Identification of Key Strategies for School Effectiveness and How They Are Implemented, as Perceived by Administrators and Teachers In Selected Exemplary Private Secondary Schools

Problem. Educators in the 1970s and early 1980s identified characteristics of effective schools. But researchers had not addressed the problem of identifying what strategies exemplary schools used to make the characteristics effective, nor how the strategies were implemented. Method. Administrators and teachers in selected exemplary private secondary schools responded to the Quality Schools Index for Private Schools (QSIPS). Key strategies for school effectiveness were ranked on the basis of mean weighted scores for: (a) extent of use of the strategies within the school; and (b) their importance to quality schooling. Selected personnel were interviewed in six schools to determine how strategies were implemented. Results. The 12 top ranking strategies for school effectiveness were: faculty (1) showing they care about the students as people; (2) being proud of school and student successes; (3) providing an all-round quality program for student benefit; (4) believing We are an effective school , (5) showing personal interest in each student; (6) taking time to listen to students; (7) providing a curriculum that meets the school\u27s purpose; (8) addressing the needs of the whole child; (9) developing a total school program students are proud of; (10) setting a positive example for students; (11) communicating regularly to parents about their students\u27 progress; and (12) making clear to students how they are expected to behave. The major findings on how schools implemented key high use/high importance strategies were: the schools selected willing trainable staff; provided continuous professional improvement; provided care and respect in positive relationships and example; communicated openly and freely with each other; were consistent; constantly evaluated programs against student needs and the school\u27s philosophy; treated each student individually; listened, talked with, and gave students positive recognition; corrected them with positive redirection, time out, and interactive guidance as needed; and kept the environment attractive. Conclusions. School effectiveness was achieved as faculty showed consistency in loving, personal care toward students, high academic professionalism, and cooperation in extracurricular activities with positive, open, two-way communication

Air quality as a public health problem in Hong Kong: measuring the risks

Hong Kong has an air quality problem with excess levels of such air pollutants as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates and ozone, occurring from time to time throughout the year. This paper outlines the sources of the major pollutants in Hong Kong, both natural and manmade, and examines the health risks to the Hong Kong population from exposure to such pollutants. The principle man-made sources of these pollutants are mainly diesel vehicle emissions, and high sulphur content fuels burnt in industrial furnaces and power plants. There is concern over levels of these pollutants in ambient air because of their relationship with respiratory health problems, which range from local irritation of the respiratory tract to carcinogenesis. Studies in Hong Kong also demonstrate the importance of environmental tobacco smoke in the home as a cause of children's respiratory health problems, in addition to poor air quality. Epidemiological studies are useful tools for identifying risks and for evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures, including legislation. In particular we need to identify health risks to young children and the preventable fraction likely to be achieved from different interventions. For optimum effectiveness, a multisectoral approach, developed between regulatory agencies, pubic health authorities and research groups, is needed to contribute to the overall respiratory health of the community.published_or_final_versio

Odontoameloblastoma with extensive chondroid matrix deposition in a guinea pig

Odontoameloblastomas (previously incorporated within ameloblastic odontomas) are matrix-producing odontogenic mixed tumors and are closely related in histologic appearance to the 2 other types of matrix-producing odontogenic mixed tumors: odontomas and ameloblastic fibro-odontomas. The presence or absence of intralesional, induced non-neoplastic tissue must be accounted for in the diagnosis. Herein we describe a naturally occurring odontoameloblastoma with extensive chondroid cementum deposition in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). Microscopically, the mass featured palisading neoplastic odontogenic epithelium closely apposed to ribbons and rings of a pink dental matrix (dentinoid), alongside extensive sheets and aggregates of chondroid cementum. The final diagnosis was an odontoameloblastoma given the abundance of odontogenic epithelium in association with dentinoid but a paucity of pulp ectomesenchyme. Chondroid cementum is an expected anatomical feature of cavies, and its presence within the odontoameloblastoma was interpreted as a response of the ectomesenchyme of the dental follicle to the described neoplasm. Our case illustrates the inductive capabilities of odontoameloblastomas while highlighting species-specific anatomy that has resulted in a histologic appearance unique to cavies and provides imaging and histologic data to aid diagnosis of these challenging lesions

Ophthalmia Neonatorum.

n/

Calcium signalling links MYC to NUAK1

NUAK1 is a member of the AMPK-related family of kinases. Recent evidence suggests that NUAK1 is an important regulator of cell adhesion and migration, cellular and organismal metabolism, and regulation of TAU stability. As such, NUAK1 may play key roles in multiple diseases ranging from neurodegeneration to diabetes and metastatic cancer. Previous work revealed a crucial role for NUAK1 in supporting viability of tumour cells specifically when MYC is overexpressed. This role is surprising, given that NUAK1 is activated by the tumour suppressor LKB1. Here we show that, in tumour cells lacking LKB1, NUAK1 activity is maintained by an alternative pathway involving calcium-dependent activation of PKCα. Calcium/PKCα-dependent activation of NUAK1 supports engagement of the AMPK-TORC1 metabolic checkpoint, thereby protecting tumour cells from MYC-driven cell death, and indeed, MYC selects for this pathway in part via transcriptional regulation of PKCα and ITPR. Our data point to a novel role for calcium in supporting tumour cell viability and clarify the synthetic lethal interaction between NUAK1 and MYC

Sun glint estimation in marine satellite images: a comparison of results from calculation and radiative transfer modeling

The intensity and location of Sun glint in two Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) images was modeled using a radiative transfer model that includes elevation features as well as the slope of the sea surface. The results are compared to estimates made using glint flagging and correction approaches used within standard atmospheric correction processing code. The model estimate gives a glint pattern with a similar width but lower peak level than any current method, or than that estimated by a radiative transfer model with surfaces that include slope but not height. The MERIS third reprocessing recently adopted a new slope statistics model for Sun glint correction; the results show that this model is an outlier with respect to both the elevation model and other slope statistics models and we recommend that its adoption should be reviewed