1,227 research outputs found
Theory and practice in critical thinking A level and the evacuation of knowledge thesis
No full textThe concept of critical thinking has been influential in curriculum policy and practice across sectors of UK education and has been identified as a key consideration in recent consultations about A level reform. The purpose of this study is to describe the meanings attributed to critical thinking in expert accounts and to compare these with policy maker and participant meanings in the context of A level Critical Thinking. A distinctive feature is the attention given to underlying epistemological and ontological assumptions of these accounts. The prevailing concept of critical thinking is of a universally applicable set of skills and dispositions for assessing reasoning and evidence, which derives from the informal logic movement and rests on a fallibilist epistemology. This contrasts with discipline specific concepts. In social realist theory critical thinking has been associated with ‘soft genericism’ and implicated in an ‘evacuation of knowledge’. A critique and extension of this theory is proposed which differentiates between multiple forms and functions of critical thinking in the curriculum. Evidence on student views was gathered in a mixed methods case study, supplemented by a teacher response activity. Students attributed high value to critical thinking and were confident in their ability to apply skills to academic and life situations; whilst they felt that these skills were not taught in other subjects. In apparent contradiction, teachers suggested correspondence between the skills expected for high performance across subjects and those in A level Critical Thinking. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of subject specific contextualising to depth of critical evaluation. It was concluded that knowledge and critical thinking are complementary rather than conflicting forces in education and that a differently conceived critical thinking based on social constructionist epistemology is compatible with and essential to the knowledge curriculum envisaged by social realists
δ Orionis: Further temporal variability and evidence for small-scale structure in the interstellar medium
No full textWe report here the detection of both spatial and temporal variations in interstellar absorption in the line of sight to δ Orionis. First, we present new high-resolution (R≈110 000) observations of the interstellar D lines of Na i towards both δ Ori A and C. Comparison of these spectra highlights variations in absorption between the two stars, indicative of small-scale spatial structure in the interstellar medium in this direction over distances of less than ≈15 000 au (the projected separation of the two stars). Components with the largest Na i column densities and lowest velocity dispersions are, in general, found to be subject to the greatest differences; in fact the narrowest component detected is only observed in one of the sightlines. This effect has also been reported by Meyer & Blades. Secondly, we present new ultra-high-resolution (R≈900 000) Na i D1 observations and high-resolution (R≈110 000) Ca ii H & K observations of δ Ori A which, through ultra-high-resolution work conducted between 1994 and 2000, has been shown to exhibit a time-variable interstellar Na i absorption component. These new observations, while revealing the further reduction in intensity of the time-variable Na i absorption, indicate constant Ca ii absorption over the same period. This results in a dramatic reduction in the Na°/Ca+ abundance ratio, perhaps indicating the line of sight to be gradually probing a less-dense outer region of an absorbing filament
Solid-phase synthesis of 89 polyamine-based cationic lipids for DNA delivery to mammalian cells
No full textThe ability of non-viral gene delivery systems to overcome extracellular and intracellular barriers is a critical issue for future clinical applications of gene therapy. In recent years much effort has been focused on the development of a variety of DNA carriers, and cationic liposomes have become the most common non-viral gene delivery system. Solid-phase synthesis was used to produce three libraries of polyamine-based cationic lipids with diverse hydrophobic tails. These were characterised, and structure-activity relationships were determined for DNA binding and transfection ability of these compounds when formulated as cationic liposomes. Two of the cationic lipids produced high-efficiency transfection of human cells. Surprisingly, these two compounds were from the library with two headgroups and one aliphatic tail, a compound class regarded as detergent-like and little investigated for transfection. These cationic lipids are promising reagents for gene delivery and illustrate the potential of solid-phase synthesis methods for lipoplex discovery
DNA transfection screening from single beads
No full textThe solid-phase synthesis of a library of arginine-containing lipid transfection agents on high-loading beads is described. The transfection activity of the cationic lipids was determined using compound cleaved from single beads (single-bead screening) and showed, in some cases, comparable or higher DNA transfection activities as compared to commercially available reagents. Lipids with one arginine headgroup and a cholesterol tail were found to be the most active, even though their DNA binding strength (retardation assays) was relatively weak. Single-bead screening of transfection activity facilitates the rapid analysis of libraries of transfection reagents and will allow the rapid optimization of gene delivery into cells, both in culture and in vivo
Review: David Howarth (2000). Discourse
No full textHOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.HOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.El libro de HOWARTH es una revisión general accesible, legible y concisa de las teorías y enfoques del discurso en las ciencias sociales y humanas, focalizándose en los enfoques de LACLAU y MOUFFE sobre la teoría del discurso. Las raíces de este enfoque son descritas en las teorías estructuralistas y post estructuralistas, incluyendo el trabajo de SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA y FOUCAULT, así como el marxismo de ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI y PECHEUX. El libro es en su mayor parte imparcial y el autor se esfuerza en hacer accesible el material. Sin embargo, las alternativas crítica realistas al post estructuralismo reciben poca atención y asuntos como la gestión humana y la subjetividad permanecen problemáticos. Estas cuestiones son parte del debate más amplio entre realismo y relativismo, intransigencia del cual es de alguna manera presentada en este libro. Sin embargo, HOWARTH ha producido un recurso valioso el cual debería ser bienvenido para maestros y estudiantes en este campo
Photographic collections at National Museums Scotland – a review of the past quarter century
No full textTapasin enhances MHC class I peptide presentation according to peptide half-life.
