Preferential Position Research Articles

Modern Antiplatelet Therapy for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. How to Make the Right Choice?

Dual antiplatelet therapy is the most important step in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treatment. The new generation of inhibitors of P2Y12 platelet receptors (prasugrel and ticagrelor) provide more pronounced platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. The drugs differ in pharmacodynamics and platelet reactivity tests due to different mechanisms of binding to P2Y12 receptors. The antiplatelet effect of prasugrel and ticagrelor provides clinical benefit and better prognosis in patients with various forms of ACS. In patients with ST-segment elevation ACS prasugrel and ticagrelor are preferred over clopi-dogrel due to their higher efficacy and better clinical outcomes, and currently have preferential positions in guidelines compared to clopidogrel. The comparison of prasugrel versus ticagrelor (ISAR-REACT 5 trial) demonstrated superiority of prasugrel over ticagrelor in patients with ST-segment elevation ACS, for whom an invasive evaluation is planned and in early invasive treatment non-ST-segment elevation ACS. The choice of a drug for dual antiplatelet therapy in various clinical situations remains controversial. The latest ESC guidelines on non-ST elevation ACS (2020) [1] demonstrate the possible preference for prasugrel in patients with ACS without ST-segment elevation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Current article demonstrates the results of recent clinical studies and the real clinical data regarding antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary interventions. The indications for the use of P2Y12 platelet inhibitors in certain groups of patients are outlined. Treatment selection of the most effective and safe drugs in patients with ACS is highlighted according to the updated European guidelines.

Electrowetting‐Controlled Dropwise Condensation with Patterned Electrodes: Physical Principles, Modeling, and Application Perspectives

AbstractPatterning the wettability of solid surfaces is a successful strategy to control the dropwise condensation of vapor onto partially wetting solid surfaces. The condensation of water vapor onto electrowetting‐functionalized surfaces is studied with structured co‐planar electrodes. A detailed analysis of the experimental distribution of millions of drops reveals that despite the presence of contact angle hysteresis and the occurrence of random drop coalescence events, the preferential drop positions closely follow the numerically calculated local minima of the electrostatic energy for variable drop size. Even subtle transitions between competing preferred locations are properly reproduced by the model. Based on this quantitative understanding of the condensation patterns, a series of important follow‐up steps that need to be taken to demonstrate a reliable performance gain in various applications focusing in particular on enhanced heat transfer is discussed.

Laicidade do Estado e liberdade religiosa no caso do sacrifício de animais: estudo da decisão do Supremo Tribunal Federal no Recurso Extraordinário 494.601

Analisam-se a decisão e os principais fundamentos no julgamento do Recurso Extraordinário 494.601 pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal, conhecido como “caso do sacrifício de animais”. Identificam-se as premissas que orientam argumentos normativos e não normativos. Conclui-se que o Supremo Tribunal Federal faz uma interpretação “fraca” do princípio constitucional da laicidade do Estado e atribui uma posição preferente ao direito fundamental à liberdade religiosa.

Morpho-structural and electrical characterization of Bi-doped apatite-type lanthanum silicates prepared by gel-combustion

La10−xBix(SiO4)6O3 ceramics (x = 0; 0.1; 0.15; 0.2; 0.3) were obtained from precursors prepared by gel combustion using l-aspartic acid as fuel. This study presents the effect of Bi3+ doping level and sintering temperature on the morpho-structural and electrical properties of apatites. Processes involved in the apatite formation same as crystallization temperature were examined through TGA. The XRD patterns have showed that all samples adopt the apatite structure and crystallize in the hexagonal space group P-3(147). Samples crystallite size varies between ~ 58 and ~ 118 nm depending on the Bi3+ doping level and the sintering temperature. In order to explain the conduction in apatite, the preferential position of Bi3+ in lattice and the occupancy factors of O5, O6 were calculated by Rietveld refinement. ICP-OES and XPS measurements give the bismuth amount accommodated in apatite lattice and its oxidation states. The morphology, homogeneity and compactness of the ceramics at different Bi doping level were examined through SEM. The relative density of the material is enhanced by the sintering temperature up to 1500 °C, reaching 91.63% for sample doped with 1.5% Bi. Through EIS investigations, the conductivities at 500 °C, for sample doped with 1.5% Bi, are: 9.22 × 10−5 Scm−1 (sintered at 1400 °C) and 1.02 × 10−3 Scm−1 (sintered at 1500 °C), respectively, values which are higher than that of un-doped apatite (6.46 × 10−5 Scm−1).

