Journal articles on the topic 'Thematic research laboratories'

Abundant physics education research (PER) literature has been disseminated through academic publications. Over the years, the growing body of literature challenges Indonesian PER scholars to understand how the research community has progressed and possible future work that should be encouraged. Nevertheless, the previous traditional method of thematic analysis possesses limitations when the amount of PER literature exponentially increases. In order to deal with this plethora of publications, one of the machine learning (ML) algorithms from natural language processing (NLP) studies was employed in this paper to automate a thematic analysis of Indonesian PER literature that still needs to be explored within the community. One of the well-known NLP algorithms, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), was used in this study to extract Indonesian PER topics and their evolution between 2014 and 2021. A total of 852 papers (~4 to 8 pages each) were collectively downloaded from five international conference proceedings organized, peer reviewed, and published by Indonesian PER researchers. Before their topics were modeled through the LDA algorithm, our data corpus was preprocessed through several common procedures of established NLP studies. The findings revealed that LDA had thematically quantified Indonesian PER topics and described their distinct development over a certain period. The identified topics from this study recommended that the Indonesian PER community establish robust development in eight distinct topics to the present. Here, we commenced with an initial interest focusing on research on physics laboratories and followed the research-based instruction in late 2015. For the past few years, the Indonesian PER scholars have mostly studied 21st century skills which have given way to a focus on developing relevant educational technologies and promoting the interdisciplinary aspects of physics education. We suggest an open room for Indonesian PER scholars to address the qualitative aspects of physics teaching and learning that is still scant within the literature.

The Multi-scale Laboratories (MSL) are a network of European laboratories bringing together the scientific fields of analogue modeling, paleomagnetism, experimental rock and melt physics, geo- chemistry and microscopy. MSL is one of nine (see below) Thematic Core Services (TCS) of the European Plate Observing System (EPOS). The overarching goal of EPOS is to establish a compre- hensive multidisciplinary research platform for the Earth sciences in Europe. It aims at facilitating the integrated use of data, models, and facilities, from both existing and new distributed pan European Research Infrastructures, allowing open access and transparent use of data. The TCS MSL network allows researchers to collaborate with other labs and scientists. By becoming part of the rapidly growing TCS MSL network, new laboratories are offered a platform to showcase their research data output, laboratory equipment and information, and the opportunity to open laboratories to guest researchers through the Transnational Access (TNA) program. The EPOS Multi-scale laboratories offer researchers a fully operational data publication chain tailored to the specific needs of laboratory research, from a bespoke metadata editor, through dedi­ cated, (domain­specific) data repositories, to the MSL Portal showcasing these citable data publica- tions. During this process the data publications are assigned with digital object identidiers (DOI), published with open licenses (e.g. CC BY 4.0) and described with standardized and machine-read- able rich metadata (following the FAIR Principles to make research data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The TCS MSL is currently working on linking these data publications to the EPOS Central Portal1, the main discovery and access point for European multi-disciplinary data, and on increasing the number of connected data repositories.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered university lockdowns, forcing physiology educators to rapidly pivot laboratories into a remote delivery format. This study documents the experiences of an international group of 10 physiology educators surrounding this transition. They wrote reflective narratives, framed by guiding questions, to answer the research question: “What were the changes to physiology laboratories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?” These narratives probed educators’ attitudes toward virtual laboratories before, during, and after the transition to remote delivery. Thematic analysis of the reflections found that before COVID-19 only a few respondents had utilized virtual laboratories and most felt that virtual laboratories could not replace the in-person laboratory experience. In response to university lockdowns, most respondents transitioned from traditional labs to remote formats within a week or less. The most common remote delivery formats were commercially available online physiology laboratories, homemade videos, and sample experimental data. The main challenges associated with the rapid remote transition included workload and expertise constraints, disparities in online access and workspaces, issues with academic integrity, educator and student stress, changes in learning outcomes, and reduced engagement. However, the experience generated opportunities including exploration of unfamiliar technologies, new collaborations, and revisiting the physiology laboratory curriculum and structure. Most of the respondents reported planning on retaining some aspects of the remote laboratories postpandemic, particularly with a blended model of remote and on-campus laboratories. This study concludes with recommendations for physiology educators as to how they can successfully develop and deliver remote laboratories.

The Department of Statistics and Operations Reasearch (SOR) at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) in South Africa desires to increase its research output, as well as to provide high quality teaching and learning. Most SOR lecturers want to embrace technology and innovations, and also be competitive both regionally and globally. This can be achieved more effectively if they are trained in computer applications. Thus, they should be developed into critical citizens of the digital world. They should also be prepared to use information and communication technology (ICT) as a teaching and learning resource, as well as a research and community engagement backing. An innovation in academia should be backed by the lecturer. Thus, the main concern of this paper is to explore use of ICT as a business tool in SOR. Methodologies of the study were case study and thematic content analysis, and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. The study found that SOR was understaffed and could not provide full statistics (stats) training mainly in the statistical packages. The lecturers were all trained in ICT and the packages. They were all willing to use ICT in SOR activities. The computer laboratories were adequate for the student numbers at the time, even though some computers were not working. These laboratories showed to be poorly adequate for the envisaged growth of SOR. SOR would also need more lecturers for the future growth. The study recommends growth of SOR in lecturers and ICT facilities, at the least

The pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure for Promoting Metrology in Food and Nutrition (METROFOOD-RI) has evolved in the frame of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) to promote high-quality metrology services across the food chain. The METROFOOD-RI comprises physical facilities and electronic facilities. The former includes Reference Material plants and analytical laboratories (the ‘Metro’ side) and also experimental fields/farms, processing/storage plants and kitchen-labs (the ‘Food’ side). The RI is currently prepared to apply for receiving the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) legal status and is organised to fulfil the requirements for operation at the national, European Union (EU) and international level. In this view, the METROFOOD-RI partners have recently reviewed the scientific plan and elaborated strategic priorities on key thematic areas of research in the food and nutrition domain to which they have expertise to contribute to meet global societal challenges and face unexpected emergencies. The present review summarises the methodology and main outcomes of the research study that helped to identify the key thematic areas from a metrological standpoint, to articulate critical and emerging issues and demands and to structure how the integrated facilities of the RI can operate in the first five years of operation as ERIC.

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The paper aims at investigating results, research perspectives, and limitations emerging from the synergy between geomatics and conservation. Recent didactic experiences carried out in restoration laboratories at Politecnico di Milano are illustrated and discussed. The authors tested innovative techniques for surveying with particular attention to the conservation problem. The aim was to exploit novel 360° virtual/immersive environments able to collect and manage data traditionally useful for conservation projects such as thematic maps of historical building techniques, construction technologies, deterioration pathologies, and data from diagnostics. Results are presented for two case studies completely different in terms of shape, pathologies, and reuse: the Albergo Diurno di Porta Venezia in Piazza Oberdan, and the Church of San Vittore and the Forty Martyrs (both in Milan). The work carried out with students allowed one to evaluate the pros and cons of a novel 360° immersive solution. The outcomes suggest other possible uses in related activities. The last part of the paper reconsiders the proposed “renewed” relationship between geomatics and restoration. Starting from the basic requirements of existing regulations, the paper explores the research fields and practical applications that could benefit from an intersection of geomatics and restoration.</p>

Abstract. Since the mid 1980s, changes in political imperatives plus technological changes in computer hardware and software have heightened the awareness of the economic value and importance of quality datasets to scientific research. The Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) interdisciplinary Thematic and Special Topic Programmes have highlighted the need for a coherent data management policy to provide and preserve these quality datasets for posterity. The Hydrological Radar EXperiment (HYREX) Special Topic Programme brought together multi-disciplinary researchers from UK public sector laboratories and universities. In this paper, the HYREX data management strategy, its problems and its solutions are discussed. The HYREX data archive, situated at NERC’s British Atmospheric Data Centre, is described. Keywords: radar, data, archive, web, storm, flood

Transnational access (TNA) allows cross-border, short-term and frequently free-of-charge access to world-class research facilities, to foster collaborations and exchanges of experience. Specifically, TNA aims to encourage open science and innovation and to increase the efficient and effective use of scientific infrastructure. Within EPOS, the European Plate Observing System, the Volcano Observatories and Multi-scale Laboratories communities have offered TNA to their high-quality research facilities through national and European funding. This experience has allowed the definition, design, and testing of procedures and activities needed to provide transnational access inn the EPOS context. In this paper, the EPOS community describes the main objectives for the provision of transnational access in the EPOS framework, based on previous experiences. It includes practical procedures for managing transnational access from a legal, governance, and financial perspective, and proposes logistical and technical solutions to effectively execute transnational access activities. In addition, it provides an outlook on the inclusion of new thematic communities within the TNA framework, and addresses the challenges of providing market-driven access to industry.

