From a "Child of Light" to a "Woman of Genius": Sarah Grand's The Beth Book as the New Woman Bildungsroman

The New Woman fiction, popular in the last decade of the 19th century, contested the traditional notions of gender roles and participated in the public debates on women’s rights. The protagonists of the New Woman novels refused to conform to the submissive and self-abnegating Victorian ideal of femininity. The article discusses the ways in which Sarah Grand, a prominent New Woman novelist and social activist, uses and transforms both the elements of her own life and the Bildungsroman conventions in her 1897 novel The Beth Book to create a heroine whose growth and development result in her personal independence and her active public engagement in women’s issues. Cast in a variety of social roles, Beth Maclure reclaims her agency and becomes an embodiment of the New Woman.

Does the instability of economic development affect the elasticity of the labour market?

Despite extensive research, the estimates of changes in employment are heterogeneous in different conditions of economic development. In this study, we examined the impact of the instability of economic growth on the elasticity of the labour market in a set of EU27 member states in the period 2000Q1–2019Q4.The sensitivity of the labour market was quantified in parallel by two available methods which are used for this purpose – by calculating the values of the arc elasticity coefficient and by regression analysis. Logarithmic linear regression models were compiled according to the analysis criteria individually for each member state. By comparing the values of the obtained elasticity indicators, differences in the responses of the labour market were identified. Our results show that the heterogeneity of opinions is to some extent natural. The elasticity of the labour market determined by calculating the values of the elasticity coefficient is characterized by a high variability of values. Similarly, the values of the regression coefficient reflect the nature of the macroeconomic development of the period under review. According to our findings, the frequent short-term trends of negative economic development result in a reduced sensitivity of the labour market to the changes in economic performance, manifested by a lower employment elasticity compared to its values in economies with a stable development trend. Based on this, we formulate the connection between the elasticity of the labour market and the positive and negative economic development. We condition the sensitivity of the labour market to the changes in the trend of economic development with the occurrence of longer-lasting trends of negative economic development.

Inhibition of the C-X-C Motif Chemokine 12 (CXCL12) and Its Receptor CXCR4 Reduces Utero-Placental Expression of the VEGF System and Increases Utero-Placental Autophagy

The placenta, a unique organ that only develops during pregnancy, is essential for nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange between offspring and mother. Yet, despite its importance, the placenta remains one of the least understood organs and knowledge of early placental formation is particularly limited. Abnormalities in placental development result in placental dysfunction or insufficiency whereby normal placental physiology is impaired. Placental dysfunction is a frequent source of pregnancy loss in livestock, inflicting serious economic impact to producers. Though the underlying causes of placental dysfunction are not well-characterized, initiation of disease is thought to occur during establishment of functional fetal and placental circulation. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling placental growth and vascularization is necessary to improve reproductive success in livestock. We propose chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12) signaling through its receptor CXCR4 functions as a chief coordinator of vascularization through direct actions on fetal trophoblast and maternal endometrial and immune cells. To investigate CXCL12–CXCR4 signaling on uteroplacental vascular remodeling at the fetal–maternal interface, we utilized a CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100). On day 12 post-breeding in sheep, osmotic pumps were surgically installed and delivered either AMD3100 or saline into the uterine lumen ipsilateral to the corpus luteum for 14 days. On day 35 of ovine pregnancy, fetal/placental and endometrial tissues were collected, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and uterine horn cross sections were preserved for immunofluorescent analysis. Suppressing CXCL12–CXCR4 at the fetal–maternal interface during initial placental vascularization resulted in diminished abundance of select angiogenic factors in fetal and maternal placenta on day 35. Compared to control, less vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEFG receptor 2 (KDR) were observed in endometrium when CXCL12–CXCR4 was diminished. Less VEGF was also evident in fetal placenta (cotyledons) in ewes receiving AMD3100 infusion compared to control. Suppressing CXCL12–CXCR4 at the fetal–maternal interface also resulted in greater autophagy induction in fetal and maternal placenta compared to control, suggestive of CXCL12–CXCR4 impacting cell survival. CXCL12–CXCR4 signaling may govern placental homeostasis by serving as a critical upstream mediator of vascularization and cell viability, thereby ensuring appropriate placental development.