Evaluation of pitting corrosion in duplex stainless steel Fe20Cr9Ni for nuclear power application

A spinodal decomposition is often carried out in the austenite-ferrite duplex stainless steel Fe20Cr9Ni during long-term service at a temperature in the range from 280 to 320°C, resulting in a decrease of pitting corrosion resistance. Fe-rich α phase rather than G-phase has been suggested as the major reason for the deterioration in pitting corrosion resistance of the thermally-aged steel. Here, we found that ∼76.8% of the decline in pitting resistance for the duplex stainless steel Fe20Cr9Ni was attributed to G-phase, and ∼23.2% to Fe-rich α phase after the spinodal decomposition. In this study, a suitable thermal aging treatment was introduced to obtain a larger size of the G-phase and to study the role of the phase in the corrosion process. Through immersing thermally-aged TEM specimen treated at 475°C for 3000 h in NaCl solution, the preferential position of corrosion pits formed in the ferrite was obtained. The composition changes and strain field distribution around the G-phase were analyzed by TEM-EDS, 3DAPT and GPA techniques. We further found that, although the concentration difference of Cr element between α and α’ phases was as high as 60 at.%, corrosion pits were initiated at the interface between the G-phase and the ferrite matrix rather than in the Fe-rich α phase, indicating that the Cr-depleted theory could not explain the aforesaid phenomenon. The strain energy at the interface between the G-phase and the ferrite matrix was found to be the largest. The atoms at the interface have higher energy than in the intracrystalline, and thus easily react with Cl− ions in the solution to form pits finally.

Replication origin location might contribute to genetic variability in Trypanosoma cruzi

BackgroundDNA replication in trypanosomatids operates in a uniquely challenging environment, since most of their genomes are constitutively transcribed. Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, presents high variability in both chromosomes size and copy number among strains, though the underlying mechanisms are unknown.ResultsHere we have mapped sites of DNA replication initiation across the T. cruzi genome using Marker Frequency Analysis, which has previously only been deployed in two related trypanosomatids. The putative origins identified in T. cruzi show a notable enrichment of GC content, a preferential position at subtelomeric regions, coinciding with genes transcribed towards the telomeres, and a pronounced enrichment within coding DNA sequences, most notably in genes from the Dispersed Gene Family 1 (DGF-1).ConclusionsThese findings suggest a scenario where collisions between DNA replication and transcription are frequent, leading to increased genetic variability, as seen by the increase SNP levels at chromosome subtelomeres and in DGF-1 genes containing putative origins.

War Veterans in Bosnia and Herzegovina: From Ethnic Warriors to Agents of Inter-Ethnic Cooperation. How to Explain the Change?

In this article, the attention is paid to the Bosnian war veterans´ organisations. In the post-Dayton period, veterans’ associations could be characterized as non-egalitarian structures with strong ethnic ascription reproducing ethnic cleavages and with wide patron-client bonds to the highest level of politics enjoying preferential positions in socio-political and economic life. Today, the majority of veterans´ organisations can be characterized as civic oriented NGOs rather inclusive with decreasing importance of the ethnicity as the defining principle, limited preferential political treatment, and with the potential to mobilize across ethnic lines and building cross-ethnic contacts and relations. I searched for mechanisms and processes that produced alternations in the veterans’ organisations role and behaviour. The tracing of the political, societal and economic context in and outside of Bosnia and in the population of veterans’ organisations discovered the existence of twelve mechanisms which combination and interplay “produced” the change in veterans’ organisation's role and behaviour.

Hydroxychloroquine as Oral Antidiabetic Agent During Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an old drug for treatment of malaria and autoimmune disease with acceptable safety, has shown promising but yet unproven effect against COVID-19 infection. HCQ is an approved agent by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the therapy of Type 2 Diabetes. In view of the fact that people with diabetes face higher chance of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19, HCQ may have preferential position as an antidiabetic agent during this crisis period.