The present study compares the relative merits of virtual and real educational laboratories in science and engineering education, in terms of their educational effectiveness and if they were the most appropriate for learning. The age of the students was also investigates as a possible factor affecting the outcome. The authors of the present paper started by identifying 67 recent and mutually compatible research papers (articles, doctoral theses, and reviews) and reviewed their content performing a meta-study to discover their findings about the most effective laboratory type. Web-based tools were used, such as e-journals, databases, thematic guides, and portals, catalogues of other libraries offered by a variety of universities. A critical analysis followed to compare findings and reach decisions. In a corollary section of the study, the authors conducted some semi-structured discussions with 25 experienced science teachers of secondary, primary and tertiary education, for verification purposes. Discussions followed, all participants being arranged in 5 different groups, focusing on still open topics in need of further clarification. The present two-prong analysis resulted in a number of interesting results, presented herein, on the relative effectiveness of virtual and real laboratories as a factor of student age.

Problem statement. The educational life of the modern school is a huge field for observation and analysis. A variety of technologies used in the world to enhance cognitive activity and increase the role of independence in the activities of students create new forms and methods within the educational process. STEAM technologies are actively used in the system of additional education. However, the use of such technology in the main educational process has not been practically studied. This is due to the difficulty of combining innovative approaches with the implementation of the school curriculum. Methodology. The study uses methods for designing a learning model, pedagogical experiment, observation, conversation, and experience generalization. Content analysis and thematic monitoring of existing publications were carried out for the keywords, such as STEAM-technologies, increase of cognitive activity, and creation of educational laboratories. Results. The three-year experience of experimental application of educational STEAM-technology in the primary school is considered in order to analyze and highlight the most significant examples of the application of this technology for practice. The essence and features of the educational STEAM technology are described, as well as the ways of creating educational laboratories based on the proposed approaches implemented within the framework of the study. Significant aspects of the use of such technology in the modern school are revealed. Examples from the practice of school work are given, types of laboratories, goals and content of training, and obtained educational results are considered. Conclusion. In the process of performing research work using STEAM technology in the educational process of the secondary school, the most effective ways to create educational laboratories and the most significant aspects of the use of such technology in school were identified.

The aim of the study was to determine the benefits and challenges of the rural upgraded secondary schools in Luano district. The study was conducted in Luano district of Central Province of Zambia. The study theorized the study by using Spencer's Structural Functionalist Theory. The study used qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect, integrate and analyze data. The study utilized a descriptive research design. The study's target population were all head teachers, heads of departments, and subject teachers in the selected upgraded secondary schools. The research instruments used in the study were questionnaires and an interview guide. Qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic method. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSP) was used to generate descriptive statistics in frequency table and bar graph. The study shows that the upgraded secondary schools in Luano district face significant challenges, which include the sharing of classrooms with the primary section, lack of enough furniture, lack of libraries in, schools poses a substantial challenge in the upgraded secondary schools, lack of laboratories in the upgraded secondary schools is a challenge to upgraded secondary schools lack enough specialized trained teachers in other subjects hinders effective functioning of the schools, lack of enough financial resources poses challenges among the upgraded secondary lack of enough teaching and learning resources as challenges faced by the upgraded secondary schools. The government should establish more classrooms to cater to the increasing enrolment. The government should construct laboratories in upgraded rural secondary schools; the government should build libraries in upgraded rural secondary schools, and the government should increase funding for upgraded rural secondary schools; the government should deploy more secondary school teachers in the upgraded rural secondary schools, the government should procure furniture for the upgraded rural secondary schools through the Ministry of Education.

Aims and methodTo develop and evaluate a novel teaching session on clinical assessment using role play simulation. Teaching and research sessions occurred sequentially in computer laboratories. Ten medical students were divided into two online small-group teaching sessions. Students role-played as clinician avatars and the teacher played a suicidal adolescent avatar. Questionnaire and focus-group methodology evaluated participants' attitudes to the learning experience. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, qualitative data through nominal-group and thematic analyses.ResultsParticipants reported improvements in psychiatric skills/knowledge, expressing less anxiety and more enjoyment than role-playing face to face. Data demonstrated a positive relationship between simulator fidelity and perceived utility. Some participants expressed concern about added value over other learning methods and non-verbal communication.Clinical implicationsThe study shows that virtual worlds can successfully host role play simulation, valued by students as a useful learning method. The potential for distance learning would allow delivery irrespective of geographical distance and boundaries.

Recent decades have seen cadaveric anatomy teaching decline and shift from traditionally team-taught practicals in large dissection laboratories to sole-taught classes in smaller laboratories. Such changes may alter teaching quality due to loss of peer teacher interactions in class. The current study aimed to compare experiences of team-taught versus sole-taught practicals in the same course across two campuses. This paper presents on the staff experiences. The study utilised educational design research methodology for an iterative approach to solving the problem of optimising cadaveric-based teaching. Classes at the metropolitan campus were team-taught (lead demonstrator, clinical demonstrator and near-peer demonstrator, n=18) and sole-taught at the regional, smaller campus (lead demonstrator only, n=5). Demonstrators completed an anonymous online survey that explored their teaching experiences and thematic analysis of survey data was conducted. Benefits of team-teaching were captured under the themes learn-observe-support, more time with students and catering for student differences. While most team-teaching staff reported no challenges, some noted the need for time to establish effective team dynamics. Sole-teaching staff reported the benefit of consistency in teaching but challenges in providing adequate support to all students. While sole-teaching facilitates consistency in teaching, team-teaching enables staff to develop teaching expertise and anatomical knowledge from interactions with a range of demonstrators during practicals. Team-teaching facilitates knowledge transfer between staff, and this holds important workforce implications for developing anatomy teachers of the future.

