Building Community: Strengthening Student Connectedness And Sense Of Belonging In Our Schools

All students want to attend a school they feel a sense of belonging to, one with caring adults and shared experiences for our young learners. Research shows that student connectedness and the quality of student–teacher relationships are associated with students’ engagement in school and academic performance (Bosman et al., 2018) and significantly impact student outcomes (Settanni, 2015). This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) investigated the impact intentional professional learning for teachers focused on social and emotional competencies and increased shared experiences for students has on students’ sense of belonging and connectedness in a middle school. With a two-pronged intervention driven by professional learning workshops for adults and a shared experience for students (Wingman), this action research study utilizes the Improvement Science model and a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. As part of the Improvement Science process, the researcher identified a problem of practice, conducted end-user consultations, reviewed existing data, completed a root cause analysis, reviewed relevant literature, and developed a working theory of improvement. The researcher developed three professional learning workshops that embedded social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies throughout, followed by self-reported feedback slips. Students participated in a shared experience through Wingman; the research team conducted walkthroughs using a walkthrough tool to collect data on the implementation and fidelity of Wingman for students. After a thorough data analysis, findings revealed that teacher professional learning focused on social-emotional learning and providing students with shared experiences significantly improves student sense of belonging and connectedness to a school community

The role of life orientation in addressing HIV/AIDS in Kwa-Zulu Natal secondary schools

The Department of Education is promoting HIV/AIDS education programmes in the public schools of South Africa, particularly through the subject Life Orientation. Therefore, this study investigates the role of Life Orientation in addressing HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal secondary schools. Different role-players were evaluated to ascertain their attitudes and beliefs about Life Orientation and HIV/AIDS. The examination of different role-players was undertaken to establish the significance of their attitudes and beliefs on the success or failure of the Life Orientation based sex and HIV education programmes in the schools. An attempt was also made to find a relevant definition of the subject Life Orientation that contains the meaning and the purpose of the subject. Teachers were found to be uncertain about an appropriate definition that carries the meaning of Life Orientation; hence they tend to define it by its components such as Life skills, physical education, decision-making, HIV education and others. The study also sought to establish the impact of sex education embedded in Life Orientation on the fight against HIV/AIDS. Sex education was examined to determine whether it encourages or reduces youth sexual activities. In order for teachers to be able to use Life Orientation content to drive sex and HIV education programmes, it had to be ascertained if they were informed or not about HIV/AIDS. The questionnaire carried out an extensive assessment of teachers’ knowledge, attitudes and their personal stance on HIV/AIDS. This study established that training of teachers in both Life Orientation and HIV/AIDS provides them with knowledge which enables them to positively handle sex and HIV education programmes in the classroom. It was for this reason that the study made recommendations with regard to training and support programmes to ensure that teachers are adequately equipped for effective implementation of the subject Life Orientation in the National Curriculum Statement.Curriculum and Instructional StudiesD. Ed. (Curriculum Studies

Deuteron Electromagnetic Form Factors in the Intermediate Energy Region

Based on a Perturbative QCD analysis of the deuteron form factor, a model for the reduced form factor is suggested. The numerical result is consistent with the data in the intermediate energy region.Comment: 9 pages, to appear in Phys.Rev.

Accumulation of total nutrients, dry matter and phytochrome content in Boesenbergia stenophylla R.M Smith as affected by different light conditions

A study was conducted to determine the best agronomic practices for the cultivation of jerangau merah as a new medicinal crop. Jerangau merah is scientifically known as Boesenbergia stenophylla is a ginger plants that is highly endemic to the Borneo Highland. This understorey herb grows in cluster and under the heavy shades of forest canopies and perceived only the sunflecks that pass through the forest canopies. Jerangau Merah has been consumed by the locals for its medicinal values since decades ago. Generally, B. stenophylla is well known for its function as antidote for alcohol. Moreover, the B. stenophylla is also beneficial for rheumatic pains, remedies for stomach ache and toothache and as antiseptic wash as well. This herb is not propagate by the locals due to its sensitivity to sunlight and lack of agronomic information for B. stenophylla. Harvesting it from their natural habitat, however, seen the decline it its population size hence cultivation is essential. This paper aimed to determine the total nutrients, dry matter yield and phytochrome content of Bosenbergia stenophylla R.M. Smith under different light regimes. A study for determining suitable planting media for B. stenophylla was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The treatments are: i) (M1) with the ratio of 3:2:1 top soil: sand: organic matter, media ii) (M2) consists of soil mixture 3:2:1 placed in water-logged polyethylene bags and media iii) (M3) contained only leaf litters. The results showed that the herbs showed significantly higher number of shoots and leaves in the common soil mixture. But, better root development in media containing leaf litters. The study proceeded with field experiment at Ba’Kelalan to determine the effect of different shade levels and fertilizing regimes on growth. B. stenophylla was cultivated under two different levels of shade cloths: 70% and 90% level of shade and different fertilizing regimes (T1 as control, no fertilizer applied to the plants; T2, chicken dung; T3, NPKMg and T4, mixed of chicken dung and NPKMg). The study for determining the effects of different shade level and fertilizing regimes on seedling’s growth which conducted at Ba’Kelalan in factorial randomized completely blocked design (RCBD). The data collected for 9 weeks of planting which include nutrient content in soil, leaf, PAR and phytochrome content and growth parameters. Regarding the nutrient uptake, the results showed no interactions between fertilizing regimes and shade levels. There were no significant different in nutrient elements except for magnesium and potassium. Magnesium is essential for the formation of chlorophyll which ensure efficiency of photosynthesis when under higher light intensity. Among all the fertilizer treatment, it was showed that chicken dung amendment has higher nutrient uptake. Thus, it is recommended chicken dung should be added into the NPKMg for better nutrient uptake. Further study on suitable fertilizer rates apply to B. stenophylla should be taken into consideration. Moreover, plants cultivated under 70% have been higher and have higher dry matter yield than those plants cultivated under 90%. The result also revealed that there was significant different in chlorophyll content of B. stenophylla cultivated under 70% which treated either with chicken dung and NPKMG respectively. However, plants under 90% have higher chlorophyll content than those under 70%. Based on the results, plants under 70% shade was taller than those under 90% and there were significant difference in height among treatments under 70%.  It was observed plant treated with NPKMg was taller. This study showed that shade and fertilizers significantly affected the dry matter yield of B. stenophylla. Moreover, adding NPKMg to the treatments yields more dry matter content of jerangau merah. As for phytochrome content, there was no significant effect of fertilizer on phytochrome content. However, there was significant difference among the shade levels. 90% shade showed higher phytochrome content than those under 70%. In overall, both shade and fertilizer is important in cultivation of Jerangau Merah. 70% shade was observed to have significant effects on growth of jerangau merah and also more economical compared to 90%. Moreover, combination of organic matter and NPKMg also promote the growth of jerangau merah enhance the nutrient uptake efficiency of jerangau merah. However, further investigation of suitable fertilizer and application rate are required to determine suitable fertilizer for jerangau merah and application rate for optimum growth of jerangau merah

