis Labs to add graph database functionality to the Redis database. RedisGraph represents connected data as adjacency matrices. By representing the data as sparse matrices and employing the power of GraphBLAS (a highly optimized library for sparse matrix operations), RedisGraph delivers a fast and efficient way to store, manage and process graphs. Initial benchmarks indicate that RedisGraph is significantly faster than comparable graph databases.Comment: Accepted to IEEE IPDPS 2019 GrAPL worksho