Competency Model Research Articles

From the ideal legislator to the competent speaker: uncovering the deception in legislative intent

ABSTRACT Central to the legal positivism of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century was the dogma of the Ideal Legislator. Legal materials were to be interpreted as the work of an omniscient, coherent, consistent legislator. We argue that this dogma persists in the different guise of the competent speaker model, on which legal materials are the work of a competent speaker, who follows all the pertinent semantic and pragmatic rules. We will first lay out the Ideal Legislator dogma as applied in legal interpretation, arguing that this dogma does not limit interpretive discretion but rather amplifies it by hiding it under the veil of an inexistent, purely instrumental rationality. We will then turn to the competent speaker model, showing that, despite its apparent neutrality, it proves to be a reincarnation of the Ideal Legislator dogma, for it, too, amplifies interpretive discretion, only it hides it under the veil of an inexistent, purely linguistic rationality. Finally, we will inquire into the different types of rationality and their relations, arguing that there is always a choice and value judgment involved in ascribing rationality to legislators, and that these choices and judgments need to be carefully inspected and normatively justified.

Abstract 4098: A citrullinated-ENO1 peptide vaccine delayed tumor growth and markedly improved overall survival in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a novel citrullinated-enolase 1 (cit-ENO1) peptide-based vaccine on the immune response, tumor growth and overall survival in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Background: Cancer vaccines have consisted primarily of mutated or overexpressed proteins in cancer. We have uncovered dysregulated protein citrullination by peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADI) as a feature of triple negative breast cancer inducing immunogenicity to citrullinated proteins. On the basis of these findings, we investigated a novel vaccine based on cancer-selective cit-ENO1 peptides that we identified from mass spectrometry analysis of the surfaceome and immunopeptidome in TNBC. We assessed the extent to which the vaccine elicited an immune response and delayed tumor growth and improved overall survival in a syngeneic mouse model of TNBC. Experimental Design: We immunized female B6129SF1/J mice with cit-ENO1 peptides or corresponding unmodified ENO1 (unm-ENO1) peptides as antigens, together with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C as an adjuvant, once a week, for three weeks. PBS or poly I:C alone were used as controls. One week post the last round of immunization, draining lymph nodes (LN) and immunized skin were harvested, and T cell phenotypes evaluated using flow cytometry. To assess anti-cancer efficacy, mice were immunized with cit-ENO1 or unm-ENO1 peptides, followed by orthotopic implantation with murine BRCA1co/co; MMTV-Cre; p53+/- TNBC cells. Tumor growth and overall survival were assessed. Results: Cit-ENO1 peptide vaccination induced a statistically significantly greater percentage of activated CD8+ PD-1+ effector T cells as well as CD8+ CD44+ CD62L- effector memory T cells in the LNs compared with either the control groups or the unm-ENO1 peptide. CD8+ PD-1+ T-cells were also significantly elevated in immunized skin of cit-ENO1 vaccinated mice. Both cit-ENO1 and unm-ENO1 vaccine increased CD4+ PD-1+ T cells from the LNs and immunized skin. Remarkably, the cit-ENO1 vaccine but not the um-ENO1 vaccine significantly delayed tumor growth and markedly improved overall survival compared to respective controls. Conclusion: Cancer-selective cit-ENO1 peptides induced a potent anti-cancer immune response and significantly delayed tumor initiation and progression in a preclinical, immune competent mouse model of TNBC. Citation Format: Ricardo A. Leon Letelier, Hiroyuki Katayama, Yihui Chen, Yinning Cai, Fuchung Hsiao, Banu Arun, Samir Hanash. A citrullinated-ENO1 peptide vaccine delayed tumor growth and markedly improved overall survival in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4098.

Suitability of human HepaRG cells and liver spheroids as in vitro model to investigate the bioactivation of the organothiophosphate pesticide parathion

Organophosphorus compounds (OP) constitute a large group of chemicals including pesticides and nerve agents. Organothiophosphate pesticides require cytochrome P450-mediated oxidative desulphuration in the liver to form corresponding oxons, which are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Human HepaRG cells are a promising tool to study liver-specific functions and have been shown to maintain drug metabolizing enzymes. This research describes for the first time the in vitro metabolic activation of an organothiophosphate to its active oxon by two different HepaRG cell-based models. Monolayer cultures and liver spheroids were exposed to the model OP parathion and the quantification of the corresponding oxon was performed with an AChE inhibition assay. Our results showed a time- and dose-dependent cytochrome P450 catalyzed bioactivation and a superior metabolism capacity of the monolayer HepaRG model in comparison with the liver spheroids. Finally, HepaRG cells can be assessed as a metabolically competent cell model intermediate between cell-free preparations and intact animals and as suitable to study OP metabolism in the human liver.