Role of 2p-2h MEC excitations in superscaling

Following recent studies of inclusive electron scattering from nuclei at high energies which focused on two-nucleon emission mediated by meson-exchange currents, in this work the superscaling behavior of such contributions is investigated. Comparisons are made with existing data below the quasielastic peak where at high momentum transfers scaling of the second kind is known to be excellent and scaling of the first kind is good, in the proximity of the peak where both 1p-1h and 2p-2h contributions come into play, and above the peak where inelasticity becomes important and one finds scaling violations of the two kinds.Comment: 27 pages, 12 figures; references adde

Abordagem transdisciplinar em paciente com múltiplas patologias: relato de caso / Transdisciplinary approach in a patient with multiple pathologies: case report

Introdução: Diante de um sistema público, conseguir um acompanhamento transdisciplinar pode ser o caminho para um melhor prognóstico dos pacientes. Descrição do caso: Paciente de 4 meses e 20 dias, sexo feminino, atendida em hospital com poucos recursos em Aracaju/SE, internada após 7 dias de nascida, com bronquiolite, complicada com pneumonia. Apresentou sepse com quadros infecciosos de repetição e monilíase. Ocorreu falha na extubação 4x e indicação de traqueostomia, manteve-se taquipneica, aguardando TC tórax para investigação. Apresentou quadro de derrame pericárdico com melhora ao longo da internação, provavelmente atribuído ao quadro infeccioso, bem como taquicardia sem repercussão hemodinâmica. Acompanhada pela fonoaudiologia para desmame de sonda nasoenteral, com baixa aceitação VO, resolvida após intervenção da nutrição e modificação da dieta. Tentada relactação com o banco de leite, sem sucesso. Na enfermaria, observado olhar em sol poente, fontanela anterior abaulada apenas durante o choro, manteve-se em posição com hiperextensão cervical. Encaminhada para hospital de referência, para avaliação do neurologista; tomografia de crânio realizada, suspeita de Complexo de Dandy-walker. Apresentou hepatomegalia moderada homogênea, inespecífica, associada à aumento de transaminases. A equipe composta por fisioterapeuta, fonoaudiólogo, nutricionista, pneumopediatria, cardiopediatria, entre outros, seguiram o padrão de qualidade de atendimento, mesmo não tendo o melhor suporte e propedêutica. Para melhor seguimento, foi transferida para hospital com mais recursos. Conclusão: Apesar das limitações de recurso do serviço, foi possível um bom diagnóstico e tratamento e isso se deve a uma equipe transdisciplinar bem treinada e conscientes das suas limitações, procurando sempre o melhor para o paciente.

Luxação lateral do joelho com lesão da artéria poplítea: relato de caso / Lateral knee dislocation with popliteal artery injury: case report

A luxação do joelho com lesão da artéria poplítea associada é uma condição clínica rara. O rápido diagnóstico e tratamento são essenciais para salvar o membro e manter a sua função. Trata-se de um caso clínico de luxação lateral do joelho esquerdo associada a lesão neurovascular, a síndrome compartimental e sépsis pós cirúrgica das fasciotomias, de um paciente masculino, 42 anos,  que sofreu um acidente de moto. O paciente foi rapidamente submetido a redução fechada da luxação articular do joelho na sala de emergência, tendo posteriormente realizado um bypass poplíteo supra-infra articular com veia safena contralateral invertida e fasciotomia do membro. O prognóstico do doente foi bom. O presente caso é importante porque retrata uma ocorrência muito rara e realça a importância da intervenção atempada e da abordagem em equipe para obter os melhores resultados possíveis, assim como foi o desfecho do relatado no presente artigo