Formality and informality in the summative assessment of motor vehicle apprentices: a case study

This article explores the interaction of formal and informal attributes of competence‐based assessment. Specifically, it presents evidence from a small qualitative case study of summative assessment practices for competence‐based qualifications within apprenticeships in the motor industry in England. The data are analysed through applying an adaptation of a framework for exploring the interplay of formality and informality in learning. This analysis reveals informal mentoring as a significant element which influences not only the process of assessment, but also its outcomes. We offer different possible interpretations of the data and their analysis, and conclude that, whichever interpretation is adopted, there appears to be a need for greater capacity‐building for assessors at a local level. This could acknowledge a more holistic role for assessors; recognise the importance of assessors’ informal practices in the formal retention and achievement of apprentices; and enhance awareness of inequalities that may be reinforced by both informal and formal attributes of assessment practices

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Normal, Dysplastic and Cancerous Oral Mucosa: A Tissue Engineering Approach

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma, the primary cause of HNC, evolves from normal epithelium through dysplasia before invading the connective tissue to form a carcinoma. Only 5% of suspicious lesions progress to cancer and diagnosis currently relies on histopathological evaluation, which is invasive and time consuming. A non-invasive, real-time point-of-care method could overcome these problems and facilitate regular screening. Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) can non-invasively provide information regarding biochemical differences between normal and abnormal tissues. In this study, RS was employed to distinguish between different tissues-engineered models. 3D tissue engineered models of normal, dysplastic and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using normal oral keratinocytes, dysplastic (D19, D20 and DOK) and HNSCC cell lines (Cal27 , SCC4 and FaDu) were constructed and their biochemical content predicted by interpretation of their spectral characteristics. Spectral features of normal tissue samples were mainly attributed to lipids, whereas, malignant tissue samples were observed to be protein dominant. Visible differences were found between the spectra of normal, dysplastic and cancerous models, specifically in the bands of amide I and III. The spectra of HNSCC models showed a broad and strong peak of amide I instead of the sharp and weak lipid peak in normal models at band centred at 1667 cm-1. A shift at 2937 cm-1 was only observed in DOK, differentiating them from the other tissue types. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) distinguished noticeable differences between tissues

Effects of Foreground Contamination on the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy Measured by MAP

We study the effects of diffuse Galactic, far-infrared extragalactic source, and radio point source emission on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data anticipated from the MAP experiment. We focus on the correlation function and genus statistics measured from mock MAP foreground-contaminated CMB anisotropy maps generated in a spatially-flat cosmological constant dominated cosmological model. Analyses of the simulated MAP data at 90 GHz (0.3 deg FWHM resolution smoothed) show that foreground effects on the correlation function are small compared with cosmic variance. However, the Galactic emission, even just from the region with |b| > 20 deg, significantly affects the topology of CMB anisotropy, causing a negative genus shift non-Gaussianity signal. Given the expected level of cosmic variance, this effect can be effectively reduced by subtracting existing Galactic foreground emission models from the observed data. IRAS and DIRBE far-infrared extragalactic sources have little effect on the CMB anisotropy. Radio point sources raise the amplitude of the correlation function considerably on scales below 0.5 deg. Removal of bright radio sources above a 5 \sigma detection limit effectively eliminates this effect. Radio sources also result in a positive genus curve asymmetry (significant at 2 \sigma) on 0.5 deg scales. Accurate radio point source data is essential for an unambiguous detection of CMB anisotropy non-Gaussianity on these scales. Non-Gaussianity of cosmological origin can be detected from the foreground-subtracted CMB anisotropy map at the 2 \sigma level if the measured genus shift parameter |\Delta\nu| >= 0.02 (0.04) or if the measured genus asymmetry parameter |\Delta g| >= 0.03 (0.08) on a 0.3 (1.0) deg FWHM scale.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for Publication in Astrophysical Journal (Some sentences and figures modified

An S-shaped arc in the galaxy cluster RXJ0054.0-2823

The center of the galaxy cluster RX J0054.0-2823 at z = 0.292 is a dynamically active region which includes an interacting system of three galaxies surrounded by a large halo of intra-cluster light. We report here the discovery of an S-shaped feature of total length 11 arcsec in the central region of this cluster and discuss its physical nature. We test the gravitational lensing assumption by doing a mass modelling of the central part of the galaxy cluster. We very naturally reproduce position and form of this S-shape feature as a gravitationally lensed background object at redshift between 0.5 and 1.0. We conclude that the lensing nature is the very probable explanation for this S-shaped arc; the ultimate proof will be the spectroscopic confirmation by measuring the high redshift of this elongated feature with surface brightness V~24mag/arcsec2.Comment: 6 pages, accepted for publication in A&