Abstract 3349: Identification of new potential vulnerabilities for differentiation-based therapeutic strategies against osteosarcoma

Abstract Osteosarcoma (OS), a mesenchymal bone tumor affecting mainly children and adolescents is characterized by a particularly aggressive behavior, with 20% of patients showing lung metastasis already at diagnosis. Current OS treatment strategies rely on multi-drug chemotherapy, and the prognosis for metastatic cases remains grim, underscoring the pressing need for novel therapeutic approaches. OS is considered a differentiation-related disorder, stemming from the inability of mesenchymal stem cells or osteoblastic progenitors to progress towards terminal differentiation. In our study we explored the impact of targeting ZEB1, a transcription factor known to play a pivotal role in maintaining mesenchymal and stemness characteristics in cancer, on OS cells. We employed CRISPR-Cas9 and shRNA interference techniques to inhibit ZEB1 expression in mouse immune competent OS models. In vitro, ZEB1 deficiency significantly diminished the stemness potential of OS cells, as assessed by spheroid formation assays, while promoting osteogenic differentiation. In vivo, ZEB1 deletion in OS cells led to a significant reduction in primary tumor growth. Tumors originating from ZEB1 KO cells exhibited a more differentiated morphology and higher extracellular matrix deposition compared to controls. Intriguingly, the absence of ZEB1 in tumor cells also influenced the immune infiltrate, with ZEB1-deficient tumors showing significantly fewer pro-tumoral CD206+ M2-like macrophages. This observation is in line with the significant down-modulation of CCL2 expression we detected in ZEB1 KO cells. When injected intravenously, ZEB1-deficient cells produced fewer and smaller lung metastases than control cells. Transcriptional changes induced by ZEB1 deletion were investigated by gene expression profile (GEP) and identified 849 down-regulated and 1093 up-regulated genes in ZEB1 knockout (KO) clones versus ZEB1-competent controls. Gene set enrichment analysis showed a down-modulation of pathways related to cellular proliferation and survival, such as MTORC1 signaling, MYC targets, GM2 checkpoint, E2F targets and oxidative phosphorylation in the absence of ZEB1. Single gene analysis identified among the most up-regulated genes in ZEB1-deficient cells Sfrp1, a negative regulator of the WNT/b-CAT pathway, which in turn regulates MYC, whose pathway is indeed repressed in ZEB1 KO cells. We hypothesize that a high expression of SFRP1 could vicariate the effects of ZEB1 inhibition on OS cell stemness, differentiation state, and in vivo aggressiveness, and therefore could act as a tumor suppressor, which could be potentially exploited for therapeutic strategies. Citation Format: Caterina Cascini, Daniele Lecis, Valeria Cancila, Katia Scotlandi, Claudio Tripodo, Mario P. Colombo, Claudia Chiodoni. Identification of new potential vulnerabilities for differentiation-based therapeutic strategies against osteosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3349.

