The knowledge work of professional associations: approaches to standardisation and forms of legitimisation     

Monika Nerland  Berit Karseth 《Journal of Education & Work》2015,28(1):1-23

This paper examines how professional associations engage themselves in efforts to develop, regulate and secure knowledge in their respective domains, with special emphasis on standardisation. The general emphasis on science in society brings renewed attention to the knowledge base of professionals, and positions professional bodies as key regulatory agencies. At the same time, knowledge takes distinctive forms in different areas of expertise, and the ‘knowledge work’ of professional associations is embedded in complex settings of actors and interests that need to be negotiated. Based on documents and interviews with core representatives, we examined approaches to standardisation in three associations that represent the main bodies of nurses, teachers and auditors in Norway. The analysis shows that all associations engage themselves in efforts to develop standards for knowledge and professional practice, but that they do so in different ways and with alternative sources of legitimisation. Standardisation is initiated for variegated purposes, and involves the ongoing negotiation of tensions between different concerns. We discuss the approaches taken in relation to conditions for professionalism, and argue that the knowledge work of professional associations is becoming increasingly important in a society where knowledge, as well as the market for professional services, is becoming internationalised.  相似文献   

Interleukin-6 Perpetrator of the COVID-19 Cytokine Storm     

Jyoti Shekhawat  Kavya Gauba  Shruti Gupta  Purvi Purohit  Prasenjit Mitra  Mahendra Garg  Sanjeev Misra  Praveen Sharma  Mithu Banerjee 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2021,36(4):440

COVID-19 has emerged as a global pandemic. It is mainly manifested as pneumonia which may deteriorate into severe respiratory failure. The major hallmark of the disease is the systemic inflammatory immune response characterized by Cytokine Storm (CS). CS is marked by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Of these, IL-6 is found to be significantly associated with higher mortality. IL-6 is also a robust marker for predicting disease prognosis and deterioration of clinical profile. In this review, the pivotal role played by IL-6 in the immuno-pathology of COVID-19 has been illustrated. The role of IL-6 as a pleiotropic cytokine executing both pro and anti-inflammatory activities has been reviewed. ADAM 10, a metalloproteinase switches the anti-inflammatory pathway of IL-6 to pro inflammatory hence blocking the action of ADAM 10 could be a new therapeutic strategy to mitigate the proinflammatory action of IL-6. Furthermore, we explore the role of anti-IL6 agents, IL-6 receptor antibodies which were being used for autoimmune diseases but now are being repurposed for the therapy of COVID-19.  相似文献   

Antinuclear Antibody Profiling in Patients of a Tertiary Care Centre in Central India     

Prishni Gupta  Pratishtha Agrawal  Neha Rani Verma  Seema Shah  Suprava Patel  Rachita Nanda  Eli Mohapatra 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2021,36(3):345

The incidence of autoimmune disorders that includes the connective tissue diseases has seen a rise in India in recent times. Antinuclear antibodies, the telltale sign of systemic autoimmune response, thus can be used as a screening tool and also to support the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune disease. The present retrospective cross- sectional analysis aimed to study the antinuclear antibodies profile (patterns and specific antibody reactivity) amongst suspected cases of auto-immune disorders at a tertiary care teaching hospital. The study retrieved and reviewed reports of 644 patients sent for ANA testing by indirect immunofluorescence assay over a period of 1 year by different specialty departments. Positive samples were further processed for anti-ds-DNA antibody and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen. Data collected was statistically analysed. ANA pattern positivity was observed in 31% of cases and a positive antibody reactivity was seen in 66% of them. Female predominance (82%) was noted in both pattern positivity and antibody reactivity. High levels of pattern positivity and antibody reactivity was found in the young adults (45.9%). Amongst the ANA patterns, the nuclear homogenous pattern was found the commonest. The common antibodies associated with this pattern were anti-dsDNA and U1 Sm/RNP antibodies. A stronger fluorescence intensity on initial screening showed a higher confirmation rate for specific antibodies on immunoassay. High occurrence of positive ANA patterns in autoimmune disorders suggests its utilization as a screening tool for them and would also play an adjuvant to the diagnosis. Early knowledge about future autoimmunity will earn better prognostic achievements through better treatment interventions.  相似文献   

