When is it Time for Science?

The title of this article begs the question, When should we be teaching science to our children? Even before birth human beings may recognize natural phenomena such as pressure and temperature differences, and spontaneously react to changes in such things. These are learning experiences. It can be argued that as the brain continues to grow and develop, connections are beginning to be formed and subconscious memories created. Information gathered through the senses may be stored in unarticulated patterns in the brain. Here is the foundation for a scientific understanding of nature

Systematic off-pump coronary artery revascularization in multivessel disease: Experience of three hundred cases

AbstractObjective: We sought to report our recent experience with off-pump coronary artery revascularization in multivessel disease. Methods: Between October 1996 and December 1998, 300 off-pump beating heart operations were performed at the Montreal Heart Institute by a single surgeon, representing 94% of all procedures undertaken during this same time frame (97% for 1998). This cohort of patients was compared with 1870 patients operated on with cardiopulmonary bypass from 1995 to 1996. Results: Mean age, sex distribution, and preoperative risk factors were comparable for the two groups. On average, 2.92 ± 0.8 and 2.84 ± 0.6 grafts per patient were completed in the beating heart and cardiopulmonary bypass groups, respectively. A majority of patients (70%) had either a triple or quadruple bypass. Coronary anastomoses were achieved with myocardial mechanical stabilization and heart “verticalization.” Ischemic time was shorter in the beating heart group (29.8 ± 0.9 vs 45 ± 0.4 minutes, P < .05). Similarly, the need for transfusion was significantly less in the beating heart group (beating heart operations, 34%; cardiopulmonary bypass, 66%; P < .005). Reduced use of postoperative intra-aortic counterpulsation, as well as a lower rise in creatine kinase MB isoenzyme, was observed in the beating heart group. Operative mortality rates (beating heart operations, 1.3%; cardiopulmonary bypass, 2%) and perioperative myocardial infarction (beating heart operations, 3.6%; cardiopulmonary bypass, 4.2%) were comparable for the two groups. Conclusion: In a majority of patients, off-pump complete coronary artery revascularization is an acceptable alternative to conventional operations, yielding good results given progressive experience, rigorous technique, and adequate coronary artery stabilization. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:221-9

The Emeritus Teacher

Mary, Clara, and Harry are part of what they call the gray brigade. They met 6 years ago at a Retired Teachers Association meeting, warmed up to one another immediately, and began a lasting friendship. The trio has reached the emeritus phase of the Life Cycle of the Career Teacher model. They cared passionately about their profession when they were teachers, and that passion continues today. All are actively involved in helping schools improve and children succeed. Each of them goes about this quest in a very different way. Mary is a political activist well known in the halls of the state legislature. Clara, who volunteers in a fourth-grade classroom at a neighborhood school, knows how to provide underachieving students with the gift of resilience. Harry is known for achieving a 100 % success rate in mentoring teachers through the apprentice phase. All of these emeritus teachers continue to make significant contributions to the field of teaching, yet on their own terms and in their own ways

Travail pendant les études et abandon scolaire : Causes, conséquences et politiques d'intervention

The deterioration of the wage conditions of non-qualified workers has been the subject of considerable attention over the past few years. Unfortunately, it is not the sole preoccupation of public decision-makers. In this class of workers, the employment rate is particularly low, while unemployment tends to remain rather high. The first cause of non-qualification of young workers being their dropping out of school (the Canadian rate of dropouts from high school is 18%), any policy likely to reduce the dropout rates will be an effective means of improving the working situation of the youth. Our research identifies several determinants of dropping out and different policies which can be put into action by the governments in order to reduce dropout. We mention particularly the role played by the minimum wage in the dropout phenomenon: it is clear that a high minimum wage tends to increase dropout significantly La détérioration des conditions salariales des travailleurs non qualifiés sur le marché du travail a été l'objet d'une attention considérable au cours des dernières années. Malheureusement, elle n'est pas la seule source de préoccupations pour les décideurs publics. S'agissant de cette catégorie de travailleurs, le ratio emploi/population demeure singulièrement bas et le taux de chômage se0501ntient à des niveaux le plus souvent élevés. La première source de la non qualification des jeunes travailleurs étant l'abandon des études secondaires (à l'échelle canadienne, le taux d'abandon au secondaire est estimé à 18 %), toute politique susceptible de réduire les taux d'abandon représentera un moyen efficace d'améliorer la situation des jeunes sur le marché du travail. Notre recherche identifie plusieurs déterminants de l'abandon et différentes politiques qui pourront être mises de l'avant par les gouvernements pour réduire l'abandon scolaire. En particulier, mentionnons le rôle du salaire minimum dans le phénomène du décrochage : il est clair que le salaire minimum, quand il est élevé, contribue de façon significative à accroître l'abandon scolaire.School dropout, hours of work during study, minimum wage, Abandon scolaire, heures travaillées pendant les études, salaire minimum

Reconnecting the Sciences

During the last three years at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, we have been working on a partial reconstruction of Whitehead\u27s one subject matter, a course reconnecting biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, and physics into an Integrated Science program

Predictors of loss to follow up among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a private not for profit urban diabetes clinic in Uganda : a descriptive retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing in Uganda, data on loss to follow up (LTFU) of patients in care is scanty. We aimed to estimate proportions of patients LTFU and document associated factors among patients attending a private not for profit urban diabetes clinic in Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study between March and May 2017. We reviewed 1818 out-patient medical records of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus registered between July 2003 and September 2016 at St. Francis Hospital - Nsambya Diabetes clinic in Uganda. Data was extracted on: patients' registration dates, demographics, socioeconomic status, smoking, glycaemic control, type of treatment, diabetes mellitus complications and last follow-up clinic visit. LTFU was defined as missing collecting medication for six months or more from the date of last clinic visit, excluding situations of death or referral to another clinic. We used Kaplan-Meier technique to estimate time to defaulting medical care after initial registration, log-rank test to test the significance of observed differences between groups. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine predictors of patients' LTFU rates in hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: Between July 2003 and September 2016, one thousand eight hundred eighteen patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were followed for 4847.1 person-years. Majority of patients were female 1066/1818 (59%) and 1317/1818 (72%) had poor glycaemic control. Over the 13 years, 1690/1818 (93%) patients were LTFU, giving a LTFU rate of 34.9 patients per 100 person-years (95%CI: 33.2-36.6). LTFU was significantly higher among males, younger patients (< 45 years), smokers, patients on dual therapy, lower socioeconomic status, and those with diabetes complications like neuropathy and nephropathy. CONCLUSION: We found high proportions of patients LTFU in this diabetes clinic which warrants intervention studies targeting the identified risk factors and strengthening follow up of patients

Session D-3: What is this number e ? Why is it so useful?

Intended for upper level high school mathematics teachers. An approach for estimating the number “e” will be reviewed. Participants will work through examples that lead to an understanding of the importance of the number “e”

Thailand Ties

One of the resolutions I witnessed moving forward at the Summer 2006 National Congress on Science Education in Toronto, Canada involved expanding our learning through international collaborations. The Congress encouraged National Science Teacher Association affiliates to make an effort to connect with educators in other countries in order to both learn and share ideas and issues facing the science education community. With the already large numbers of students from other cultures in many school systems in the United States and the increasing quality of students coming out of science programs in other countries, it has become imperative that we better understand other approaches to science education as well as share our best practices with others striving to improve their science education programs

Session B-4: Physics Problem Sharing

Bring a physics problem of your own design to share with participants. Participants will share their problems with the group and explain the solutions. Discussion will include the purpose of the item and how responses can be interpreted. If problems are brought on a flash drive, participants who bring computers can download copies to take home