Abstract 5408: SERPINB3 impact on cervical cancer cell mobility and migration

Abstract Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with 311,000 deaths worldwide in 2018. About two thirds of patients with cervical cancer exhibit elevated serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), also known as SERPINB3. SERPINB3 is associated with advanced stage and lymph node metastasis and we have previously shown it has a protective role against radiation treatment and chemotherapy induced cell death. We have also shown that SERPINB3 promotes tumor growth in both immunocompromised and immune competent murine models, yet the molecular mechanism is unknown. We have recently shown that SERPINB3 expression results in activation of signal transducer of transcription 3 (STAT3) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in cervical cancer cells. These signaling cascades promote cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis. Proximity labeling using biotin-ligase fused to SERPINB3 revealed STAT3 and ERK as potential interacting partners. We aim to identify the molecular mechanism by which SERPINB3 promotes tumor progression, and determine if SERPINB3 drives invasion and metastasis in-vivo. We hypothesized that SERPINB3 directly interacts with and activates STAT3 and ERK leading to downstream signaling promoting invasion and metastasis. To test this hypothesis, we used cervical tumor cell lines engineered with SERPINB3 or empty vector control and determined migration by wound healing assay and downstream activation of STAT3 and ERK. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) with western blot was performed to determine an interaction between SERPINB3 and STAT3 and ERK. E6/E7-expressing TC-1, and Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells, LL2, to develop a method for injecting the cervix of immunocompetent c57BL/6 albino mice (no available murine cervical carcinoma line). Wound healing assays revealed that knocking out SERPINB3 shows a decrease in wound closure in both SW756 and HT3 cervical cancer cells compared to control cells, respectively. Co-IP of STAT3 in HT3 cells revealed the presence of SERPINB3, providing further evidence for an interaction between STAT3 and SERPINB3. We were able to grow tumors in the cervix of the C57/BL6 mice and identified potential metastatic deposits in the lung. Moving forward, we plan to identify the minimal functional domain of the interaction between SERPINB3 and STAT3/ERK using a step-wise genetic approach for protein domain deletion. To determine the role of SERPINB3 on metastasis in vivo, we will use, LL2 and TC-1 engineered with the mouse orthologue mSERPINB3a to determine effect of SERPINB3 on invasion and metastasis. Conducting this study will provide insights as to how SERPINB3 may function in a pro-tumor role in cervical cancer and allow the development of SERPINB3-targeted drugs. Citation Format: Marlene L. Campos Guerrero, Li-Yun Chen, Stephanie Markovina. SERPINB3 impact on cervical cancer cell mobility and migration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5408.

Abstract 5275: Celecoxib and chloroquine enhance the antitumor effect of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, in a syngeneic mouse model for pancreatic cancer

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown impressive clinical activities in some cancer types, but they have yet to demonstrate any meaningful clinical benefit in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) except those with microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) tumors. Several recent studies showed that concomitant use of NSAIDs such as celecoxib by patients with certain cancers could improve the survival benefit of ICI treatment (e.g., Sebastian et al, Clin Lung Cancer, 2023;). Furthermore, autophagy inhibitors such as chloroquine were also reported to sensitize pancreatic tumors to the treatment of ICIs in mouse models for PDAC (Yamamoto, et al, Nature, 2020). We recently reported that the combination of chemotherapy (triple combination of nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine + cisplatin) and a mouse surrogate of the IFc-enhanced anti-CTLA-4 antibody botensilimab, showed significantly improved antitumor activity in immune competent KPC syngeneic mouse model for PDAC [Tanne, et al, Cancer Res (13_Supplement), 2020]. In this study, we sought to determine whether or not the addition of celecoxib and/or chloroquine further improve the antitumor activity of triple chemotherapy and ICI in the syngeneic KPC model. We first found that celecoxib (30mg/kg P.O. QDx21) significantly enhanced the tumor growth inhibition when added to triple chemotherapy (Gemcitabine 70mg/kg I.P., Cisplatin 4mg/kg I.P., Nab-paclitaxel 25mg/kg I.V. days 1,4 and 7) plus the murine equivalents of botensilimab (100ug I.P. BIW for three weeks) and balstilimab (200ug I.P. BIW for three weeks) (p=0.004, N=10). We then performed a pilot study to assess if adding chloroquine could further improve the activity. While adding chloroquine (60mg/kg I.P. QDx21) alone did not significantly affect tumor growth the addition of both chloroquine and celecoxib greatly improve the tumor growth inhibition compared to just the triple chemotherapy and ICIs (p=0.009, N=5). Overall, our data showed that celecoxib or the combination of celecoxib and chloroquine could substantially sensitize the mouse pancreatic tumors to the treatment of chemotherapy and ICIs. (This work was supported in part by the Seena Magowitz Foundation and the Purple Pansies) Citation Format: Jaeger Moore, Dhan Chand, Daniel Levey, Daniel Von Hoff, Haiyong Han. Celecoxib and chloroquine enhance the antitumor effect of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, in a syngeneic mouse model for pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5275.

