The invisible plan: how English teachers develop their expertise and the special place of adapting the skills of lesson planning

This paper analyses how English teachers learn to become expert designers of learning and why sharing that expertise is increasingly vital. Its conceptual framework is the widely recognised, empirically tested, five-stage developmental Dreyfus model of skill acquisition, exemplifying the development of teacher expertise, constituted by the “milestone” [m] and “transitory” [t] phases connecting with the five stages of: Novice [m], Advanced Beginner [t], Competent [m], Proficient [t] and Expert [m]. Teacher planning is analysed as one key tacit or non-tangible component of developing expertise. Focusing specifically on English teachers as key participants in this pioneer teacher cognition study, the defining characteristics of milestone stages of expertise development are explored with specific attention to the remarkably under-researched area of planning. We introduce three new categories, defining modes of planning: (i) visible practical planning, (ii) external reflective planning and (iii) internal reflective planning, demonstrating their role in teacher development through the Dreyfus five stages. English is a subject which suffers from frequent disruptive changes to curriculum and assessment: new learning designs are constantly demanded, making planning an ongoing challenge. The implications for practice include the importance of an explicit understanding of how teachers’ planning moves through the three phases from the very “visible” novice phase to the internal relatively “automatic” competent teacher and finally the seemingly “invisible” expert phase. Further research is needed to explore how English teachers can share planning expertise between the three phases to improve teachers’ skills and student learning

Acceptability of intrapartum HIV counselling and testing in Cameroon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To assess the acceptability of intrapartum HIV testing and determine the prevalence of HIV among labouring women with unknown HIV status in Cameroon.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The study was conducted in four hospitals (two referral and two districts hospitals) in Cameroon. Labouring women with unknown HIV status were counselled and those who accepted were tested for HIV.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 2413 women were counselled and 2130 (88.3%) accepted to be tested for HIV. Of the 2130 women tested, 214 (10.1%) were HIV positive. Acceptability of HIV testing during labour was negatively associated with maternal age, parity and number of antenatal visits, but positively associated with level of education. HIV sero-status was positively associated with maternal age, parity, number of antenatal visits and level education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Acceptability of intrapartum HIV testing is high and the prevalence of HIV is also high among women with unknown HIV sero-status in Cameroon. We recommend an opt-out approach (where women are informed that HIV testing will be routine during labour if HIV status is unknown but each person may decline to be tested) for Cameroon and countries with similar social profiles.</p

An Estimate of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Reports show that African men suffer disproportionately from PCa compared to men from other parts of the world. It is still quite difficult to accurately describe the burden of PCa in Africa due to poor cancer registration systems.We systematically reviewed the literature on prostate cancer in Africa and provided a continentwide incidence rate of PCa based on available data in the regio

Unusual Water-Soluble Imino Phosphine Ligand: Enamine and Imine Derivatives of 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA)

A series of water-soluble and air-stable <i>E</i>-enamine derivatives of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), PTAC­(R)­NH₂, <b>1</b>–<b>4</b>, are reported along with data on <i>E–Z</i> isomerization and tautomerization to the imine form (PTA-CRNH). Reaction of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaamantane-6-yl lithium, PTA-Li, with aromatic nitriles afforded <i>E</i>-enamine derivatives of PTA in good yield (49–91%). Phosphines <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> are stable toward water and air, and do not appear to isomerize or tautomerize, unless coordinated to a metal or oxidized. The corresponding oxides, OPTAC­(R)­NH₂ (<b>5</b>–<b>8</b>), were observed as ∼55/45 mixtures of <i>E</i> and <i>Z</i> isomers. Kinetic data on the <i>E–Z</i> isomerization is reported. Upon coordination of <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> to W­(CO)₄­(pip)₂, a κ¹-<i>P</i> enamine is formed, [W­(CO)₄(pip)­(κ¹-<i>P</i>-PTACRNH₂)]. Enamine–imine tautomerization of the metal bound phosphine was observed resulting in κ²-<i>P</i>,<i>N</i> imine complexes, [W­(CO)₄(κ²-<i>P</i>,<i>N</i>-PTA-CRNH)], <b>9</b>–<b>12</b>. The crystal structures of the κ¹-<i>P</i> enamine <b>11a</b>, κ²-<i>P</i>,<i>N</i> imine <b>9</b> and <b>12</b>, phosphines <b>1</b> and <b>3</b>, as well as phosphine oxide <b>8a</b> were obtained. DFT calculations on the various isomers of the phosphines and phosphine oxides are also reported

Viral anti‐inflammatory serpin reduces immuno‐coagulopathic pathology in SARS‐CoV‐2 mouse models of infection

Abstract SARS‐CoV‐2 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induces uncontrolled lung inflammation and coagulopathy with high mortality. Anti‐viral drugs and monoclonal antibodies reduce early COVID‐19 severity, but treatments for late‐stage immuno‐thrombotic syndromes and long COVID are limited. Serine protease inhibitors (SERPINS) regulate activated proteases. The myxoma virus‐derived Serp‐1 protein is a secreted immunomodulatory serpin that targets activated thrombotic, thrombolytic, and complement proteases as a self‐defense strategy to combat clearance. Serp‐1 is effective in multiple animal models of inflammatory lung disease and vasculitis. Here, we describe systemic treatment with purified PEGylated Serp‐1 as a therapy for immuno‐coagulopathic complications during ARDS. Treatment with PEGSerp‐1 in two mouse‐adapted SARS‐CoV‐2 models in C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice reduced lung and heart inflammation, with improved outcomes. PEGSerp‐1 significantly reduced M1 macrophages in the lung and heart by modifying urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), thrombotic proteases, and complement membrane attack complex (MAC). Sequential changes in gene expression for uPAR and serpins (complement and plasminogen inhibitors) were observed. PEGSerp‐1 is a highly effective immune‐modulator with therapeutic potential for severe viral ARDS, immuno‐coagulopathic responses, and Long COVID