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What is a Music Curriculum?
No full textThis chapter presents a critical examination of different conceptions of the music curriculum. It suggests that the music curriculum is commonly understood as being synonymous with a “curriculum document.” This document then acts as a template for what is to be taught and learnt. In academic literature, this conception of the curriculum is typically referred to either as “curriculum as content,” where the document limits itself to specifying the knowledge and skills to be learnt or “curriculum as product.” The chapter argues for a much richer conception of the music curriculum which places young people at its centre. It examines notions of the music curriculum as emergent from the interactions of teachers, young people and musical knowledge and of the curriculum as a lived experience which places young people at its heart as curriculum creators
Enhancing the aqueous solubility of hemin at physiological pH through encapsulation within polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibres
Full text linkIron deficiency anaemia is a widespread global nutritional disorder, affecting almost a quarter of the global population and contributing to impaired cognitive development, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and weakened immune function. Despite its prevalence, oral iron supplementation remains problematic due to the poor solubility and low bioavailability of ferric supplements, coupled with the frequently experienced gastrointestinal side effects associated with ferrous iron salt supplements. Hemin, a chloride-ligated ferric analogue of heme, presents a potentially safer alternative. However, its poor solubility at neutral pH limits its practical application in oral supplementation. Here, we aimed to develop a novel formulation for hemin using electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibres, as a platform to enhance the aqueous solubility of hemin and thereby improve its bioavailability. Hemin at various concentrations was successfully encapsulated within PVP nanofibres. The nanofibres were characterised for their morphology, physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency and dissolution properties. Notably, the nanofibres dissolved rapidly in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), forming hemin–PVP nanoparticles (10–80 nm in diameter) and larger aggregates (200–2000 nm in diameter) that maintained hemin in a soluble form. This approach achieved a total solubilised hemin concentration of 273 µM, representing an approximately 200-fold enhancement in solubility. These findings highlight the potential of electrospun hemin–PVP nanofibres as a promising component of an oral iron supplement, offering enhanced solubility and the potential of improved bioavailability for cellular uptake
The battle for interpretation: The 1826 Chatterton Massacre and 'riot as denial'
No full textThis article evaluates the usefulness of Stan Cohen’s ‘techniques of denial’ (2001) for understanding how the discourse of ‘riot’ is deployed in response to accusations of state violence against those engaged in social protest. It does so through a historical case study defined by the state as a ‘riot’: the Pennine Lancashire working-class protests, and most notably, the killings at Chatterton, in April 1826. By examining how the state used techniques of historical, literal, and interpretive denial to obscure both the motivations of the protesters and the violence of the state, the article highlights the ways in which these dominant narratives uphold existing power relations. We further develop Cohen’s work by applying a dialogical lens (Bakhtin, 1981; Steinberg, 1999), which foregrounds the multivocal struggle over meaning between state and subaltern actors. In doing so, we introduce the concept of ‘dialogical acknowledgement’ – a deliberate counter-strategy to denial that affirms protestors’ narratives, reclaims historical truth, and challenges dominant frames. Conceptualising Chatterton as an essentially contested event, the article examines how campaigns and commemorative work have begun to subvert official memory and redefine the moral legitimacy of the state. Ultimately, we argue that interpretive struggles over the language of ‘riot’ are not only historical but political, shaping contemporary efforts to contest denial and restore epistemic justice
Rauzy fractals of random substitutions
No full textWe develop a theory of Rauzy fractals for random substitutions, which are a generalisation of deterministic substitutions where the substituted image of a letter is determined by a Markov process. We show that a Rauzy fractal can be associated with a given random substitution in a canonical manner, under natural assumptions on the random substitution. Further, we show the existence of a natural measure supported on the Rauzy fractal, which we call the Rauzy measure, that captures geometric and dynamical information. We provide several different constructions for the Rauzy fractal and Rauzy measure, which we show coincide, and ascertain various analytic, dynamical and geometric properties. While the Rauzy fractal is independent of the choice of (non-degenerate) probabilities assigned to a given random substitution, the Rauzy measure captures the explicit choice of probabilities. Moreover, Rauzy measures vary continuously with the choice of probabilities, thus provide a natural means of interpolating between Rauzy fractals of deterministic substitutions. Additionally, we highlight connections between Rauzy fractals and Rauzy measures of random substitutions and related S-adic systems
Predictive Correction Model for Corneal Back Surface Astigmatism With IOLMaster700 Keratometry Data in a Cataractous Population
No full textBackground: To develop and validate various models to predict total keratometry (TK) power vector components TKC0 and TKC45 from classical keratometry (K) KC0 and KC45 based on a large dataset of pre cataract surgery IOLMaster 700 measurements.