Abstract 6676: Microbiome modification impacts PSCA directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for prostate cancer

Abstract Background: There is growing evidence that responsiveness to immunotherapy is influenced by the composition of a patient’s gut microbiota. Recent analysis identified strong correlations between abundance of gut microbial species and positive response to immune based therapies in cancer patients. Further, enrichment of commensal microbes can promote immunostimulatory effects, immune based anti-tumor responses, and increased cytotoxic T cell abundance within the TME. Conversely, the presence of gut microbes known to cause inflammatory states in gut tissues may be correlated to negative immunotherapy outcomes or toxicities. To this end, we aimed to evaluate the impact of microbiome manipulation on gut microbe diversity, systemic immunity, local TME, and PSCA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in our established syngeneic prostate cancer mouse model. Methods: In an immune competent mouse model of PSCA+ prostate cancer developed in our lab, we sequentially modified the gut microbiome using antibiotic clearance followed by distinct human derived fecal matter transfers (CPI-FMT, HD-FMT, or No-FMT). Simultaneously, we treated microbiome modified tumor bearing mice with PSCA-targeting CAR T cells and measured differences in anti-tumor efficacy and survival. To provide mechanistic insight, we performed longitudinal whole genome sequencing (WGS) of fecal matter microbes and RNA sequencing on spleen and tissues following FMT administration. Results: In our model, a unique checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) treated patient derived human FMT (CPI-FMT) improved PSCA-CAR anti-tumor responses relative to healthy donor (HD-FMT) or No-FMT treatment controls. CPI-FMT administration also significantly improved overall survival in CAR T cell and non-targeting T cell control treated mice. Temporal analysis of microbes present in the gut following CPI-FMT and HD-FMT treatment show CPI-FMT treated mice exhibit favorable maintenance of gut microbe species richness and significant increase in microbiota diversity. We identify CPI-FMT provides an enrichment of specific microbes associated with preservation of gut homeostasis and improved immune response. RNA sequencing analysis on tumor tissues show differential transcription of immune related pathways following FMT which may influence immune and CAR T cell function. Conclusions: We show that our mouse prostate cancer model is sensitive microbiome modulation and can significantly impact PSCA-CAR T cell directed anti-tumor responses. Temporal WGS analysis of gut fecal matter reveal enrichment suggest specific species abundances which may promote gut homeostasis over dysbiosis or inflammatory states and may account for improved CAR T cell response. We aim to further develop this model to interrogate candidate targeted microbiome modifiers which may impact mechanisms which promote CAR T cell and immune function. Citation Format: John Paul Murad, Lea Christian, Yukiko Yamaguchi, Lupita Lopez, Ching Ouyang, Hirokazu Sato, Bryce Jarman, Sean Stromberg, Stephen J. Forman, Stephen Van Dien, Stephanie Culler, Saul J. Priceman. Microbiome modification impacts PSCA directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6676.

Abstract 2641: Transcriptional reprogramming of Ewing tumors: gains and losses noted when utilizing immunocompetent in vivo models

Abstract Objective: Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer most frequently diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the immunobiology of Ewing sarcoma, including limited pre-clinical studies of immunotherapeutic interventions. This, in part, is due to the historical lack of an immuno-competent murine model. Here, we utilize an immunocompetent, humanized mouse model to investigate the Ewing tumor immune microenvironment. Specifically, we sought to determine the transcriptional differences that occur when comparing human Ewing tumors established in a humanized backdrop versus those developed in an NSG (immuno-deficient) model. Methods: Human Ewing cell lines (A673, TC32, TC71) and PDX (PSaRC219) were injected orthotopically into humanized or NSG mice. After ~3 weeks, bulk RNA sequencing was performed on tumors utilizing an Illumina Next Generation Sequencer. Tumor single-cell suspensions underwent immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (CyTek Aurora) for the following human markers: CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD14, CD16, etc.. Peripheral blood was collected, PBMCs isolated, and immunophenotyping was again performed to determine peripheral blood immune cell populations. Results: Ewing tumors established in humanized mice demonstrate infiltration of human CD45+ cells as well as immune cell sub-populations (CD3+, CD14+, CD56+ cells). Bulk RNA sequencing analysis utilizing unsupervised hierarchal clustering revealed that the transcriptional profile of Ewing tumors generated in humanized vs NSG mice cluster distinctly. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes (p <0.05) in Ewing tumors developed in humanized versus NSG mice demonstrates upregulation of pathways including extracellular matrix remodeling, collagen biosynthesis, and Wnt signaling. Notably, transcripts known to be specific to TGFBeta-dependent signaling in Ewing tumors are upregulated in the immune competent model, including TGFB1, FBLN5, and COLEC12. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the Ewing tumor transcriptional remodeling that occurs when tumors are developed in an immunocompetent in vivo backdrop. Upregulation of several pro-metastatic pathways were noted. Ongoing work focuses on testing drug response differences between Ewing tumors developed in humanized versus NSG backdrops and pursuing immunocompetent Ewing models as a component of preclinical agent testing. Citation Format: Jessica D. Daley, Elina Mukherjee, A Carolina Tufino, Riyue Bao, Kelly M. Bailey. Transcriptional reprogramming of Ewing tumors: gains and losses noted when utilizing immunocompetent in vivo models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2641.

