An insider perspective of lifelong learning in Singapore: beyond the economic perspective

This study traces the learning journeys of a group of people who overcame economic, social and/or educational disadvantages to engage in lifelong learning in Singapore. Studies in a number of countries have shown that people from economically, socially and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are under-represented in postschool learning. However, in every country, there is a small group that has succeeded in overcoming economic, social and psychological odds to engage in lifelong learning and in this thesis such a group will be investigated in Singapore. In 2002, twenty-three people within this category were selected by the community as lifelong learners in Singapore. Thirteen of them volunteered for this study. Data collected through in-depth interviews were analysed using grounded theory methodology. The model of lifelong learning derived from emergent common themes shows that while it is true that utilitarian reasons usually accounted for the initial decision to engage in post-school learning, learning journeys were sustained by the development of learning careers, through the strengthening of learner identities and the development of learning dispositions.Sociocultural factors, such as presence of positive environments and supportive relationships with significant others, also influenced learning decisions. The findings thus confirm recent studies of the need for a sociocultural theory of lifelong learning and a more holistic approach to lifelong learning. There are important implications for Singapore which has achieved rapid economic growth since independence by adopting a pragmatic approach. Official discourses of lifelong learning are based on human capital theory. Hence, lifelong learning is seen as an investment in human capital, and often equated with skills upgrading for economic and political survival. The implications of this study are, however, that instead of focusing on the political and economic aspects of lifelong learning, future initiatives should examine other micro-contexts like family, work, schools and other institutions, with special focus on how people within these institutions can help support lifelong learning. It is also evident from the findings, that lifelong learning should be seen in its whole spectrum, as learning across the lifespan, from cradle to grave (lifelong learning) and learning that covers formal, nonformal and informal learning (lifewide learning).V

Genetic and morphological analyses of Gracilaria firma and G. changii (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta), the commercially important agarophytes in western Pacific

Many studies classifying Gracilaria species for the exploitation of agarophytes and the development of the agar industry were conducted before the prevalence of molecular tools, resulting in the description of many species based solely on their morphology. Gracilaria firma and G. changii are among the commercially important agarophytes from the western Pacific; both feature branches with basal constrictions that taper toward acute apices. In this study, we contrasted the morpho-anatomical circumscriptions of the two traditionally described species with molecular data from samples that included representatives of G. changii collected from its type locality. Concerted molecular analyses using the rbcL and cox1 gene sequences, coupled with morphological observations of the collections from the western Pacific, revealed no inherent differences to support the treatment of the two entities as distinct taxa. We propose merging G. changii (a later synonym) into G. firma and recognize G. firma based on thallus branches with abrupt basal constrictions that gradually taper toward acute (or sometimes broken) apices, cystocarps consisting of small gonimoblast cells and inconspicuous multinucleate tubular nutritive cells issuing from gonimoblasts extending into the inner pericarp at the cystocarp floor, as well as deep spermatangial conceptacles of the verrucosatype. The validation of specimens under different names as a single genetic species is useful to allow communication and knowledge transfer among groups from different fields. This study also revealed considerably low number of haplotypes and nucleotide diversity with apparent phylogeographic patterns for G. firma in the region. Populations from the Philippines and Taiwan were divergent from each other as well as from the populations from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Establishment of baseline data on the genetic diversity of this commercially important agarophyte is relevant in the context of cultivation, as limited genetic diversity may jeopardize the potential for its genetic improvement over time

An insider perspective of lifelong learning in Singapore : beyond the economic perspective

This study traces the learning journeys of a group of people who overcame economic, social and/or educational disadvantages to engage in lifelong learning in Singapore. Studies in a number of countries have shown that people from economically, socially and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are under-represented in postschool learning. However, in every country, there is a small group that has succeeded in overcoming economic, social and psychological odds to engage in lifelong learning and in this thesis such a group will be investigated in Singapore. In 2002, twenty-three people within this category were selected by the community as lifelong learners in Singapore. Thirteen of them volunteered for this study. Data collected through in-depth interviews were analysed using grounded theory methodology. The model of lifelong learning derived from emergent common themes shows that while it is true that utilitarian reasons usually accounted for the initial decision to engage in post-school learning, learning journeys were sustained by the development of learning careers, through the strengthening of learner identities and the development of learning dispositions.Sociocultural factors, such as presence of positive environments and supportive relationships with significant others, also influenced learning decisions. The findings thus confirm recent studies of the need for a sociocultural theory of lifelong learning and a more holistic approach to lifelong learning. There are important implications for Singapore which has achieved rapid economic growth since independence by adopting a pragmatic approach. Official discourses of lifelong learning are based on human capital theory. Hence, lifelong learning is seen as an investment in human capital, and often equated with skills upgrading for economic and political survival. The implications of this study are, however, that instead of focusing on the political and economic aspects of lifelong learning, future initiatives should examine other micro-contexts like family, work, schools and other institutions, with special focus on how people within these institutions can help support lifelong learning. It is also evident from the findings, that lifelong learning should be seen in its whole spectrum, as learning across the lifespan, from cradle to grave (lifelong learning) and learning that covers formal, nonformal and informal learning (lifewide learning).VIEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