Methods: Retrospective cross‐sectional multicentric study evaluating a dataset containing 13 6378 IOLMaster 700 measurements including K and TK. Left eyes were mirrored about the facial axis. Based on 80% training data, we developed a global and segmented constant model (CM and CMS), a global and segmented (according to the angle A1 of the flat keratometric meridian) linear model (LM and LMS), a harmonic model (HM) and compared these to a classical constant (CMR) and linear models (LMR) segmented into with‐the‐rule, against‐the‐rule and oblique astigmatism. The performance was cross‐validated using the root‐mean‐squared model fit error (RMSE).
Results: In the 20% test data, RMSE was 0.173 D before correction and was reduced by 40%–42% to 0.100 and 0.104 D with the correction models. The segmented models performed slightly better than the global models, and the linear models performed slightly better than the constant models. With the individually adjusted changepoints, the CMS and LMS performed slightly better than the reference models CMR and LMR. There was no systematic difference between the RMSE with training and test data, indicating no overfit of the models.
Conclusion: As the performance is quite similar for all tested correction models, we recommend using a simple global constant model to predict TK vector components. This could easily be implemented in any consumer software
“She is pretty and sparkly; he is a good teacher” Is it the teacher or their gender that counts? England case study
No full textEngland's case study is presented in a progressive societal context that seeks to achieve gender parity, though it acknowledges some cultural and financial disparities. This chapter explores children aged 4–5 years and their perspectives of teachers as they begin their educational journey within the reception class. The setting of a primary school situated in a dense urban area in central England supported a higher-than-average population of ethnic minority children. It was larger than a typical primary school in England, which presented challenges and opportunities in navigating over 40 languages and associated cultural differences. Drawing helped emphasize the child's voice, and interviews with teachers helped contextualize this voice. In the study, it was observed that children tended to describe their female teachers as nurturing and caring, while their male teachers were seen as sporty and strict. However, upon closer observation, both male and female teachers were found to exhibit similar levels of care and nurturing towards all the children
The language of social work
No full textSocial work is an ideologically complex profession which is reflected in orientations towards the language of social work. This chapter gives an overview of three key ways in which the language of social work has been explored: 1) macro level discourses constituting social work, informed by Foucauldian frameworks; 2) micro level discourse practices, with some analyses, informed by sociolinguistics, centering on interactional discourse and others, foregrounded in professional documentation, centering on social work specific discourse; 3) written discourse, informed by literacy studies, centering on the role of the written record in social work practice. The contested nature of social work discourse is underlined
Vulnerability and Coloniality in the Pacific
No full textThis chapter examines the politics of ocean vulnerability discourse through the concept of coloniality. After discussing how vulnerability is framed in climate science and politics, it identifies examples of how colonial violence in the Pacific has been justified through claims of its inherent vulnerability, provides insight into how vulnerability is politically produced, and reveals how the power structures of colonialism endure through climate vulnerability narratives. It concludes with a discussion of how Pacific peoples are resisting colonialism and offering decolonial counternarratives of oceans and vulnerability
Impact of 2g of intrapartum azithromycin on the carriage and antibiotic resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>
No full textTargeted interventions are urgently needed to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Intrapartum azithromycin has been explored to prevent maternal and neonatal sepsis, major contributors to this burden, but raises concerns about antibiotic resistance. At the start of this PhD, data on its impact on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, leading causes of gram-negative neonatal sepsis were lacking. This thesis investigates the effect of intrapartum azithromycin on the carriage and antibiotic resistance of these bacteria.
The analysis conducted includes data from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (PregnAnZI) conducted in West Africa, where pregnant women were randomized (1:1) to receive either oral azithromycin (2g) or placebo. PregnAnZI-1, a proof-of-concept trial with 829 participants in The Gambia, evaluated the effect of intrapartum azithromycin on major gram-positive bacteria causing neonatal sepsis. PregnAnZI-2, a larger trial with approximately 12,000 participants in The Gambia and Burkina Faso, assessed its impact on neonatal sepsis and mortality.
