The role of the narrator in narrative inquiry in education: construction and co-construction in two case studies

This paper explores narratives as an effective means of capturing multiple identities of research participants in complex social environments in education research. In doing so, it explores the role of the narrator in two case studies in two modes of narrative inquiry. Both studies present narratives of young people, focusing on multiple identities which are influenced by a variety of cultural and sub-cultural contexts which the participants inhabit to varying degrees. In the first case study, the researcher is the narrator; in the second, it is the research participants. The paper uses the two case studies to discuss three challenging areas in narrative research: participant voice, contextual complexities and researcher positionality and how the researcher responds to these challenges through construction and co-construction of the narratives. The authors share their strategies for addressing these three challenges in relation to the role of the narrator

Unicycling and identity : narratives of motivation in young riders

This ethnographic study explores the unusual, lifestyle sport of unicycling with a particular focus on young riders. It arises from the author's own immersion in a unicycling culture over some 8 years, and from answers to the 3, primarily educational, questions which this involvement prompted; these concern concepts of motivation; identity; and ach/evemenf. The questions themselves provide the basis tor tne design oT tne study ana tne consequent analysis or data

Optimisation of the PFC functional

In this thesis we develop and analyse gradient-fl ow type algorithms for minimising the Phase Field Crystal (PFC) functional. The PFC model was introduced by Elder et al [EKHG02] as a simple method for crystal simulation over long time-scales. The PFC model has been used to simulate many physical phenomena including liquid-solid transitions, grain boundaries, dislocations and stacking faults and is an area of active physics and numerical analysis research. We consider three continuous gradient fl ows for the PFC functional, the L2-, H-1- and H2-gradient fl ows. The H-1-gradient flow, known as the PFC equation, is the typical flow used for the PFC model. The L2-gradient flow is known as the Swift-Hohenberg equation. The H2-gradient ow appears to be a novel feature of this thesis and will motivate our development of a line search algorithm. We analyse two methods of time discretisation for our gradient fl ows. Firstly, we develop a steepest descent algorithm based on the H2-gradient fl ow. We further develop a convex-concave splitting of the PFC functional, recently proposed by Elsey and Wirth [EW13], to discretise the L2- and H-1-gradient flows. We are able to prove energy stability of both our steepest descent algorithm and the convex-concave splitting scheme of [EW13]. We then use the Lojasiewicz gradient inequality (first developed in [ Loj62]) to prove that all three schemes converge to equilibrium. For numerical simulations we undertake spatial discretisation of our schemes using Fourier spectral methods. We consider a number of implementation issues for our fully discrete algorithms including a striking issue that occurs when the number of spatial grid points is low. We then perform several numerical tests which indicate that our new steepest descent algorithm performs well compared with the schemes of [EW13] and even compared with a Newton type scheme (the trust region method)

Pericytes:The lung-forgotten cell type

Pericytes are a heterogeneous population of mesenchymal cells located on the abluminal surface of microvessels, where they provide structural and biochemical support. Pericytes have been implicated in numerous lung diseases including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and allergic asthma due to their ability to differentiate into scar-forming myofibroblasts, leading to collagen deposition and matrix remodelling and thus driving tissue fibrosis. Pericyte-extracellular matrix interactions as well as other biochemical cues play crucial roles in these processes. In this review, we give an overview of lung pericytes, the key pro-fibrotic mediators they interact with, and detail recent advances in preclinical studies on how pericytes are disrupted and contribute to lung diseases including PAH, allergic asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several recent studies using mouse models of PAH have demonstrated that pericytes contribute to these pathological events; efforts are currently underway to mitigate pericyte dysfunction in PAH by targeting the TGF-β, CXCR7, and CXCR4 signalling pathways. In allergic asthma, the dissociation of pericytes from the endothelium of blood vessels and their migration towards inflamed areas of the airway contribute to the characteristic airway remodelling observed in allergic asthma. Although several factors have been suggested to influence this migration such as TGF-β, IL-4, IL-13, and periostin, recent evidence points to the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway as a potential therapeutic target. Pericytes might also play an essential role in lung dysfunction in response to ageing, as they are responsive to environmental risk factors such as cigarette smoke and air pollutants, which are the main drivers of COPD. However, there is currently no direct evidence delineating the contribution of pericytes to COPD pathology. Although there is a lack of human clinical data, the recent available evidence derived from in vitro and animal-based models shows that pericytes play important roles in the initiation and maintenance of chronic lung diseases and are amenable to pharmacological interventions. Therefore, further studies in this field are required to elucidate if targeting pericytes can treat lung diseases.</p

