Comparative perspectives on initial primary teacher education and training in England and Pakistan

This study explored the extent to which initial teacher education and training programmes provide an adequate preparation for the needs of the primary school teachers in England and Pakistan. An integral part of this exploration was the identification of particular aspects of ITE programmes which had a significant impact in enhancing the professional development of teachers, the effectiveness of the ITE programmes and then overall quality. The second notable feature is that this study is a comparative one. The researcher chose two countries where initial teacher training programmes were being implemented, albeit in different ways. England and Pakistan are two contrasting countries from different global regions and having different cultural and social contexts. This is not a problem for comparison because the issue is whether they provide an adequate and enriching professional preparation for beginning teachers in their respective contexts. The study also aims to explore how far the English experience has potential for development and improvement in the Pakistani initial primary teacher education programme. The issue was examined in detail in different teacher education institutions located in England and Pakistan. For this purpose the researcher used Bereday‘s comparative methodology to investigate the juxtaposition of these two initial teacher education programmes. The researcher hopes thereby to add to the stock of theory through the use of a cross-national study.The study indicated to what extent the beginning teachers were adequately prepared for the demands of work and the responsibilities expected of them as perceived by the profession and other stakeholders. A number of factors were found to contribute to the perceived adequacy of the professional preparation of student teachers. An enriching curriculum together with availability and quality of physical facilities and educational resources contributed to this situation. At the same time, the support from the principal stakeholders in terms of funding and staff professional development was also cited as impacting upon the quality of pre-service teacher education provided to the beginning teachers in England and Pakistan. The aim of this research was to investigate initial teacher education in Pakistan and England to gain insights into two initial teacher education systems with a view to improving initial teacher education in Pakistan. To achieve this aim, a cross-cultural study using a multi-method approach was adopted. This research revealed how questionable it can be to merely state what the similarities and differences really are between two initial teacher education systems. Nonetheless, it did identify some important differences as between the two initial teacher education systems, namely in terms of:- cultural differences affecting initial teacher‘s attitude and values;- differences in governmental vision, political will, and government policies and institutional provision;- teacher education curricula, policies and delivery;- traditional and economic disparities; and theoretical underpinning.Having conducting this research, it is the view of the writer that it is possible for Pakistan to gain from certain aspects of the experience in England, especially in administration and quality control

Penilaian Potensi Daya Tarik Danau Bekat untuk Objek Wisata di Kecamatan Tayan Hilir Kabupaten Sanggau

Tayan Downstream is one of the District that is located in Regency Sanggau, West Borneo. In the Tayan Downstream there are several Lakes that each has its own potential, one of which is Lake Bekat. In the Tayan Downstream there are several Lake sthate ach has its own potential,one of which is Lake Bekat. In Lake Bekat there are many types of fishe specially the most prominent is Toman (Orheichepalus micropeltes), Kerandang (Ophiocephalus pleurophthamus) and Biawan (Hellostomata temincki). With the vastexpanse of nature through out the area + 2136.52 Ha and the beautiful scenery around the Lake,Because in the absence of Tayan Downstream nature associated with water attractions (Lake) there should be an assessment of the potential for tourist attraction on Lake Bekat. This study aims to identify andassess the potential attractiveness Lake Bekat to be developed as a tourist attractionand from this study are expected to provide information about the potential value for development Lake Bekat attractions. Thi sresearch uses descriptive methods and techniques of data collection in the field using the method of observation.From theresults of the study obtaineda value of135.98.This value is multiplied by the weighting criteria appeal to the area that is 6so135.98 x 6=815.9 or C. From the research, the need for cooperation with relevant institutions in order to in crease the potential values​​in Lake Bekat and the need for status determination so as not to conflicttareas in the future. Key words : Lake, Lake Bekat, Attraction, Tayan Downstrea

Anomalies de l’électro-encéphalogramme en neurologie pédiatrique: à propos de 500 enregistrements à l’Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Yaoundé (Cameroun)