In PregnAnZI-1, breast milk (BM), vaginal swabs (VS), and nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were collected from all mothers, and NPS from all newborns within 28 days of the intervention. In PregnAnZI-2, rectovaginal swabs (RVS), BM, and NPS were collected from 500 mothers, while rectal swabs (RS) and NPS were obtained from their infants within four months. Microbiological methods were used to identify isolates and perform antibiotic susceptibility testing for E. coli and K. pneumoniae in both PregnAnZI-1 and PregnAnZI-2. A subset of E. coli from maternal RVS and infant RS in PregnAnZI-2 was randomly selected for genomic analysis. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to assess the impact of the intervention on antibiotic resistance genes and the genomic diversity of E. coli. In addition, discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) was applied to evaluate changes in genomic diversity associated with the intervention.
In PregnAnZI-1, microbiological analysis showed an increased prevalence of azithromycin-resistant E. coli in maternal VS and azithromycin-resistant K. pneumoniae in BM. However, there were no significant differences in bacterial carriage or antibiotic resistance among newborns. In PregnAnZI-2, the intervention primarily affected E. coli and K. pneumoniae in infants’ RS. E. coli carriage was lower in the azithromycin arm than in the placebo at days six and 28 post-intervention, but this was accompanied by a higher prevalence of azithromycin-resistant E. coli at these time points. The intervention also increased K. pneumoniae carriage at days six and 28 and azithromycin-resistant K. pneumoniae carriage at day 28. Notably, by the fourth month, the effect of the intervention on bacterial carriage and antibiotic resistance had waned, and there was no effect on maternal samples at any time point.
Genomic analysis showed that intrapartum azithromycin increased the carriage of macrolide resistance genes at day six post-intervention. The predominant resistance mechanism was macrolide inactivation via the plasmid-borne gene, mph(A). DAPC found minimal differences in E. coli diversity both pre- and post-intervention, as well as between the azithromycin and placebo arms. However, specific sequence types (ST’s), serotypes, and a phylogroup differed between arms post-intervention. ST349, serotype O153:H9, and phylogroup F were significantly more prevalent in the azithromycin arm, whereas ST101 and serotype O15:H18 were significantly lower in the azithromycin arm. These ST’s, serotypes, and phylogroup have been associated with antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and plasmid dissemination.
The increased carriage of K. pneumoniae, a multidrug-resistant pathogen, raises concerns about potential community transmission. Similarly, the higher prevalence of azithromycin-resistant E. coli suggests the intervention may contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance, reinforced by the increased detection of plasmid-mediated macrolide resistance genes in the azithromycin arm. Furthermore, the intervention influenced the proliferation of specific ST’s, serotypes, and a phylogroup associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and may potentially promote the establishment of resistant clones, an area requiring further investigation.
This PhD research highlights the impact of intrapartum azithromycin on E. coli and K. pneumoniae and its findings should be considered alongside the overall benefits of intrapartum azithromycin. This is crucial in assessing its suitability for routine implementation in high-burden settings. Additionally, ongoing surveillance should be an integral component of this intervention to monitor its long-term effects on E. coli and K. pneumoniae
Challenges and synergies in the co-implementation of Lean Construction with LEED certification: a perspective from Brazilian civil construction professionals
No full textThe construction industry plays a crucial role in the economy, but it is often associated with negative environmental impacts. The study aims to explore both the challenges and synergies involved in combining Lean Construction (LC) with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. To gain insights, we conducted 11 in-depth interviews with Brazilian construction professionals experienced in implementing either LC and/or LEED certification. A content analysis approach was employed to examine the interview transcripts, supported by NVivo software. The findings reveal several challenges to the joint adoption of Lean-LEED, including the dominant culture in the Brazilian construction industry and higher initial costs. Nevertheless, the analysis revealed that integrating Lean-LEED can promote industrial development while effectively addressing the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. This study contributes to understanding how combining LC with LEED certification can help professionals incorporate lean practices into projects seeking LEED certification and align certification processes with lean principles