The effects of single-sex schooling on student achievement and attitudes in Nigeria

This study of Form Three (ninth grade) students in Nigeria indicates that single sex schools improve girls'achievement in mathematics and engender less stereotypic ideas about mathematics. But Nigerian males experience lower achievement and hold a more stereotypic view of mathematics under single sex schooling. Why are there different responses? In part, differences between the types of students attending single-sex and coeducational schools may be responsible. Girls'schools also differed from boys schools in several important ways. While these and other differences beween students and schools were found to contribute to differences in student achievement, a statistically significant residual effect for single-sex schools remained after adjustments were made, suggesting that other organizational or student background factors may account for the observed differences in effects.Adolescent Health,Primary Education,Gender and Education,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Teaching and Learning

Gender Equity in Mathematics Achievement in East African Primary Schools: Context Counts

Although primary school enrollment is gradually on the increase in the developing world, differences in mathematics achievement between girls and boys persist. A complex combination of factors that is related to issues of the home environment, the school context, and national policy influences the performance of female students when compared to their male peers. We focus on three countries in East Africa with a female disadvantage in mathematics achievement and use data from 8,795 primary school students in 529 schools. We explore the influence of contextual factors and organizational processes that are associated with better overall performance and with the improved gender distribution of achievement.

Mineral fabrication and golgi apparatus activity in the mouse calvarium

There is diverse opinion about the mechanism of bone mineralization with only intermittent reports of any direct organellar role played by the golgi apparatus (juxtanuclear body). Light and laser confocal microscopy was combined with electron microscopy and elemental EDX (energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis) in comparing “young” osteocytes in situ in fresh and “slam” frozen developing mouse calvarium, with similar cells (MC3T3-E1) maintained in vitro. The distribution of “nascent” electron dense mineral was examined histochemically (von Kossa, GBHA), including tetracycline (TC) staining as a fluorescent complex with bone salt, while golgi body activity was demonstrated by transfection with a specific green fluorescent construct (GFP/mannosidase II). In tissue culture golgi body activity and mineralization were both blocked by brefeldin A (an established golgi inhibitor) and restored by forskolin, enabling an association with mineral fabrication to be quantified as changing fluorescence intensity (AU) of GFP or TC markers. Results from osteocytes in situ supported previous descriptions of intracellular electron dense objects (microspheres and nanospheres) in a juxtanuclear pattern, containing Ca, P and transitory Si, in a spectrum recapitulated in the calcifying culture after 10 days, when GFP fluorophore surged from 71.7 ± 1.4SD to 133.7 ± 2.7SD AU by 14 days (p < 0.0001). At this stage TC fluorophore mean intensity was 23.8 ± 3.7SD AU (14 days) rising to 45.0 ± 5.1SD AU by 17 days, compared to its stationary 21.7 ± 3.6SD when treated 3 days previously with BFA golgi inhibitor (p < 0.0001), until forskolin reversal. It was concluded from the changing juxtanuclear morphology, Si mineralization mediation and the variably controlled activity versus stasis that the inorganic phase of bone is a complex golgi-directed fabrication with implications for bone matrix biology and evolution

Mechanism of Reductive Elimination of Methyl Iodide from a Novel Gold(III)−Monomethyl Complex

Oxidation of (Idipp)AuMe (Idipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) with I_2 gives a monomethyl Au(III) complex, (Idipp)AuI_2Me, which decomposes cleanly to MeI and (Idipp)AuI. Kinetics experiments show that this transformation occurs primarily via three-coordinate, cationic [(Idipp)AuIMe]^+, which undergoes intramolecular reductive elimination rather than nucleophilic attack by external I^−

Evaluation of the Theoretical Uncertainties in the W to Lepton and Neutrino Cross Sections at the LHC

We study the sources of systematic errors in the measurement of the W to lepton and neutrino cross-sections at the LHC. We consider the systematic errors in both the total cross-section and acceptance for anticipated experimental cuts. We include the best available analysis of QCD effects at NNLO in assessing the effect of higher order corrections and PDF and scale uncertainties on the theoretical acceptance. In addition, we evaluate the error due to missing NLO electroweak corrections and propose which MC generators and computational schemes should be implemented to best simulate the events.Comment: 33 pages, 109 eps figures, uses JHEP3.cls, rotating.sty Version 2 corrects an error in Table 1, adds some references, and updates an author addres

Does Openness to Trade Make Countries More Vulnerable to Sudden Stops, or Less? Using Gravity to Establish Causality

Openness to trade is one factor that has been identified as determining whether a country is prone to sudden stops in capital inflows, crashes in currencies, or severe recessions. Some believe that openness raises vulnerability to foreign shocks, while others believe that it makes adjustment to crises less painful. Several authors have offered empirical evidence that having a large tradable sector reduces the contraction necessary to adjust to a given cut-off in funding. This would help explain lower vulnerability to crises in Asia than in Latin America. Such studies may, however, be subject to the problem that trade is endogenous. Using the gravity instrument for trade openness, which is constructed from geographical determinants of bilateral trade, this paper finds that openness indeed makes countries less vulnerable, both to severe sudden stops and currency crashes, and that the relationship is even stronger when correcting for the endogeneity of trade.

