Re-Inventing Public Education:The New Role of Knowledge in Education Policy-Making

This article focuses on the changing role of knowledge in education policy making within the knowledge society. Through an examination of key policy texts, the Scottish case of Integrated Children Services provision is used to exemplify this new trend. We discuss the ways in which knowledge is being used in order to re-configure education as part of a range of public services designed to meet individuals' needs. This, we argue, has led to a 'scientization' of education governance where it is only knowledge, closely intertwined with action (expressed as 'measures') that can reveal problems and shape solutions. The article concludes by highlighting the key role of knowledge policy and governance in orienting education policy making through a re-invention of the public role of education

СТЕЙКХОЛДЕРНО-ИНТЕГРИРОВАННЫЙ ПОДХОД К ОЦЕНКЕ УРОВНЯ ИНЖЕНЕРНО-ИНФРАСТРУКТУРНОГО ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ГОРОДОВ

An algorithm for assessment of level in engineering and infrastructure support of urban area has been developed while using geographic information systems (GIS) in the framework of stakeholder-integrated approach. In order to achieve the target goal the following tasks have been solved: description of stakeholder-integrated approach to assessment of level in engineering and infrastructure support of cities; systematization of the existing approaches to assessment of level in engineering and infrastructure support of cities; development of an algorithm for determination of data for spatial models; development of spatial models for assessment of level in engineering and infrastructure support while using geographic information systems. A comprehensive approach has been proposed to simulate spatial factors in order to assess urban engineering and infrastructure support, which is different from the existing ones due to development and application of GIS tools. Spatial models of urban engineering and infrastructure support have been developed in the paper. They include territorial, ecological, power engineering, socio-economic and other characteristics. These models have made it possible to implement the proposed approach for simulation of the spatial factors. It is necessary to point out the fact that geographic information systems have been used and this approach provides a possibility to detailed consideration of models which reveal influence of spatial factors. So it is possible to increase objectivity of solving the problem.Разработан алгоритм оценки уровня инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения территории городов с использованием геоинформационных систем в рамках стейкхолдерно-интегрированного подхода. Для достижения поставленной цели решены следующие задачи: охарактеризован стейкхолдерно-интегрированный подход к оценке уровня инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения городов; систематизированы существующие подходы к оценке уровня инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения городов; разработан алгоритм определения данных пространственных моделей; построены пространственные модели для оценки уровня инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения с использованием геоинформационных систем. Предложен комплексный подход к моделированию пространственных факторов для оценки инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения города, который отличается от существующих разработкой и применением геоинформационного инструментария. Разработаны пространственные модели инженерно-инфраструктурного обеспечения территории города, включающие территориальные, экологические, энергетические, социально-экономические и другие характеристики, что позволило реализовать предложенный подход к моделированию пространственных факторов. Заслуживает внимания использование геоинформационных систем, что открывает возможность более детального рассмотрения моделей влияния пространственных факторов, позволяет повысить объективность решения поставленной проблемы

Upregulation of Hemoglobin Expression by Oxidative Stress in Hepatocytes and Its Implication in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Recent studies revealed that hemoglobin is expressed in some non-erythrocytes and it suppresses oxidative stress when overexpressed. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study was designed to investigate whether hemoglobin is expressed in hepatocytes and how it is related to oxidative stress in NASH patients. Analysis of microarray gene expression data revealed a significant increase in the expression of hemoglobin alpha (HBA1) and beta (HBB) in liver biopsies from NASH patients. Increased hemoglobin expression in NASH was validated by quantitative real time PCR. However, the expression of hematopoietic transcriptional factors and erythrocyte specific marker genes were not increased, indicating that increased hemoglobin expression in NASH was not from erythropoiesis, but could result from increased expression in hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated positive HBA1 and HBB expression in the hepatocytes of NASH livers. Hemoglobin expression was also observed in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line. Furthermore, treatment with hydrogen peroxide, a known oxidative stress inducer, increased HBA1 and HBB expression in HepG2 and HEK293 cells. Importantly, hemoglobin overexpression suppressed oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. We concluded that hemoglobin is expressed by hepatocytes and oxidative stress upregulates its expression. Suppression of oxidative stress by hemoglobin could be a mechanism to protect hepatocytes from oxidative damage in NASH

