116 research outputs found
Lifelong Learning and the Legacy of Social Purpose
This paper explores the implications for current lifelong learning research and practice of the historically privileged relationship claimed for radical adult education and movements for social change rooted in class, gender, anti-racist and community politics. The trajectory this relationship follows, in research, policy and practice, is complex, with phases of expansion and retrenchment, in the social movements and adult education, which do not always map straightforwardly against each other. The traditions, for they are importantly distinct within themselves, are also always found in relation to other traditions and purposes for adult education. âComplex and contestedâ, as Richard Taylor describes them (Taylor 2000, p.69), but there is nevertheless a clearly identifiable, if historically varied, set of values, sites and practices which share a commitment to an educational pedagogy and purpose rooted in social and transformative, rather than individual and conformist, aspirations. This tradition, like the social movements and political cultures with which it has been aligned, has foundered in the last decade under the combined impact and discontents of the radical right, de-industrialisation and globalisation. In Britain, especially in Scotland, in recent years there are signs of a revived interest in questions of social purpose, popular social movements and their relation to lifelong learning. Some commentators have explored and debated the extent of the traditionâs radicalism, less in the spirit of revisionism and more as a warning against the backward construction of a golden age against which to measure the shortcomings of the present (Chase 1995; Thompson 1996; Andrews, Keane and Thompson 1999). Others have engaged with and developed critiques of the shift from adult education to lifelong learning in terms of the opportunities and obstacles this presents radical adult educators (Foley 2001; Thompson 1997, 2000; Crowther, Martin and Shaw 1999; Field and Leicester 2000; Johnson 1999) while others have considered the debate in terms of changes within higher education as a whole (Scott 1995, 2000; Schuller 1995; Coffield and Williamson 1997; Watson and Taylor 1998).
We explore the legacy of social purpose in lifelong learning from our shared positioning as researchers, teachers and providers who were formed in the older, radical tradition of adult education and are now seeking ways to integrate its first principles in a very different social, political and educational order. The paper has four sections. We begin with an overview of how the sites and preoccupations of an earlier generation of radical adult educators fared in the new times of post thatcherism and new labour. As part of this section we track the response and implications of the âcall to armsâ Jane Thompson extended through her 1993 article âLearning, liberation and maturity: an open letter to whoeverâs leftâ in Adults Learning (Thompson 1993). Next, through a comparative analysis of proceedings from the Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in Education and its sister organisations in North America, Canada, Australasia and Europe, we consider the extent to which these concerns have shaped and informed the research agenda for adult education. We then discuss the nature of a range of contemporary social movements, of the right as well as the left, and discuss the extent to which they engage with and utilise forms of lifelong learning. Finally, in considering the implications for teaching and research into lifelong learning, we argue for the importance of constructing and inhabiting positions within lifelong learning which are both critical and active, that is they are for, as well as against, things
Quality of Life in Prodromal HD: Qualitative Analyses of Discourse from Participants and Companions
Persons who are at risk for Huntington's Disease (HD) can be tested for the HD gene expansion before symptom onset. People with the gene expansion, but no clinical diagnosis, are in the prodromal phase of HD. This study explored quality of life (QOL) in prodromal HD. Interviews about QOL, conducted with 9 prodromal HD participants and 6 companions, were transcribed. Discourse was coded for emotional valence, content (e.g., coping, spirituality, interpersonal relationships, HD in others, and employment), and time frame (e.g., current, past, and future). Respondents were more positive than negative about the present, which was their major focus. The most common statements were about positive attitudes. Positive statements were made about spirituality, and negative statements were made about HD in other people. Relationships, employment, and coping with HD reflected both positivity and negativity. Participants and companions spoke of the future with different concerns. Applicability of findings to the clinical management of HD are discussed
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The regenerating skeletal muscle niche drives satellite cell return to quiescence
Skeletal muscle stem cells, or satellite cells (SCs), are essential to regenerate and maintain muscle. Quiescent SCs reside in an asymmetric niche between the basal lamina and myofiber membrane. To repair muscle, SCs activate, proliferate, and differentiate, fusing to repair myofibers or reacquiring quiescence to replenish the SC niche. Little is known about when SCs reacquire quiescence during regeneration or the cellular processes that direct SC fate decisions. We find that most SCs reacquire quiescence 5–10 days after muscle injury, following differentiation and fusion of most cells to regenerate myofibers. Single-cell sequencing of myogenic cells in regenerating muscle identifies SCs reacquiring quiescence and reveals that noncell autonomous signaling networks influence SC fate decisions during regeneration. SC transplantation experiments confirm that the regenerating environment influences SC fate. We define a window for SC repopulation of the niche, emphasizing the temporal contribution of the regenerative muscle environment on SC fate.
