Protective effect of endolithic fungal hyphae on oolitic limestone buildings

This study presents characterizations of weathering forms of the same oolitic limestone from four quarries and eight monuments exposed on various environmental conditions focusing on the waterproofing effect of endolithic organic matter. Patinas were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), capillarity coefficient through weathered and unweathered sides, gypsum content and porous network morphology by epoxy resin molding. Study of weathering forms on old quarries indicates that lichens colonization (Verrucaria nigrescens and Caloplaca aurantia) can fill the superficial porous network with a dense network of lichenised fungal hyphae. Capillary coefficient measurement on natural and calcinated samples showed that endolithic organic matter can waterproof the stone and could act as a sulfate contamination barrier. Similar endolithic organic layer due to ancient lichens growth are found on some antique monuments of the Nîmes downtown and could explain their well-preserved state, unlike decayed 19th century churches that were never colonized by lichens.     

ENTRE REPRODUCTION ET MOBILISATION: LES RAPPORTS DE GENRE EN FORMATION CONTINUE EN FRANCE ET AU CANADA

La situation des femmes en éducation initiale a beaucoup évolué depuis 40 ans. Mais qu’en est-il de leur situation en éducation et formation des adultes? Cet article, comparant le Canada et la France, montre que si les femmes ont un taux de participation plus élevé que les hommes, ce qui est un fait connu, leur présence plus forte en formation à vocation professionnelle constitue, toutefois, un phénomène nouveau. L’analyse met en relief certaines particularités, telles qu’un recours plus important à la formation continue au Canada, ou encore une probabilité plus élevée, en France, de la participation des employés à temps complet. Dans les deux pays, la participation des femmes demeure modulée par divers facteurs sociaux.     

Public subsidies to private schools do make a difference for achievement in mathematics: Longitudinal evidence from Canada

Selection into private schools is the principal cause of bias when estimating the effect of private schooling on academic achievement. By exploiting the generous public subsidizing of private high schools in the province of Québec, the second most populous province in Canada, we identify the causal impact of attendance in a private high school on achievement in mathematics. Because the supply of highly subsidized spaces is much higher at the high school level than at the grade school level, 94% of transitions from the public to the private sector occur at the end of primary school, we assume that these transitions are exogenous with respect to changes in transitory unobserved variables affecting math scores conditional on variables such as changes in income and child fixed effects. Using 7 cycles of data from Statistics Canada's National Longitudinal Survey on Children and Youth (NLSCY), we estimate the effect of attending a private high school on the percentile rank and a standardized math test score with different models (child fixed effects, random effects and a pooled OLS) and restricted samples to control for the degree of selection. The results, interpreted as a treatment on the treated effect show that the effect of changing schools, from a public grade school to a private high school, increases the percentile rank of the math score between 4 and 10 points and by between 0.12 and 0.36 of a standard deviation depending on the specification and samples.     

A novel phased‐concept course for the delivery of anatomy and orthopedics training in medical education

Integration of anatomy and clinical teaching is a theoretical ideal, yet there is a worldwide paucity of such amalgamation. These teaching models provide support for medical trainees, an important element in Germany where orthopedic intern numbers have declined and anecdotal evidence suggests disinterest in orthopedics. The aim of the study was to develop an integrated anatomy‐surgical course for undergraduate medical training, assess the model developed, and explore how medical students perceive orthopedics as a career. The course was to deliver medical anatomy and clinical orthopedic training, focusing on interdisciplinary teaching and learning, vertical integration of clinical knowledge and skills, and professional interaction. Survey evaluation of the course and students' perceptions of orthopedic careers was performed, including Likert‐type responses rating variables of interest. A phased‐concept program of five courses, each optional and under one‐week in duration, was developed parallel to the undergraduate medical program. Delivered by anatomists and surgeons, courses included biomechanics, advanced dissection, surgical approaches, casts and implants, and sports medicine. Course data indicate positive support for course format, stimulation of interest, and high clinical relevance. Students are generally interested in surgery, and identify hierarchy, lawsuits, bureaucracy and physical stress as barriers to orthopedic careers. This novel phased‐concept successfully delivers combined anatomy and surgery training in a vertically‐integrated format while addressing students' clinical and professional skills. The format facilitates an appreciation of potential career options in orthopedics, while fostering professional skills during medical training. Barriers to careers in orthopedics can now be addressed in future courses. Anat Sci Educ 10: 372–382. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

How do L2 learners and L1 writers differ in their reliance on working memory during the formulation subprocess?

Reading and Writing - L1 and L2 writers attend to different aspects of the formulation subprocess of writing. L2 writers devote more time and attention to low-level aspects such as grammar...     

An alternative conceptual framework from chemistry education

Today's scientific and technological communication stakes are such that we can no longer be content with merely asking ourselves whether they are giving a faithful or a distorted image of the results of scientific activity, with a view to affording the modern man of breeding an extra smattering of knowledge.

Another way of looking at the problem is to ask how best the popularization of science and technology can be utilized to further a particular policy goal, and what strategic decisions need to be made to help bring that goal about. If we called on the conceptual armoury and strategic models to be found in the literature of both the East and the West, we would be in line with this perspective.     

European Scientific Cooperation and Research Infrastructures: Past Tendencies and Future Prospects

Since the 1960s, Europe has developed adiversified network of agencies and institutesin parallel with the political dynamics of theTreaty of Rome (1957). Recently, the EuropeanCommission has launched a debate about thefuture of European R&D policy. This has, inturn, highlighted the importance of researchinfrastructures in European science. Thispaper discusses the achievements of Europe'smultilateral approach in this domain, andsuggests guidelines for future policy.