A Novel Whiteheadean Science Program for 14-16 Year Olds in England and Wales

A novel “Whiteheadean” science program was initiated in England and Wales in September 2006. Following a critical House of Commons report in 2002, the government altered the National Curriculum targets and thus forced the Examination Boards to alter their specifications in order to come in line. Assessment at GCSE level (i.e., the 14-16 year cohort) was criticised for: a) failing to inspire students to continue with science, b) discouraging students from thinking for themselves, c) neglecting contemporary science, d) lacking flexibility, and e) making practical work into a tedious and dull activity. The British government has insisted that all pupils in state funded schools must know the names of some modern scientists and their work. They must discuss some current scientific problems. History and philosophy of science is included under the topic heading “How Science Works.” In Chemistry these objectives have destroyed the traditional linear top-down sequential approach of teaching into an approach based more closely on Whiteheadean lines (cf., the ideas expressed in The Aims of Education, 1926, Chapters 1-3).     

Random vibration analysis of switching apparatus based on Monte Carlo method

The performance in vibration environment of switching apparatus containing mechanical contact is an important element when judging the apparatus’s reliability. A piecewise linear two-degrees-of-freedom mathematical model considering contact loss was built in this work, and the vibration performance of the model under random external Gaussian white noise excitation was investigated by using Monte Carlo simulation in Matlab/Simulink. Simulation showed that the spectral content and statistical characters of the contact force coincided strongly with reality. The random vibration character of the contact system was solved using time (numerical) domain simulation in this paper. Conclusions reached here are of great importance for reliability design of switching apparatus.     

Homoharringtonine induces apoptosis of endothelium and down-regulates VEGF expression of K562 cells

Homoharringtonine (HHT) has currently been used successfully in the treatment of acute and chronic myeloid leukemias and has been shown to induce apoptosis of different types of leukemic cells in vitro. Emerging evidence suggests that angiogenesis may play an important role in hematological malignancies, such as leukemia. How ever, whether HHT can relieve leukemia by anti-angiogenesis is still unknown. We investigated the anti-angiogenesis potential of HHT with the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304) and leukemic cell line (K562) in vitro. Cellular proliferation was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assessed by RT-PCR and VEGF protein production was detected by Western blot. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by HHT were discovered in ECV304 cells, and appeared in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Also, treatment with HHT caused down-regulation of VEGF mRNA expression in K562 cells in similar dose- and time-dependent manner and inhibition of VEGF protein production in K562 cells in response to the enhancing concentration of HHT. The results demonstrated that HHT could also induce apoptosis in endothelium and down-regulate VEGF expression in K562 cells. In conclusion, we believe HHT has anti-angiogenesis potential and speculate that HHT might exert its anti-leukemia effects via reduction of angiogenesis.     

A qualitative critique of teacher labor market studies

Qualitative studies of the teacher labor market suggest that problems and remedies generated by quantitative research fail to capture the most dynamic variables which are affecting the supply and demand of public school teachers. For example, quantitative research has not accounted for (1) the continual exiting and reentering of urban teachers, (2) the considerable bifurcation between urban and rural teacher labor markets as reflected in teacher mobility and cultural economic opportunities, (3) local definitions of labor market needs and teacher quality, and (4) the demanding and stressful working conditions of teaching, which are having a systemic and adverse effect on the occupation.     

Activity of metalloproteinases and adiponectin in obese patients— a possible factor of incisional hernias after bariatric procedures

Purpose

Metalloproteinases are a key component of the pathogenesis of abdominal hernias. Obesity is considered a risk factor in herniogenesis and hernia recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin in morbidly obese and nonoverweight controls.

Materials and methods

The participants were recruited from among patients undergoing bariatric and non-bariatric surgery and divided into two groups: I (body mass index (BMI)≥35 kg/m², n=40) and II (BMI<25 kg/m², n=30). Serum concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

A statistically significant difference between groups was observed for MMP-2 concentration. The median MMP-9 concentration was higher in the obese group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Median MMP-13 concentrations did not differ between groups. Serum adiponectin concentration was insignificantly higher in the non-obese group.

Conclusions

The elevated serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in obese individuals may be related to the higher incidence of incisional hernias in this population.

     

The elusive nature of whole system improvement in education

Whole system improvement—where the vast majority of schools improve—is difficult to achieve. Some jurisdictions use what turns out to be ‘wrong’ policy drivers like testing and evaluation. Rather, success turns out to depend on changing the culture of schools and their relationship to the infrastructure of policies and regulation. I examined the six cases studies in the light of whole system change criteria. Two of the case studies, South Africa and India, represent limited but useful examples in that they focus on basic skills like literacy. A second set of two studies, Escuela Nueva and LCP in Mexico, represent strong examples of how bottom up strategies can spread to significant levels. The final two, Long Beach in the US and Ontario, are strong examples of how deep change can be accomplished by focusing on a few core priorities and then building a culture over a number of years to support and sustain the changes. The paper then draws conclusions about the conditions that will be required for large scale change to occur.     

一种用于宽动态范围上的高精度散射测量的标准方法

The co-effect of transmitted power fluctuation and system nonlinearity produce deviations in scatterometer measurement results . An internal calibration method to deal with this problem is proposed. The method can result in more precise scatterometric measurements in a wide range. The basic principle of the method is combining real-transmitted-power detection with the calibration of system nonlinearity. A practical scheme to implement the method is also presented, which is developed based on a special designed mechanism of a microwave radiometer-scatterometer combined system.     

Mothers' Perspectives of the Peer-Related Social Development of Young Children with Developmental Delays and Communication Disorders

Mothers' perspectives of children's peer-related social development were obtained from matched groups of young children with developmental delays, communicative disorders, and typically developing children. Structured interviews elicited information on numerous issues including mothers' views of the importance of children's social skills development, rationales with respect to why children succeed or had difficulties on specific social tasks, and the socialization strategies mothers employ to promote children's peer-related social development. Mothers also reported on their efforts to arrange play with peers for their child and the degree to which they monitored that play. Results indicated that mothers rated children's social development as highly important, offered primarily internal rationales (e.g., traits, dispositions) for success or difficulties in achieving social tasks, and endorsed moderate and low power socialization strategies. Differences across the three groups were minimal. Mothers arranged play with peers least often for children with developmental delays and communication disorders, but monitored play more extensively for children with delays. These finding were discussed in terms of mothers adopting a developmental orientation to understand children's social development and their implications for maternal participation in peer competence intervention programs.     

Designing informal learning experiences for early career academics using a knowledge ecosystem model

This article presents a ‘knowledge ecosystem’ model of how early career academics experience using information to learn while building their social networks for developmental purposes. Developed using grounded theory methodology, the model offers a way of conceptualising how to empower early career academics through (1) agency (individual and relational) and (2) facilitation of personalised informal learning (design of physical and virtual systems and environments) in spaces where developmental relationships are formed, including programmes, courses, events, community, home and social media. It is suggested that the knowledge ecosystem model is suitable for use in designing informal learning experiences for early career academics.