PISA 2012: series on the learning environment

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international study that is administered on a three-yearly basis. The study assesses how well 15 year-old are prepared to meet the challenges of today’s society. PISA assesses three key areas of knowledge and skills: reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy, and has a focus on one these learning areas in each administration. In the 2012 administration of PISA, over half a million 15-year-olds from 65 countries or economies took part, including all of the OECD member countries. Vol I In this report factors relating to opportunities students have to learn different mathematical concepts are brought together to provide a picture of the learning environment and how it relates to maths achievement in the PISA 2012 assessment. First of all, student contact with maths is examined through factors such as time spent learning maths, and whether additional maths classes and extra-curricular maths activities are offered at school. Next, student self-reports of familiarity with 13 mathematical content areas are presented. Finally, information is provided of the relative opportunities that New Zealand students have to learn formal maths problems. Vol II In this report the way in which mathematical content is delivered in classrooms is examined. First, some information on maths teaching staff is presented, including teacher qualifications, participation in professional development with a focus on maths, maths teacher-student ratio, and principals’ reports of teacher shortage and how that relates to maths achievement. Secondly, principals’ reports of lack in physical infrastructure and educational resources in their school are examined. Thirdly, principals’ reports of teacher factors that can hinder student learning are presented. Next, students’ reports of teacher-student relationships at school and four teaching practices in maths lessons (cognitive activation, student-orientation, teacher-directed instruction, and formative assessment ) are explored. Finally, this volume examines school principals’ reports of ability grouping practices within and between maths classes. Vol III In this report student behaviour, behaviour demonstrated by 15-year-olds that hinders learning, is put under scrutiny. Students\u27 reports of the disciplinary climate in maths lessons are presented together with principals\u27 reports of student factors that hindered learning at school, and how they relate to maths achievement. Finally student self reported measures of arriving late for school, and skipping class or a day of school are examined

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Municipios de Bogotá, Soacha, Facatativá y Girardot.

En el presente trabajo se pretende realizar un análisis teórico a partir de estudios de casos de comunidades enfrentadas al conflicto armado, desplazamiento y vulneración de derechos humanos que permitan presentar estrategias eficaces para el acompañamiento psicosocial y evaluar eventos psicosociales traumáticos desde el enfoque narrativo y el análisis del relato para proponer recursos de afrontamiento psicosocial al sufrimiento por violencia. En un primer momento, se realizará el análisis de acuerdo a uno de los estudios de caso “Relatos de violencia y esperanza” teniendo en cuenta la selección del Caso No 1. Modesto Payacá. En un segundo momento, se abordarán preguntas circulares, reflexivas y estratégicas que permiten el análisis subjetivo del conflicto que está fuertemente influenciado por emociones y enfoques narrativos distintos. Finalmente se expondrán algunas estrategias de abordaje (acompañamiento psicosocial) y análisis del caso Peñas Coloradas, un corregimiento a orillas del rio Caguán en el departamento de Caquetá, Colombia. Asimismo, presentaremos el Informe analítico reflexivo de la herramienta grupal elaborada por medio de una foto voz y las conclusiones pertinentes del ejercicio práctico y teórico.In the present work, we intend to carry out a theoretical analysis based on case studies of communities facing armed conflict, displacement and violation of human rights that allow presenting effective strategies for psychosocial support and evaluating traumatic psychosocial events from the narrative approach and analysis. of the story to propose resources for psychosocial coping with suffering from violence. At first, the analysis was carried out according to one of the case studies "Stories of violence and hope" taking into account the selection of Case No 1. Modesto Payacá. In a second moment, circular, reflective and strategic questions will be addressed that allow the subjective analysis of the conflict that is strongly influenced by emotions and different narrative approaches. Finally, some approach strategies (psychosocial accompaniment) and analysis of the Peñas Coloradas case, a corregimiento on the banks of the Caguán River in the department of Caquetá, Colombia, will be presented. Likewise, we will present the reflective analytical report of the group tool elaborated by means of a voice photo and the pertinent conclusions of the practical and theoretical exercise

Phocine distemper Virus: Current knowledge and future directions

Phocine distemper virus (PDV) was first recognized in 1988 following a massive epidemic in harbor and grey seals in north-western Europe. Since then, the epidemiology of infection in North Atlantic and Arctic pinnipeds has been investigated. In the western North Atlantic endemic infection in harp and grey seals predates the European epidemic, with relatively small, localized mortality events occurring primarily in harbor seals. By contrast, PDV seems not to have become established in European harbor seals following the 1988 epidemic and a second event of similar magnitude and extent occurred in 2002. PDV is a distinct species within the Morbillivirus genus with minor sequence variation between outbreaks over time. There is now mounting evidence of PDV-like viruses in the North Pacific/Western Arctic with serological and molecular evidence of infection in pinnipeds and sea otters. However, despite the absence of associated mortality in the region, there is concern that the virus may infect the large Pacific harbor seal and northern elephant seal populations or the endangered Hawaiian monk seals. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on PDV with particular focus on developments in diagnostics, pathogenesis, immune response, vaccine development, phylogenetics and modeling over the past 20 years

Genome-wide Association Study of Bladder Cancer Reveals New Biological and Translational Insights