Biosurfactant Production from Candida Guilliermondii and Evaluation of Its Toxicity

The rapid development of biotechnology and the increase in environmental awareness among producers and consumers have placed biological products in a preferential position on the market. The physiochemical properties of biosurfactants make these natural compounds an attractive option with potential use in a variety of industrial and biotechnological applications as additives in foods, cosmetics and detergents. Thus, the aim of the present study was to select the better biosurfactant-producing microorganism between two species of Candida (C. guilliermondii UCP0992 and C. lipolytica UCP0998) grown in media with different sources of carbon (glucose, sugarcane molasses and waste frying oil) and nitrogen (yeast extract, urea and corn steep liquor). After the selection of the microorganism and production medium and biosurfactant production were analyzed. The properties of the biopolymer were then studied in terms of toxicity, using the brine shrimp Artemia salina, vegetable seeds and onion (Allium cepa) as bioindicators. Gas chromatography was performed for the structural characterization of the biomolecule and the determination of its physicochemical composition. Candida guilliermodii grown in a medium with 5.0% molasses, 5.0% corn steep liquor and 5.0% waste frying oil was selected for the production of biosurfactant, with a reduction in surface tension to 28.6 mN/m, a yield of 21 g/l and a critical micelle concentration of 0.7 g/l. The isolated biosurfactant was not toxic to Artemia salina, or the vegetable seeds tested. The biosurfactant had a glycolipid nature. Based on the present results, the novel biosurfactant produced herein has potential application in industrys.

Evaluation of Pitting Corrosion in Duplex Stainless Steel Fe20Cr9ni for Nuclear Power Application

A spinodal decomposition is often carried out in the austenite-ferrite duplex stainless steel Fe20Cr9Ni when it is serviced at 280-500℃ for a definite time, resulting in a decrease of pitting corrosion resistance. Fe-rich α phase rather than G phase has been suggested as the arch-criminal in causing the declining corrosion resistance of thermally-aged steel. Here, we found that ~76.8% of the decline in pitting resistance for the duplex stainless steel Fe20Cr9Ni was attributed to G phase, and ~23.2% to Fe-rich α phase after the spinodal decomposition. In this study, a suitable thermal aging treatment was introduced to obtain a larger size of the G-phase and to study the role of the phase in the corrosion process. Through immersing thermally-aged TEM specimen treated at 475℃ for 3000 h in NaCl solution, the preferential position of corrosion pits formed in the ferrite was obtained. The composition changes and strain field distribution around the G phase were analyzed by TEM-EDS, 3DAPT and GPA techniques. We further found that, although the concentration difference of Cr element between α and α' phases was as high as 60 at.%, corrosion pits were initiated at the interface between the G phase and the ferrite matrix rather than in the Fe-rich α phase, indicating that the Cr-depleted theory could not explain the aforesaid phenomenon. The strain energy at the interface between the G phase and the ferrite matrix was found to be the largest. The atoms at the interface have higher energy than in the intracrystalline, and thus easily react with Cl- ions in the solution to form pits finally.

Abstract P5-01-10: Next generation sequencing-based gene variant-oriented characterization in metastatic breast cancer: An innovative analysis using ctDNA

Abstract Introduction: Novel high throughput genomic technologies are enhancing the ability to dynamically characterize cancer on a granular level. Although Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is becoming part of the common practice, little is known on the role of a characterization on a gene variant level. Large heterochromatic regions or blocks are a characteristic feature in the autosomes 1, 9, 16 and the blocks contain about 10% of the human genome. The heterochromatic regions consist of highly repetitive DNA of the classes Sat I to IV. Thus, these specific regions are preferential positions for genome instability. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of a gene variant-oriented characterization for variants interplay discovery and to explore the role of chromosome stability in gene variants incidence. Methods: This study analyzed a pilot cohort of 35 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients (pts) treated and characterized for CTCs and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) at Northwestern University (Chicago, IL). ctDNA was analyzed using the PredicinePLUS™ NGS 180-gene panel (Predicine Inc, CA). Associations between gene variants and clinico-molecular characteristics were tested through Fisher’s exact test. Chromosomes 1, 9, 16 where defined as instable (instable_chr) based on the presence of highly repeated sequences. Results: An overall set of 35 samples was analyzed, and the main variants were detected in the ARID1A (40%), ATM (20%), DNMT3A (37%), ESR1 (20%), PIK3CA (26%), and TP53 (49%) genes. A total of 448 gene variants were detected through the NGS panel and across them, ARID1A accounted for 5.13%, ATM 2.23%, DNMT3A 4.91%, ESR1 4.02%, PIK3CA 2.23%, and TP53 for 6.03%. Among the genes mutated, the DNMT3A:c.2644C>T, DNMT3A:c.2645G>A, ESR1:c.1138G>C,ESR1:c.1609T>A, ESR1:c.1610A>C, ESR1:c.1613A>G, PIK3CA:c.1624G>A were the most detected. Thirty-eight copy number variations (CNV) and 3 splicing variants were observed. Notably, 55.6% of detected variants were found in instable_chr. No significant differences were observed between instable_chr variants and MBC subtype. Interestingly, ARID1Aaberrations were significantly linked to ATM, ESR1 (P=0.006) and PIK3CA with ESR1 (P= 0.019). Consistently with literature, ATM and TP53 variants were mutually exclusive (P<0.0001). Intriguingly, both ATM and TP53 were associated with a higher incidence of variants affecting genes in instable_chr. Conclusions: MBC is often described as a non-gene-addicted disease, rendering the onset of gene variants a multi-factor phenomenon. The present results suggest a role for both chromosomal intrinsic instability and DNA repair impairment in this process, with a potential down-stream selection mediated by treatment resistance. Future studies are warranted to further validate this proof of concept approach. Citation Format: Lorenzo Gerratana, Qiang Zhang, Ami N Shah, Alessandra Franzoni, Jianjun Yu, Shidong Jia, Andrew A Davis, Youbin Zhang, Firas Wehbe, Amir Behdad, Leonidas C Platanias, William J Gradishar, Massimo Cristofanilli. Next generation sequencing-based gene variant-oriented characterization in metastatic breast cancer: An innovative analysis using ctDNA [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-10.