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Millisecond Timescale Motions Connect Amino Acid Interaction Networks in Alpha Tryptophan Synthase
Tryptophan synthase is a model system for understanding allosteric regulation within enzyme complexes. Amino acid interaction networks were previously delineated in the isolated alpha subunit (αTS) in the absence of the beta subunit (ÎČTS). The amino acid interaction networks were different between the ligand-free enzyme and the enzyme actively catalyzing turnover. Previous X-ray crystallography studies indicated only minor localized changes when ligands bind αTS, and so, structural changes alone could not explain the changes to the amino acid interaction networks. We hypothesized that the network changes could instead be related to changes in conformational dynamics. As such, we conducted nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation studies on different substrate- and products-bound complexes of αTS. Specifically, we collected 15N R2 relaxation dispersion data that reports on microsecond-to-millisecond timescale motion of backbone amide groups. These experiments indicated that there are conformational exchange events throughout αTS. Substrate and product binding change specific motional pathways throughout the enzyme, and these pathways connect the previously identified network residues. These pathways reach the αTS/ÎČTS binding interface, suggesting that the identified dynamic networks may also be important for communication with the ÎČTS subunit
Face Masks and Cough Etiquette Reduce the Cough Aerosol Concentration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in People with Cystic Fibrosis
People with cystic fibrosis (CF) generate Pseudomonas aeruginosa in droplet nuclei during coughing. The use of surgical masks has been recommended in healthcare settings to minimize pathogen transmission between patients with CF.To determine if face masks and cough etiquette reduce viable P. aeruginosa aerosolized during coughing.Twenty-five adults with CF and chronic P. aeruginosa infection were recruited. Participants performed six talking and coughing maneuvers, with or without face masks (surgical and N95) and hand covering the mouth when coughing (cough etiquette) in an aerosol-sampling device. An Andersen Cascade Impactor was used to sample the aerosol at 2 meters from each participant. Quantitative sputum and aerosol bacterial cultures were performed, and participants rated the mask comfort levels during the cough maneuvers.During uncovered coughing (reference maneuver), 19 of 25 (76%) participants produced aerosols containing P. aeruginosa, with a positive correlation found between sputum P. aeruginosa concentration (measured as cfu/ml) and aerosol P. aeruginosa colony-forming units. There was a reduction in aerosol P. aeruginosa load during coughing with a surgical mask, coughing with an N95 mask, and cough etiquette compared with uncovered coughing (P
Models of natural pest control : Towards predictions across agricultural landscapes
Natural control of invertebrate crop pests has the potential to complement or replace conventional insecticide based practices, but its mainstream application is hampered by predictive unreliability across agroecosystems. Inconsistent responses of natural pest control to changes in landscape characteristics have been attributed to ecological complexity and system-specific conditions. Here, we review agroecological models and their potential to provide predictions of natural pest control across agricultural landscapes. Existing models have used a multitude of techniques to represent specific crop-pest-enemy systems at various spatiotemporal scales, but less wealthy regions of the world are underrepresented. A realistic representation of natural pest control across systems appears to be hindered by a practical trade-off between generality and realism. Nonetheless, observations of context-sensitive, trait-mediated responses of natural pest control to land-use gradients indicate the potential of ecological models that explicitly represent the underlying mechanisms. We conclude that modelling natural pest control across agroecosystems should exploit existing mechanistic techniques towards a framework of contextually bound generalizations. Observed similarities in causal relationships can inform the functional grouping of diverse agroecosystems worldwide and the development of the respective models based on general, but context-sensitive, ecological mechanisms. The combined use of qualitative and quantitative techniques should allow the flexible integration of empirical evidence and ecological theory for robust predictions of natural pest control across a wide range of agroecological contexts and levels of knowledge availability. We highlight challenges and promising directions towards developing such a general modelling framework.Peer reviewe
