Getting Students Employed: 21st Century Learning Competences and Career Competences

This thesis explores the nexus between education and the economy in the 21st century knowledge-based economy to understand the relationship between the learning competences – as described in 21st century frameworks – and career competences – as recommended in the job descriptions of available employment opportunities. Theoretically, this study is grounded in human capital theory and it explores the indiscriminate nature of the data regarding a student’s required education level to achieve the prescribed learning competences. With the aid of a quantitative content analysis of selected employment opportunities, the research sought to explore: How are learning competences, as outlined by international organizations, aligned to career competences in the knowledge-based economy? The main conclusion suggests two major findings. First, there is a degree of alignment in the existence of learning competences as outlined in international frameworks and career competences as delineated in employment opportunities. Second, there is a divergence in the way the economic and education systems prioritize the career and learning competences respectively, which may account for the disagreement in the preparedness of students for employment in the knowledge-based economy. Finally, I conclude by asserting that investments should be made in compulsory education to align the priorities of these competences ensure all students are competent for employment in the knowledge-based economy

The Internationalization of Creativity as a Learning Competence

This study uses a quantitative content analysis of learning competences – as described and prescribed in 21st century frameworks – and those competences evaluated by international assessments to explore the nexus between recommendation and reality. In drawing insights from the theoretical underpinnings of human capital theory we argue, with respect to creativity, that (i) there is a degree of alignment in the prescription and assessment of creativity as a learning competence and (ii) there is a divergence in the way the competence is discussed, which may account for the lack of acknowledgement as a key skill in preparing students for employment in the knowledge-based economy. These findings suggest a discrepancy between recommendation and reality in that the international frameworks consistently place creativity in the top five highest priority learning competences being prescribed while one of the two international assessments examined places it in the top five highest priority learning competences being assessed. Based on the discourse examined in the documents, we assert that schools need to adjust how and when creativity is discussed, ensuring it is included in every subject. This will ensure students link creativity and innovation in every subject area and, subsequently, every industry in the knowledge-based economy. By making this shift, schools will help students ensure long-term employability as the knowledge-based economy transforms into the intelligent economy

Cognitive Checkpoint: Emerging Technologies for Biometric-Enabled Watchlist Screening

This paper revisits the problem of individual risk assessment in the layered security model. It contributes to the concept of balancing security and privacy via cognitive-centric machine called an ’e-interviewer’. Cognitive checkpoint is a cyber-physical security frontier in mass-transit hubs that provides an automated screening using all types of identity (attributed, biometric, and biographical) from both physical and virtual worlds. We investigate how the development of the next generation of watchlist for rapid screening impacts a sensitive balancing mechanism between security and privacy. We identify directions of such an impact, trends in watchlist technologies, and propose ways to mitigate the potential risks

Gonadal Restructuring During Sex Transition in California Sheephead: a Reclassification Three Decades After Initial Studies

California Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, is a monandric protogynous hermaphrodite and a commercially and recreationally valuable labrid. Gonadal functionality of Sheephead through sex change was reclassified into nine classes using current criteria for categorization. Female ovaries were classified as immature, early maturing, mature, and regressing/recovering classes. Transition from female to male and subsequent male development was divided into early, mid and late transitional, developing/active male and regressing/recovering male. Reproductive states in Sheephead were correlated with estradiol (E2) and 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) concentrations in the blood plasma. All sexes had low E2 concentrations in the fall /winter seasons; in transitional and male individuals, levels remained low throughout the year. In contrast, female E2 concentrations were elevated in spring and peaked in the summer. Concentrations of 11-KT were variable throughout the year; however, females had significantly lower levels in the summer. This study allows a better understanding of the current state of California Sheephead in a heavily fished area. Knowledge of a species’ reproductive characteristics is important in evaluating the sustainability of a population as it can set a baseline for reproductive potential. This research takes a critical step in gathering and organizing reproductive data such that it may be used in future studies for comparing reproductive potential across the range of the California sheephead

Potential role of gut microbiota, the proto-oncogene PIKE (Agap2) and cytochrome P450 CYP2W1 in promotion of liver cancer by alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and protection by dietary soy protein