This study aims to reveal the effectiveness of utilization and to find out the direction of laboratory development of achievement and physical conditions in the Faculty of Sports Science, which consists of the level of use and completeness of laboratory infrastructure, laboratory management skills, managerial abilities, individual abilities, and student attitudes towards the direction of laboratory development. This research is a qualitative research. The qualitative data collection method used is the data triangulation method which consists of: 1) Focus group discussion (FGD) for students (6 people/group), and 2) Non-participant observation in laboratory settings. The population of this study were all odd semester students who used the achievement laboratory and the physical condition of FIK UNY. The number of samples is based on the saturation of themes in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The sample selection of students was carried out based on convenience sampling technique, while in-depth interviews with laboratory managers used criterion sampling techniques. Data analysis used three stages consisting of: 1) data reduction, 2) reconstructive data and 3) thematic analysis. Based on the research that has been done, the results show that FIK UNY students feel that the existence of an achievement laboratory and physical condition is very useful both in its use in lectures, training and research. In increasing the use of laboratory facilities, performance and physical conditions are emphasized on their use, management, maintenance and maintenance. Laboratory achievements need to be promoted and for laboratories in physical condition, staff or laboratory personnel need to be added. The development of performance laboratories and physical conditions is directed towards maintenance and maintenance as well as the construction of a wider and more integrated building. Key words: utilization, development, laboratory Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkapkan keefektifan pemanfaatan dan mengetahui arah pengembangan laboratorium prestasi dan kondisi fisik di Fakultas Ilmu Keolahragaan, yang terdiri dari tingkat penggunaan dan kelengkapan sarana prasarana laboratorium, kemampuan pengelolaan laboratorium, kemampuan manajerial, kemampuan individual, dan sikap mahasiswa terhadap arah pengembangan laboratorium. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif. Metode pengumpulan data kualitatif yang dipergunakan adalah metode triangulasi data yang terdiri dari :1) Focus group discusion (FGD) pada mahasiswa (6 orang/kelompok), dan 2) Observasi non-participant pada setting laboratorium. Populasi penelitian ini adalah seluruh mahasiswa semester gasal yang menggunakan laboratorium prestasi dan kondisi fisik FIK UNY. Jumlah sampel didasarkan pada saturasi tema pada focus group discussion maupun in-depth interview. Pemilihan sampel pada mahasiswa dilakukan berdasarkan teknik convenience sampling sedangkan pada in-depth interview dengan pengelola laboratorium dengan mempergunakan teknik criterion sampling. Analisis data menggunakan tiga tahap terdiri dari: 1) data reduction, 2) data reconstrucsi dan 3) analisis thematic. Berdasarkan penelitian yang telah dilakukan diperoleh hasil bahwa mahasiswa FIK UNY merasa keberadaan laboratorium prestasi dan kondisi fisik sangat bermanfaat baik dalam penggunaannya dalam kuliah, latihan maupun penelitian. Dalam meningkatkan penggunaan sarana laboratorium prestasi dan kondisi fisik ditekankan pada pemakaian, pengelolaan, perawatan dan pemeliharaannya. Laboratorium prestasi perlu ditingkatkan promosinya dan untuk laboratorium kondisi fisik perlu ditambahkan staf atau petugas tenaga laboratorium. Pengembangan laboratorium prestasi dan kondisi fisik diarahkan dalam pemeliharaan dan perawatan serta pembuatan gedung yang lebih luas dan terpadu. Kata kunci: pemanfaatan, pengembangan, laboratorium

A convergent mixed methods research study was used to investigate whether or not undergraduate students who participated in a problem-based learning (PBL) laboratory environment improved their self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry. The Chemistry Attitude and Experience Questionnaire (CAEQ) was used as a pre- and post-test to determine changes in students' self-efficacy beliefs in general chemistry laboratories at a Midwestern University in the USA. Interviews were used to augment the quantitative data. Paired samplet-tests were used to determine the difference in means between pre- and post-tests. Analysis of variance was used to determine the influence of confounding variables. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the interview data. There was an observed improvement in students' self-efficacy beliefs using both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews with the participants indicated that students had higher self-efficacy beliefs in chemistry for conducting chemistry experiments and for participating in undergraduate research after the PBL laboratory experience than they had before it. Students felt that PBL provided them with autonomy while exploring phenomena and allowed them to take more responsibility for their own learning. This study is significant in that it adds knowledge to research on the effects of PBL instruction and strengthens existing information on the relationship between PBL and the affective domain. Results from this study may also be informative to chemistry laboratory instructors on what PBL has to offer with regard to student outcomes.

In the 1950s - 1970s, the most important organizational form of higher education science was research institutes attached to higher education institutions. Having appeared in the 1920s, it proved effective. The first thematic laboratories were organized in Leningrad in 1956 at the Polytechnic Institute by Professor B.P. Konstantinov (who later became an academician) and the Electrotechnical Institute named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) by Professor N.P. Bogoroditsky. The desire of scientists to increase efficiency of the research, to bring it closer to the practical needs of the national economy reflected in the organization of 13 research institutes at the Polytechnic Institute in 1963. In the 1950s - 1960s, the Leningrad State University had the previously formed research institutes: the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, Physical, Chemical, Biological and Physiological institutes, the Institute of the Earth’s Crust, the Geographical and Economic Institute. In 1959 – 1965, the University’s scientists completed the research on 5,300 planned topics. They performed 3,017 separate experimental and theoretical research, prepared 785 textbooks and teaching aids, completed 543 dissertations, and conducted contractual work on 955 topics. Only in 1969, 3,500 research papers created by LSU scientists were published. Among them were 107 monographs and 74 textbooks. Creative collaboration with industry workers was an integral part of the activities of the Leningrad State University’s scientists. Many of the LSU collective’s research were directly related to production needs. In 1959, the collective of the Physical faculty concluded 32 contractual works and 19 agreements on creative cooperation with industrial enterprises. In 1963, they performed research on 60 contractual topics for a total of 1,100,000 rubles, at the same time conducting 22 topics, provided by the agreements on the creative cooperation for a total amount of 1,300,000 rubles.

This introductory essay provides a first, much needed comprehensive overview of the recent scholarship on fascism and the radical right in East Central and Southeastern Europe in local and international historiography. Its aim is to identify a new research agenda for studying fascism comparatively, potentially contributing to the fine-tuning or substantial modification of the existing explanatory paradigms. It is argued that comparative research on fascism and the radical right in these regions should be set on new theoretical and methodological foundations, as part of an effort toward greater interaction and convergence between scholarly research traditions in Eastern and Western Europe. My endeavor is based on the assumption that the study of fascist movements and regimes in East Central and Southeastern Europe is essential to the more general scholarly effort to understand radical politics in interwar Europe; without it, comparative research results remain partial and incomplete. Yet, this analytical effort does not simply mean an extension of the existing theoretical framework of generic fascism to previously uncharted regions. Regional explorations of fascism might function as a laboratory for further methodological innovation and as a field of experimentation and interaction of scholars from various disciplines and national historiographic traditions. They can potentially lead to the rejuvenation of fascist studies by renewing their thematic scope and by redirecting research from the prevailing Weberian ideal-type methodology fixated on the fascist “ideological minimum” to new comparative-historical analyses focusing on the triad ideology-movements-regimes. This novel agenda of research prompts scholars to rethink their units of analysis, and to renounce teleological comparative perspectives still prevalent in Cold War-type scholarship which takes Western Europe as a measuring stick and normatively evaluates other historical case studies only by means of negative comparisons (e.g.: what was missing, or what “went wrong” in non-Western regions). Instead of treating fascist movements and regimes in these regions as carbon copies of their more “genuine” Western counterparts, scholars should rather explore multiple laboratories for the elaboration of fascist ideology in interwar politics and the transfer of illiberal political ideas and practices over spatial or temporal borders, resulting in radical political experiments in East and West alike.

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to establish how educators integrate instructional technologies during teaching in Malkerns primary schools, located in the Manzini region of the Kingdom of Eswatini. The main focus of this study was on the training and support that educators receive towards the integration of instructional technologies in teaching as well as strategies to be put in place in order to curb the challenges faced. The study employed a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design in which face-to-face interviews and focus group discussion were used to collect data. Purposive sampling was used to select the five head teachers, ten educators as change leaders and two computer educators from five selected schools in the Malkerns cluster. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The main conclusions of the study were that the availability of instructional technologies in schools does not mean that they are integrated during the teaching process. The study also concluded that educators have inadequate technological training and inadequate support which hinder effective instructional technologies integration in teaching. It is recommended that appropriate training programmes for educators, establishment of fully-fledged computer laboratories and an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy to support instructional technologies should be put in place to ensure successful integration of instructional technologies in teaching.

