Narrowing the achievement gap : what and how schools learn through involvement in the specialist schools achievement programme – Part 1

This report was commissioned by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) to find out how schools used the Specialist Schools Achievement Programme (SSAP) to narrow the gap between the academic attainment and wider achievements of students from disadvantaged and more advantaged backgrounds. The study was undertaken by gathering short case studies from 70 schools participating in the programme and identifying 6 schools that had made notable progress for in-depth case study

UPEP 2023 Overview

Utah\u27s people and environment are currently experiencing significant changes as the population continues to grow, droughts and flooding pose threats to agriculture, air quality leads to health concerns, energy needs rise, and public lands see increased use. Action is needed to address these changes, especially given how rapidly they are occurring. Political leaders, environmental organizations, Tribal Nations, and universities play a critical role in ensuring Utah’s environment, economy, workforce, and underserved communities have a sustainable path forward. Understanding residents’ views, values, and concerns can help better craft the policy, inform infrastructure, and identify the services needed to do so. With this goal of understanding in mind, Utah State University\u27s Community & Natural Resources Institute (CANRI) launched the Utah People and Environment Poll in spring of 2023. The following summarizes findings in each category of the survey

Utahns Strongly Support Renewable Energy Sources Such as Solar and Wind

Utah was the fastest-growing state in the nation by population between 2010 and 2020.1 This growing population is bringing increased demand for energy. The build out of Utah\u27s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, with the state aiming to site electric vehicle charging stations at least every 50 miles along its interstate highway system by the end of 2025, will also increase energy demand. This growth will equate to increased carbon emissions if Utah does not change its electricity mix, which is currently composed of primarily carbon-emitting sources. As of 2022 (see Figure 1), 53% of Utah\u27s total electricity net generation came from coal, 26% from natural gas, and 16% from renewable energy sources, primarily solar power.

Imitation, Awareness; and Folk Linguistic Artifacts

Imitations are sophisticated performances displaying regular patterns. The study of imitation allows linguiSts to understand speakers' perceptions of sociolinguistic variation. In this dissertation, I analyze imitations of non-native accents in order to answer two questions: what can imitation reveal about perception, and how are folk linguistic artifacts (Preston 1996) involved in imitation? These questions are approached from the framework offolk linguistic awareness (Preston 1996). By redefining the concept of salience according to the modes of folk linguistic awareness, I am able to more precisely consider how imitation reflects salience. I address both of these questions by eliciting imitations from speakers in which folk artifacts are present. For my investigation, twenty speakers read a short passage in English. Ten were non-native speakers of American English (NNAE) and ten were native speakers of American English (AE). The AE speakers were recorded reading the passage in their regular voice and with two types of imitated accents: free imitations, which were spontaneously produced, and modeled imitations, which were produced directly after hearing the NNAE speakers. Free imitations revealed folk linguistic artifacts, while modeled imitations were more reflective of the immediate target. Participants listened to the authentic and imitated accents and were asked to determine the accent and authenticity of each speaker. I found that there was not a significant difference in the pitch and vowels between free and modeled AE imitations, which indicated that these aspects of imitations are largely based on folk linguistic artifacts. Listeners were able to determine which voices were authentic and which were imitated. Listeners were also able to identify the speakers' accents, perhaps aided by the folk artifact status of these particular accents. Listeners were better at identifying the accents of free imitations than modeled imitations, which suggested that listeners prefer imitations that are solely based on folk artifacts. Overall, I found that imitation is a valuable tool for the analysis of speech perception. The modes of folk linguistic awareness are useful in interpreting imitations and understanding salience. This research shows that folk linguistic artifacts are the foundation of imitations and an important tool in perceptual categorization

Producto radiofónico de cuentos, mitos, leyendas y poemas adaptados para la reconstrucción de la memoria histórica oral del pueblo afroecuatoriano de la provincia de Esmeraldas

Los medios de comunicación son autores directos del moldeamiento de conductas colectivas. En este contexto, la radio es el medio que ofrece mayor grado de participación a las audiencias y el más asequible a todas las clases sociales, por tanto, es el medio más adecuado para recrear y relevar la importancia de la tradición oral de una comunidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es compactar un producto que contenga una serie de ocho narraciones tradicionales de la provincia de Esmeraldas. Este documento se realiza como respuesta a la necesidad de revitalizar la memoria histórica de la comunidad afroecuatoriana cuyo conocimiento dista de una generación a la otra. El producto final es un CD de audio, el cual contiene la serie de dos cuentos, dos mitos, dos leyendas y dos poesías de la provincia. Dichas narraciones son relatadas y dramatizadas por estudiantes del colegio “Luz y Libertad” de la ciudad de Esmeraldas, para lo cual, previamente, se adaptó a un lenguaje sonoro sencillo y cálido que facilite la abstracción del contenido y la importancia de los saberes y la simbología oral del legado ancestral africano.The media are the direct authors of the shaping of behaviors of individuals. In this context, radio is the means of communication that offers the highest degree of participation to the audiences and is quite affordable for all social classes, therefore, it is the most appropriate means to recreate and relieve the importance of the oral tradition of a community. The objective of this work is to compact a product that contains a series of eight traditional narratives from the province of Esmeraldas. This document is made as a response to the need to revitalize the historical memory of the Afro-Ecuadorian community whose knowledge is far from one generation to another. The final product is an audio CD which contains the series of two stories, two myths, and two legends from the province. These stories will be told and dramatized by students of the “Luz y Libertad” school in the city of Esmeraldas for which, previously, they will be adapted to a simple and warm language that facilitates the abstraction of content and the importance of knowledge and oral symbology of the African ancestral legacy

Risk of Mortality (including Sudden Cardiac Death) and Major Cardiovascular Events in Users of Olanzapine and Other Antipsychotics: A Study with the General Practice Research Database.