E-SIP: Website-Based Scheduling Information System to Increase the Effectivity of Lecturer's Performance and Learning Process

The development of internet and information technology made a system to the practical, effective, and efficient. One of the impacts is ease to make scheduling information system in university. This research is research and development (R&D) models which have aim to develop the website-based scheduling information system to increase the effectivity of lecturer’s performance and learning process in IAIN Tulungagung. E-SIP program develop by using software development life cycle in term of waterfall model. Waterfall model was selected because it was easy and efficient. This system development consisted of system need analysis, system design, implementation, testing, dissemination, and maintenance. Data collecting system using literature review, field study, and interview. Furthermore, data also collected from questionnaire scores of E-SIP validations conducted by the validator and respondents, in terms of admins. After doing some development phase and trial, the E-SIP was developed and ready to use to make scheduling process in IAIN Tulungagung. E-SIP possibly runs with using any browser supporting the java-script system. The development result of E-SIP is in terms of login page for users in three levels. The first level is Super Admin which is responsible to input all databases needed for E-SIP. The second level is Department Admin, which is responsible to arrange the individual schedule of departments. The third level is Faculty Admin, which only able to see the schedule arranged by Department Admin. The similarity of all levels is to print and see the schedule. The advantage of E-SIP is that the scheduling system is able to be controlled by online and performed simultaneously at one time as well as to check overlapping or nonautomatic schedules in the website. Besides, the disadvantage happens when there is a bug or an error resulting in that the system does not function properly and needs to be immediately resolved.

DEVELOPMENT OF A GUIDEBOOK FOR DESIGNING INTERACTIVE DISTANCE LEARNING (PIJAR) FOR LECTURERS OF TECHNOLOGY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL DEPARTEMENT

The research aims at developing a guidebook for designing interactive distance learning for lecturers, considering that lecturers need guidance on how to design a learning implementation process that remains interactive in a full online learning system during the Covid 19 pandemic. The development of a guidebook stage adopted the model of Dick & Carey which modified into 4 stages, namely stages; (1) requirement analysis; (2) product design; (3) validation and evaluation; and (4) product revision. Based on development result, data found as follows; (1) the expert's assessment shows that the guidebook is included in the criteria of "very good" from the media aspect (94.44%) and "good" from the material aspect (86.11%) hence the guidebook can be used in learning; (2) test results on a small group shows that the product developed include in the criteria of “good” (83,33%) hence the guidebook can be used in learning; (3) field test result that the product developed include in the criteria of “good” (89,28%) hence the guidebook can be used in learning. Key words: Interactive learning, distance learning

Study factors associated with the incompletion of clinical trials that include pediatric patients: a retrospective analysis of the European Clinical Trials Database and a lesson from the European region

Background Incomplete clinical trials for pediatric drug development result in a lack of adequate scientific evidence for providing appropriate medication to pediatric populations; this is especially true for Japan. Thus, using the European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT), this study aimed to identify the factors related to the study design and administration that lead to incompletion of clinical trials that included pediatric patients. Methods We focused on clinical trials that included patients under the age of 18 registered in the database, named as the European Clinical Trials Database between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. Two groups of trials were identified: “all cases completed” and “not all cases completed,” reflecting whether they were completed in all participating countries/regions or not. To identify the factors of the occurrence of “not all cases completed,” a logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. In total, 142 clinical trials (95 “all cases completed” and 47 “not all cases completed”) were analyzed. Results The logistic regression analysis showed the number of countries in which a clinical trial was conducted to be the only significant factor (odds ratio: 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.5); this was identified as the primary factor for the occurrence of “not all cases completed” in the clinical trials that included pediatric patients. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the feasibility of clinical trials that include pediatric patients, such as whether the countries in which the trial is to be conducted are suitable, must be considered prior to the trial.