In the 20th anniversary year of the European Geopark Network, and 5 years on from the receipt of the UNESCO label for the geoparks, this research focuses on geotourism contents and solutions within one of the most recently designated geoparks, admitted for membership in 2013: the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark (Western Italian Alps). The main aim of this paper is to corroborate the use of fieldtrips and virtual tours as resources for geotourism. The analysis is developed according to: i) geodiversity and geoheritage of the geopark territory; ii) different approaches for planning fieldtrip and virtual tours. The lists of 18 geotrails, 68 geosites and 13 off-site geoheritage elements (e.g., museums, geolabs) are provided. Then, seven trails were selected as a mirror of the geodiversity and as container of on-site and off-site geoheritage within the geopark. They were described to highlight the different approaches that were implemented for their valorization. Most of the geotrails are equipped with panels, and supported by the presence of thematic laboratories or sections in museums. A multidisciplinary approach (e.g., history, ecology) is applied to some geotrails, and a few of them are translated into virtual tours. The variety of geosciences contents of the geopark territory is hence viewed as richness, in term of high geodiversity, but also in term of diversification for its valorization.

This study sought to explore how science teachers use manipulative teaching material in the classroom. The study was based on the following objectives: establish the benefits of using manipulative teaching materials, determine the challenges faced by science teachers towards using manipulative teaching materials and suggest how science teachers may overcome the challenges faced in using manipulative teaching materials. Underpinned by the constructivism learning theory, a qualitative research approach was adopted where a case study research design was employed with a purposely selected sample of twelve (12) primary school science teachers who were randomly selected from four schools. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that there are benefits of using manipulative teaching materials. These were that, learners make sense of the theory and have a clear understanding of the concepts taught, learners also acquired scientific skills and manipulative teaching materials motivate learners to participate in the lesson, therefore this makes it hard for learners to lose attention. The study also revealed the challenges faced by teachers in using manipulative teaching materials were lack of resources needed in the science lessons, failure to meet the demands of the subject, and the number of learners in the classroom. The study further revealed that all these challenges could be minimized by the government building science laboratories in the schools and that teachers should improvise the manipulative teaching materials. Based on the findings, the study concludes that manipulative teaching materials play an important role in the teaching and learning of science.

Plenty of evidence has recently shown that various inflammatory activities at the local tissue, organ, or even the whole body (systemic) level are strongly linked to many life-threatening chronic diseases, most notably various cancers. However, only very limited information is available for making good use of our supporting immune-modulatory therapeutics for the treatment of cancers. This may result from a lack of studies on specific remedies for efficacious control or modulatory suppression of inflammation-related cancerous diseases. Our group and laboratories were fortunate to have initiated and consistently pursued an integrated team-work program project, aimed at investigating selected medicinal herbs and the derived, purified phytochemical compounds. We focused on the study of key and specific immune-signaling mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. We were fortunate to obtain a series of fruitful research results. We believe that our key findings reported herein may be helpful for proposing future thematic and integrated research projects that aim to develop future phytochemical drugs against cancers. The mechanisms of the cellular and molecular systems involved in inflammation are becoming increasingly recognized as keystones for the development of future therapeutic approaches for many chronic and cancerous diseases. Recently, the immune checkpoint inhibitors such as antibodies against PD-1 and/or PD-L1 have been shown to be too expensive for general clinical use, and their effects far from optimal, often showing little or no effect or only short-term efficacy. These results point to the need for developing future immune-regulatory or modulatory therapeutics.

Spa towns represented, for decades, a point of reference for the European panorama of health, tourism and cultural exchange. They have been the first tourist destination in the modern sense, as well as a manifesto for a renewed demand of quality and laboratories for architectural and urban experimentations. A product of territorial relations, they have been able to aggregate ideas, capital and skills in a generative logic. However, from the second half of the 20th Century, these cities underwent a series of structural changes related to health and tourism trends that deeply affected all levels of their local systems. Today, these places are witnessing numerous episodes of degradation and abandonment of their built cultural heritage. Promoting a place-based approach, this paper argues that spa towns could be reconsidered as strategic resources in the construction of the territorial capital and that adaptive reuse practices, if integrated into strategic visions, can represent a driver for the activation of a sustainability transition based on ‘fully circular’ processes. Here, the abandoned built cultural heritage represents an opportunity space, a potential catalyst of innovative synergies, and a meeting point between local and territorial interests. While referring both to theoretical profiles and applied research experiences, the paper frames urban transformation and adaptive reuse processes as an integrated challenge within change management logics. Finally, the paper proposes a set of thematic recommendations in order to stimulate the creation of receptive environments for change and deal with the different times, scales, actors and the economic and non-economic interests involved.

Walter Greiner (29 October 1935 - 6 October 2016) was a German theoretical physicist. His scientific research interests include the thematic areas of atomic physics, heavy ion physics, nuclear physics, elementary particle physics (particularly quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics). He is most known in Germany for his series of books in theoretical physics, but he is also well known around the world. Greiner was born on October 29, 1935, in Neuenbau, Sonnenberg, Germany. He studied physics at the University of Frankfurt (Goethe University in Frankfurt Am Main), receiving in this institution a BSci in physics and a Master’s degree in 1960 with a thesis on plasma-reactors, and a PhD in 1961 at the University of Freiburg under Hans Marshal, with a thesis on the nuclear polarization in [Formula: see text]-mesic atoms. During the period of 1962 to 1964 he was assistant professor at the University of Maryland, followed by a position as research associate at the University of Freiburg, in 1964. Starting in 1965, he became a full professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Goethe University until 2003. Greiner has been a visiting professor to many universities and laboratories, including Florida State University, the University of Virginia, the University of California, the University of Melbourne, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2003, with Wolf Singer, he was the founding Director of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), and gave lectures and seminars in elementary particle physics. He died on October 6, 2016 at the age of 80. Walter Greiner was an excellent teacher, researcher, friend. And he was a great supporter of the series of events known by the acronyms IWARA - International Workshop on Astronomy and Relativistic Astrophysics, STARS - Caribbean Symposium on Cosmology, Gravitation, Nuclear and Astroparticle Physics, and SMFNS - International Symposium on Strong Electromagnetic Fields and Neutron Stars. Walter Greiner left us. But his memory will remain always alive among us who have had the privilege of knowing him and enjoy his wisdom and joy of living.

The impacts of pollution and climate change occurred in global and local communities, including at school environment. Uncomfortable school environment due to pollution and school damage due to sea-level rise interferes with learning processes and reduces students' academic performance. A new approach of a school greening programme called Bunkers of Oxygen and Carbon (BOCs) was developed in a public school (SMA Negeri 3 Merauke) in Merauke, Papua using a thematic approach to mitigate pollution and climate change. The research showed that carbon storage of BOCs is mean 74 Mg ha-1 . This is equal with carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of mean 271 Mg CO2e ha-1. The capacity of BOCs as carbon storage can be optimized due to the age of vegetation in BOCs is only four years old, and below ground carbon stock was measured only up to 50 cm depth. The amount of carbon stock in BOCs was influenced by vegetation health (tree density and canopy coverage) and vegetation structure (tree diameter and height) in the BOCs (r2 = 0.56, p = 0.001). The mean economic value of carbon stocks in the BOCs was US $ 189 billion ha-1. This economic value may underestimate as many benefits and functions of the BOCs were excluded from the calculation. BOCs have ecological functions as a habitat for many wildlife species, various ecosystem services, recreational areas, aesthetic values, oxygen supply, and a place to improve creativity and as natural laboratories for practice and learning from nature. Therefore, the development of BOCs in the school environment across Indonesia is important as the functions and benefits are crucial to mitigate pollution and climate change, improve the learning process and the quality of national education.