Current status of the lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs     

Anita Somborac Ba ura  Marija Doroti&#x;  Leonarda Gro&#x;i&#x;  Monika Dimbeg  Slavica Dodig 《Biochemia medica : ?asopis Hrvatskoga dru?tva medicinskih biokemi?ara / HDMB》2021,31(2)

Early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are priorities during the pandemic. Symptomatic and suspected asymptomatic individuals should be tested for COVID-19 to confirm infection and to be excluded from social interactions. As molecular testing capacity is overloaded during the pandemic, rapid antigen tests, such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), can be a useful tool as they allow greater test availability and obtain results in a very short time. This short review aims to present the analytical properties of LFIAs in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs. Lateral flow immunoassay is a method that combines thin-layer chromatography and indirect immunochemical sandwich method and allows the detection of a specific SARS-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs. Swab specimens should be adequately collected and tested as soon as possible. Users should pay attention to quality control and possible interferences. Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 show high sensitivity and specificity in cases with high viral loads, and should be used up to five days after the onset of the first symptoms of COVID-19. False positive results may be obtained when screening large populations with a low prevalence of COVID-19 infection, while false negative results may happen due to improper specimen collection or insufficient amount of antigen in the specimen. So as to achieve reliable results, a diagnostic accuracy study of a specific rapid antigen test should be performed.  相似文献   

Developing a Research Agenda Aimed at Understanding the Teaching and Learning of Science at a Natural History Museum     

Karen Hammerness  Anna MacPherson  Preeti Gupta 《Curator: The Museum Journal》2016,59(4):353-367

Over the past two decades, cultural institutions such as museums are beginning to develop their capacity for engaging in long‐term research on teaching and learning (Rennie et al. 2003; see also Crowley 2014). In this article, we describe one museum's efforts to develop an educational research agenda in relationship to these broader efforts. We explain how we got started; share steps taken; describe the agenda itself; and give examples of some of our current research studies. We end with insights into some of the challenges we've faced in developing this work and how we've addressed them and our next steps.  相似文献   

Does Teacher Education Matter? An Analysis of Relations to Knowledge among Norwegian and Finnish Novice Teachers     

Hilde Wågsås Afdal  Monika Nerland 《Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research》2014,58(3):281-299

This article examines relations to knowledge among novice teachers educated in a research-based program in Finland and a general professional program in Norway. The curricula of the 2 programs differ in distinct ways with regard to selection and organization of knowledge. We ask whether such differences also play out in the relations to knowledge of the 2 groups of teachers. Bernstein's concepts of knowledge discourses, classification, and framing are employed to analyze in-depth interviews with 12 teachers. The analysis revealed many similarities on the surface, but a closer examination of the teachers' use of professional language revealed significant differences. The Finnish teachers used more specialized language to frame their conceptions, and their knowledge relations reflected a stronger classification and framing than those of the Norwegian teachers. We discuss how these differences may be related to their educational programs, and the possible implications for the teachers' professional identities.  相似文献   

Linear Analysis of Autonomic Activity and Its Correlation with Creatine Kinase-MB in Overt Thyroid Dysfunctions     

Manisha Mavai  Yogendra Raj Singh  R. C. Gupta  Sandeep K. Mathur  Bharti Bhandari 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2018,33(2):222-228

