Improving services for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties : responding to the challenges

This paper considers some of the major challenges facing key stakeholders, including teachers, professionals working in support services, parents and pupils, as they strive to improve services for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). For each of these challenges (working with families, low educational attainments, including pupils with SEBD in mainstream schools, transition from school to college or employment, early intervention and prevention) we review research evidence, mainly from the UK and USA, and discuss possible solutions. A key theme in the paper, discussed in the concluding section, is that governments, local authorities and schools, should use the research evidence to develop carefully planned and evidence based interventions that will lead to sustained improvements being made in the education of vulnerable young people.peer-reviewe

Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 54

Various and disparate opinions have been expressed with regard to the phylogenetic affinities of Pseudocrenilabrus, a seemingly generalized and primitive haplochromine genus. These views are reconsidered and rejected. Instead, it is suggested that Pseudocrenilabrus is a derived and paedomorphic taxon evolved from a generalized haplochromine ancestor such as would be represented amongst extant African cichlids by a species of the genus Astatotilapia; for the moment it is not possible to identify a sister group more precisely. The suggestion that Pseudocrenilabrus is a paedomorphic taxon is based on certain Osteological and dental features, particularly the reductional trend manifest in the infraorbital bones of its three constituent species. A new diagnosis and synonomy are provided for the genus, together with notes on its anatomy, osteology and meristic features.Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation

Signal Transduction Mechanisms for Stem Cell Differentation Into Cardiomyocytes

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide and particularly in the developed World. The search for new therapeutic approaches for improving the functions of the damaged heart is therefore a critical endeavour. Myocardial infarction, which can lead to heart failure, is associated with irreversible loss of functional cardiomyocytes. The loss of cardiomyocytes poses a major difficulty for treating the damaged heart since terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes have very limited regeneration potential. Currently, the only effective treatment for severe heart failure is heart transplantation but this option is limited by the acute shortage of donor hearts. The high incidence of heart diseases and the scarcity donor hearts underline the urgent need to find alternative therapeutic approaches for treating cardiovascular diseases. Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. Therefore the engraftment of ES cell-derived functional cardiomyocytes or cardiac progenitor cells into the damaged heart to regenerate healthy myocardial tissues may be used to treat damaged hearts. Stem cell-based therapy therefore holds a great potential as a very attractive alternative to heart transplant for treating heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. A major obstacle to the realisation of stem cell-based therapy is the lack of donor cells and this in turn is due to the fact that, currently, the molecular mechanisms or the regulatory signal transduction mechanisms that are responsible for mediating ES cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes are not well understood. Overcoming this huge scientific challenge is absolutely necessary before the use of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to treat the damaged heart can become a reality. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to investigate the signal transduction pathways that are involved in the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The first objective was the establishment and use of cardiomyocyte differentiation models using H9c2 cells and P19 stem cells to accomplish the specific objectives of the thesis. The specific objectives of the thesis were, the investigation of the roles of (i) nitric oxide (ii) protein kinase C (PKC), (iii) p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) (vi) phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and (vi) nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signalling pathways in the differentiation of stem cells to cardiomyocytes and, more importantly, to identify where possible any points of convergence and potential cross-talk between pathways that may be critical for differentiation to occur. P19 cells were routinely cultured in alpha minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin /100 μg/ml streptomycin and 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS). P19 cell differentiation was initiated by culturing the cells in microbiological plates in medium containing 0.8 % DMSO to form embryoid bodies (EB). This was followed by transfer of EBs to cell culture grade dishes after four days. H9c2 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS. Differentiation was initiated by incubating the cells in medium containing 1% FBS. In both models, when drugs were employed, they were added to cells for one hour prior to initiating differentiation. Cell monolayers were monitored daily over a period of 12 or 14 days. H9c2 cells were monitored for morphological changes and P19 cells were monitored for beating cardiomyocytes. Lysates were generated in parallel for western blot analysis of changes in cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC), ventricular myosin chain light chain 1(MLC-1v) or troponin I (cTnI) using specific monoclonal antibodies. H9c2 cells cultured in 1% serum underwent differentiation as shown by the timedependent formation of myotubes, accompanied by a parallel increase in expression of both MHC and MLC-1v. These changes were however not apparent until 4 to 6 days after growth arrest and increased with time, reaching a peak at day 12 to 14. P19 stem cells cultured in DMSO containing medium differentiated as shown by the timedependent appearance of beating cardiomyocytes and this was accompanied by the expression of cTnI. The differentiation of both P19 stem cells and H9c2 into cardiomyocytes was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, PKC inhibitor BIM-I and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB2035800. However when LY294002, BIM-I or SB2035800 were added after the initiation of DMSO-induced P19 stem cell differentiation, each inhibitor failed to block the cell differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes. The NF-kB activation inhibitor, CAPE, blocked H9c2 cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Fast nitric oxide releasing donors (SIN-1 and NOC-5) markedly delayed the onset of differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes while slow nitric oxide releasing donors (SNAP and NOC-18) were less effective in delaying the onset of differentiation or long term differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes. Akt (protein kinase B) is the key downstream target of PI3K. Our cross-talk data also showed that PKC inhibition and p38 MAPK inhibition respectively enhanced and reduced the activation of Akt, as determined by the phosphorylation of Akt at serine residue 473. In conclusion, PKC, PI3K, p38 MAPK and NF-kB are relevant for the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also show that the PKC, PI3K and p38 MAPK signalling pathways are activated as very early events during the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also suggest that PKC may negatively regulate Akt activation while p38 MAPK inhibition inhibits Akt activation. Our fast NO releasing donor data suggest that nitric oxide may negatively regulate H9c2 cell differentiation