There is a place... : a fifteen-minute documentary.

The report serves to render a comprehensive overview of the production of a 15-minute documentary, "There is a place...".Bachelor of Communication Studie

Correction: Radiation of the Red Algal Parasite Congracilaria babae onto a Secondary Host Species, Hydropuntia sp. (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097450.]

Radiation of the Red Algal Parasite <i>Congracilaria babae</i> onto a Secondary Host Species, <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta)

<div><p><i>Congracilaria babae</i> was first reported as a red alga parasitic on the thallus of <i>Gracilaria salicornia</i> based on Japanese materials. It was circumscribed to have deep spermatangial cavities, coloration similar to its host and the absence of rhizoids. We observed a parasitic red alga with morphological and anatomical features suggestive of <i>C. babae</i> on a <i>Hydropuntia</i> species collected from Sabah, East Malaysia. We addressed the taxonomic affinities of the parasite growing on <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. based on the DNA sequence of molecular markers from the nuclear, mitochondrial and plastid genomes (nuclear ITS region, mitochondrial <i>cox</i>1 gene and plastid <i>rbc</i>L gene). Phylogenetic analyses based on all genetic markers also implied the monophyly of the parasite from <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. and <i>C. babae</i>, suggesting their conspecificity. The parasite from <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. has a DNA signature characteristic to <i>C. babae</i> in having plastid <i>rbc</i>L gene sequence identical to <i>G. salicornia</i>. <i>C. babae</i> is likely to have evolved directly from <i>G. salicornia</i> and subsequently radiated onto a secondary host <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. We also recommend the transfer of <i>C</i>. <i>babae</i> to the genus <i>Gracilaria</i> and propose a new combination, <i>G. babae</i>, based on the anatomical observations and molecular data.</p></div

Phylogenetic relationships for host-parasite associations of <i>Congracilaria babae</i> from <i>Gracilaria salicornia</i> and <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. inferred from ITS region.

<p>The –Ln likelihood was 16,797.503. Numbers above or below branches denote MP (left) and ML (middle) bootstrap values, and Bayesian posterior probability (right). Dashes indicate percentages<50% or that the node did not occur in the MP or BI tree. Asterisks indicate maximum bootstrap support or posterior probabilities. Brackets after species names indicate sample origins and sometimes isolate number: MR = Morib, PB = Pulau Besar, TP = Teluk Pelanduk, TS = Teluk Sari, and PBB = Pulau Bum Bum. Arrows indicate host-parasite associations; arrowheads indicate hosts.</p

Phylogeny of <i>Congracilaria babae</i> from <i>Gracilaria salicornia</i> and <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp. inferred from <i>rbc</i>L gene.

<p>The –Ln likelihood was 9,974.033.</p

<i>Congracilaria babae</i> Yamamoto on <i>Hydropuntia</i> sp.

<p>A: Habit of parasite on host thallus in herbarium press (PSM 12754), inset, a close-up of a parasite pustule (arrow). B: Habit of a female gametophyte preserved in formalin. C: Habit of a tetrasporophyte preserved in formalin. D: Transverse section of the host-parasite association, in which the parasite was lightly stained and the host, including the stalk-like structure was darkly stained. E: Transverse section showing abrupt transition of cell size from cortex to medulla of a vegetative parasite pustule. F: Transverse section showing densely staining fusion cell at the base of the developing pericarp. G: Transverse section showing a mature cystocarp with tubular filaments penetrating into the pericarp. H: Transverse section showing the <i>verrucosa</i> type of spermatangial conceptacles at the periphery of the thallus. I: Transverse section of a tetrasporangium. [A: scale bar = 1 cm, inset, scale bar = 1 mm; B, C: scale bar = 1 mm; D: scale bar = 500 µm; E, F, I: scale bar = 50 µm; G, H: scale bar = 100 µm].</p