Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore issues pertaining to monolingual ideology in the United States and the challenges in terms of career identity and development for multilingual ...individuals. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper provides a discussion of the relevant literature pertaining to linguistic diversity, language ideologies, career identity and career development, and offers a critical conceptual framework for understanding career development in linguistically diverse, multilingual contexts. Findings Based on a critical review of literature, this paper proposes a conceptual framework which can be used to address linguistic issues that may otherwise encourage discrimination and inequity in the workplace. Originality/value This paper addresses the gap in career development literature by proposing a critical conceptual framework that integrates language as an important element of one’s career identity.
This research focuses on potential gender differences in motivation to learn Physics with the aim to determine the weakest female motivational components to learn Physics and the contribution of ...different teaching approaches (using real and virtual experiments) on those components and motivation for learning Physics in general. These two approaches were chosen as the most commonly used approaches in physics but without clear compared indication on females' motivation. The standardized questionnaire SMTSL (Student's Motivation towards Science Learning) is used for the measurements. The results show that for female students the weakest motivational components to learn Physics are the importance of Physics as a science and self-efficacy. Virtual experiments contribute more to females' motivation to learn Physics than applying real experiments. The female students who used real experiments show fear of being laughed at by their male peers and express doubt in their self-knowledge. Although the applied approaches cause some improvements in female students' self-efficacy, they are not statistically significant. Research results suggest that teachers need to apply such teaching approaches that engage girls and encourage their learning and development in order to improve their self-efficacy and other motivational components.
Purpose
This paper aims to present the experiences, beliefs and perceptions of international faculty at a Research 1 institution in the Southern US regarding the perceived differences between their ...and their students’ and colleagues’ cultures and first languages.
Design/methodology/approach
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with four international faculty from Europe and Asia who held appointments at a Research 1 institution in the Southern US. The interviews focused on the participants’ communication experiences with students and colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Findings
The findings have implications for academic and professional development and support as they show that understanding cultural aspects of language and communication can be challenging for individuals who may not be aware of possible cultural differences.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it presents stories of faculty from different backgrounds, who were born on different continents and who learned English at different ages but are all working in a linguistically homogeneous context. Also, the originality of the study comes from examining the intercultural communication between the participating faculty and their students, as well as their colleagues.
Most researchers are interested in investigating the impact of a blended learning approach (BLA) on students’ performance, yet this approach’s instructional efficiency has not yet been quantified. ...Therefore, this research aims to determine the impact of teacher-created online Moodle-based materials in combination with face-to-face learning on student achievement and mental effort, that is, to determine the instructional efficiency of applied teaching approaches at physics classes in high school. For this research, we chose to teach students physical principles of direct current, which involves abstract concepts. Using BLA, students can prepare better for a real experiments in the lab, and this approach also creates a safe environment for students while allowing them to demonstrate the learned physical phenomena. The Moodle platform course is developed for this purpose and implemented in a BLA environment. Students are gradually guided from easier to more difficult concepts in this research, considering the working memory’s capacity and the teaching material requirements. Our results show that the students who used BLA achieved higher scores on the knowledge test, and they also used less mental effort than students that used a conventional teaching approach. We also show that instructional efficiency for BLA is positive and significantly higher than the instructional efficiency of the conventional approach. This research’s results are primarily designed for physics teachers to better understand the effects of the BLA and apply teaching approaches that respect the principles of children’s cognitive development.
Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation has long been associated with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), many aspects of this relationship remain unclear. Our objective ...was to investigate the association between EBV reactivation and the achievement of SLE remission and lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) over a six-month period. Clinical, laboratory, and virological tests (anti-EBV antibodies and EBV DNA) were performed among 51 patients with the active form of SLE on two occasions six months apart. SLE remission and LLDAS achievement were assessed at the end of the follow-up period. Active EBV infection was detected in 45% of active SLE patients at baseline, and 77% transitioned to latent EBV infection at six months (
< 0.001). Multivariate regression revealed a higher titer of anti-EA(D) IgM-Abs and the presence of anti-EA(D) IgM-Abs as independent predictors of remission and LLDAS in SLE patients with mucocutaneous manifestations (
= 0.042) and rash only (
= 0.023), respectively. Since a higher C3 level was an independent predictor of transition to latent EBV infection (
= 0.027), the estimated cut-off value that could identify active SLE patients who will transition to latent EBV infection after six months was ≥0.780 g/L with a sensitivity of 70.6% and a specificity of 75.0% (AUC = 0.756,
= 0.003). EBV reactivation is common in patients with active SLE, and most of them transition to latent EBV infection after six months. Achieving remission and LLDAS in SLE patients with mucocutaneous manifestations can be predicted by a higher titer, whereas in SLE patients who have only a rash, the presence of anti-EA (D) IgM-Abs was a predictor of remission and LLDAS.