The relationship between infecting organisms and underlying structural anomalies in children with urinary tract infections

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of morbidity in childhood with potential for renal scarring and reflux nephropathy which can lead to hypertension and end-stage renal failure. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the infecting organism and any underlying anomalies of the urinary tract which may predispose to the development of infections and which may alter the management of children with UTIs. Methods and results: A total of 72 cases of UTI were recorded retrospectively (in- and outpatients), with ages ranging from 3 days to 48 months (mean 9.5, median 5 months). Fifty seven (79%) of patients had their first reported urinary tract infection under the age of 1 year.. Fifty eight (80.6%) were E. coli infections. These presented at an older age than non-E. coli infections. Investigations were abnormal in 31 (43%) cases. The mean age for first infection in patients with abnormal investigations was 7.7 months (median 2 months), younger than those with no renal tract abnormalities. Organisms other than E. coli were rarely found when no significant abnormalities were detected with investigation by US and MCUG and this was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Renal scarring was identified in 10 (13.9%) patients. Discussion: This study confirms that non-E. coli UTI is associated with underlying renal pathology and that early infections with any organism are more likely to be associated with underlying abnormalities. We also outline an algorithm based on the recent NICE 2007 guidelines which will be adopted by the Paediatric Department, Mater Dei Hospital for the investigation of UTI.peer-reviewe

An Assessment of a Video on the Link Between Diabetes and Peridontal Disease to Educate Native American Populations.

As the Native American population of the Navajo Nation, becomes affected with diabetes dental offices across the Navajo Reservation must ensure that evidence based research is being presented n the oral systemic link of diabetes and periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to bring awareness to the important topic of the bi-directional link of diabetes and periodontal disease with Native American dental patients. This topic seems to not be valued during oral hygiene education time and so that addition of a culturally-specific educational video on the topic should add value to the message. This topic was investigated via survey instrument and data were collected from three New Mexico Dental Hygiene Programs. Results of this study reinforced the importance of this video being added to the standard protocol dental visit, it illustrated the impact that this educational initiative could have on this population. A reinforcement of including this video during dental visits improves the awareness of the oral systemic connection

The Church Has Left the Building: A Leadership Perspective of Online Church versus Traditional Church

Where it was once thought that the decline of traditional church goers into a brick and mortar edifice meant that America was becoming less “faith based”, the everincreasing number of online worshippers indicates otherwise. Due to the rapidly shifting culture toward an online worship experience, the traditional church must re-evaluate and reform their processes to include this new wave of Christianity. If churches cannot transition to accommodate the new culture of church that is only accessible via the Internet, there is a possibility that they could lose the opportunity to share the Gospel Message with a population that may never enter a church building. The aim of this study is to determine how the needs of the Internet church differ from the traditional church, and how this dynamic can be strategic in determining the most effective method of serving the e-church community. It will examine ways to build strong relationship bonds between the pastor and the Internet congregation and how social media can be instrumental in this effort. Thus, the research questions are as follows: Does the online church meet the religious needs through the internet connectivity, fellowship, and relational interaction? What is the role of a pastor who shepherds both traditional and Internet congregations? Does online church satisfy our corporate need to have a meaningful worship experience? In this context, the intent is also to identify and describe the Internet congregation’s demographic and how it impacts the pastor’s role, by researching the story behind the needs of the current Internet audience and how to effectively engage them in online participation. On this basis, it is recommended that pastors consider the major benefits of online church; the convenience xi that online religion permits, the unrestricted usage of a multiplicity of platforms, and the cost efficacy of reaching the world for Christ

Challenges in the land of hope: Phoenix area refugees and the recession

Refugees in the United States today have greater access than ever to training programs and specialized service providers who assist with cultural adjustment to the U.S. as well as pre-employment training, job placement and retention services. Service providers develop job opportunities in the local community through partnerships with dedicated employers who see value in hiring new Americans and purpose in collaborating with voluntary agencies to overcome barriers for employees. During the recession there has been greater challenges for employment specialists to find employment for refugee clients and employers have noted some reluctance in hiring employees with low or non-existent English language skills. Once hired, refugees present other types of challenges for supervisors tasked with training these employees with language and cultural barriers. Lutheran Social Services Refugee and Immigration Services (LSS-SW) program in Phoenix, Arizona is a voluntary refugee resettlement agency providing employment services and training programs to assist with job placement and retention. This inquiry sought to determine ways LSS-SW staff might collaborate with potential employers to increase the number of refugee clients hired while maintaining job retention for hires. The inquiry also sought to better understand the experiences of employers to determine improved training for employees, as well as what industries are hiring locally during the recession. Employers were asked to assess their own needs for training, whether or not there was a presence of discrimination for refugees in their companies and about the misconceptions of supervisors and non-refugee co-workers. Eleven employers who currently employ refugee clients from the agency as well as three employment specialists were interviewed as a part of this inquiry