The character of Christ: the correlation of moral philosophy and Christology in Anglican theology 1830-1870

The thesis argues that the influence of eighteenth-century moral philosophy on Victorian theology is seriously neglected. Its period is 1830-1870, but it looks back to Butler's work, and forward to the publication of Lux Mundi in 1889. Moral philosophy conceptualized the idea of amoral agent in ways seminal for a theology of the humanity of Christ (or The Character of Christ). Tractarian systematic theology was concerned about this and informed on it. It reflects the influence of moral philosophy in its epistemology of faith and its presentation of Christology, quite apart from ethical issues. Chapter One is an introduction justifying the theoretical position lying behind the chronological narrative and outlining the controversies that existed in 1830 in moral philosophy and Christology. Chapter Two shows the achievement of Butler in turning Anglican moralism into philosophical rigour and a theology of divine providential action. Chapter Three begins with the revival of systematic theology in 1830 by Newman and Robert Wilberforce, and demonstrates the complex inter relationship of character, Christology and epistemology. Chapter Four contrasts the Anglican reception of the Butlerian tradition in moral philosophy with its handling by Mill. Determinism and agnosticism are the legacy which philosophical radicalism bequeathed to the nineteenth century theologian therefter. Chapter Five offers a freewill defence by Seeley, Newman's view of Seeley, and the greatest mid-Victorian attack on agnosticism, the 1866 Hamptons of Henry Liddon. This results in a virtual rejection by Liddon of the use of moral philosophy by previous theologians, and the establishment of a theological ghetto. Chapter Six summarizes the narrative, demonstrates that Lux Mundi revived the use of moral philosophy in using Bradley and Green, and draws further theoretical conclusions on the relationship of character, moral philosophy and Christology

Project Swathmap: Military Sonars in Service to Science

Project swathmap (one of four deep-water, long-range sidescan sonars in operation today) is the low-cost peacetime application of a U.S. Navy antisubmarine warfare system utilized on routine ocean-wide combat vessel transists. While resolution is not sufficient to observe bathymetric structures in detail, the system is particularly adept at locating them and determining continuity. Routine observations include terraces, trench-crossings, fracture zones, abyssal hills, craters, seamounts (many of them new) often topped by craters, and abyssal hills (superb clues to plate tectonic motion)

Wireline Coring and Analysis under Pressure: Recent Use and Future Developments of the HYACINTH System

The pressure of the deep sea and of deep earth formations has subtle effects on all aspects of physics, chemistry, and biology. Core material recovered under pressure, using pressure cores, can be subjected to sophisticated laboratory analyses that are not feasible in situ. Though many fields of study might benefit from pressurized cores, most obviously, any investigation on gas- or gas-hydrate-rich formations on land or under the sea certainly requires pressure coring

Do Leadership Structure and Team Trust Drive Organisational Performance? Empirical Approach

Purpose: Over the years, manufacturing firms have struggled to achieve maximum productivity because such organizations lack good leadership, work-team, and persons with the team leading skills to lead work-teams. The problem of leadership structure of work-teams in most Nigerian firms was the motivating factor for this research. Thus, the aim of this paper is to assess the effect of team trust and leadership structure on performance of manufacturing firms in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.   Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework is hinged on Self-Leadership Theory, which focused on participatory decision making, individual discretion and team work as important motivating factor and suggestions that will lead more committed employees who strive for greater efficiency and effectiveness.   Design/Methods/Approach: Two specifics objectives are considered; the first being team trust and the other being leadership structure. Using a descriptive survey research design, 534 respondents in nine states in Nigeria were examined to obtain their perceptions.   Findings: The results of the analysis indicated that the performance of manufacturing firms is dependent on team-work. In other words, acceptable and planned team-building had direct relationship with performance of firms.   Research, Practical and Social Implication: The study shows that team trust and leadership structure are major drivers of organizational performance.   Originality/Value: The value of the study is vital to manufacturing firms such that top management are advised to create teams whereby members should create increased trust among themselves by communicating openly and avoiding activities purely out of self-interest and reciprocating help from team mates for better results in manufacturing industries

Correlation study of stress biomarkers, endocrinopathies, semen quality and quantity in infertile men in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: The quality and quantity of sperm cells in the male determines his fertility potentials. It has been reported that 40-45% cases of infertility is attributable to men, and that stress compromises fertility indices. Therefore, the study was done to assess the correlation between some stress biomarkers, male endocrinopathies, sperm quality, and quantity in infertile men. Methods: This was a cross sectional case- control study. A total of 154 participants were recruited into the study, which consist of 100 males having the challenge of infertility as study group and 54 fertile male which serves as control group. Serum testosterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, salivary cortisol and amylase were analyzed using ELISA techniques; while the semen was examined after liquefaction according to WHO criteria. Results: In the study group, higher values of stress biomarkers correlated with significantly decreased testosterone and FSH values (p=0.001), and increased prolactin, salivary cortisol amylase (p<0,001); semen quality and quantity correlate with stress biomarkers (p<0.001). There are both positive and negative correlation between the stress biomarkers, sex hormones, sperm quality and quantity. Conclusions: Higher values of stress biomarkers in infertile male show both negative and positive correlation with abnormal sex hormones, decreased semen quality and quantity