Abstract 7446: Transcriptomic and histological analysis of radiation-induced damage in the murine submandibular gland

Abstract Many head and neck cancer patients develop radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX). There are few clinical solutions for this condition and there is a critical need for novel therapeutics for this condition. To better understand the molecular alterations induced by radiation to the salivary glands, we used transcriptional profiling to assess acute and long-term alterations. Based on evidence that immunologic changes are induced by radiation, we used immune-depletion experiments to investigate the role of B-cells and macrophages in RIX. The submandibular gland (SMG) of male-C57/BL6-mice was irradiated (15Gy) mice were followed for 90 days. Saliva was collected throughout the time-course. SMGs were collected 3-, 7-, 60-, and 90-days following radiation. Tissues were analyzed by Nanostring Digital-Spatial-Profiling (DSP) utilizing the murine whole-transcriptome panel. Regions of interest corresponding to acini, ducts, and granular convoluted tubules (GCTs) were delineated and gene expression was assessed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on SMG’s for fibrosis (masons trichrome), α-amylase, F4/80, Lgr5, Sox2, and MIST1 to evaluate glandular structure, salivary proteins, immune-microenvironment and pro-acinar salivary-stem-cell presence. Specific immune populations were depleted using anti-CD20 and clodronate-liposome prior to radiation and salivary function and histology was assessed at 3-, 7-, and 60-days following radiation. Radiation resulted in a significant decrease in salivary production (p-value = 0.03) in immune competent models. Transcriptional pathway analysis identified early alterations in signal-transduction and innate immune-response. Late timepoints identified alterations in B-cell activity and Wnt signaling pathways. Histological evaluation of the tissues showed increased disorganization of the gland, with decreases in size and distribution of the acinar compartments (mean area stained: No RT=25.81% vs 90d RT=19.98%, p-value=0.005). Acutely, there was an increase in expression of MIST1 and macrophages (mean area stained: No RT=14.8% vs 7d RT=18.76%, p-value=0.0004) within the SMG that resolved by the 60- and 90-day time-points. Results of immune depletion studies will be presented.Results implicate alterations in macrophages and B-cells in radiation-induced damage. These data along with the data from our immune-depletion experiments will provide valuable mechanistic insight guiding modulation of cell-therapies for treatment of RIX which can be further tested in preclinical models. Citation Format: Cristina Paz, Annemarie Glassey, Abigail Frick, Lauryn Melzer, Jasmine M. Robinson, Rebecca M. Baus, Randall J. Kimple. Transcriptomic and histological analysis of radiation-induced damage in the murine submandibular gland [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7446.

Indicators for teaching assessment

This commentary on Schönbrodt et al. (2022) and Gärtner et al. (2022) aims at complementing the ideas regarding an implementation of DORA for the domain of teaching. As there is neither a comprehensive assessment system based on empirical data nor a competence model for teaching competencies available, yet, we describe some pragmatic ideas for indicators of good teaching and formulate desiderates for future research programs and validation.

Construction and Validation of A Conceptual Entrepreneurship Competency Model for Politics and Law Majors

Construction and Validation of A Conceptual Entrepreneurship Competency Model for Politics and Law Majors

TEACHING COMPUTER MODELING TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS: A PRACTICE-ORIENTED APPROACH

A structural model of modeling competence in information technology education is presented, which includes three main elements: subject-specific knowledge; meta-knowledge about models and simulation and modeling practice. The structural model of modeling competence develops the theory and methodology of teaching modeling to schoolchildren. A survey of experts was conducted, which showed high perceived usefulness, ease of use, and behavioral intention to use the proposed modeling competency model for information technology classes.

INTERNSHIP FOR MASTER STUDENTS OF ALTAI STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY AS ONE OF THE WAYS FOR DEVELOPING CULTURE-LANGUAGE COMPETENCE

The article presents the experience of the Altai State Pedagogical University in organizing and conducting internships for magistrates studying in the direction of “Pedagogical education: Russian philology with the study of the language and literature of the host country”. Language and culture competence in the development of the competency model of an international teacher is identified as one of the key competences; its development takes place both during the period of theoretical preparation, educational practice preceding the internship, and during the internship in the Republic of Tajikistan, during Russian language and literature lessons and extracurricular activities.