Objective. Assess risk of cardiac events and mortality among users of olanzapine and other antipsychotics relative to nonusers. Methods. The General Practice Research Database was used to identify cohorts of antipsychotic users and nonusers with psychiatric illness. Outcomes included cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death (SCD), all-cause mortality (excluding suicide), coronary heart disease (CHD), and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Results. 183,392 antipsychotic users (including 20,954 olanzapine users) and 193,920 psychiatric nonusers were identified. There was a significantly higher rate of cardiac mortality (adjusted RR [aRR]: 1.53, CI, 1.12-2.09) in olanzapine users relative to psychiatric nonusers, consistent with findings for both atypical and typical antipsychotics. Relative to psychiatric nonusers, no increased risk of all-cause mortality was observed among olanzapine users (aRR: 1.04, CI, 0.93-1.17), but elevated all-cause mortality risk was observed when compared to all antipsychotic users (aRR: 1.75, CI, 1.64-1.87). There was no increased risk of CHD or VA among olanzapine users relative to psychiatric nonusers, consistent with findings for atypical but not typical antipsychotics. SCD cases were uncommon. Conclusions. Use of antipsychotic agents was associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiac mortality. Patients treated with olanzapine were found to be at increased risk of cardiac mortality versus psychiatric nonusers

Association of type of birth attendant and place of delivery on infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Objective: To examine the association between type of birth attendant and place of delivery, and infant mortality (IM).Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from the Demographic Health Surveys for women in Ghana, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and95% confidence intervals.Results: In Ghana and Sierra Leone, odds of IM were higher for women who delivered at a health facility versus women who delivered at a household residence (OR=3.18, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.29-7.83, p=0.01 and OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.15-2.28, p=0.01, respectively). Compared to the use of health professionals, the use of birth attendants for assistance with delivery was not significantly associated with IM for women in Ghana or Sierra Leone (OR=2.17, 95% CI: 0.83-5.69, p=0.12 and OR=1.25, 95% CI: 0.92-1.70, p=0.15, respectively). In Kenya, odds of IM, though nonsignificant, were lower for women who used birth attendants than those who used health professionals to assist with delivery (OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.51-1.41, p=0.46), and higher with delivery at a health facility versus a household residence (OR=1.29, 95% CI: 0.81-2.03, p=0.28).Conclusions: Women in Ghana and Sierra Leone who delivered at a health facility had statistically significant increased odds of IM. Birth attendant type-IM associations were not statistically significant.Future research should consider culturally-sensitive interventions to improve maternal health and help reduce IM.Keywords: birth attendant, infant mortality, sub-Saharan Afric

The association between client type and condom use with steady and unsteady partners among persons seeking HIV testing and counseling services in Kenya

Background: Approximately 70% of global HIV infections are located in sub-Saharan Africa, and the prevalence of HIV infection in Kenya remains high. Objectives: This study examined the association between client type (general population, commercial sex worker [CSW], or truck driver) and consistent condom use with steady and unsteady partners. Methods: Self-reported data included in the Kenyan Ministry of Health 2010-2011 National HIV Testing and Counseling Registry were used (n=11,567). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using logistic regression. Results: After adjustment, CSWs and truck drivers had decreased odds of consistent condom use with steady partners compared to the general population (OR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.41-0.67 and OR=0.29; 95% CI: 0.13-0.63; respectively). CSWs had 1.95 times the odds of consistent condom use (95% CI: 1.58-2.42) and truck drivers had 0.64 times the odds of consistent condom use with unsteady partners (95% CI: 0.45-0.91) compared to the general population. Conclusion: Although CSWs consistently use condoms with their unsteady partners, truck drivers do not consistently use condoms with any partners. Future HIV prevention efforts should target CSWs and truck drivers to increase consistent condom use with all partners. Such efforts may decrease the prevalence of HIV in Kenya

Risk of mortality (including sudden cardiac death) and major cardiovascular events in atypical and typical antipsychotic users: a study with the general practice research database.

Objective. Antipsychotics have been associated with increased cardiac events including mortality. This study assessed cardiac events including mortality among antipsychotic users relative to nonusers. Methods. The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) was used to identify antipsychotic users, matched general population controls, and psychiatric diseased nonusers. Outcomes included cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death (SCD), all-cause mortality (excluding suicide), coronary heart disease (CHD), and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Sensitivity analyses were conducted for age, dose, duration, antipsychotic type, and psychiatric disease. Results. 183,392 antipsychotic users (115,491 typical and 67,901 atypical), 544,726 general population controls, and 193,920 psychiatric nonusers were identified. Nonusers with schizophrenia, dementia, or bipolar disorder had increased risks of all-cause mortality compared to general population controls, while nonusers with major depression had comparable risks. Relative to psychiatric nonusers, the adjusted relative ratios (aRR) of all-cause mortality in antipsychotic users was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.64-1.87); cardiac mortality 1.72 (95% CI: 1.42-2.07); SCD primary definition 5.76 (95% CI: 2.90-11.45); SCD secondary definition 2.15 (95% CI: 1.64-2.81); CHD 1.16 (95% CI: 0.94-1.44); and VA 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02-1.31). aRRs of the various outcomes were lower for atypical versus typical antipsychotics (all-cause mortality 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80-0.85); cardiac mortality 0.89 (95% CI: 0.82-0.97); and SCD secondary definition 0.76 (95% CI: 0.55-1.04). Conclusions. Antipsychotic users had an increased risk of cardiac mortality, all-cause mortality, and SCD compared to a psychiatric nonuser cohort