BACKGROUND: Genomic regions identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for bladder cancer risk provide new insights into etiology. OBJECTIVE: To identify new susceptibility variants for bladder cancer in a meta-analysis of new and existing genome-wide genotype data. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 32 studies that includes 13,790 bladder cancer cases and 343,502 controls of European ancestry were used for meta-analysis. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Log-additive associations of genetic variants were assessed using logistic regression models. A fixed-effects model was used for meta-analysis of the results. Stratified analyses were conducted to evaluate effect modification by sex and smoking status. A polygenic risk score (PRS) was generated on the basis of known and novel susceptibility variants and tested for interaction with smoking. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Multiple novel bladder cancer susceptibility loci (6p.22.3, 7q36.3, 8q21.13, 9p21.3, 10q22.1, 19q13.33) as well as improved signals in three known regions (4p16.3, 5p15.33, 11p15.5) were identified, bringing the number of independent markers at genome-wide significance (p \u3c 5 × 10 CONCLUSIONS: We report novel loci associated with risk of bladder cancer that provide clues to its biological underpinnings. Using 24 independent markers, we constructed a PRS to stratify lifetime risk. The PRS combined with smoking history, and other established risk factors, has the potential to inform future screening efforts for bladder cancer. PATIENT SUMMARY: We identified new genetic markers that provide biological insights into the genetic causes of bladder cancer. These genetic risk factors combined with lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking, may inform future preventive and screening strategies for bladder cancer

Insights for teachers: New Zealand student self-belief and confidence, and implications for achievement

Student achievement in mathematics is related to many factors. This report looks at a range of student attributes, measured in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012, that focus on students\u27 confidence (self-efficacy), self-beliefs (self-concept), learning approaches and motivation as well as examining how these factors relate to mathematics achievement among 15-year-olds. PISA is an international study that assesses and compares how well countries are preparing their 15-year-old students to meet real-life opportunities and challenges. PISA provides information on student achievement and how this relates to student and family, teaching and learning, and school-related factors. Between 2003 and 2012 New Zealand experienced a decline in the average maths score achieved in PISA. This change in achievement parallels changes in learning beliefs, learning approaches and motivation among New Zealand students. Key findings: The performance and progress in mathematics of 15-year-olds is associated with their own beliefs about their maths ability, their confidence to tackle maths problems and the extent to which they are anxious about maths activities. Differences among students in these respects can mean a student is up to 1.5 - 2 school years ahead or behind in mathematics. Other attributes such as openness to problem solving and perseverance are also associated with performance in maths at age 15 years. Girls, Māori and Pasifika students and students from low socio-economic backgrounds have lower belief and confidence in their maths abilities and higher maths anxiety

Construction de la santé et des inégalités sociales de santé?: les gènes contre les déterminants sociaux?

International audienc

Psychosocial and organizational work factors and incidence of arterial hypertension among female healthcare workers: results of the Organisation des Soins et Santé des Soignants cohort

International audienceBackground: Many studies have supported the role of organizational work factors (OWFs) on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and CVD risk factors, including arterial hypertension. However, a little information is available concerning the role of collective stressors deriving from work organization on nurse's risk of hypertension. This study aimed to test the independent longitudinal relationships linking the 2-year incidence of arterial hypertension to collective stressors at the work unit level, among baseline normotensive female hospital registered nurses and nursing assistants, after adjusting for known individual predictors of CVDs and for occupational stress.Method: Arterial hypertension was defined as the intake of antihypertensive drug or as blood pressure (BP) measures higher than 140 mmHg (SBP) or 90 mmHg (DBP) at both the clinical visit and 1 month later. We analyzed the effect of OWFs at the work unit level, constraints related to the physical work environment and the individual perception of the work environment in 2006 on the risk of arterial hypertension in 2008 among 1882 initially normotensive female healthcare workers followed in the French Organisation des soins et santé des soignants (ORSOSA) cohort.Results: We showed that OWFs at the work unit level may influence the 2-year risk of arterial hypertension independently of work factors at the worker level, baseline BP, age and BMI. In this study, OWFs affected 2-year risk of arterial hypertension only through direct effects.Conclusion: Our results pointed out the possibility of a primary prevention of arterial hypertension through interventions based at the work unit level among healthcare workers

The Organizational Work Factors' Effect on Mental Health Among Hospital Workers Is Mediated by Perceived Effort-Reward Imbalance. Result of a Longitudinal Study.

International audienceObjectives: This longitudinal study aimed to test the hypothesis that organizational work factors (OWFs) may be related to depressive symptoms through an increased effort-reward imbalance (ERI) ratio among registered nurses (RNs) and nursing assistants working in hospitals. Methods:We studied 2117 female RNs and nursing assistants who stayed in the same work unit and position during the follow-up from the ORSOSA (ORganisation des SOins-SAnt'e) longitudinal study. The work characteristics and workers' health were assessed in 2006 and 2008. Results: We confirmed our hypothesis of both direct and mediated effects of OWFs on workers' health. We showed that issues about patient-related information exchanges increased RNs' depressive disorders by increasing first a perceived ERI. Conclusions: Our results advocate integrating both the work organizational level and the individual level into preventive actions to improve workers' mental health