Improving Food Choices of Elementary School Children Using Nutriscie-Card Game

Filipino children are put at risk with the increasing intake of junk foods which often resulted in health problems such as obesity, malnutrition, gastro -intestinal and urinary related illnesses such as constipation, stomach ulcers, urinary tract infection, kidney stone, and others, This Study was conducted to develop and validate a nutri- scie card game intended to foster awareness on healthy foods consumption among school children. The researcher made use of the Research and Development model by Borg and Gall with the following phases: identification of learning competencies; development of nutria scie card game; and validation of the nutri-scie card game by subject experts and experts in instructional materials development. Result of the validation revealed that Nutri-Scie Card game is highly valid. A significant improvement was noted in most food choices of the pupil respondents.

Care Stick dan Core Paddle: Media Pembelajaran Pendidikan Jasmani Adaptif Untuk Siswa Disabilitas

The development of this sports learning media in the form of a relay baton and table tennis bat to solve the problem of motion learning for students at State Special School Keleyen. It is safe learning media because it will be used by students who are often hyperactive, it is comfortable to use for students with physical disabilities and to attract students’ attention with students’ uniqueness. The development research method uses a descriptive quantitative approach applied with adjustments to the COVID-19 pandemic condition so that numbers of samples do not enable with large amount and are made separately to maintain the health and safety of all related parties in it. The sampling technique uses purposive sampling with details of a total of 60 samples divided in 3 development stages and descriptive analysis is conducted to conclude the development result. The research results shows the form of a relay stick with the safe characteristics, it is comfortable to use and attracting attention have been reached supported by the majority of respondents that give positive responses to the results of the development of the CARE Stick can be accepted well as a modified relay stick based on the needs of Keleyan Special School students. Likewise, the CORE Paddle is as a modification of table tennis bat that can be accepted well as a result of development that can fulfill the needs of Keleyan State School students.

Spectral Differences Between Normal and Atherosclerotic Aorta

Ischemic heart disease associated with coronary artery atherosclerosis is a leading cause ofdeath in the world today. In addition to standard treatments such as balloon angioplasty, laser mediated angioplasty is being considered as a potential adjuvant or replacement. Nevertheless, experiments and clinical experience have demonstrated that laser angioplasty is associated with damage to normal vessel tissue, which can cause serious complications. To study the possibility of minimizing these effects by directing laser energy more specifically to atherosclerotic lesions, data concerning the spectral characteristics of normal and diseased artery are necessary. In the current study, the absorbance, reflection and fluorescence spectra of normal and atherosclerotic aortic wall tissue are defined, revealing that (i) spectral characteristics of atherosclerotic aorta wall samples are significantly differed from that of healthy vascular wall samples and (ii) based on a spectral analysis of vascular wall, it is possible to distinguish morphological types of atherosclerotic plaques (i.e., lipidic, calcified). The current study contributes to a more complete understanding of laser-tissue interactions that may, following more experimentation and technique development, result in an improvement of clinical laser angioplasty technique.

Challenges of Urban Living Labs towards the Future of Local Innovation

Finding new approaches to overcome complex urban problems such as climate change has always been of interest to policymakers and academics. The changing dynamics of urban development result in the diversification of new practices during which experimentation is used to inform urban practice. Amongst these approaches, urban living labs (ULLs) have become a popular form of urban experimental innovation in many countries in the last decade. These ULLs respond to the increased complexity of future challenges calling for local solutions that acknowledge the local conditions—political, technical, and social. Even though a great deal of attention has been given to this form of urban innovation, there has been little consideration of the learning and innovation processes within ULLs. Based on a comparative case study of three innovation projects in a ULL in the city of Amsterdam, we analyse and discuss the claims of ULLs regarding innovation and the different orders of learning they foster. We argue that in the processes of experimentation within ULLs, combining mechanisms of learning and innovation is key to promoting the development of particular local solutions. However, since the learning processes are especially concerned within a particular ULL learning setting, there is a mismatch between the expectations of policymakers, industry, citizens, and knowledge institutes, as well as how the lessons learned can be useful for other contexts.