PROFESSORES DO PISA: A ESPERANÇA E A REALIZAÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO

RESUMO: As atividades do Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) e os seus efeitos são diversos, sendo possível dizer que o PISA cria e forma uma fundamentação específica (HACKING, 1992) para discutir, falar e pensar sobre a educação. Neste estudo sobre as atividades do PISA, são analisadas as ideias sobre os professores, as atividades que realizam, e como estas são conceitualizadas no interior de uma narrativa própria ao PISA. Os resultados mostram que os professores são apresentados como sendo importantes e cruciais para a transformação e para o desenvolvimento da educação. Os professores também são representados como sendo essenciais para reduzir as "disparidades no desempenho" dos alunos medidas pelo teste PISA. Ademais, os "bons" professores e o ensino "eficaz" são descritos como os professores e as estratégias que conduzem a tal redução. Consequentemente, os principais relatórios do PISA enfatizam uma imagem dos professores como os atores que desenvolvem a educação e o ensino, e não como executantes de políticas determinadas pelo Estado. Deste modo, os professores são considerados como indicadores da eficácia dos sistemas de educação e importantes para elevar os padrões de desempenho, sendo assim considerados como a esperança e a realização da educação

Countries with Higher Levels of Gender Equality Show Larger National Sex Differences in Mathematics Anxiety and Relatively Lower Parental Mathematics Valuation for Girls.

Despite international advancements in gender equality across a variety of societal domains, the underrepresentation of girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields persists. In this study, we explored the possibility that the sex difference in mathematics anxiety contributes to this disparity. More specifically, we tested a number of predictions from the prominent gender stratification model, which is the leading psychological theory of cross-national patterns of sex differences in mathematics anxiety and performance. To this end, we analyzed data from 761,655 15-year old students across 68 nations who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Most importantly and contra predictions, we showed that economically developed and more gender equal countries have a lower overall level of mathematics anxiety, and yet a larger national sex difference in mathematics anxiety relative to less developed countries. Further, although relatively more mothers work in STEM fields in more developed countries, these parents valued, on average, mathematical competence more in their sons than their daughters. The proportion of mothers working in STEM was unrelated to sex differences in mathematics anxiety or performance. We propose that the gender stratification model fails to account for these national patterns and that an alternative model is needed. In the discussion, we suggest how an interaction between socio-cultural values and sex-specific psychological traits can better explain these patterns. We also discuss implications for policies aiming to increase girls' STEM participation

Integrated high-content quantification of intracellular ROS levels and mitochondrial morphofunction

Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their removal by cellular antioxidant systems. Especially under pathological conditions, mitochondria constitute a relevant source of cellular ROS. These organelles harbor the electron transport chain, bringing electrons in close vicinity to molecular oxygen. Although a full understanding is still lacking, intracellular ROS generation and mitochondrial function are also linked to changes in mitochondrial morphology. To study the intricate relationships between the different factors that govern cellular redox balance in living cells, we have developed a high-contentmicroscopy-based strategy for simultaneous quantification of intracellular ROS levels and mitochondrial morphofunction. Here, we summarize the principles of intracellular ROS generation and removal, and we explain the major considerations for performing quantitative microscopy analyses of ROS and mitochondrial morphofunction in living cells. Next, we describe our workflow, and finally, we illustrate that a multiparametric readout enables the unambiguous classification of chemically perturbed cells as well as laminopathy patient cells

ICRF heating on TFTR-effect on stability and performance

With the addition of two new antennas and two radiofrequency (RF) generators, the TFTR ICRF system is complete. The total complement of four antennas and six generators is designed for 12.5 MW operation. Experiments with this system have been performed recently on TFTR in the low recycling regime to increase the performance of supershot plasmas, in a non-resonant regime to explore electron heating, and in high recycling discharges with energetic ion tails to simulate fusion alpha particles. Noteworthy results include: direct electron heating observed with absorption rates in agreement with theory; electron heating of supershot plasmas ([Delta]TEO [approximately] 2 key) via energetic ion tails that would increase the pressure of the alpha particles in DT plasmas; and the first observation of the toroidal Alfven eigenmode (TAE) instability driven by the energetic ion tail in hydrogen minority heating