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Challenging the Western gender taxonomy: through African eyes
Get PDFThis paper critiques the rigidity of the Western gender taxonomy, particularly as represented by the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. It does so by highlighting gender identities and roles from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Benin. Drawing on Ndebele terms such as babakazi (female father), malume (male mother), ncukubili (intersex), and wosana (water diviner), as well as Shona figures like svikiro (spirit medium) and bambomukunda (father-daughter), the paper reveals a rich archive of gender diversity inaccessible through English or Western frameworks. It further examines ‘women marriage’ and female husbands among the Yoruba, Igbo, Nankani, and Dahomey, illustrating how these non-conjugal same-sex unions blur distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation. Through these case studies, the paper argues for a more expansive, culturally grounded taxonomy that reflects lived multiplicity and challenges colonial erasures
Selective small molecule targeting of KDM4 as a therapeutic strategy to reduce proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia
Get PDFAcute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive disease with poor survival and high relapse rates. Coupled with the complex mutational burden observed, there is an unmet clinical need for more targeted therapies. Epigenetic therapies have shown promise both as monotherapy and in combination strategies and specifically histone lysine demethylase, KDM4A (Lysine demethylase 4), plays a role in the maintenance of AML, with its short hairpin (shRNA) knockdown sufficient to target leukaemia cells while sparing normal haemopoietic cells. In this study, we utilised a novel KDM4 inhibitor based on the structure of IOX-1, the most characterised inhibitor of the 2-oxygenase enzymes to which the KDM4 family belong, to investigate further the role of KDM4A in AML. Our compound induced AML cell death with cell cycle arrest, failure of colony formation and transcriptomic changes in metabolism, transcription control and response to stress. With known roles for KDM4A family members in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage response repair pathways, inhibition of KDM4A increased accrual of double strand DNA breaks. Hence, we demonstrated KDM4i sensitisation of leukaemia cells to inhibitors of DNA damage pathways such as poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, olaparib, suggesting future clinical evaluation of KDM4A and other key components in DNA damage/response signalling pathways as potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in AML
Beyond Education and Care: Reframing Homeschooling as a Multifaceted Educational Approach
Get PDFNo abstract available
Spatial variation of energy transport mechanisms within solar flare ribbons
Get PDFSolar flares release a tremendous amount of magnetic energy that subsequently manifests in several forms; the bulk of this energy is transported through the Sun’s atmosphere and explosively heats the chromosphere. While hard X-ray observations have pointed to flare-accelerated electrons as a primary means by which energy is transported following flares, alternative processes undoubtedly act alongside, or even instead of, those energetic electrons. To shed light on this we analysed flare-optimized, high-cadence Solar Orbiter observations. Footpoints from two flare ribbons were observed by the Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument. Curiously, those footpoints exhibited contrasting behaviour: one had short-lived yet strong decreases in the Lyman β/Lyman γ line intensity ratio, whereas the other exhibited a more prolonged, moderate dip in that ratio. These observations were compared to synthetic spectra from radiation hydrodynamic simulations of flares driven by various energy transport mechanisms. This revealed that one footpoint was driven by energetic particle precipitation, while the other was driven by enhanced thermal heat flux. The implication is that energetic particles do not dominate along the entirety of flare ribbons. Critically, we must now focus on understanding where, when and why different mechanisms dominate in solar flare energy transport
Book Review Symposium for Valeria Graziano, Marcell Mars, and Tomislav Medak (2025). Pirate Care: Acts Against the Criminalization of Solidarity. London: Pluto Press. 166 pp. ISBN: 9780745349800 (Paperback)
No full textNo abstract available
Derivation and validation of a short form Nottingham extended activities of daily living (SF-NEADL) scale
Get PDFPurpose: The Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) assessment is
commonly used in research and clinical contexts. However, there are concerns
surrounding psychometric properties, and with 22-items, NEADL may be too long for
clinical use at scale. We aimed to derive a psychometrically robust short form NEADL.
Methods: Data were from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive, including
individual participant data from 3,6,12months. Six-month data were used to evaluate
NEADL reliability and validity. Corrected item-total correlations identified items for
inclusion in the short form (SF-NEADL). The resulting SF-NEADL was then assessed at
all time-points for reliability, structural and construct validity, including confirmatory
factor analysis (CFA).
Results: NEADL had high internal consistency, and five items with corrected item-total
correlations over 0.7 were selected to create a SF-NEADL. The NEADL and SF-NEADL at
6months had excellent reliability, and construct validity. SF-NEADL reliability and validity
were stable at 3 and 12months. CFA did not suggest unidimensionality of NEADL or
SF-NEADL, but SF-NEADL achieved good fit with a two-item structure.
Conclusion: Reliability and validity of our SF-NEADL suggest it is a robust alternative to
standard eADL assessments. Its use of fewer and more relevant items makes it suitable
for use in busy healthcare settings
Assessment and characterization of Origanum vulgare essential oil in highly viscous polymeric dispersions for cleaning cultural heritage stone materials
Get PDFStone biodeterioration caused by microbial colonisation poses significant challenges to the conservation of cultural heritage. Here, we investigate highly viscous polymeric dispersions (HVPDs) using Origanum vulgare essential oil (EO) and its primary active component, carvacrol, to provide an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical biocides. The formulations were characterised by rheology, revealing shear-thinning behaviour that facilitates both application and subsequent peeling removal. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) provided insights into the chemical interactions and molecular dynamics within the HVPDs. Both HVPDs formulations with EO and carvacrol were applied to remove biofilm from a sandstone surface at Castlelaw, an ancient Iron Age fort in Scotland. Biocidal efficacy was assessed through Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assays, showing substantial reductions in microbial contamination, and Fourier Transformed infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR ATR) highlighted the removal of biogenic compounds. Both formulations maintained significant antimicrobial activity over two months, suggesting their potential for long-term application in conservation. Overall, this study underscores the viability of HVPDs enriched with natural essential oils as sustainable solutions for microbial biodeterioration in historic stone materials, paving the way for future advancements in conservation practices
Proceedings of The 6th International Conference on Education Development and Studies 2025: Empowering Learning Through Technology
No full textThis book compiles research and insights gleaned from the proceedings of The 6th International Conference on Education Development and Studies 2025 (ICEDS 2025). With a specific focus on digital transformation in education, the book covers a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from e-learning and virtual innovations to learning and teaching methodologies, assessment in the digital context, technology integration in education, and innovative pedagogies tailored for the digital classroom. It caters not only to educators but also to researchers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders in the education landscape, equipping them with invaluable insights and fresh perspectives on prevalent trends and challenges within the discipline
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