A participação dos países em desenvolvimento nas avaliações de aprendizagem, 1960-2009

This paper examines annual changes in the participation of developing countries in different kinds of learning assessments over the past three decades. It specifically highlights, and provides initial explanations for, the worldwide spread of national and regional assessments since the mid-1990s. The paper argues that national learning assessments —namely, non-standardized, context-sensitive and non-comparable learning assessments— have become a preferred tool of educational policy makers in many developing countries. The increasing demand for accountability and the relative advantages of national regional assessments, should amplify this trend in coming years, although much depends on the policies of international agencies, NGOs and regional associations that advise and financially support country participation in learning assessments.Este trabajo analiza los cambios anuales en la participación de países en vías de desarrollo en diferentes tipos de evaluaciones de aprendizaje durante las últimas tres décadas. Asimismo, este estudio pone especial énfasis y provee explicaciones iniciales sobre la expansión global de evaluaciones regionales y nacionales desde mediados de los años noventa. El trabajo sostiene que las evaluaciones nacionales de aprendizaje -tales como las evaluaciones no-estandarizadas, sensibles al contexto y no-comparables- se han convertido en la herramienta preferida de los diseñadores de políticas educativas en muchos países en vías de desarrollo. La creciente demanda de agentes educativos por mecanismos de rendición de cuentas y las ventajas relativas de las evaluaciones regionales nacionales probablemente agudizaran esta tendencia en los próximos años, aunque mucho dependerá de las políticas adoptadas por organismos internacionales, ONGs y asociaciones regionales que asesoran y financian la participación de los países en evaluaciones de aprendizaje. Este artigo analisa as mudanças anuais na participação dos países em desenvolvimento em diferentes tipos de avaliação da aprendizagem ao longo das últimas três décadas. Ele destaca especificamente, e fornece explicações iniciais para a disseminação mundial de avaliações nacionais e regionais a partir de meados da década de 1990. O artigo argumenta que as avaliações nacionais de tornaram-se uma ferramenta preferida dos formuladores de políticas educacionais em muitos países em desenvolvimento. A crescente demanda por prestação de contas e as vantagens relativas de avaliações regionais e nacionais, devem ampliar essa tendência nos próximos anos, embora muito depende das políticas dos organismos internacionais, ONGs e associações regionais que orientam e suportam financeiramente a participação dos países nas avaliações de aprendizagem

Science and the Liberal Arts at Ursinus College

Science trend: Moving beyond industrialism • Founders\u27 Day address: Small colleges nurture young scientists well • Physics mentor changed a life • Complex world a challenge for scientists • In government, chemist finds his niche • Ursinus helps non standard student bloom • Ursinus let him explore inner space • Finding the problem is scientist\u27s hardest task • Most wanted: Insatiable curiosity • Real research: Practical or esoteric? • Flexibility is a matter of degree • Liberal arts education prepares minds • The way to encourage young scientistshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/founders_programs/1053/thumbnail.jp

Organosulfates as Tracers for Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) Formation from 2-Methyl-3-Buten-2-ol (MBO) in the Atmosphere

2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) is an important biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emitted by pine trees and a potential precursor of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in forested regions. In the present study, hydroxyl radical (OH)-initiated oxidation of MBO was examined in smog chambers under varied initial nitric oxide (NO) and aerosol acidity levels. Results indicate measurable SOA from MBO under low-NO conditions. Moreover, increasing aerosol acidity was found to enhance MBO SOA. Chemical characterization of laboratory-generated MBO SOA reveals that an organosulfate species (C5H12O6S, MW 200) formed and was substantially enhanced with elevated aerosol acidity. Ambient fine aerosol (PM2.5) samples collected from the BEARPEX campaign during 2007 and 2009, as well as from the BEACHON-RoMBAS campaign during 2011, were also analyzed. The MBO-derived organosulfate characterized from laboratory-generated aerosol was observed in PM2.5 collected from these campaigns, demonstrating that it is a molecular tracer for MBO-initiated SOA in the atmosphere. Furthermore, mass concentrations of the MBO-derived organosulfate are well correlated with MBO mixing ratio, temperature, and acidity in the field campaigns. Importantly, this compound accounted for an average of 0.25% and as high as 1% of the total organic aerosol mass during BEARPEX 2009. An epoxide intermediate generated under low-NO conditions is tentatively proposed to produce MBO SOA

P2RX7 Purinoceptor: A Therapeutic Target for Ameliorating the Symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

open access articleDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common inherited muscle disease, leading to severe disability and death in young men. Death is caused by the progressive degeneration of striated muscles aggravated by sterile inflammation. The pleiotropic effects of the mutant gene also include cognitive and behavioral impairments and low bone density. Current interventions in DMD are palliative only as no treatment improves the long-term outcome. Therefore, approaches with a translational potential should be investigated, and key abnormalities downstream from the absence of the DMD product, dystrophin, appear to be strong therapeutic targets. We and others have demonstrated that DMD mutations alter ATP signaling and have identified P2RX7 purinoceptor up-regulation as being responsible for the death of muscles in the mdx mouse model of DMD and human DMD lymphoblasts. Moreover, the ATP–P2RX7 axis, being a crucial activator of innate immune responses, can contribute to DMD pathology by stimulating chronic inflammation. We investigated whether ablation of P2RX7 attenuates the DMD model mouse phenotype to assess receptor suitability as a therapeutic target

Kamens, David H., and Aaron Benavot, Elite Knowledge for the Masses: The Origins and Spread of Mathematics and Science Education in National Curricula, American Journal of Education , 99 (February, 1991), 137-180.

Provides data on the entrance and extent of science and math in the curriculum of many nations

REC : revista de estudios del currículum

Resumen basado en el de la revistaEste artículo explora la introducción de la enseñanza del arte y de la educación física como temas especiales de enseñanza en el currículum de la escolarización de masas durante los siglos XIX y XX. Se explica por qué estas asignaturas nucleares de la enseñanza, el arte y la educación física, se difundieron más lentamente que otras por los sistemas educativos no occidentales.CataluñaBiblioteca del Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional; Calle San Agustín, 5; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

Kamens, David H., and Yun-Kyung Cha, The Legitimation of New Subjects in Mass Schooling: 19th-Century Origins and 20th-Century Diffusion of Art and Physical Education, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 24(January-February, 1992), 43-60.

Reviews the history of art and physical education in the curriculum around the world