Determining the Difficulty and Discrimination Parameters of a Mathematics Performance-Based Assessment

Performance-based assessment (PBA) is different from traditional testing methods in that PBA presents real-life problems for students to solve by integrating critical thinking with their content knowledge and skills. Implementing PBA regularly in mathematics classes is associated with improved student achievement and motivation to learn; however, there are concerns about the general lack of psychometric data to support the use of performance assessments. To address such concerns, this study applied item response theory to estimate the difficulty and discrimination indices of items that comprised a newly developed mathematics PBA. Data were collected by administering the PBA to 750 senior high school students in the Western Region of Ghana. The results indicated that the difficulty and discrimination levels of each item were satisfactory, which suggests that well-designed and properly vetted math PBA items would improve classroom assessments as well as high-stakes tests administered on a large scale. Additional recommendations are included at the end of this paper

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Differential Item Functioning of Performance-Based Assessment in Mathematics for Senior High Schools

The purpose of the study was to validate performance-based assessment in mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) for Senior High Schools for Differential Item Functioning (DIF). The study sought to found out if the five-items on a newly developed performance-based assessment in mathematics (quantitative reasoning items) has DIF. The study employed descriptive research design embedded in Graded Response Model (GRM).  Stratified, census, simple random sampling and purposive samplings procedures were employed to select 750 SHS Three students in the Western Region from three categories of SHS. The Performance-based assessment test was used as the main data collection instruments. Data were analyzed with winGEN and independent t test using SPSS. It was also found that with the exception of the linear equation item that showed DIF for category A and C schools, there was no presence of DIF in the items for both gender and category of school. Based on the findings, it was recommended that performance-based assessment should be an integral part in the methods of assessment lessons and courses at both the colleges of education and universities and that major method of assessment strategy in teaching and learning of mathematics

A DUAL EVIDENCE ON THE OPTIMAL USE OF SEIGNIORAGE IN GHANA

Abstract There is by now enough evidence that Ghana relies to some extent on the use of seigniorage to finance its budget. This study however, further the empirical scholarship on the optimal path the economy follows in its use of seigniorage within two analytical models. We have provided evidence to reject Barro's (1979) tax-smoothing hypothesis. In the case of Ghana, there is no positive long run relationship between the tax rate and the rate of inflation. Additionally, following Andrabi (1997) game-theoretic model, we provide further evidence that seigniorage is not used optimally in the public finance scheme in the Ghanaian economy because in contrast to the prediction of the model, there is no significant positive relationship between seigniorage and transitory output. The implication of our finding is that the economy of Ghana appears to find itself on the wrong side of seigniorage maximizing revenue Laffer curve

Improving teachers' classroom assessment practices: perceptions of teachers in the Ellembelle District of Ghana

This study looks at how teachers can improve their in-class assessment practice in the Ellembelle District in Ghana, and aims to identify the challenges confronted by teachers in classroom assessments, as well as ways to improve the classroom assessments themselves. A quantitative research method was adopted using a simple random sampling technique. The study was conducted among 207 professional teachers using a mailed questionnaire (primary data), which was analyses using statistical tools. The study found that teachers face many challenges in their classroom assessments, and thus proposed performance-based assessments, rubrics, peer assessment, portfolio assessment and self-assessment as strategies for improving classroom assessments. It is recommended that the Ghana Education Service ensure a decrease in strength in classrooms in the district, incorporate peer assessment, and conduct in-service training, self-assessment, and performance evaluation to improve effective classroom assessments

Genotypic characterization of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) clones using agro‐morphological traits

Abstract High cropping efficiency implies that high yields are obtained from reasonably sized trees. We studied the general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA) of selected cashew clones of Brazilian (A), Beninese (BE), and Ghanaian (SG) background for cropping efficiency and nut weight in the early years of bearing. Using North Carolina II mating design, four clones were crossed as males to three best clones recommended for farmers. The 12 F1 progenies were evaluated in the field at Wenchi (2012–2018) for increase in trunk cross‐sectional area at the vegetative (TCSAv) and reproductive (TCSAr) stages, canopy spread in the east‐west (CSew) and north‐south (CSns) directions, nut yield (NY), nut weight (NW), and cropping efficiency (CE) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Cropping efficiencies were in the range of 30.8–67.4 g/cm2/year while nut weight and nut yield varied from 5.9 to 10.5 g/year and 477.8 to 939.4 kg ha‐1 year‐1 in the fourth to sixth years after planting, respectively. The Beninese progenies outperformed the Brazilian progenies for cropping efficiency. GCA effects were more important than SCA effects. Narrow‐sense heritability ranged from 0.47 (CE) to 0.80 (NW). Canopy spread in the north‐south direction correlated (rg = 0.98; p ≤ .001) strongly with cropping efficiency at the genotypic level. Among males, BE203 showed positive GCA effects for cropping efficiency, TCSAv, and nut yield, whereas A2 and SG273 showed positive GCA effects for nut weight. Among females, SG287 showed negative GCA effects for TCSAr. Our study provides evidence that, cashew tree size and nut quality are under genetic control and the identified clones represent a suitable genetic resource pool to increase productivity