Introduction: Cette étude dont le but était d'évaluer la contribution de l'électroencéphalogramme (EEG) en neurologie pédiatrique et de déterminer les indications pertinentes chez l'enfant de 0 à 15ans. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective et descriptive réalisée au laboratoire d'électroencéphalographie de l'Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Yaoundé du 1er novembre 2011 au 15 mars 2012.Résultats: L'âge moyen des patients était de 70.2 mois avec des extrêmes de 0 et 180 mois. Le sexe ratio était de 1.04. Cent quatre vingt treize des 500 tracés de veille étaient anormaux 41 des 114 tracés de sommeil étaient anormaux et 78 des 500 tracés réalisés présentaient un rythme de fond ralenti pour l'âge. Cent cinquante tracés présentaient des anomalies épileptiques dont 81 focales, 35 multifocales et 34 des anomalies généralisées. Sur les 137 patients dont l'EEG était compatible avec une épilepsie, le lobe temporal était le plus souvent le siège d'anomalies épileptiques avec des épilepsies temporales et des épilepsies à pointes centro-temporales, venaient ensuite le lobe frontal, les épilepsies généralisées, les épilepsies du lobe occipital et l'hypsarythmie. Chez 13 des 150 patients avec des anomalies épileptiques à l'EEG, les anomalies retrouvées ne rentraient pas dans le cadre d'un syndrome épileptique particulier. Lorsque l'épilepsie était connue, la probabilité d'avoir un tracé EEG anormal était 1,44 fois plus élevée (OR=1.44 (0.83-2.52) même si la corrélation n'était pas statistiquement significative (p=0.1). En revanche lorsque l'épilepsie était suspectée, il y avait 3.43 fois plus de risques d'avoir un tracé anormal (OR=3.43 (2.27-5.18) avec une corrélation statistiquement significative (p< ;0.05). Les convulsions fébriles, les mouvements anormaux, le retard psychomoteur, les troubles déficitaires de l'attention avec hyperinésie, la perte de connaissance et les troubles du langage n'étaient pas significativement corrélés avec un risque accru d'avoir un EEG anormal. Conclusion: L'EEG a un rôle aussi bien dans la confirmation et la caractérisation de divers syndromes épileptiques et suspicions d'épilepsie que dans la discrimination des manifestations paroxystiques non épileptiques chez l'enfant. Les renseignements cliniques sont indispensables pour une lecture optimale du tracé.Key words: Enfants, épilepsies, électro-encéphalogramme, Camerou

Thy-1 interaction with Fas in lipid rafts regulates fibroblast apoptosis and lung injury resolution.

Thy-1-negative lung fibroblasts are resistant to apoptosis. The mechanisms governing this process and its relevance to fibrotic remodeling remain poorly understood. By using either sorted or transfected lung fibroblasts, we found that Thy-1 expression is associated with downregulation of anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, as well as increased levels of cleaved caspase-9. Addition of rhFasL and staurosporine, well-known apoptosis inducers, caused significantly increased cleaved caspase-3, -8, and PARP in Thy-1-transfected cells. Furthermore, rhFasL induced Fas translocation into lipid rafts and its colocalization with Thy-1. These in vitro results indicate that Thy-1, in a manner dependent upon its glycophosphatidylinositol anchor and lipid raft localization, regulates apoptosis in lung fibroblasts via Fas-, Bcl-, and caspase-dependent pathways. In vivo, Thy-1 deficient (Thy1-/-) mice displayed persistence of myofibroblasts in the resolution phase of bleomycin-induced fibrosis, associated with accumulation of collagen and failure of lung fibrosis resolution. Apoptosis of myofibroblasts is decreased in Thy1-/- mice in the resolution phase. Collectively, these findings provide new evidence regarding the role and mechanisms of Thy-1 in initiating myofibroblast apoptosis that heralds the termination of the reparative response to bleomycin-induced lung injury. Understanding the mechanisms regulating fibroblast survival/apoptosis should lead to novel therapeutic interventions for lung fibrosis