Autonomic activity may be deranged in thyroid dysfunctions and may lead to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Myopathy is a common manifestation in thyroid disorders and may be associated with raised serum creatine kinase (CK). We hypothesized that cardiovascular abnormality in thyroid dysfunction may manifest as raised CK-MB. This study was designed to investigate the correlation of CK and its isoform CK-MB with thyroid profile and linear parameters of heart rate variability (HRV). The study was conducted on 35 hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients each, and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Autonomic activity was assessed by simple short term 5-min HRV. Biochemical evaluation of serum thyroid profile, CK-NAC and CK-MB were estimated in all the subjects. Our results demonstrated low HRV in hypo- as well as hyperthyroid patients. We observed significantly higher serum CK levels in hypothyroid patients when compared to hyperthyroids and controls. However, no significant differences were observed in CK-MB levels in the three groups. Significant positive correlation of CK with TSH and negative correlation with some HRV parameters (LF power, HF power, total power, SDNN, RMSSD) was observed in hypothyroid patients. Whereas correlation of CK-MB with thyroid profile as well as HRV parameters was non-significant in all the groups. Based on the CK and CK-MB findings and their correlation, we conclude that the cardiovascular changes seen in thyroid dysfunctions may primarily be due to autonomic imbalance without apparent cardiac muscle involvement. Whereas, raised CK levels indicate predominantly skeletal muscle involvement in hypothyroid patients.  相似文献   

Why Ideology Matters for Learning: A Case of Ideological Convergence in an Engineering Ethics Classroom Discussion on Drone Warfare     

Thomas M. Philip  Ayush Gupta  Andrew Elby  Chandra Turpen 《学习科学杂志》2018,27(2):183-223

The relationship between ideology and learning remains insufficiently theorized and sparsely investigated in the learning sciences. Drawing on Stuart Hall’s theorization of ideology, Judith Butler’s notion of the (un)grievability of lives, and Sara Ahmed’s construct of stickiness, we illustrate how insights from critical social theory are indispensable to understanding processes of learning and how perspectives from the learning sciences can enrich critical social theory. Through the analysis of a classroom discussion on the use of militarized drones in an undergraduate engineering ethics course, we show how ideological convergence among participants constructed locally significant categories of “civilian,” “terrorist,” and (un)grievability, which narrowed the possible trajectories for students’ disciplinary learning in engineering and engineering ethics. Our analysis also shows that fleeting moments of ideological expansion offered opportunities for new learning; however, most of these instances of possibility were not sustained through the classroom discussion. We explicate how ideological convergences and expansions, as interactional achievements, profoundly matter for disciplinary learning and students’ identities. In conclusion, we explore the implications of our findings for broader contexts of learning and for the field of the learning sciences.  相似文献   

Circadian Periodicity of Circulating Plasma Lipid Peroxides,Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid in Renal Stone Formers     

Rajeev Singh Kushwaha  R. C. Gupta  J. P. Sharma  Sumita Sharma  Raj Kumar Singh  Germaine Cornelissen 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2017,32(2):220-224

Circadian periodicity of plasma lipid peroxides and serum ascorbic acid and uric acid levels were studied in one hundred renal stone formers (55 women and 45 men; age 20–60 years) and 50 clinically healthy volunteers (21 women and 29 men; age 21–45 years) with diurnal activity from 06:00 to 22:00 and nocturnal rest. A marked circadian variation was demonstrated by population-mean-cosinor for all studied variables in stone formers and healthy subjects. By comparison to the healthy controls, parameter tests indicate that the stone formers had a higher MESOR (±SE) of MDA (2.90 ± 0.03 vs. 2.28 ± 0.06; F = 94.929, p < 0.001), a lower MESOR of serum ascorbic acid (0.722 ± 0.010 vs. 0.839 ± 0.10; F = 32.083, p < 0.001), and a similar MESOR of serum uric acid. Furthermore, the patients also differed from the healthy subjects in terms of their circadian amplitude and acrophase (tested jointly) of all three variables (p < 0.001). The demonstration herein of a circadian rhythm in MDA, serum ascorbic and uric acid suggests that these variables could also serve as markers to optimize the timing of treatment and to assess the patient’s response to treatment for further management.  相似文献   

On training to facilitate re-engineering     

Kavita Gupta 《Performance Improvement》1995,34(5):28-32

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