No full textUnderstanding how peptides are selected for presentation by MHC class I is crucial to vaccination strategies based on cytotoxic T lymphocyte priming. We have studied this selection of the MHC class I peptide repertoire in terms of the presentation of a series of individual peptides with a wide range of binding to MHC class I. This series was expressed as minigenes, and the presentation of each peptide variant was determined with the same MHC class I peptide-specific antibody. In wild-type cells, the hierarchy of presentation followed peptide half-life. This hierarchy broke down in cells lacking tapasin but not in cells lacking calreticulin or in cells lacking transporter associated with antigen processing-associated ERp57. We demonstrate a key role for tapasin in shaping the MHC class I peptide repertoire, as enhancement of presentation in the presence of tapasin correlated with peptide half-life
Reseña: David Howarth (2000). Discourse
No full textHOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.
URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs020263HOWARTH's book is an accessible, readable and concise overview of theories of and approaches to discourse in the human and social sciences, focusing upon LACLAU and MOUFFE's discourse theory approach. The roots of this approach are described in structuralist and post-structuralist theories including the work of SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA and FOUCAULT, as well as the MARXism of ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI and PECHEUX. The book is mostly even-handed and the author takes great care to make his material accessible. However, critical realist alternatives to poststructuralism receive little attention and issues of agency and subjectivity remain problematic. These issues are part of the wider debate between realism and relativism, the intransigence of which is somewhat downplayed in this book. Nevertheless, HOWARTH has produced a valuable resource which should be welcomed by teachers and students in this field.
URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs020263El libro de HOWARTH es una revisión general accesible, legible y concisa de las teorías y enfoques del discurso en las ciencias sociales y humanas, focalizándose en los enfoques de LACLAU y MOUFFE sobre la teoría del discurso. Las raíces de este enfoque son descritas en las teorías estructuralistas y post estructuralistas, incluyendo el trabajo de SAUSSURE, LEVI-STRAUSS, DERRIDA y FOUCAULT, así como el marxismo de ALTHUSSER, GRAMSCI y PECHEUX. El libro es en su mayor parte imparcial y el autor se esfuerza en hacer accesible el material. Sin embargo, las alternativas crítica realistas al post estructuralismo reciben poca atención y asuntos como la gestión humana y la subjetividad permanecen problemáticos. Estas cuestiones son parte del debate más amplio entre realismo y relativismo, intransigencia del cual es de alguna manera presentada en este libro. Sin embargo, HOWARTH ha producido un recurso valioso el cual debería ser bienvenido para maestros y estudiantes en este campo.
URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs02026
Josephiella Matsunaga & Howarth & Kumashiro 2019, n. sp.
No full text<i>Josephiella</i> n. sp. A (apparently undescribed) <p> <b>NEW STATE RECORD</b></p> <p> An agaonid wasp new to science was discovered causing galls on the stems of <i>Ficus microcarpa</i>. Terminal stems of affected trees appeared unhealthy with a sparse foliar canopy. Initial observers of this damage were under the assumption that the same species which causes leaf galling on <i>F. microcarpa</i> (<i>Josephiella microcarpae</i>) was also causing the galling on stems of the same plant. However, closer examination of the stem-galling wasps showed that while both the leaf-galler and the stem-galler are morphologically similar in many ways, this in fact may be a different species. Both leaf and stem-gallers can be found on the same plant. Jean-Yves Rasplus, co-author of the leaf-galling <i>J. microcarpae</i>, agreed that this could be an undescribed species and is currently working on its species description.</p> <p> Subsequent to the initial discovery of this stem-galler on Oahu in 2012, infested <i>F. microcarpa</i> were quickly noted on Hawaii and Maui. In May, 2016, galled <i>F. microcarpa</i> stems with exit holes were collected from Molokai and in July, 2017, from Kauai. However, material from these islands were too old and no adults could be recovered. Therefore, we do not list the collection data below, and in the list of new species we noted a question mark next to these islands until the adults are confirmed. <i>Josephiella</i> n. sp. A, along with <i>Josephiella microcarpae</i>, lobate lac scale (<i>Paratarchardina pseudolobata</i>), and other ficus-feeding species has contributed to the weakening of large banyan trees on Oahu.</p> <p> <b>Collection records: OAHU</b>, Manoa, 13.VII.2012, ex. <i>Ficus microcarpa</i> stems, coll. D. Hulbert, det. J.-Y. Rasplus, 6.X.2012.</p> <p> <b>HAWAII</b>, Hilo, 30.VII.2012, ex. <i>F. microcarpa</i> stems, coll. C. Hirayama, L. Larish & S. Chun, det. B. Kumashiro, VIII.2012.</p> <p> <b>MAUI</b>, Wailuku, 6.VIII.2012, ex. <i>F. microcarpa</i> stems, coll. M. Fukada, VIII.2012. Vouchers at HDOA.</p>Published as part of <i>Matsunaga, Janis N., Howarth, Francis G. & Kumashiro, Bernarr R., 2019, New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands, pp. 1-71 in Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 51 (1)</i> on pages 11-12, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10832895">10.5281/zenodo.10832895</a>
Global Media Ideas - Infinite Pathways to Creative Succes - John Tarnoff - Part Two.mp4
No full textDuring the X Media Lab: Global Media Ideas summit in June 2011 media and technology writer Brad Howarth conducted interviews with industry experts for Creativeinnovation. This video is part two of Brad Howarth's interview with John Tarnoff where they discuss taking 21st Century skills into the workplace, encouraging staff to contribute to organizational growth, defining success through relationships and the value of having modern approach to business planning
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