A posição preferencial da liberdade de expressão e o Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público

O presente texto estuda o posicionamento do Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público relacionado à liberdade de expressão dos membros do Parquet nas mídias sociais. Adotando a posição preferencial, aponta os fundamentos dessa liberdade e as consequências dessa posição. Três assuntos são analisados: a conduta ilibada, a extensão à vida privada e o uso de presunções. Verificada a incompatibilidade entre a postura do Conselho e a posição preferencial, chega-se à necessidade do mesmo mais bem se desincumbir do seu ônus argumentativo. Ao final, são apresentadas proposições que se adéquam à posição preferencial. O estudo constitui-se de uma pesquisa do tipo qualitativa, com objetivos descritivo-explicativos sobre o tema, utilizando para tal o procedimento de pesquisa bibliográfico.

İlkokul Öğrencilerinin Çizgi Film İzleme Pratikleri ve Çizgi Film Karakterlerine İlişkin Algıları

The relation between television and children is, to a large extend, associated through cartoons. Cartoons are in the leading preferential position of children audience from pre-school period to adolescence. Having been accessible all through 24 hours after the appearance of thematic children channels, cartoons have been opening doors of hundreds of various worlds. Stories, designed within the framework of global or domestic codes, are transmitting their messages through characters at first place. This research on audience was performed in Kayseri and is aimed to define the children’s habits of watching TV and cartoon and their perceptions about cartoon characters. A survey has been applied to 420 student from various age groups in 3 different schools ensampling three different socio-economic levels. According to the results gained, the most watched cartoon TV by primary school children is TRT Çocuk, most watched cartoon is Rafadan Tayfa and Keloğlan is the most loved character among 96 different cartoon characters. It was determined that national productions are in the forefront but generally the international productions dominate. It was also determined that children define the behaviors of cartoon characters with adjectives such as good, nice...etc. Otherwise the characters have extraordinary features appears to be a factor which causes increase in the ratings. Moreover, it is suggested in the research that gender is an important determinant within the context of cartoon selection and adoption of cartoon characters

Alteration of the aggregation and spatial organization of the vector of Chagas disease, Triatoma infestans, by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi

Triatominae insects are vectors of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease affecting millions of people in Latin America. Some species, such as Triatoma infestans, live in the human neighborhood, aggregating in walls or roof cracks during the day and going out to feed blood at night. The comprehension of how sex and T. cruzi infection affect their aggregation and geotaxis is essential for understanding their spatial organization and the parasite dispersion. Experiments in laboratory-controlled conditions were carried out with groups of ten adults of T. infestans able to explore and aggregate on a vertical surface. The influence of the sex (male vs. female) and the proportion of infected insects in the group were tested (100% of infected insects vs. a small proportion of infected insects, named infected and potentially weakly infected groups, respectively). Therefore, four distinct groups of insects were tested: infected males, infected females, potentially weakly infected males, and potentially weakly infected females, with 12, 9, 15, and 16 replicates, respectively. The insects presented a high negative geotaxis and a strong aggregation behavior whatever the sex or their infection. After an exploration phase, these behaviors were stable in time. The insects exhibited a preferential vertical position, head toward the top of the setup. Males had a higher negative geotaxis and a higher aggregation level than females. Both behaviors were enhanced in groups of 100% infected insects, the difference between sexes being maintained. According to a comparison between experimental and theoretical results, geotaxis favors the aggregation that mainly results from the inter-attraction between individuals.