Abstract In its recent attempt to improve the quality of education in Malawi, the Malawian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology changed its secondary school curriculum; the new curriculum began to be implemented in 2017. So far, little is known about the challenges facing the implementation of this new secondary school curriculum. It is against this background of a knowledge gap that this study was undertaken: to investigate in depth the challenges facing the implementation of the new curriculum from the perspectives of school management, and ways of overcoming those challenges to improve the implementation. The study adopted the concerns-based adoption model. This model describes the process of change experienced by those at school level attempting to implement the new curriculum. The theory is concerned with the effect of the nature of the investment in people, time and resources as they pertain to the implementation of educational innovations. The study was conducted in four secondary schools in Lilongwe district in Malawi. A qualitative research method was used, employing a case study design. The participants were four head teachers, four deputy head teachers and 12 heads of department from the sample schools. Data were collected through interviews, document review and classroom observation of heads of departments’ lessons in order to provide methodological triangulation. Data were analysed using the inductive thematic content analysis method. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of the new secondary school curriculum faces multiple challenges, the main ones being ineffective orientation training for curriculum implementers; inadequate numbers of qualified teachers, especially in science subjects; insufficient teaching and learning materials; too few and inadequately equipped science laboratories; and discrepancy in the administration of continuous assessment. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for better implementation of the curriculum.

This study investigated the challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of digital technology in Secondary Schools in Rundu circuit, Kavango east region Namibia. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. The population of this study was comprised of of all secondary school teachers and principals in Rundu circuit, Kavango east region Namibia. The sample of this study consisted of three principals and seven teachers who were chosen purposively from the 3 secondary schools in the Rundu Circuit in Kavango East region. The qualitative data was collected by means of a semi structured open ended questionnaires. Data collected from the interviews were then transcribed, presented and then analysed using thematic analysis.The findings of this study indicated that lack of pedagogical training was one of the impeding factors to the implementation of the digital technology policy in the teaching and learning process. The findings of the study also indicated that a greater number of teachers had little or no access to the digital technology resources in their institutions. It was established during this study that burglary was on the increase in Kavango East region and computers and air conditioners were the main targets, most of the schools had their laboratories broken into and their computers and other supporting gadgets stolen, making the whole implementation of the digital technology policy fall on its face. The findings of the study further found that schools in Kavango East Region do not have electricity and that some schools had a lot of broken down computers which accumulated over time due to lack of the proper technical skills on the part of the teachers to have them repaired or fixed for use by both teachers and students.It can be concluded from the findings of this study that, lack of pedagogical training was one of the impeding factors to the implementation of the digital technology policy in the teaching and learning process at some Secondary Schools in Rundu circuit, Kavango east region Namibia. It can also be concluded that the absence of digital technology resources was another stinging obstacle to the implementation of the digital technology policy in the classrooms by teachers. The study concludes that burglary was on the increase in Kavango East region.The study suggested that the Ministry of Education has to fully intensify its involvement in the digital technology policy implementation process through the provision of human and material support, supervision and constant reviews or evaluations. Teachers need to be constantly in-serviced on digital technology skills in schools so that they are fully equipped and aware of the digital technology tools’ usage for the benefit of the Namibian child.

I was glad to read today, on December 16th of 2016, that the Sports Sciences Department of the University of Beira Interior (UBI) appears in an outstanding place in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking for Sport Science Schools and Departments. We could indicate that this small department is actually in the top 80 of the sports schools of the world, which is something that should be highlighted.In 2007, the head of the Department of Sports Sciences at UBI and currently president of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (UBI) called for the development of internal research in the field of sports sciences, not only on the national panorama, but above all on an international level. This wish was strongly based on a complete lack of research in the department, in which until 2007 there was no single publication with indexing, much less with ISI or Scopus or any relevant project or book recognized by the scientific community. It was a herculean and risky challenge, but today we think that it has been more than achieved. At that time the cornerstones for the development and sustainability of the investigation in the department were based on three key-vectors: selection and recruitment of more teachers with experience and research potential; acquisition of equipment, laboratory software and reformulation of the advanced training proposal (reformulation of the Master course and Doctoral study plan).As a complement to the quality of the existing teachers, external professors were hired. The rectory was present in the creation of an R & D unit in consortium with UTAD, UMa and 5 Polytechnics Schools, under the designation of CIDESD with headquarters in UTAD and a center in UBI. As far as the equipment is concerned, the department has acquired high quality material and diversification through internal funds (Department / Faculty) and also with the individual scientific production funds of the research unit CIDESD/UBI. Between 2008 and 2013, these acquisitions encouraged the exponential writing of articles, the development of projects and the conclusion with high quality of masters and doctoral theses. This was only possible due to the high scientific production carried out, which was strictly thought in favor of our students and the Department of Sports Sciences. The acquisition of research material had not only a typical laboratory concern but also an ecological one, that is, most of the acquired equipment was portable, allowing us to carry out several studies outside the Department, going to the places where the individuals that composed the samples were. Finally, since 2009, there has been a strong internationalization policy for the Masters course, especially with the arrival of highly qualified teachers from worldwide, which has allowed the promotion of research policies and a significant increase in quantity, but above all in the quality of the published articles. In this research policies project - it was sought to present a line of concrete study that addressed some pertinent problems to which the international literature has not yet shown any final conclusions.In the last two decades, scientific research in Sport Sciences has grown exponentially in the department. Unfortunately, most of the resources, such as critical mass or equipment (laboratories) are still scarce in our country, although some universities have taken important steps in order to reverse this situation. Thus, UBI could not remain unaware of this "revolution". We had a young department with quality and capacity to perform quality research. To this purpose, it was urgent to develop protocols and / or connect with universities and researchers of international reference, which would transport us to higher levels of research. Since our field of study was so vast and complex, we had to focus on the following points of interest: A) preparing research projects in the field of sports performance; B) drawing short - term strategies for the construction of a root laboratory that would be able to transport us to the "front line"; C) helping integrate our young doctoral students (teachers) into the "world" of research. Considering the opening of the European university space resulting from the Maastricht Treaty, one of the pillars of the internationalization policy has been the focus on European cooperation activities. Numerous protocols were developed with the University of Pitesti, the Public University of Navarra, the Pablo de Olavide University, and the University of Barry State. These contacts were a result from the social and academic networks established with members of these universities.After hiring the new professors whose doctorates were concluded between 2007 and 2009, the mission of equating a course development strategy and improving its attractiveness was crucial. Given the fact that, at the level of the 2nd cycle offer, the demand was low, it was therefore necessary to attract students from other schools of the country. It was obvious that this would only be possible with the use of previous personal knowledge networks and the support of the Center for Research in Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), a research center where UBI is an integrated member.The 2nd cycle of studies of the Master’s Degree in Sports Sciences was created in the 1st year of the Bologna Process adjustments of the courses given at the UBI. At that time, the Department's doctoral faculty was exiguous and very little diversified. For this reason, the Curricular Units proposed for the curriculum were based in the possibility of hiring other human resources. National and international teachers of recognized pedagogical and scientific value were recruited, with special emphasis on the prestigious curriculum of publications in the area of Sports Sciences. Provisional calls were launched and readily accepted on the condition that they taught concentrated classes, similar to what already being done in many foreign universities and also in some national ones.In the main scientific area of the cycle of studies (Sports Sciences) all the teachers integrated in the service distribution are effective members or collaborators of CIDESD. CIDESD is a research unit accredited by FCT (since the 12th of December of 2009) with the initial classification of GOOD and nowadays of VERY GOOD. Also worth mentioning is the collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Studies, Research and Sports Medicine and the Navarro Institute of Sport, Government of Navarra.The approach to scientific research has also been a point of honor of this department, carried out in a sustainable way, mainly through teaching / learning methodologies specific to each curricular unit (CU), mostly through research seminars. This approach begins in the 1st semester of the 1st year, encouraging the student to the good practices of scientific research, particularly in his area of interest. However, the ultimate milestone of his effective integration into the scientific research can only be consolidated if the student is qualified to prepare or eventually to submit a scientific paper in an ISI-indexed journal provided by the Seminar CUs. Finally, we must highlight the involvement in the implementation of technical-scientific events allowing contact with basic and applied science, of which the Research Seminar of CIDESD and CIDESD Junior is the best example. It should also be said that the scientific activity produced by teachers and students is strongly implemented in the methodological orientation of teaching / research and in the provision of services and advice to the academic community and to civil society in general. Regarding to the research-community relationship, the type of research developed is powerfully applied by integrating and transmitting immediately the produced knowledge to the stakeholders (e.g., clubs, municipalities, gymnasiums and swimming pools). Therefore, this applied research par excellence in the physical activity context of exercise and sport in its most diverse fields of application brings economic benefits to the partners of the course.It should be mentioned that in the last two years there has been a significant increase in the publication of scientific articles in journals indexed to the ISI Web of Knowledge, a true and successful Case Study at the national level. Also note that part of the articles published during the last years were launched in magazines with an impact factor higher than 1.0. Also noteworthy are the publications in book or chapter format of books with scientific review. There are also dozens of abstracts published in national and international conferences (with scientific review). In fact, we consider this type of publication as an excellent measure of dissemination of the work produced by senior researchers and 3rd cycle students. In some cases, even for the 2nd cycle students.We succeeded in spreading knowledge through the range of articles available in worldwide renowned journals, i.e.: Original Research, Brief Reviews, Reviews, Methodological Reports, Research Notes, and Letters to Editor. In terms of impact, if we consider that the UBI Teaching Activity Regulation defined 0.4 as the impact reference median to the Sports Sciences, the publications in question are clearly above this level with an average close to 1.0 impact, a high value for the sports sciences. It should be emphasized that more than 50 percent of the articles refer to 1.8-1.9 impact journals, and that we have had a review - recently published in the highest impact factor journal of the area (Sports Medicine: 5.2).With this philosophy of publications, it was intended to carry out a large number of scientific studies that addressed a panoply of issues considered more relevant like the ones related to the effectiveness of Strength Training and Physical Condition on performance improvements in High Performance Sports, Public School and Exercise /Health. Consequently, this line of thought / intervention, in addition to discussing in a pragmatic and scientific way different topics related to the methodology of Strength Training and Physical Condition, tried to do a parallelism between theory and practice, that is, most of the abovementioned articles are of a highly practical nature in order to daily assist coaches, physical education teachers and health / sport professionals. We also analyzed the Simultaneous Training of Strength and Aerobic thematic, as well as the problematic of the Detraining. These are two hot topics as both are far from consensus in the scientific community.Since the origin of the Department (1994), the first four experimental studies conducted in our laboratories have been published in two of the best sports training magazines. In the five-year period in question, the level of scientific production was exponential with more 100 international ISI articles published or accepted for publication in journals indexed to international reference databases by the end of 2013. The participation in conferences such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the European College of Sport Science (ECSS) as well as the positive evaluation of 2 R & D projects by international panels (with emphasis on the project approved in call 2010) seem to indicate that the scientific community recognizes the efforts done to contribute for a better understanding of the sportive phenomenon, both in theoretical as in empirical terms. We should also note the level of involvement in the scientific community with referee reports for international reference journals and with several coauthors affiliated to different universities (national and international).The research networks developed in 5 years and the funding of the international R & D Projects planned for the coming years, will not only allow the renewal of equipment and software, but also bring the possibility of hiring highly qualified human resources, guaranteeing important conditions to continue in the line of international merit investigation. It is also an important incentive to further progress in the worldwide scientific production, recognized by the scientific community as well as helping UBI to consolidate its role in the country and in the world, in this scientific area. However, there are still some teachers who feel some lack of motivation to publish regularly.