Fantasies of subjugation: a discourse theoretical account of British policy on the European Union

The decision by the UK government to hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU) marks an important development in policy towards the EU. Policy changes of this kind must be understood in the historical and political context in which they occur. This includes the framing of the policy issues within public discourse. In the UK, policies are formed in a discursive environment which is overwhelmingly hostile towards the EU. Debates are structured by a predominantly Euroskeptic discourse which emphasizes the UK’s separation and heterogeneity from the rest of the EU. Drawing on the logics of critical explanation, this article examines the structure and affective power of Euroskeptic discourses which dictate the terms of the EU debate. It presents a case study of the recent EU treaty revision process, culminating in the Treaty of Lisbon. In so doing, it enables a deeper understanding of recent policy developments

1934: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

INTRODUCTION The theme for the Lectures for 1934, “The New Testament Church in History,” is a very timely one and follows naturally the theme of the 1933 Lectures, “The Church We Read About in the New Testament.” There is no subject that is so vital in our work as Christians today as a proper understanding of the great spiritual kingdom of our Savior, the church which was built by Jesus Christ. It is a hard lesson to teach because all people are so dull of hearing concerning things spiritual. Just as Nicodemus marveled when the Christ told him of the spiritual kingdom so do people today wonder and marvel when they are told that there is only one great church, the spiritual kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that all the saved of earth belong to that church and that belonging to anything else profits little, and is unnecessary. Not only are numbers of denominational churches and people who have no religious affiliation ignorant of the true meaning of the church, but even those who claim to be members of the one body are lacking in understanding concerning the kingdom of Christ. It is therefore the purpose of the Abilene College Lectures last year, this year and next year to arouse a greater interest in the study and the teaching of this very vital matter. In this particular volume much valuable information is brought together on the trials and struggles of the church from its foundations to the present. The speakers have made careful preparation on their subjects and have given lessons that should prove helpful to all who desire to have a better understanding of the church. Our prayer is that these Lectures may be read by many and that they may do much good in the name of the Christ. Jas. F. Cox,President, Abilene Christian College. Nov. 6, 1934

The institutional shaping of management: in the tracks of English individualism

Globalisation raises important questions about the shaping of economic action by cultural factors. This article explores the formation of what is seen by some as a prime influence on the formation of British management: individualism. Drawing on a range of historical sources, it argues for a comparative approach. In this case, the primary comparison drawn is between England and Scotland. The contention is that there is a systemic approach to authority in Scotland that can be contrasted to a personal approach in England. An examination of the careers of a number of Scottish pioneers of management suggests the roots of this systemic approach in practices of church governance. Ultimately this systemic approach was to take a secondary role to the personal approach engendered by institutions like the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but it found more success in the different institutional context of the USA. The complexities of dealing with historical evidence are stressed, as is the value of taking a comparative approach. In this case this indicates a need to take religious practice as seriously as religious belief as a source of transferable practice. The article suggests that management should not be seen as a simple response to economic imperatives, but as shaped by the social and cultural context from which it emerges

Why do we need (another) special issue on gender and VET?

The Journal of Vocational Education and Training last had a special issue on gender and vocational education and training (VET) in 2006. In the intervening 8 years, the journal has published 264 research papers, of which just 10 - that is, less than 4% - addressed the issue of gender in any substantive way. This is something of a disappointment, as editors always hope that a special issue will provoke increased discussion and debate in the journal about its theme as well as providing a focused resource. Is the problem that, compared to the effects of global labour migration flows, constantly rising youth unemployment figures or emerging skills gaps in an aging society, gender issues have lost their relevance as just one category of social inequalities among many others? This can hardly be the case, since it is obviously a most thorough-going and persistent one. Despite over 30 years of gender studies, and numerous policy initiatives to address gender inequalities, gender segregation persists in VET as well as in the labour market. Women still earn less, hold the majority of part-time contracts, tend to be stereotyped into caring and personal service work, and are largely under-represented in leadership positions. Is the problem then that there is nothing new to be said about gender and VET? We do not agree that that is the case either: gender injustice remains a central issue in VET and the labour market; and as the social, political and economic landscape changes rapidly in today's world, it is inevitable that gender inequalities are produced and reproduced in new and different ways. So we felt the need to call once again for a collection of papers dedicated specifically to this topic, and one that would reflect this evolution

Genus Topology of the Cosmic Microwave Background from WMAP

We have independently measured the genus topology of the temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background seen by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). A genus analysis of the WMAP data indicates consistency with Gaussian random-phase initial conditions, as predicted by standard inflation.Comment: PDF: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~wnc5c/WMAPtopology.pd