Therapeutic radionuclides in nuclear medicine: current and future prospects

The potential use of radionuclides in therapy has been recognized for many decades. A number of radionuclides, such as iodine-131 (¹³¹I), phosphorous-32 (³²P), strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr), and yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y), have been used successfully for the treatment of many benign and malignant disorders. Recently, the rapid growth of this branch of nuclear medicine has been stimulated by the introduction of a number of new radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of metastatic bone pain and neuroendocrine and other malignant or non-malignant tumours. Today, the field of radionuclide therapy is enjoying an exciting phase and is poised for greater growth and development in the coming years. For example, in Asia, the high prevalence of thyroid and liver diseases has prompted many novel developments and clinical trials using targeted radionuclide therapy. This paper reviews the characteristics and clinical applications of the commonly available therapeutic radionuclides, as well as the problems and issues involved in translating novel radionuclides into clinical therapies.     

Expert systems,shells, and schools: Present practice,future prospects

In this paper we assess the extent to which expert systems technology, and in particular the idea of knowledge-based modelling, has influenced the practice of schools in our geographical area. We find that although expert system shells have gained a foothold there are no signs of a major breakthrough. We relate this situation to the time which average learners expend to build models with the current generation of shells. We propose a set of expressiveness criteria for future knowledge modelling tools. Tools which meet our criteria should empower learners to build bigger and better models. We suggest how such tools might be designed.     

Achieving inclusion of students with disabilities in Turkey: current challenges and future prospects

Developing inclusion in schools has been an objective for many countries in recent decades, giving rise to a variety of definitions, policy -making activities and school practices. This paper focuses on the attempts made towards inclusion of students with disabilities in Turkey. We start by introducing inclusive education and its parameters, and continue with recent trends in education in Turkey. Next, we discuss current progress in including students with disabilities within mainstream schools, and continue with the legislative attempts made to improve this position. After that, we discuss recent developments and challenges in the education and inclusion of students with disabilities, and conclude by noting several recommendations for realising their inclusion in Turkey. While the purpose of this paper is to investigate the inclusion of students with disabilities in the Turkish context, there is much of relevance to other international contexts going through similar developmental processes in terms of inclusion.     

Symbol communication in special schools in England: the current position and some key issues

In this article, originally submitted to B J S E' s Research Section, Chris Abbott of King's College, London, and Helen Lucey of the Open University report on the outcomes of a survey of special schools in England. The aim of the research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, was to understand the nature and extent of symbol use for communication and literacy. A questionnaire was used to collect data on topics including: the types of symbols in use; the methodologies operated; ownership of symbol choice; and agreed policies within and outside school. The researchers had an excellent response in this important survey, undertake n after a period of rapid growth in symbol use in special schools and elsewhere. Chris Abbott and Helen Lucey provide a discussion of the results of their survey and of the issues that arise from the findings and the many comments added by respondents. They close their article with a call for further detailed research, both in the UK and in co-operation with practitioners in other countries, into the ways in which symbol use can meet the needs of learners.     

Transnational corporations and education: Current issues and prospects

Two main questions are discussed. First, how might transnational corporations contribute to various forms of education in developing countries? Secondly, what measures should states take in education to help them get better advantage from the transnational corporations? Adopting a pragmatic approach, the paper points out that the most important form of education is often the most overlooked, namely, on-the-job training in a range of occupations from low skilled to top management. Although this is indeed supplemented by in-service training programmes, the latter are not always on offer. In general, transnational corporations are interested in education in their host countries only insofar as it affects their own operations. For their part, host country governments have a difficult task. On the one hand they need to educate their young people to be able to take advantage of the technology and expertise made available by the transnational corporations. On the other hand, they need to give them an education which will help them to preserve their culture, despite absorbing the technology and thereby also the culture of foreign firms. More particularly, host countries seem to lack the specialized training, which is necessary for dealing effectively and advantageously with the transnational corporations. In a final note, the paper considers what might happen if a ‘real’ NIEO were introduced.     

Action research in West African schools: problems and prospects

This paper investigates the claims of action research as an appropriate research methodology for investigating West African education. It suggests that since action research is sensitive to context and is directly relevant to practitioners, it might avoid some of the criticisms that have been levelled at some other methodologies. However, data from Ghana are used to problematize this position. The paper concludes with a discussion of ways in which collaboration between academics and teachers, based on action research, might develop so that both useful knowledge about education in West Africa is derived and practice is improved.