Strain induced dynamic recrystallization nucleation of ZA21 magnesium alloy during compression process at low and medium temperatures

Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of ZA21 magnesium alloy during compression process was investigated through uniaxial compression tests at 110 °C and 210 °C with an initial strain rate of 0.01 s−1. Based on OM and detailed TEM characterization, preferential nucleation position of DRX grains at different compression temperatures were identified. The DRX grains preferential nucleation position under the conditions of low and medium temperatures are in grains and at grain boundaries, respectively. This is mainly caused by the inconsistency between intragranular strength and grain boundary strength. Grain boundary strength is higher than the intragranular strength at low temperature. But the intragranular strength is higher than the grain boundary strength at medium temperature. This leads to a difference in the ability to resist deformation between them, so that the site of the DRX priority nucleation is different.

Controlling skyrmion bubble confinement by dipolar interactions

Large skyrmion bubbles in confined geometries of various sizes and shapes are investigated, typically in the range of several micrometers. Two fundamentally different cases are studied to address the role of dipole-dipole interactions: (I) when there is no magnetic material present outside the small geometries and (II) when the geometries are embedded in films with a uniform magnetization. It is found that the preferential position of the skyrmion bubbles can be controlled by the geometrical shape, which turns out to be a stronger influence than local variations in material parameters. In addition, independent switching of the direction of the magnetization outside the small geometries can be used to further manipulate these preferential positions, in particular with respect to the edges. We show by numerical calculations that the observed interactions between the skyrmion bubbles and structure edge, including the overall positioning of the bubbles, can be explained by considering only dipole-dipole interactions.

Varying levels of X chromosome coalescence in female somatic cells alters the balance of X-linked dosage compensation and is implicated in female-dominant systemic lupus erythematosus

The three-dimensional organization of the genome in mammalian interphase nuclei is intrinsically linked to the regulation of gene expression. Whole chromosome territories and their encoded gene loci occupy preferential positions within the nucleus that changes according to the expression profile of a given cell lineage or stage. To further illuminate the relationship between chromosome organization, epigenetic environment, and gene expression, here we examine the functional organization of chromosome X and corresponding X-linked genes in a variety of healthy human and disease state X diploid (XX) cells. We observe high frequencies of homologous chromosome X colocalization (or coalescence), typically associated with initiation of X-chromosome inactivation, occurring in XX cells outside of early embryogenesis. Moreover, during chromosome X coalescence significant changes in Xist, H3K27me3, and X-linked gene expression occur, suggesting the potential exchange of gene regulatory information between the active and inactive X chromosomes. We also observe significant differences in chromosome X coalescence in disease-implicated lymphocytes isolated from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to healthy controls. These results demonstrate that X chromosomes can functionally interact outside of embryogenesis when X inactivation is initiated and suggest a potential gene regulatory mechanism aberration underlying the increased frequency of autoimmunity in XX individuals.

Local interaction rules and collective motion in black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) and zebrafish (Danio rerio).

We explored the local motion rules used by interacting individuals in small groups of black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) to ascertain if and how these rules underlie the fishes' global collective coordinated motion. As these 2 species show very different styles of collective motion in terms of cohesion and polarization, we expected to find differences in their individual behavioral rules. We recorded groups of 2, 3, 4, and 8 fish of each species; tracked their individual trajectories; and studied how their individual turning angles and accelerations varied as a function of heading differences, distances, and relative angles to their neighbors. We found that black neon tetra and zebrafish differed in terms of their preferential positions with respect to their neighbors, the magnitude of turning angles and accelerations, and the way these angles and accelerations are modulated by both the distance from neighbors (thus suggesting a "repulsion" zone in black neon tetra but not in zebrafish) and the heading difference and relative angle to neighbors. Our results enable us to infer that, in black neon tetra, avoiding excessive proximity and collision takes priority over cohesion, and cohesion takes priority over polarization. This provides evidence that rules are similar in species of very different genera and that differences are a matter of degree. Our results also provide substantial empirical evidence to support the theoretical assumptions made in agent-based models that simulate coordinated collective motion in many different animal species. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