PU.1-mutated agammaglobulinemia (PU.MA) represents a recently described autosomal-dominant form of agammaglobulinemia caused by mutation of the
gene. This gene codes for PU.1 pioneer transcription ...factor important for the maturation of monocytes, B lymphocytes, and conventional dendritic cells. Only six cases with PU.MA, presenting with chronic sinopulmonary and systemic enteroviral infections, have been previously described. Accumulating literature evidence suggests a possible relationship between
mutation, microglial phagocytic dysfunction, and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
We present a Caucasian female patient born from a non-consanguineous marriage, who was diagnosed with agammaglobulinemia at the age of 15 years when the immunoglobulin replacement therapy was started. During the following seventeen years, she was treated for recurrent respiratory and intestinal infections. At the age of 33 years, the diagnosis of celiac-like disease was established. Five years later progressive cognitive deterioration, unstable gait, speech disturbances, and behavioral changes developed. Comprehensive microbiological investigations were negative, excluding possible infective etiology. Brain MRI,
FDG-PET-CT, and neuropsychological testing were suggestive for a diagnosis of a frontal variant of AD. Clinical exome sequencing revealed the presence of a novel frameshift heterozygous variant c.441dup in exon 4 of the
gene. Despite intensive therapy, the patient passed away a few months after the onset of the first neurological symptoms.
We describe the first case of PU.MA patient presenting with a rapidly progressive neurocognitive deterioration. The possible role of microglial dysfunction in patients with
mutation could explain their susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases thus highlighting the importance of genetic testing in patients with inborn errors of immunity. Since PU.MA represents a newly described form of agammaglobulinemia, our case expands the spectrum of manifestations associated with
mutation.
Background/Aim. Approximately one-third of individuals with only one cardiovascular (CV) risk factor or without any, as well as 40% of individuals with a concentration of cholesterol less than ...average, die from CV diseases (CVD). Recent studies underlined the significant role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and its complications. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease. This is the first such study in Serbia. Methods. This is an observational cross-sectional study, which included active-duty military personnel of similar socio-epidemiological and economic characteristics. Plasma hs-CRP and traditional CV risk factors were evaluated. The relative CV risk was staged as low (hs-CRP < 1 mg/L), intermediate (hs-CRP between 1 and 3 mg/L), and high (hs-CRP > 3 mg/L). The Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system was used for absolute CV risk assessment and total risk (fatal and non-fatal events). Results. The study included 205 participants, aver-age age of 39 (35?43) years, with median and interquartile range values of hs-CRP 0.80 mg/L (0.43?1.75 mg/L), with average hs-CRP values of 0.71 mg/L in participants younger than 40 years of age and 1.2 mg/L in the older than 40 years. The difference in hs-CRP values between these two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between hs-CRP and age (r = 0.266, p < 0.001), weight (r = 0.223, p = 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.344, p < 0.001), diastolic hypertension (r = 0.190, p = 0.007), LDL cholesterol (r = 0.152, p = 0.032), triglycerides (r = 0.144, p = 0.039), number of risk factors (r = 0.210, p < 0.003), as well as negative correlation with HDL cholesterol concentration (r = -0.148, p < 0.035). There was no significant correlation between hs- CRP concentration and total cholesterol (r = 0.131, p = 0.062). According to hs-CRP values, high CVD risk was found in 17.7% of participants older than 40 years of age, and based on SCORE system staging, 90% of participants have intermediate CVD risk. The results of stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that BMI was independently associated with an hs-CRP concentration in the group younger than 40 years of age. Among the older participants, age was found to be associated with concentration of fibrinogen. Conclusion. In the population of active military personnel in the Republic of Serbia, hs-CRP is correlated with some of the risk factors for CVD, and only BMI is in-dependently correlated with hs-CRP in those under 40 years of age. Levels of plasma hs-CRP are increased with aging, implying that hs-CRP measurement may provide a more ac-curate assessment of the individual overall risk profile for CVD in the Serbian military personnel population.