Improving reproductive function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with high-intensity interval training (IMPROV-IT): study protocol for a two-centre, three-armed randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. Women with PCOS have a 15-fold higher prevalence of infertility, compared with women without PCOS, independent of body mass index (BMI). A healthy lifestyle is recommended to improve overall health and fertility in PCOS but there is limited evidence on the isolated effects of exercise, especially for reproductive outcomes. Previous findings indicate superior metabolic health benefits after vigorous compared with moderate-intensity exercise. Our primary aim is to determine the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIT) on menstrual frequency, as a proxy of reproductive function, in women with PCOS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study is a two-centre, randomised, controlled trial with three parallel groups. Women (n=64) from Trondheim (Norway) and Melbourne (Australia) with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) to high-volume HIT, low-volume HIT or a control group with no exercise after stratifying for BMI < or ≥ 27 kg/m2 and study centre. Measurements for study end points will be undertaken at baseline, after a 16 week exercise intervention and at 12 months following baseline assessments. The primary outcome measure is menstruation frequency, measured as the number of self-reported menstrual bleedings divided by the number of expected menstrual bleedings during a 12-month period. Secondary outcome measurements include markers of cardiovascular, metabolic and reproductive health, as well as quality of life and adherence to and enjoyment of exercise. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Regional Committee Medical Research Ethics, Norway, and The Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia, have approved the trial protocol. This trial will provide new insight regarding the impact of exercise on fertility in PCOS. We expect this trial to contribute to new therapeutic exercise strategies as part of clinical care for women with PCOS. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical trial gov NCT02419482

The relative impact of socioeconomic position and frailty varies by population setting

INTRODUCTION: Frailty and socioeconomic position (SEP) are well-established determinants of health. However, we know less about the contributions of frailty and SEP in older adults, especially in acute settings. We set out to answer how frailty and SEP might influence health outcomes in older people, comparing a population sample and patients managed by a speciality acute frailty service. METHODS: We used the Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort, a population sample of 1510 individuals aged ≥70 years from the London Borough of Camden and 1750 acute frailty patients. SEP was determined using the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Linear and Cox proportional hazard regression models were conducted to assess SEP on frailty, readmission, and mortality outcomes. RESULTS: In the population sample, SEP was significantly associated with frailty and mortality with successive increases in rate of death for each IMD quintile (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.49, P < 0.005). Increasing SEP, age, and admission status among hospitalized individuals were associated with greater frailty. For individuals seen by the speciality frailty service, SEP was not associated with frailty, mortality, or readmission. DISCUSSION: When older people experience acute illness severe enough to require secondary care, particularly specialist services, this overcomes any prior advantages conferred by a higher SEP

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Presentation of Cell-associated Antigen Is Mediated by CD8α+ Dendritic Cells In Vivo

Antigen-specific B cells express major histocompatibility complex class II and can present antigen directly to T cells. Adoptive transfer experiments using transgenic B and T cells demonstrated that antigen-specific B cells can also efficiently transfer antigen to another cell for presentation to T cells in vivo. To identify the antigen-presenting cell that receives antigens from B cells, a strategy was developed to follow the traffic of B cell–derived proteins in vivo. B cells were labeled with the fluorescent dye CFSE and loaded with antigen, before adoptive transfer into recipient mice. Populations of splenocytes from the recipient mice were later assayed for the presence of fluorescent proteins and for the ability to activate T cells. A small number of CD8α+CD4−CD11blo dendritic cells (DCs) contain proteins transferred from B cells and these DCs effectively present antigens derived from the B cells to T cells. The results suggest that CD8α+ DCs sample the cells and membranes in their environment for presentation to T cells circulating through the T cell zone. This function of CD8α+ DCs may be relevant to the priming of an immune response or the induction of T cell tolerance