Playing on the boundaries: a childhood across cultural and geographical lines

This is not a conventional paper. It is a personal narrative. It is subjective not only to its author but to the child-self of the author. It is not a detached academic look at a personal history. In fact it could be described more as ‘archaeological’ than historical; an examination of what appears to be a random collection of fragments of a personal history, found in memory and artefacts of a childhood. The telling of the story is an attempt to understand the development and trajectory of an individual identity across geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries. It is not the whole story, but it gives the writer and the reader a few selected pieces of the full picture

Effects of cytokine signaling inhibition on inflammation-driven tissue remodeling

Fibrosis is a common condition that can affect all body tissues, driven by unresolved tissue inflammation and resulting in tissue dysfunction and organ failure that could ultimately lead to death. A myriad of factors are thought to contribute to fibrosis and, although it is relatively common, treatments focusing on reversing fibrosis are few and far between. The process of fibrosis involves a variety of cell types, including epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells, as well as immune cells, which have been shown to produce pro-fibrotic cytokines. Advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inflammation-driven tissue fibrosis and scar formation have led to the development of targeted therapeutics aiming to prevent, delay, or even reverse tissue fibrosis. In this review, we describe promising targets and agents in development, with a specific focus on cytokines that have been well-described to play a role in fibrosis: IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-β. An array of small molecule inhibitors, natural compounds, and biologics have been assessed in vivo, in vivo, and in the clinic, demonstrating the capacity to either directly interfere with pro-fibrotic pathways or to block intracellular enzymes that control fibrosis-related signaling pathways. Targeting pro-fibrotic cytokines, potentially via a multi-pronged approach, holds promise for the treatment of inflammation-driven fibrotic diseases in numerous organs. Despite the complexity of the interplay of cytokines in fibrotic tissues, the breadth of the currently ongoing research targeting cytokines suggests that these may hold the key to mitigating tissue fibrosis and reducing organ damage in the future

Matricellular Protein Periostin Promotes Pericyte Migration in Fibrotic Airways

Introduction: Periostin is a matricellular protein that is currently used as a biomarker for asthma. However, its contribution to tissue remodeling in allergic asthma is currently unknown. We have previously demonstrated that tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells known as pericytes are a key cell type involved in airway remodeling. This is thought to be caused the uncoupling of pericytes from the microvasculature supporting the large airways, facilitated by inflammatory growth factors and cytokines. It is hypothesized that periostin may be produced by profibrotic pericytes and contribute to the remodeling observed in allergic asthma. Methods: Lung sections from mice with allergic airway disease driven by exposure to house dust mite (HDM) were stained using an anti-periostin antibody to explore its involvement in fibrotic lung disease. Human pericytes were cultured in vitro and stained for periostin to assess periostin expression. Migration assays were performed using human pericytes that were pretreated with TGF-β or periostin. ELISAs were also carried out to assess periostin expression levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as the induction of periostin production by IL-13. Results: Immunostaining indicated that pericytes robustly express periostin, with increased expression following treatment with TGF-β. Migration assays demonstrated that pericytes treated with periostin were more migratory. Periostin production was also increased in HDM exposed mice as well as in cultured pericytes treated with IL-13. Conclusion: Periostin is produced by pericytes in response to TGF-β or IL-13, and periostin plays a key role in inducing pericyte migration. The increase in periostin expression in TGF-β or IL-13 treated pericytes suggests that IL-13 may trigger periostin production in pericytes whilst TGF-β modulates periostin expression to promote pericyte migration in the context of tissue fibrosis

A concept analysis of befriending

Aim. To report an analysis of the concept of Befriending. Background. Befriending is an intervention used in a range of nursing, health and social care settings to provide support for individuals who are socially isolated or lack social support. However, in many cases befriending and its impact remains poorly understood and under researched. Concept analysis provides clarification of the concept and basis for further research and development. Design. Concept analysis. Data sources. AMED, Psyc Articles, Psych Info, Medline, MedlinePlus, Social Science Index and CINHAL databases were searched for literature published between 1993–2013 using the search term Befriending. Methods. Walker and Avant’s method of concept analysis was chosen. This combined with insights from Risjord’s work produced a theoretical concept analysis which focused on the concept in peer reviewed academic literature. Results. There are currently several ways the mechanisms of befriending and its effects on individuals and communities are understood. It is possible however to identify key attributes which define the concept and differentiate it from related concepts, such as peer support and mentoring. Key attributes are that it is an organised intervention, involving the creation of an emotionally connected friendlike relationship, where there is a negotiation of power. Conclusion. This concept analysis has clarified current understandings and uses of befriending. It provides the basis for widening the focus of research into the effectiveness and impact of befriending on those who are befriended, those who befriend and the communities where befriending takes place