Interdisciplinary learning in the humanities: Knowledge building and identity work

ABSTRACT Background This paper explores K-12 interdisciplinary learning in the humanities (IL-Humanities), an area that, until now, has seen limited research focus compared to its STEM counterparts. We asked: (1) What are the outcomes of IL-Humanities in terms of interdisciplinary competences? (2) How do learners in these environments engage in cross-disciplinary knowledge building and transdisciplinary identity work? Methods We assessed the efficacy of IL-Humanities across ten Israeli middle schools through a pre-post intervention/comparison design, utilizing the novel Interdisciplinary Competences Assessment (ICA). Qualitative insights into the learning processes within classrooms were derived using discourse analysis methods. Findings Students’ interdisciplinary competences were found to increase following the IL-Humanities interventions. Qualitative analyses offered “thick descriptions” of the process: Students leveraged cross-disciplinary transfer of knowledge to deepen their understanding of complex phenomena and used personal narratives to engage in identity work. Contribution This study enhances interdisciplinary education research by: (1) providing and operationalizing a model of interdisciplinary competences as an assessment tool; (2) demonstrating the effectiveness of IL-Humanities environments in developing these competences; and (3) advancing our understanding of learners’ engagement with cross-disciplinary knowledge building and transdisciplinary identity work.

Plant biology education: A competency‐based vision for the future

Societal Impact StatementPlant biology is an essential discipline for addressing global challenges from food security to climate change. In order to achieve this, we need to educate plant biologists who can contribute to research, enterprise, policy, public engagement and beyond. This article explores the potential of competency‐based education, which emphasises what students can do rather than what we know. A flexible and adaptable model of competency based plant biology education is presented, along with practical suggestions and examples. This provides a framework through which we can educate plant biologists equipped to address major scientific and societal challenges of the future.SummaryPlant biology is an essential discipline for addressing global challenges from food security to climate change. In order to achieve this we need to educate plant biologists who can contribute to research, enterprise, policy, public engagement and beyond. In this article, I explore some of the issues and challenges facing plant biology education from authentic research driven curricula to the impact of AI. In order to effectively educate the plant biologists of the future I propose moving to a competency based approach to education. Competency based education emphasises what students can do rather than what they know. I present a three‐domain competency model for plant biology, structured around (i) knowledge and information literacy (ii) disciplinary and professional experience and (iii) self‐awareness and personal development as three interdependent aspects of competency. I accompany this with twelve proposed competencies for plant biologists. The model is flexible, robust and adaptable to specific local requirements and future demands of plant biology education. In reimagining plant biology education in this way we can present our discipline as exciting and relevant to students, and equip them with the capabilities required to contribute to plant biology activity from research to public policy.

Personnel selection system based on the selection algorithm

The evolution of personnel selection systems has been driven by technological advances and changes in the needs of organizations, referring to the set of processes and tools used by an organization to evaluate and select the most suitable applicants to fill a position within the company, in order to ensure that people with the skills, knowledge and competencies necessary to perform the responsibilities and functions associated with the position are hired. It is therefore proposed to implement a personnel selection system, which will help optimize the recruitment and selection process using the competency model and the selection algorithm to choose the best candidates according to the selection criteria established for each job position, resulting in the best candidates for the position with the qualities for which they were chosen.

Identifying key factors for predicting O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status in adult patients with diffuse glioma: a multimodal analysis of demographics, radiomics, and MRI by variable Vision Transformer

PurposeThis study aimed to perform multimodal analysis by vision transformer (vViT) in predicting O6-methylguanine-DNA methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter status among adult patients with diffuse glioma using demographics (sex and age), radiomic features, and MRI.MethodsThe training and test datasets contained 122 patients with 1,570 images and 30 patients with 484 images, respectively. The radiomic features were extracted from enhancing tumors (ET), necrotic tumor cores (NCR), and the peritumoral edematous/infiltrated tissues (ED) using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) and T2-weighted images (T2WI). The vViT had 9 sectors; 1 demographic sector, 6 radiomic sectors (CE-T1WI ET, CE-T1WI NCR, CE-T1WI ED, T2WI ET, T2WI NCR, and T2WI ED), 2 image sectors (CE-T1WI, and T2WI). Accuracy and area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristics (AUC-ROC) were calculated for the test dataset. The performance of vViT was compared with AlexNet, GoogleNet, VGG16, and ResNet by McNemar and Delong test. Permutation importance (PI) analysis with the Mann–Whitney U test was performed.ResultsThe accuracy was 0.833 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.714–0.877) and the area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristics was 0.840 (0.650–0.995) in the patient-based analysis. The vViT had higher accuracy than VGG16 and ResNet, and had higher AUC-ROC than GoogleNet (p<0.05). The ED radiomic features extracted from the T2-weighted image demonstrated the highest importance (PI=0.239, 95%CI: 0.237–0.240) among all other sectors (p<0.0001).ConclusionThe vViT is a competent deep learning model in predicting MGMT status. The ED radiomic features of the T2-weighted image demonstrated the most dominant contribution.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCY MODEL FOR POLITICS AND LAW MAJORS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