Background:Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are increasingly used in cohort event monitoring (CEM) to obtain a better understanding of patient’s real-world experience with drugs. Despite the leading role for patients, little is known about their perspectives on these monitoring systems.Objectives:To obtain more insight in patients’ perspectives on the perceived usefulness, ease of use and attitude toward using the Dutch Biologic Monitor (DBM), and their preferred design for a national drug safety monitoring system for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs).Methods:We developed a cross-sectional open survey following the rationale of the Technology Acceptance Model to obtain insight in patients’ perspectives on the DBM. The DBM is a pilot for a PRO-based drug safety monitoring system focused on ADRs attributed to biologics that are prescribed for IMIDs. This survey consisted of 20 categorical and 1 open-ended question. Seven categorical questions contained a text field for additional comments. Five-point Likert-type scales or multiple-choice questions were used to identify patients’ preferences and perspectives. Patients were eligible for the survey if they were still enrolled in the DBM at the time of the survey opening and if they had completed at least one questionnaire of the DBM. Categorical questions were descriptively analyzed, whereas text fields were analyzed using theoretical thematic analysis.Results:At the start of the survey a total of 1,225 patients had participated in the DBM. Approximately 70% had an inflammatory rheumatic disease. The survey was completed by 292 eligible respondents (response rate 44.8%). The respondents generally agreed that it was useful to participate in the DBM and would recommend it to their peers (Figure 1). The response burden of the bimonthly questionnaires was scored as ‘low’, irrespective of the presence of ADRs or education level (Table 1). A number of respondents suggested that the questionnaire frequency should be synchronized with the regular hospital visits or the administration schedule of the biologic. Moreover, questionnaires should be offered less frequent and preferably shortened in case of an unaltered situation or absence of ADRs. Half (49.0%) of the respondents was interested in sharing their questionnaires with a medical specialist, whereas a third (34.2%) advocated sharing the questionnaires with their pharmacist (Figure 1).Table 1.Perceived response burden of the Dutch Biologic Monitor questionnaires. The average burden is calculated using a five-point Likert-type scale. Data is represented as the number of respondents (n).Overall(n = 292)ADRs reportedEducation levelaYes(n = 225)No(n = 54)Do not know(n = 13)Lower(n = 149)Higher(n = 139)Burdenn(%)n(%)n(%)n(%)n(%)n(%)1: No burden224(76.7)169(75.1)46(85.2)9(69.2)106(71.1)115(82.7)2: Low burden58(19.9)48(21.3)7(13.0)3(23.1)36(24.2)22(15.8)3: Moderate burden6(2.1)6(2.7)0(0.0)0(0.0)4(2.7)2(1.4)4: High burden0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)5: Very high burden0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)No opinion4(1.4)2(0.9)1(1.9)1(0.0)3(2.0)0(0.0)Average burden1.21.31.11.21.31.2aMissing: 4 respondents.Figure 1.Stacked bar graph of user perspectives. Agreement scores were measured using a five-point Likert-type scale. The average agreement score per statement is indicated on the far right. The percentages represent the share of respondents. DBM: Dutch Biologic Monitor; ADRs: adverse drug reactions.Conclusion:This study provides valuable insights in the patient perspective on a PRO-based drug safety monitoring system for inflammatory rheumatic diseases and other IMIDs, and provides several useful starting points to further stimulate and improve PRO-based CEM systems. Altogether, it appears feasible to establish a PRO-based drug safety monitoring system that monitors IMID patients’ real-world experience with ADRs that has a low burden for the participants.Disclosure of Interests:Leanne Kosse: None declared, Gerda Weits: None declared, Harald Vonkeman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, all outside the submitted work., Sander Tas Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Arthrogen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Celgene, Galapagos, GSK, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, all outside the submitted work., Frank Hoentjen Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Janssen-Cilag, MSD, Takeda, Celltrion, Teva, Sandoz and Dr Falk, all outside the submitted work, Consultant of: Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, all outside the submitted work, Grant/research support from: Dr Falk, Janssen-Cilag, Abbvie, Takeda, all outside the submitted work, Martijn van Doorn Grant/research support from: Leopharma, Novartis, Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Sanofi-Genzyme, Janssen Cilag, outside the submitted work., Phyllis Spuls Grant/research support from: Departmental independent research grant for TREAT NL registry from different companies, is involved in performing clinical trials with many pharmaceutical industries that manufacture drugs used for the treatment of e.g. psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, for which financial compensation is paid to the department/hospital and, is Chief Investigator (CI) of the systemic and phototherapy atopic eczema registry (TREAT NL) for adults and children and one of the main investigators of the SECURE-AD registry, all outside the submitted work., Geert D’Haens Consultant of: Abbvie, Ablynx, Active Biotech AB, Agomab Therapeutics, Allergan, Alphabiomics, Amakem, Amgen, AM Pharma, Applied Molecular Therapeutics, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Avaxia, Biogen, Bristol Meiers Squibb/Celgene, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, Cosmo, DSM Pharma, Echo Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Engene, Exeliom Biosciences, Ferring, DrFALK Pharma, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, Glaxo Smith Kline, Gossamerbio, Pfizer, Immunic, Johnson and Johnson, Kintai Therapeutics, Lycera, Medimetrics, Takeda, Medtronic, Mitsubishi Pharma, Merck Sharp Dome, Mundipharma, Nextbiotics, Novonordisk, Otsuka, Photopill, ProciseDx, Prodigest, Prometheus laboratories/Nestle, Progenity, Protagonist, RedHill, Robarts Clinical Trials, Salix, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Seres/Nestec/Nestle, Setpoint, Shire, Teva, Tigenix, Tillotts, Topivert, Versant and Vifor, all outside the submitted work, Michael Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Sanofi, all outside the submitted work, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, all outside the submitted work, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, all outside the submitted work, Eugène van Puijenbroek: None declared, Bart van den Bemt: None declared, Naomi Jessurun: None declared