Multi-Institutional FASTQ File Exchange as a Means of Proficiency Testing for Next-Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics and Variant Interpretation
Next-generation sequencing is becoming increasingly common in clinical laboratories worldwide and is revolutionizing clinical molecular testing. However, the large amounts of raw data produced by next-generation sequencing assays and the need for complex bioinformatics analyses present unique challenges. Proficiency testing in clinical laboratories has traditionally been designed to evaluate assays in their entirety; however, it can be alternatively applied to separate assay components. We developed and implemented a multi-institutional proficiency testing approach to directly assess custom bioinformatics and variant interpretation processes. Six clinical laboratories, all of which use the same commercial library preparation kit for next-generation sequencing analysis of tumor specimens, each submitted raw data (FASTQ files) from four samples. These 24 file sets were then deidentified and redistributed to five of the institutions for analysis and interpretation according to their clinically validated approach. Among the laboratories, there was a high rate of concordance in the calling of single-nucleotide variants, in particular those we considered clinically significant (100% concordance). However, there was significant discordance in the calling of clinically significant insertions/deletions, with only two of seven being called by all participating laboratories. Missed calls were addressed by each laboratory to improve their bioinformatics processes. Thus, through our alternative proficiency testing approach, we identified the bioinformatic detection of insertions/deletions as an area of particular concern for clinical laboratories performing next-generation sequencing testing
Hand2 delineates mesothelium progenitors and is reactivated in mesothelioma.
The mesothelium lines body cavities and surrounds internal organs, widely contributing to homeostasis and regeneration. Mesothelium disruptions cause visceral anomalies and mesothelioma tumors. Nonetheless, the embryonic emergence of mesothelia remains incompletely understood. Here, we track mesothelial origins in the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) using zebrafish. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers a post-gastrulation gene expression signature centered on hand2 in distinct LPM progenitor cells. We map mesothelial progenitors to lateral-most, hand2-expressing LPM and confirm conservation in mouse. Time-lapse imaging of zebrafish hand2 reporter embryos captures mesothelium formation including pericardium, visceral, and parietal peritoneum. We find primordial germ cells migrate with the forming mesothelium as ventral migration boundary. Functionally, hand2 loss disrupts mesothelium formation with reduced progenitor cells and perturbed migration. In mouse and human mesothelioma, we document expression of LPM-associated transcription factors including Hand2, suggesting re-initiation of a developmental program. Our data connects mesothelium development to Hand2, expanding our understanding of mesothelial pathologies
A pan-Arctic initiative on the spatial and temporal dynamics of Arctic coasts
Permafrost coasts make up roughly one third of all coasts worldwide. Their erosion leads to the release of previously locked organic carbon, changes in ecosystems and the destruction of cultural heritage, infrastructure and whole communities. Since rapid environmental changes lead to an intensification of Arctic coastal dynamics, it is of great importance to adequately quantify current and future coastal changes. However, the remoteness of the Arctic and scarcity of data limit our understanding of coastal dynamics at a pan-Arctic scale and prohibit us from getting a complete picture of the diversity of impacts on the human and natural environment. In a joint effort of the EU project NUNATARYUK and the NSF project PerCS-Net, we seek to close this knowledge gap by collecting and analyzing all accessible high-resolution shoreline position data for the Arctic coastline. These datasets include geographical coordinates combined with coastal positions derived from archived data, surveying data, air and space born remote sensing products, or LiDAR products. The compilation of this unique dataset will enable us to reach unprecedented data coverage and will allow us a first insight into the magnitude and trends of shoreline changes on a pan-Arctic scale with locally highly resolved temporal and spatial changes in shoreline dynamics. By comparing consistently derived shoreline change data from all over the Arctic we expect that the trajectory of coastal change in the Arctic becomes evident. A synthesis of some initial results will be presented in the 2020 Arctic Report Card on Arctic Coastal Dynamics. This initiative is an ongoing effort â new data contributions are welcome
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