Galectin‐3 (Gal‐3), an endogenous lectin, exhibits pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory effects in various disease conditions. In order to explore the role of Gal‐3 in NKT‐cell‐dependent pathology, we induced ...hepatitis in C57BL/6 WT and Gal‐3‐deficient mice by using specific ligand for NKT cells: α‐galactosylceramide, glycolipid Ag presented by CD1d. The injection of α‐galactosylceramide significantly enhanced expression of Gal‐3 in liver NKT and dendritic cells (DCs). Genetic deletion or selective inhibition of Gal‐3 (induced by Gal‐3‐inhibitor TD139) abrogated the susceptibility to NKT‐cell‐dependent hepatitis. Blood levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐12) and their production by liver DCs and NKT cells were also downregulated. Genetic deletion or selective inhibition of Gal‐3 alleviated influx of inflammatory CD11c+CD11b+ DCs in the liver and favored tolerogenic phenotype and IL‐10 production of liver NKT and DCs. Deletion of Gal‐3 attenuated the capacity of DCs to support liver damage in the passive transfer experiments and to produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Gal‐3‐deficient DCs failed to optimally stimulate production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in NKT cells, in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, Gal‐3 regulates the capacity of DCs to support NKT‐cell‐mediated liver injury, playing an important pro‐inflammatory role in acute liver injury.
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the experiences of a high school senior, a doctoral student, a university professor and an online academic coach with a rapid, unplanned shift to online learning in ...the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the challenges and distinct skills they identify as essential for success in a 100% virtual learning environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Through scholarly personal narratives (SPNs), the researchers shared details and authentic knowledge regarding their experiences and perceptions of successful teaching and learning in a 100% online learning environment.
Findings
The main goal was to identify necessary skills for success in a 100% virtual learning environment resulting from an unplanned shift. The findings show a need for learner and teacher self-directedness in developing a variety of nontraditional, critical literacies.
Originality/value
In light of the imposed and unplanned educational shifts in teaching and learning, this study has strong practical implications for human resource development offered through an analysis of multiple perspectives. This research may lead to a better understanding of how, in a period of rapid, unexpected shifts, individuals need to use self-directedness to leverage personal and professional development opportunities to adapt and succeed in the new environment. Additionally, the authors use an innovative critical theoretical framework to outline the skills the participants report as useful for success in an online classroom during a period of rapid, unexpected shifting.
Adults with systemic anaphylactic reactions (SAR) to insect sting show often multiple-positivity of serum-specific IgE (sIgE) to Hymenoptera venoms. Unnecessary long-lasting venom-specific ...immunotherapies (VIT) in false-positive patients increase the risk of recurrent SAR. This report aims to analyze the diagnostic importance of recombinant allergen IgE testing in patients with SAR to Hymenoptera sting. In 82 patients we measured sIgE to honeybee venom (HBV), wasp venom (WV) and hornet venom (HV) extracts, recombinant phospholipase A2 from HBV (sIgE-rApi m1), recombinant antigen 5 from WV (sIgE-rVes v5), and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants-CCD-bromelain by ImmunoCAP. We analyzed the correlation of ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot for HBV and WV extracts, rApi m1, and rVes v5 in 39/82 patients. According to the history of the culprit insect, we compared sensitivity and specificity between the two methods. The severity of the SAR does not depend on the sIgE level to venom extracts and recombinant allergens. Fifty-one percent of the patients had a multiple-positivity to HBV/WV or HBV/WV/HV extracts. Severe SAR and CCD-sIgE were more frequent in multiple-positive than single-positive patients. CCD-sIgE were more frequent in HBV allergic patients than WV and HV allergic patients. There was a significant correlation between levels of sIgE to venom extracts and recombinant allergens measured by ImmunoCAP and Immunoblot. ImmunoCAP has higher sensitivity and specificity than Immunoblot for diagnosis of SAR to Hymenoptera venoms. IgE testing to recombinant CCD-free allergens is necessary for the adequate selection of long-lasting VIT, especially in patients with multiple sensitivities to venom extracts.
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