Review: Adjuvant effects of saponins on animal immune responses

Vaccines require optimal adjuvants including immunopotentiator and delivery systems to offer long term protection from infectious diseases in animals and man. Initially it was believed that adjuvants are responsible for promoting strong and sustainable antibody responses. Now it has been shown that adjuvants influence the isotype and avidity of antibody and also affect the properties of cell-mediated immunity. Mostly oil emulsions, lipopolysaccharides, polymers, saponins, liposomes, cytokines,ISCOMs (immunostimulating complexes), Freund's complete adjuvant, Freund's incomplete adjuvant, alums, bacterial toxins etc.,are common adjuvants under investigation. Saponin based adjuvants have the ability to stimulate the cell mediated immune system as well as to enhance antibody production and have the advantage that only a low dose is needed for adjuvant activity. In the present study the importance of adjuvants, their role and the effect of saponin in immune system is reviewed.     

Blended learning at pre-service teacher education in Turkey: A systematic review

The literature shows an increase in blended learning implementations (N?=?74) at faculties of education in Turkey whereas pre-service and in-service teachers’ ICT competencies have been identified as one of the areas where they are in need of professional development. This systematic review was conducted to find out the impact of blended learning on academic achievement and attitudes at teacher education programs in Turkey. 21 articles and 10 theses complying with all pre-determined criteria (i.e., studies having quantitative research design or at least a quantitative aspect conducted at pre-service teacher education programs) included within the scope of this review. With regard to academic achievement, it was synthesized that majority of the studies confirmed its positive impact on attaining course outcomes. Likewise, blended learning environment was revealed to contribute pre-service teachers to develop positive attitudes towards the courses. It was also concluded that face-to-face aspect of the courses was favoured considerably as it enhanced social interaction between peers and teachers. Other benefits of blended learning were listed as providing various materials, receiving prompt feedback, and tracking progress. Slow internet access, connection failure and anxiety in some pre-service teachers on using ICT were reported as obstacles. Regarding the positive results of blended learning and the significance of ICT integration, pre-service teacher education curricula are suggested to be reconstructed by infusing ICT into entire program through blended learning rather than delivering isolated ICT courses which may thus serve for prospective teachers as catalysts to integrate the use of ICT in their own teaching.     

Effectiveness of the selected techniques in enhancing the achievement in science among the children with learning disabilities： Sharing experiences

In national perception, education is essentially for all. This is fundamental to all-round development, material and spiritual. It refines sensitivities and perceptions that contribute to national cohesion, a scientific temper and independence of mind and spirit--thus furthering the goals of socialism secularism and democracy enshrined in our constitution. The objective of the study focuses on achievement of children with learning disability in science. There are 5 null hypothesis tested in this research. The sample used in this study includes 35 children with learning disabilities in experimental group and 42 children with learning disabilities in control group. The different views taken on special education have ignited spark of controversies over segregating some children from the mainstream and providing them with extra opportunities. There are arguments for and against both special education and integrated education. Special education means the specifically designed instruction that meets the unusual needs of special children. It requires special materials, teaching, techniques, equipment and facilities. The design was an experimental research pre and post-test equivalent group. The research shows that there is no significant difference in all learning objective such as knowledge, comprehension and skill between control group and experimental group in the pre-test. This two sample groups also did not show any significant difference in the pre-test irrespective of gender, educational qualification of the teacher, years of experience of the teacher, parents＇ education, parents＇ profession, parents＇ income, type of management and type of school. On the other hand, for the post-test all the characteristics show that there are significant differences. This shows that there are effects on the treatment group in learning objective. Furthermore the experimental group showed significantly higher gain score than the control group with regard to the learning objective which comprises of knowledge, comprehension, application and skill.     

