Supporting more able and talented pupils in primary schools

"This survey evaluates the effectiveness of strategies used by primary schools and local authorities to support and challenge more able and talented pupils. Overall, most more able and talented pupils are not challenged enough and too few pupils achieve above the expected levels at the end of key stages 1 and 2. Provision for more able and talented pupils varies too much across Wales. In the few primary schools with the best provision, thorough analysis of data and assessment outcomes helps to identify more able and talented pupils. In these few schools, more able and talented pupils are supported through a range of additional provision and their progress tracked and monitored carefully. Parents understand the school’s approach to providing additional support for more able and talented pupils. More able and talented pupils gain most in schools that promote individualised or personalised approaches to learning and they benefit particularly from having control over how and what they learn. However, in the majority of primary schools, more able and talented pupils are not identified and do not receive appropriate support. Teachers in these schools do not have the expertise to identify, support or track the progress of more able and talented pupils. Transition arrangements between primary and secondary schools often do not provide enough continuity and progression in the education of more able and talented pupils. Few local authorities use data to monitor the progress of more able and talented pupils or promote the sharing of best practice between schools. School improvement officers rarely discuss more able and talented pupils during their visits to schools." - page 1

Antibody directed photosensitive liposomes: Their potential for cytotoxic action

The purpose of this study was to design a tumour specific cytotoxic system which will act rapidly and with few side effects. The water soluble sulphonated derivative of the photosensitive dye aluminium phthalocyanine (AlSPc), which is known to be activated by light to produce singlet oxygen, was tested as a cytotoxic agent in antibody targeted liposomes. The methods used to purify the AlSPc, to encapsulate it in liposomes and to attach targeting ligands, antibody or Protein A, covalently to the liposomes were described. Preliminary experiments optimised conditions for the greatest differential of cytophototoxicity between targeted and untargeted liposomes. Further series' of experiments using a variety of cells showed that the phototoxic effect was dependent on the concentration of liposomes, antibody and AlSPc as well as the light exposure at specific wavelengths. Results were similar for both directly and indirectly targeted liposomes. The former had specific antibody attached to the liposomes, and the latter had anti-muse immunoglobulin or Protein A attached to the liposomes which then bound to cell specific antibody in a 'sandwich' technique. Target cells included human T lymphocytes, B cell lines, and human osteosarcoma and colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Specific killing was demonstrated in all cases when relevant antibodies were used. When cells did not express antigen for the antibody or when irrelevant antibody was used there was no phototoxicity. Free AlSPc incubated under the same conditions as liposomes also had no toxic effects. Diffarent concentrations of AlSPc were encapsulated in liposomes to deteonine the degree of amplification required for maximum photocytotoxicity. Similarly, purified fractions of di-, tri-, and tetra- sulphonated phthalocyanine encapsulated in liposomes were compared for their phototoxic effects, and the differences observed were explained. Using a cooled charge coupled device (CCD) camera, a sensitive method for the detection of AlSPc fluorescence, it was demonstrated that the phototoxic effect of AlSPc liposomes was effective without internalisation of the liposomal contents, and also that cell binding in cell mixtures was antibody specific. Some non specific binding of lioosomes was also shown but it was insufficient to cause toxicity. Fluorescent analysis of bone marrow samples incubated with CDS and anti-B cell antibodies and AlSPc liposomes showed specific targeting of subpopulations of cells and a small population of cells also took up liposomes nonspecifically. When subpopulations of bone marrow were targeted by AlSPc liposomes and also treated with red light, growth of CFU-GM colonies from untargeted progenitors was the same as untreated controls. The mechanism by which cell death was photodynamically induced by targeted AlSPc liposomes is discussed. The potential of the techniques used here as a treatment for specific clinical situations such as bone marrow purging and photodynamic therapy of bladder and ovarian carcinoma are discussed

Janet Morgan and Fredna Hicks in a Joint Senior Recital

This is the program for the joint senior recital of pianist Janet Morgan and soprano Fredna Hicks. Carol Wade assisted the performance. The recital took place in Mitchell Hall Auditorium on November 18, 1974

Janet Morgan and Fredna Hicks in a Joint Junior Recital

This is the program for the joint junior recital of pianist Janet Morgan and soprano Fredna Hicks. Pianist Bennie Carol Burgess accompanied Hicks. The recital took place on November 29, 1973, in the Mitchell Hall Auditorium

Family Health and Medical Record.

32 p

Physical activity and core depressive symptoms in the older Irish adult population.

Research indicates that the prevalence of depression is increasing and that by 2020 depression will become the second leading cause of disease worldwide, as measured by disability adjusted life years. Interventions which involve physical activity have shown that becoming active, even at a moderate level; can be effective in treating depression. In addition, physically active individuals are less likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who are not active, making physical activity an important strategy in the prevention of ill health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between physicalactivity levels and core depressive symptoms in Irish adults aged 50 years or more. The study used data from the Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) 2007, a national survey of individuals living in the Republic of Ireland (n=4,255 adults aged 50 years or older) and The Northern Ireland Health and Social Wellbeing Survey (NIHSWS), 2005-2006, a survey of individuals living in Northern Ireland (n=1,904 adults aged 50 years or older). Measures of depressed mood and anhedonia (two core depressive symptoms according to diagnostic criteria (DSM IV)) were derived using items from the surveys. Physical activity patterns were categorised using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form (Craig et al. 2003). Demographic factors (age, gender and social class), smoking status and health service use were also considered. Just over 5% (5.4%) of SLÁN 2007 participants and 11.1% of NIHSWS 2005-2006 participants had experienced both depressed mood and anhedonia in the recent past. In the overall sample this was 7.2% of participants. Overall 45% of participants reported being moderately physically active but 36.6% of participants reported activity at low levels (SLÁN 2007: 35.6%; NIHSWS 2005-2006: 38.8%). For the overall sample, depressive symptoms were negatively associated with being male, being older and high levels of physical activity. Depressive symptoms were significantly and positively associated with being separated/divorced or widowed, and social classes 3-6. Overall, people over 50 years who were engaged in moderate to high levels of physical activity had a 50-56% reduction in the odds of having elevated depressive symptoms. Consistent with other research findings, this study suggests that physical activity levels are strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Increasing levels of physical activity among adults over 50 years has the potential to improve mental health

Establishment of \u3ci\u3eListeria monocytogenes\u3c/i\u3e in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive foodborne pathogen that can colonize the gastrointestinal tract of a number of hosts, including humans. These environments contain numerous stressors such as bile, low oxygen and acidic pH, which may impact the level of colonization and persistence of this organism within the GI tract. The ability of L. monocytogenes to establish infections and colonize the gastrointestinal tract is directly related to its ability to overcome these stressors, which is mediated by the efficient expression of several stress response mechanisms during its passage. This review will focus upon how and when this occurs and how this impacts the outcome of foodborne disease

Political attitudes of women and men

Within the framework of a democratic political system, a central issue for political scientists is electoral behaviour: what determines how people vote. The reasons for concern with this issue are several. The findings of the political scientists may be of use to politicians and political parties, to keep them informed of 'public opinion', to help predict election results, or to provide more direct information as to how to best ensure re-election. Alternatively, the findings may help political scientists and sociologists understand more about the political and social structure of their society. Or they may shed some light on the relationship between democracy on the one hand, and apathy and alienation on the other: why is it that there can be a low level of interest in politics, yet people will still bother to vote? For these reasons and others, political scientists are interested in political behaviour. The concern of many of them - in particular, those whose work is relevant to this thesis - is to discover what the social factors are that influence voting behaviour and political attitudes