The role of social-academic goals in Chinese students’ self-regulated learning

European Journal of Psychology of Education - The role of mastery and performance goals in self-regulated learning (SRL) has received much attention. However, in collectivist and Confucian-heritage...     

Facilitating Development in Preschoolers with Down's Syndrome in Hong Kong: A Controlled Evaluation Study of the Effects of Centre-based Intervention and Regular Preschool Attendance

Six preschoolers with Down's syndrome who attended a centre-based educational intervention program, for three mornings a week, were assessed on the Merrill-Palmer Scale and matched on chronological age (CA), mental age (MA), intelligence quotient (IQ) and the mother's educational level. Three of them also attended regular preschools, two days per week, but the rest did not. Children were reassessed on the Merrill-Palmer Scale one year late. At that time, parents were interviewed in order to determine their views on the educational intervention program. Results indicated that all children increased in terms of MA, but decreased in terms of IQ and that children in the Program Plus Preschool group, fared better than those in the Program Only group in terms of both MA and IQ. Responses to interview questions indicated that parents were very satisfied with the program; they felt that their children's therapy sessions and the training that they themselves received as part of the intervention, were the most beneficial aspects.     

Human governance: A neglected mantra for continuous performance improvement

Every individual should be entrusted with an internal driver to strive their best towards achieving their potential and to manifest their performance through innovative means. This can be reached only under circumstances where the abstract human values and principles are recognized and indoctrinated in the culture. The strategies discussed in this article will serve as input in proposing the areas of focus toward the practice of human governance.     

Bridging the gap: a longitudinal study of the relationship between pedagogical continuity and early Chinese literacy acquisition

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between pedagogical continuity in literacy education and early literacy development by comparing Chinese children in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Stratified random sampling was used to select 24 preschool and Primary 1 classes in four communities catering to middle‐class families in each city. The 24 teachers were interviewed about their teaching methods and views on pedagogical continuity in individual sessions. Further, their teaching activities were videotaped over a period of a week. Their students (n = 758) completed a Chinese literacy attainment test at the beginning and at the end of the same academic year. Analyses indicated that Hong Kong students outperformed their Shenzhen counterparts in Chinese literacy attainment, at both preschool and primary levels, concurrently and longitudinally. This suggests that the holistic approach followed in Hong Kong might have a more positive impact on children's literacy development than the approach followed in Shenzhen. Implications of the findings for early childhood curriculum reform are discussed.     

Maple syrup urine disease: An uncommon cause for neonatal metabolic distress

Maple Syrup Urine Disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency in the activity of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex. This rare disorder represents one of the causes of acute neonatal illness which results in devastating disturbances of neurological development. On investigation of 1750 infants with neurological impairment for inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, 4 neonates with classical maple syrup urine disease were detected. These otherwise normal neonates presented in the first week after birth with seizures, lethargy and refusal of feeds, hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis. The plasma and urine concentrations of the branched-chain amino acids were increased and there was ketoaciduria. Two of these neonates expired before specific treatment could be instituted. Routine biochemical screening of neonates with acute illness could unearth many cases of this rare inherited metabolic disease.     

Metabolic Bone Profile of Healthy Adult North Indian Population from Chandigarh Urban Bone Epidemiological Study (CUBES)

We aimed to estimate metabolic bone profile in a large cohort of healthy, adult Indian population to generate reference standards of serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25 (OH) Vitamin D and iPTH, and also to find out the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in healthy population. Apparently healthy people in the age group of 20–80 years, residing in the union territory of Chandigarh were chosen. Fasting samples for serum calcium, phosphate, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25 (OH) D and iPTH were collected and were processed on the same day. We recruited 930 healthy subjects from different subsectors of Chandigarh. Final analysis was done for 915 subjects. Out of this, 530 (58%) were women and 385 (42%) were men. The study participants were divided into two groups, less than and more than 50 years for the men and pre and post-menopausal for the women. The serum calcium, phosphate, ALP and iPTH were significantly higher in the post-menopausal women compared to the pre-menopausal women. The median plasma 25 (OH) D in men and women was 12.5 ng/mL and 14.3 ng/mL, respectively. 25 (OH) D deficiency was seen in 65.4% of individuals. 25 (OH) D levels co-related negatively with iPTH levels (r = − 0.4, p < 0.0001), and showed an increasing trend with age. We have thus presented metabolic bone profile of healthy, adult north Indian population. These reference values can be used for diagnosis and monitoring of various MBDs. Vitamin D deficiency is still rampant in our population in spite of increasing awareness.