An approach on the comparative behavior of chloro / nitro substituted phenols photocatalytic degradation in water

The study of position and number of substituents on the photocatalytic removal of some mono-, di- and tri-, chloro- and nitrophenols, as well as more known initial TOC concentration effect, has revealed the noteworthy impact on the process efficiency. Despite the complex effect of multiple substituents directing the HO attack to their preferential positions, Hammett constant could be used to predict photocatalytic degradation performance. TiO2 P25 was able to mineralize initial TOC concentrations up to 25–50 mg·L−1. Higher TOC concentrations constitute a drawback and drive to residual parent pollutants and organic by-products, which become more important when raising the starting TOC loading. Increasing the number of chloro- or nitro- groups in the aromatic ring does not imply higher ecotoxiticy values; contrarily, the position of the substituent can lead to significant differences. TOC conversion values are hardly affected by the substituent position, but by the number of groups in the organic molecule, probably due to steric hindrance. The formation of chloride and nitrogen inorganic ions, inherent to photocatalytic degradation, fulfills the Cl and N mass balances. Finally, the effect of number, position and electronic nature of substituents on contaminant initial photocatalytic degradation rates was studied by corresponding Hammett constant correlations.

A Locus of Dialogue: the Catholic School in a Pluralist World

A Locus of Dialogue: the Catholic School in a Pluralist World Brian Flannery It is generally accepted that the levels of Catholic patronage in Irish education are out of kilter with the profile of Ireland’s new demographic. The current levels, put at ninety-three per cent at primary and almost fifty per cent for secondary, reflect an Ireland of some decades past. The increase in immigration has brought new people into the country and a once largely homogeneous nation now finds itself enriched by a new diversity of faiths and racial groupings. Another and more profound change, in an educational context, is the rise of secularism and an increase in the number of people who identify themselves as having no faith.1 The pervasiveness of Catholic schools, it could be argued, does not meet the needs of these new populations. We are living in a time-lag of sorts, as educational provision has not caught up with developments in Irish society. Whilst the responsibility for educational provision lies with the government and not with the Catholic Church – although the DES (Department of Education and Skills) can at times be quite disingenuous on this point – Catholic schools are currently faced with a very real challenge, which will only intensify as these trends continue to grow. Even allowing for the willingness on the part of the bishops to divest patronage to groups like Educate Together, there still remains a large number of Catholic schools that have to cope with the diversity of a pluralist Ireland. How does an institution which was established to educate the children of one faith-tradition respond to the new reality of having very mixed populations in its classrooms? Indeed, how does it respond to populations who are actively unhappy that no accommodation can be found that respectfully acknowledges their particular faith tradition or their desire for no ‘religious’ input at all? What to do? Professor Lieven Boeve of the Catholic University of Leuven has developed a very interesting and helpful framework by which to examine the identity A Locus of Dialogue: the Catholic School in a Pluralist World Studies • volume 108 • number 429 47 options available to Catholic institutions in a pluralising cultural context. He proposes that there are a number of responses that a school institution can make. In the analysis that follows, broad brush strokes will be used to describe each response and to make links with the Catholic educational scene in Ireland. Inevitably, this overview will simplify the richness of the typology from Leuven, but the commentary will hopefully serve to encourage reflection and discussion on the state of Catholic schools at present. It might be useful to consider which response most accurately reflects the reader’s own experience of Catholic schools as they see them and which response they find themselves most drawn to for the future. Institutional secularisation In this response the school is very attuned to changes taking place in wider society. As Christianity slowly disappears from the wider culture, there is a comparable erosion of Catholic identity within the school. The school population becomes increasingly mixed and inclusive of other religious outlooks and philosophies of life. In this new scenario, rather than promote a particular identity the school begins to downplay all identity in an effort to be ‘neutral’ and ‘inclusive’. Religious viewpoints become a private matter, and the school avoids all discourse around its founding mission. The process is implicit rather than deliberate, but it is only a matter of time before the preferential position of all things ‘Catholic’ is no longer recognised and then the names, symbols and rituals are all slowly discarded. Religious instruction is abandoned and the school instead offers broad courses in comparative cultural and personal formation. The school becomes colourless. It is effectively secular. In short – the school goes with the larger cultural flow. In the context of Irish Catholic schools the indicators of such a process might be the absence of the following: regular school liturgies and retreats, a meaningful Religious Education programme, explicit mention of the school’s mission on open days and school gatherings, little or no staff formation on ethos-related themes and an arm’s length relationship with...