In terms of the clarification of the entrepreneurship competency, many entrepreneurship competency models have been built up focusing on what the specific competencies should be included and cultivated. Regarding the heterogeneity in the entrepreneurship competency models in different levels of teaching institutions and for different majors, an in-depth systematic literature review (SLR) of the entrepreneurship competency model from the year 2013 to 2023 was conducted with the purpose to identify the entrepreneurship competencies and construct a conceptual entrepreneurship competency model conform to the characteristics of vocational colleges of political science and law. Pre-defined review protocol with keywords searching strategy and the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the review are clearly established during the review of the databases. After carefully selection process，thirteen out of 893 articles that met the inclusion-exclusion measures were selected for this SLR. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA) are demonstrated in the literature review reporting.This review serves the aim of presenting state of the study results, based on which a conceptual entrepreneurship competency model including aspects of knowledge, skill, thinking ability, personality and humanistic quality is identified and proposed for the politics and law majors.

A study on the competence of middle school mathematics teachers in Hebei province under the background of craftsmanship spirit

Purpose: Excellent education is only possible with teachers who possess exceptional skills. This study is based on the competency characteristics of middle school mathematics teachers, constructs a teacher competency model that integrates the spirit of craftsmanship and identifies the professional qualities, motivations and attitudes that outstanding mathematics teachers possess.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: This study collected information and interview data from 12 experts through in-depth interviews and then encoded and summarized the themes through theme analysis to construct a competency system for high school mathematics teachers in Hebei Province. Thirty experts were given questionnaires to complete. The competency model was then validated and revised using the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) and the relative importance of each indication was examined using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). &#x0D; Findings: The fuzzy Delphi questionnaire shows that the expert consensus meets the requirements of the verification value while the analytic hierarchy process questionnaire shows that the expert opinions have passed the consistency test.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study integrates the spirit of craftsmanship with the competency characteristics of middle school mathematics teachers and constructs a teacher competency model. The constructed model was subjected to fuzzy Delphi validation and analytic hierarchy process weight analysis by distributing questionnaires. The conclusion verifies the reliability and validity of the established model.&#x0D; Contribution to the Literature: This study introduces the spirit of craftsmanship into the teacher competency model enriching the connotation and extension of teacher competency research. Interpreting teacher competency with craftsmanship traits can make the competency characteristics of teachers more concrete.

Analysing the competitiveness of industries using the Analytical Hierarchy Process and Porter’s model: A case of Durgapur city

Declining contribution to employment of the steel industry, which used to be the number-one sector in the city of Durgapur (India), leads to a search for alternative employment sources. The article aims to identify the criteria and sub-criteria to reveal the business competence through Porter’s model and ranking of business competence of each industry through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for Durgapur. Porter’s Five Forces Framework is used as the methodological basis to find the best alternate industry option based on their competitive position and provides the framework and subsequent criteria to analyse competitiveness. The key research method is the analytical hierarchy process that helps to measure the criteria qualitatively. The empirical evidence comes from the survey of 126 respondents: 36 experts who are well-versed in the industrial development of the city and fixed the weightage of the criteria through the AHP, and 90 industry-specific experts provide the range value for each criterion for each industry, which is used to generate the final value. The paper demonstrates the quantitative framework to establish the competition level of major industries in Durgapur, the strategic framework to support the industrial transition, and a brief about their dual nature of competition. We have figured out nine employment-generating industrial sectors within the city of Durgapur, among which are steel production, information technology (IT), education, healthcare, etc. The IT industry was found to be the most competitive sector that provided additional employment opportunities; it was followed by non-metal production, healthcare, and education.