In academic labs, organizational culture is an important consideration for safety compliance. This studyexamined perceptions of risk and safety behavior to target training improvement. College of Science lab person-nel (n = 1,066) were invited participate in a web-based survey with the number of respondents (n=97) and theresponse rate (9.1%). Analysis included descriptive statistics and thematic evaluation. The majority of respondentsrated safety as important and agreed training was sufficient, but believed there was room to improve safety culture.Encouraging use of lab-based safety and risk discussions related to new research procedures was identified as areafor improvement. Perceptions of safety among leadership is important to overall lab culture.

Solvay’s Centre de Recherches d’Aubervilliers (CRA) is one of the oldest active private-sector research centers in industrial chemistry in France. During the seventy years of its existence it collaborated with some of the most significant French and European chemical companies. Established in 1953, the center’s research and development organization around huge discipline-oriented laboratories proved itself remarkably resilient. Not merely reflecting the R&D policy of the company that owned it at a given moment, the evolution of the center’s research organization followed its own particular path. The research priorities in any given moment were always a place of encounter between top-down requirements of the company’s directorship, and bottom-up thematic trajectories. The CRA’s organizational history gives us unique insights into broader tendencies in chemical research in the second half of the 20th century, such as specialization of laboratories, introduction of market-driven research as well as decentralization and multiplication of hierarchies. The case study can be of interest to historians of science, due to the fact that the history of private research centers remains largely understudied, and to science policy scholars who want to understand the interconnectedness of factors that influence the organization of R&D structures in an institution.

Abstract Background Existing research into marketing and advertising of tobacco companies shows the industry continues to spend huge sums of money promoting harmful products. In the face of increasing controls on the advertising of these products, and restrictions on their participation in policy development enshrined in a global treaty, tobacco companies must adapt to remain competitive in an unfavourable climate. Although there has been much engagement with the development of corporate messages by the 4 big tobacco brands, no systematic review of textual and visual corporate messaging used by these companies exists. This research presents the case of Philip Morris International (PMI), and maps out its key messages to investors and public audiences. Methods This research combines corpus linguistics with inductive coding to illustrate key topics, themes and the linguistic habits of PMI. A linguistic comparison with the messaging of 40 other transnational corporations provides a reference from which the unique characteristics of PMI's language can be identified. Results Thematic analysis of written and visual content highlights several dominant themes, namely Science, Transformation, Sustainability and Permissibility. Redemptive tropes were common in the sample, apparent in repeated reference to a desire to be and do better and to improve the lives of smokers around the world. Similarly, a strong emphasis on science was apparent in both the use of imagery and language, including scientific notation, laboratories and individual scientists. The identification of linguistic and visual brand strategies will facilitate the education of advocates and consumers about the approach of the tobacco industry in their pursuit of continued business. Identifying the core values PMI is actively promoting could help to identify emerging corporate strategies in influencing public health policy, including the promotion of corporate goodwill in markets where product-specific advertising is banned. Key messages Big tobacco using new platforms to influence policy making. Corporate narratives impact perception of tobacco harm.

Abstract Background Over the past decade, 70% of new and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks in East Africa have originated from the Congo Basin where Rwanda is located. To respond to these increasing risks of disastrous outbreaks, the government began integrating One Health (OH) into its infectious disease response systems in 2011 to strengthen its preparedness and contain outbreaks. The strong performance of Rwanda in responding to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic makes it an excellent example to understand how the structure and principles of OH were applied during this unprecedented situation. Methods A rapid environmental scan of published and grey literature was conducted between August and December 2020, to assess Rwanda’s OH structure and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 132 documents including official government documents, published research, newspaper articles, and policies were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Rwanda’s OH structure consists of multidisciplinary teams from sectors responsible for human, animal, and environmental health. The country has developed OH strategic plans and policies outlining its response to zoonotic infections, integrated OH into university curricula to develop a OH workforce, developed multidisciplinary rapid response teams, and created decentralized laboratories in the animal and human health sectors to strengthen surveillance. To address COVID-19, the country created a preparedness and response plan before its onset, and a multisectoral joint task force was set up to coordinate the response to the pandemic. By leveraging its OH structure, Rwanda was able to rapidly implement a OH-informed response to COVID-19. Conclusion Rwanda’s integration of OH into its response systems to infectious diseases and to COVID-19 demonstrates the importance of applying OH principles into the governance of infectious diseases at all levels. Rwanda exemplifies how preparedness and response to outbreaks and pandemics can be strengthened through multisectoral collaboration mechanisms. We do expect limitations in our findings due to the rapid nature of our environmental scan meant to inform the COVID-19 policy response and would encourage a full situational analysis of OH in Rwanda’s Coronavirus response.

Abstract Background The number of international students who choose China as their destination for quality medical education is rising, particularly those from developing countries, but little is known about their adaptation and educational experiences at Chinese universities. This study explored the factors that these students perceived to have influenced their academic success. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with international students (N = 40) from developing countries from September 2020 to January 2021. Participants were graduates or in their second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth academic year in two university medical schools. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results The participants chose China to study medicine based on cost, teaching resources, quality of medical education, recommendation, and safety factors. They considered an increase in medical knowledge, clinical skills and communication skills as an indicator of academic success. Positive factors affecting academic success were the support system (family, friends, seniors) and campus resources (library, laboratories, extra-curricular activities, scholarship). Negative factors were (i) issues affecting learning (English language barrier), adjusting to the medical education system in China, learning difficulties, failing exams, internship difficulties, problems with online learning during the pandemic, (ii) sociocultural issues (lacking knowledge of the Chinese language, challenges in daily life, perceived discrimination, interpersonal relationships), (iii) wellbeing issues (physical and mental health issues), and (iv) other challenges (climate, food, finance, scholarship). The influence of teachers, administrators and classmates was perceived as both positive and negative. Conclusions Factors affecting the academic success of international medical students at Chinese universities are multi-faceted. It is the collective responsibility of the host society, universities, teachers, administrators, classmates, families, and students themselves to address these factors in order to support and help students achieve academic success. Findings in our study support recommendations to improve teachers’ English language skills and pedagogy and to invest in administrators’ professional development. They also suggest that greater awareness of students’ sociocultural and mental challenges and optimizing the positive influence of classmates could strengthen student support and better address student academic difficulties. The English proficiency and prior academic performance of international students should be considered during recruitment. Given the rapid growth in international MBBS programs in China, further research on the experiences of international students in China’s medical programs is needed.