A constrained linear quadratic optimization algorithm toward jerk-decoupling cartridge design

Linear direct feed drives are widely used in machine tools, but an abrupt counter force from the secondary part will induce the jerk to the metro frame contacted with the linear motor and cause the vibration of auxiliary devices on it. The jerk-decoupling cartridge (JDC) provides a buffer to reduce such an impact. Design target for such a system includes both the tracking error and the jerk induced to the metro frame. To achieve both targets systematically, this work presents an integrated approach to efficiently determine parameters in the JDC and the position controller of the feed drive. The problem is firstly formulated as a nonlinear constrained optimization problem, which is then converted to a series of projection gradient optimization problems and step searching problems, which are either convex or linear. Thus, fast convergence of parameters are achieved within first several iterations. Through a series of simulation, the effectiveness of proposed methodology is verified.     

Is Educational Adequacy Adequate for Just Education?

In this article I raise three objections to Debra Satz's adequacy approach to education. I argue that her approach fails to see education as a positional good that opens the door to more inequalities. Second, I argue that her concept of adequacy for equal citizenship misses an essential part of students’ educational experience beyond their citizenship statues. Last, I argue that Staz's approach fails to answer crucial practical questions about how to distribute extra resources when the adequate level is already met. Finally, I provide an alternative view that is sensitive to the fact that education is a positional good, based on an active and more inclusive account of citizenship, and conditioned to limit inequalities to be to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged.     

Intellectual giftedness: Economic,political, cultural,and psychological considerations

The concept of intellectual giftedness has had a long history in the literature of psychology and education. However, though the existence of the phenomenon underlying this concept has never actually been disputed, there are multiple ongoing debates regarding its definition, methods for its identification, and subsequent programming. This essay is conceived to contribute to the discussion on intellectual giftedness and to provide a global context for the other articles in this issue. The essay is comprised of three major parts. First, we review the defining terms, contexts and theories historically and currently applied to the understanding of intellectual giftedness. Second, we comment on models used to identify it. Third, we discuss the major influences that directly shape the treatment of giftedness in a number of international settings.     

Earnings manipulations and board's diversity: The moderating role of audit

This paper analyzes whether an audit index moderates the relationship between boardroom composition (gender diversity and foreign directors) and earnings-management activities in the European context. Data from a sample of 429 European firms listed on Stoxx Europe 600 Index from 1998 to 2017 are used to test a moderation model. Evidence reveals that board gender diversity is negatively associated with both accruals-based and real earnings management activities, while non-European directors are positively associated with the earnings-management activities. Further, audit index significantly moderates the link between board diversity and earnings-management. This study is unique in providing European evidence for the moderating effect of audit quality on the link between the demographic features of board members and the firm outcome. This paper is also relevant as it develops a composite index of audit quality.     

Learning science content through socio-scientific issues-based instruction: a multi-level assessment study

Science educators have presented numerous conceptual and theoretical arguments in favor of teaching science through the exploration of socio-scientific issues (SSI). However, the empirical knowledge base regarding the extent to which SSI-based instruction supports student learning of science content is limited both in terms of the number of studies that have been conducted in this area and the quality of research. This research sought to answer two questions: (1) To what extent does SSI-based instruction support student learning of science content? and (2) How do assessments at variable distances from the curriculum reveal patterns of learning associated with SSI-based instruction? Sixty-nine secondary students taught by three teachers participated in the study. Three teachers implemented an SSI intervention focused on the use of biotechnology for identifying and treating sexually transmitted diseases. We found that students demonstrated statistically and practically significant gains in content knowledge as measured by both proximal and distal assessments. These findings support the claim that SSI-based teaching can foster content learning and improved performance on high-stakes tests.     

Opening Up Alternatives to Dominant Ideological Constructions of English Language Teaching in Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the impact of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) on the way English language teaching (ELT) is currently understood and practised in Malaysia. It presents a critical discourse analysis of newspaper texts in order to show how CEFR represents a form of Western-imposed globalisation that conflicts with local cultures and values. We argue that the newspapers construct a dominant discourse that promotes a vision of society that accords with CEFR–ELT implementation. Our aim is to contribute to the development of a counter-discourse that challenges the broader world-view underpinning ELT.