We have previously demonstrated promotion of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiated liver tumorigenesis after feeding diets high in fat or ethanol (EtOH) to male mice. This was accompanied by hepatic induction of the proto-oncogene PIKE (Agap2). Switch of dietary protein from casein to soy protein isolate (SPI) significantly reduced tumor formation in these models. We have linked EtOH consumption in mice to microbial dysbiosis. Adoptive transfer studies demonstrate that microbiota from mice fed ethanol can induce hepatic steatosis in the absence of ethanol suggesting that microbiota or the microbial metabolome play key roles in development of fatty liver disease. Feeding SPI significantly changed gut bacteria in mice increasing alpha diversity (P < 0.05) and levels of Clostidiales spp. Feeding soy formula to piglets also resulted in significant changes in microbiota, the pattern of bile acid metabolites and in inhibition of the intestinal-hepatic FXR/FGF19-SHP pathway which has been linked to both steatosis and hepatocyte proliferation. Moreover, feeding SPI also resulted in induction of hepatic PPAR alpha signaling and inhibition of PIKE mRNA expression coincident with inhibition of steatosis and cancer prevention. Feeding studies in the DEN model with differing dietary fats demonstrated tumor promotion specific to the saturated fat, cocoa butter relative to diets containing olive oil or corn oil associated with microbial dysbiosis including dramatic increases in Lachnospiraceae particularly from the genus Coprococcus. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that tumors from EtOH-fed mice and patients with alcohol-associated HCC also expressed high levels of a novel cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2W1. Additional adoptive transfer experiments and studies in knockout mice are required to determine the exact relationship between soy effects on the microbiota, expression of PIKE, CYP2W1, PPAR alpha activation and prevention of tumorigenesis

Mitochondrial and nuclear markers reveal a lack of genetic structure in the entocommensal nemertean Malacobdella arrokeana in the Patagonian gulfs

Abstract Malacobdella arrokeana is an entocommensal nemertean exclusively found in the bivalve geoduck Panopea abbreviata, and it is the only representative of the genus in the southern hemisphere. To characterize its genetic diversity, population structure and recent demographic history, we conducted the first genetic survey on this species, using sequence data for the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), 16S rRNA (16S) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2). Only four different ITS2 genotypes were found in the whole sample, and the two main haplotypes identified in the mitochondrial dataset were present among all localities with a diversity ranging from 0.583 to 0.939. Nucleotide diversity was low (p = 0.001?0.002). No significant genetic structure was detected between populations, and mismatch distribution patterns and neutrality tests results are consistent with a population in expansion or under selection. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the largest level of variance observed was due to intrapopulation variation (100, 100 and 94.39 % for 16S, COI and ITS2, respectively). Fst values were also non-significant. The observed lack of population structure is likely due to high levels of genetic connectivity in combination with the lack or permeability of biogeographic barriers and episodes of habitat modification.Fil: Fernandez Alfaya, Jose Elias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bigatti, Gregorio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Machordom, Annie. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Museo Nacional de Cs. Naturales; Españ

Pharmacogenetic allele nomenclature: International workgroup recommendations for test result reporting

This manuscript provides nomenclature recommendations developed by an international workgroup to increase transparency and standardization of pharmacogenetic (PGx) result reporting. Presently, sequence variants identified by PGx tests are described using different nomenclature systems. In addition, PGx analysis may detect different sets of variants for each gene, which can affect interpretation of results. This practice has caused confusion and may thereby impede the adoption of clinical PGx testing. Standardization is critical to move PGx forward

Buprenorphine-Naloxone in the Treatment of Codeine Dependence: a Scoping Review of Clinical Case Presentations

Misuse of prescribed and over the counter (OTC) codeine containing medicines is an increasing public health concern in recent times. Studies have called for low threshold treatment services for individuals experiencing codeine dependence using buprenorphine naloxone therapy. We present a scoping review of clinical case presentation literature on the use of buprenorphine-naloxone in the treatment of codeine dependence. Seven records (four single case studies and three case series) on codeine dependence treated with buprenorphine-naloxone were included. Five themes emerged following a review of the cases for the treatment of codeine dependence with buprenorphine-naloxone. They are: (1) Patient Profiles; (2) History of Codeine Misuse; (3) Medical Problems; (4) Use of Other Substances; and (5) Buprenorphine-naloxone in the treatment of Codeine Dependence. The review highlights the complexities of patients with regards to pain, psychiatric illness, poly substance use and iatrogenic dependence, with findings encouraging in terms of patient stabilisation and recovery

Update of the Scientific Opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds

The CONTAM Panel wishes to thank the hearing experts: Pavel Cihlar, Daniel Doerge and Vaclav Lohr for the support provided to this scientific output. The CONTAM Panel acknowledges all European competent institutions and other stakeholders that provided occurrence data on opium alkaloids in food, and supported the data collection for the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. Adopted: 22 March 2018 Reproduction of the images listed below is prohibited and permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder:Figure A.1 in Appendix A: © Elsevier.Peer reviewedPublisher PD