The ONYGENALES workshop is a bi-annual meeting organised by ISHAM Working Group ONYGENALES (onygenales.org). It brings together researchers, students, clinicians, laboratorians and public health professionals across biomedical disciplines, who are interested in current developments in dermatophyte, dimorphic and keratinophilic fungi research. The abstracts are arranged according to the thematic sessions as they appeared in the programme: Session 1: Antifungal resistance and susceptibility testing, Session 2: Taxonomy of keratinophilic and dimorphic fungi, Session 3: Taxonomy of dermatophytes, Session 4: Population genetics and genomics, Session 5: Emerging and zoonotic pathogens, Session 6: Epidemiology, Session 7: Diagnostics and treatment approaches, Session 8: Virulence factors and pathogenesis.

Abstract Focus of Presentation The 10- week internship in 2019 for the pilot cohort of community medicine/ public health resident doctors from various teaching hospitals in Nigeria was an immersion into field epidemiology, rumor surveillance, risk communication, digital tools for surveillance, developing strategic documents, line lists interpretation, weekly presentations and outbreak response coordination alongside working briefly as an incident manager for the Yellow Fever technical working group. Some of the learning points included: meeting coordination, contributions to ongoing research, review of training documents for surveillance officers and the mechanisms of escalating and de-escalating technical working groups in the face of outbreaks and working as an incident manager. Epidemiological concepts from the didactic training in residency and on field experience with the Centre provided numerous opportunities for knowledge integration and translation. This study describes the internship program and the need to sustainably replicate the program across the country and continent in building capacity for epidemiology. Findings The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was established in 2011 in response to the challenges of public health emergencies and to enhance Nigeria’s preparedness and response to epidemics through prevention, detection and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Its core mandate is to detect, investigate, prevent and control diseases of national and international public health importance. The core functions of the NCDC include: to prevent, detect, and control diseases of public health importance, coordinate surveillance systems to collect, analyses and interpret data on diseases of public health importance, support states in responding to small outbreaks, and lead the response to large disease outbreaks, lead Nigeria’s engagement with the international community on diseases of public health relevance and to conduct, collate, synthesize and disseminate public health research to inform policy. The Centre has close to two hundred staff, working across its locations at the Headquarters and the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, as well as the Central Public Health Laboratory in Lagos State which is a campus of the National Reference Laboratory. The Centre is led by a Director General, the members of staff work in six Directorates. These include: Public Health Laboratory Services, Prevention and Programs Coordination, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Surveillance and Epidemiology, Finance and Accounts; Administration and Human Resources. The internship for resident doctors in community medicine/public health training at various teaching hospitals in Nigeris at the NCDC, which I participated in as a member of the first cohort and pilot program in 2019 intended to provide skills and competencies in various aspects of field epidemiology, providing practical experience, latest knowledge, opportunities for collaboration and hands on experience. A training manual and logbook to guide the posting were available as residents rotated through various departments. The internship commenced with an introductory week in which all the residents were introduced to the various units and their roles in the organization. Following this, we participated in a week long curriculum review for training disease surveillance officers in Nigeria. This was very engaging and was also a crash course in revising many concepts in epidemiology. The orientation, lectures, unit rotations, participation in technical working groups/emergency operation centers and response pillars strengthened capacity, for competencies gained in residency training. It was an enlightening, greatly rewarding, educative and practical experience, integrating the background theoretical knowledge with on field exposure. I had the opportunity to prepare and present slides in different meetings, receive refresher trainings for select medical procedures, write meeting minutes and reports, was deployed to a University Teaching Hospital in the country to assess their suitability for selection as a Congenital Rubella Assessment sentinel site using the National Checklist. Other activities I actively participated in included calling state epidemiologists for priority diseases using the provided templates, data analysis from national line-lists for some priority diseases, budget preparation and interpretation for a grant and field calls at the Connect Centre. I also was involved in proposal writing, drafted a short communication article and a few short articles. Alongside my colleagues in the cohort, we attended and participated in the Lassa Fever Outbreak Response Technical working team. I joined the Risk Communication Pillar for the outbreak response. I completed several online courses to develop competencies on International Health Regulation, Integrated Disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance which are core thematic areas for the NCDC. Furthermore, I participated in a week-long review of the training curriculum for disease surveillance officers nationwide. I was able to participate in planning for a national training and its logistics and improved on my presentation skills. Thereafter, I participated in the Lassa Fever Response Mid- Review Meeting, learning about case management, the role of partners and risk communication. I learnt first-hand, the huge work in the management of cases, deployments of rapid response teams and the logistics, risk communication, its methods and evaluation and the harmonization of data from the laboratories and cases managed for effective planning. The mid- review meeting assessed international standards, current practices and areas that required subsequent improvement. This also brought to the fore for me, how each response pillar seemingly works on its own, but how also they seamlessly fit into one goal, to reduce the burden of diseases in communities. The importance of goal setting, leadership and coordination, clear reporting lines, engagement with state public health units and proper community engagement and buy-in with the ability to clearly present work done was my major learning from this activity. Subsequently, I followed the processes involved in the escalation of a Technical working group to an emergency operations center and all the workings of an Incident manager for Yellow Fever technical working group in which capacity I served for a week. The role of an Incident Manager in coordination, receiving and synthesizing reports, liasing with partners, collaborating with the various technical pillars and being able to respond promptly to issues of national concern and data reports was a huge learning curve for me. I learnt how national level data is generated and interpreted for public health action. This role positively impacted me by helping me integrate what I had learnt in my residency training program, with the dynamic nature of field epidemiology and enhanced my managerial and technical capabilities under the supervision of the main Incident Manager. One of the numerous highlights was my deployment to a teaching hospital in Northern Nigeria to conduct an assessment of their capacity to host a sentinel surveillance site for Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The trip was my first to Northern Nigeria, alongside an NCDC staff. A checklist was used in assessing the hospital with interviews conducted for the relevant heads of the concerned clinical specialties. The responses were collated from all the centers where the assessments were done including mine and the sites are currently working. This particular experience helped me further appreciate at the national level; the conceptualization of research ideas, the development and deployment of tools and human resources, collaborations with partners, deployment of teams to fields, data analysis and subsequent public health action as a continuum. An important lesson for me was that disease surveillance and response is dynamic and requires collaborations, especially in resource-limited countries like Nigeria. Hopefully, via the feedback given by our cohort, the program will evolve into a better version and create a model that can be replicated on the African continent, between public health institutes and centres for residency training to strengthen the practice of epidemiology. Conclusion Previously uncharted partnerships/collaborations between public health institutes and residency training centers in developing such programs, will enhance the teaching and practice of epidemiology, especially for resource constrained economies, many of which are on the African continent. Key messages There is the need to continue and establish this model of internship to strengthen the capacity of our emerging health workforce and early career researchers in community medicine/ public health residency training to address our public health priorities in Nigeria and possibly Africa, now and for the future.