Pre-primary education policy in Tanzania: Does it meet the educational needs of newly naturalized refugee children?

Over the past five decades, Tanzania has hosted over two million refugees, about 200,000 of whom have been naturalized as Tanzania citizens. Children from this group face numerous challenges within the mainstream educational system. This paper considered education policy in Tanzania, with a specific focus on children from naturalized refugees’ access to quality pre-primary education. It analyzes relevant policy documents published from 2006 - the year before Tanzania started its latest refugee naturalization phase, to 2016. The 2014 Tanzania Education and Training Policy (ETP), the Pre-primary Curriculum, and the Pre-primary Schools Guide give the most focus on pre-primary education. Three National Five-year Development Plans considered all levels of formal education, except the pre-primary level.  Findings revealed that policy documents articulate a commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for all people, regardless of their background, acknowledge existing problems with the educational system and make sensible recommendations. These include abolishing fees in all public schools; increasing flexibility in the choice and use of languages of instruction; decentralizing of program management and accountability; and, recommendations related to curriculum issues. However, the associated working documents do not suggest specific strategic and implementation plans to meet the intended goals, nor do they prioritize increasing educational participation for naturalized refugee children.&nbsp

Fibrous Dysplasia and Ossifying Fibroma-an advent in their diagnosis

Objectives: Fibro-osseous lesions of the craniofacial complex comprise of a diverse, interesting and challenging group of conditions that pose difficulties in classification and treatment. The two most confused benign fibro-osseous lesions are fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma. Sometimes, the classic clinical, radiologic or pathologic features of fibrous dysplasia or ossifying fibroma may not be evident, but overlapping features of both may be seen. The dilemma in diagnosis of these lesions rests in the bony trabeculae as well as in the fibrous stroma. Cases of fibrous dysplasia showing lamellated bony trabeculae and osteoblastic rimming have been reported which may confound diagnosis because of resemblance with ossifying fibroma. In the present study, an attempt has been made to demonstrate the fibrous element of these two lesions using histochemical stains. Study design: The sections of fibrous dysplasia & ossifying fibroma were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, Trichrome stain and Peracetic acid-aldehyde fuschin-modified Halmi stain. Result: The study revealed that the oxytalan fibers were more numerous in ossifying fibroma (seen with both Trichrome and modified Halmi stains). Conclusion: Although the ultimate diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma is arrived at by correlating clinical, radiographic and routine histopathologic examination, the differences in the configuration of the stroma using histochemical stains may help in the diagnosis of these two lesions

The Teacher\u27s Role in Facilitating Memory and Study Strategy Development in the Elementary School Classroom

The efforts of 69 elementary school teachers to instruct children in cognitive processing activities were observed. Although the teaching of such activities was relatively infrequent, it varied by grade (occurring more often in grades 2-3 than in higher or lower grades) and by the content of instruction. Teachers of grade 4 and above more often provided rationales for the use of cognitive strategies than did teachers of younger children. In a second study, children of three achievement levels were selected from classrooms in which teachers varied in their use of suggestions regarding cognitive processes. Subsequent to training in the use of a memory strategy, children\u27s performance on a maintenance trial was evaluated: Among average and low achievers, those whose teachers were relatively high in strategy suggestions showed better maintenance and more deliberate use of the trained strategy than did children whose teachers rarely made strategy suggestions. The role of school experience in the development of children\u27s memory skills is discussed

Ratiometric Alcohol Sensor based on a Polymeric Nile Blue

We present a sterilizable ratiometric fluorescent ethanol sensor with sensitivity over a wide range (0-100%) of ethanol concentration v/v. The sensor is composed of a near infra red fluorescent solvatochromic dye, nile blue methacrylamide polymerized into a polyethylene (glycol) dimethacrylate matrix. The dye can typically exhibit two or more wavelength dependent shifts in the fluorescence intensities based on its different micropolar environments. Two different concentrations of the nile blue methacrylamide dye were prepared and polymerized into homogenous films. The fluorescence properties of the two different films were investigated with a view to determining their ethanol sensing capabilities. The sensor was immersed in a water-ethanol solvent mixture. Excitation of the dye was performed at 470 nm. The range of emission wavelengths was 480-800 nm. The ratio of the fluorescence intensities at 620 nm and 554 nm was obtained for ethanol concentrations varying from 0-100% and the calibration curve of the ratiometric fluorescence intensities over the entire concentration range of ethanol was plotted. A ratiometric intensity change of over 33% has been obtained for pure ethanol compared to that obtained for pure water. The sensor response was rapid (≤10 minutes). The sterilizable ethanol sensor exhibits good potential for on-line monitoring of the ethanol generated in an LB fermentation chamber

How Do Teachers Teach Memory Skills?

Research on teachers\u27 efforts to influence the ways in which children approach memory tasks and understand and regulate their own memory processes has been limited, possibly because of the restrictive views of memory held by cognitive theories that have previously guided research efforts. A more complex perspective on the memory skills that develop over the elementary school years has been elaborated by developmental psychologists and information-processing theorists, but their work has had limited influence on either teacher-training practices or research in teaching. In order to begin to apply this newer perspective to an understanding of classroom teaching processes, research needs to consider teacher practices and expectations for children\u27s learning and memory. A program of research that has been concerned with how teachers teach memory and metacognitive skills and with teachers\u27 views of memory processes is summarized in this article, and implications for teacher training are discussed

MPIGA – Multipath Selection Using Improved Genetic Algorithm

The Wireless Multimedia Networks (WMNs) have developed due to the extensive applications of wireless devices and increasing availability of lower cost hardware. The WMNs are used to transmit the multimedia content like audio and video streaming and they can be deployed within a lower budget. These networks can also be used in real-time data applications that demand energy-efficient management and awareness of Quality of Service (QoS). The energy resources are limited in the wireless devices that lead to the significant threats on the QoS for WMNs. An energy-efficient routing technique is needed to handle the dynamic topology of WMN that includes a vital resource as energy. The energy-efficient routing method was proposed in this work for the purpose of data communication based on a cluster head selection from each cluster in addition to the multipath route selection to reduce the network overhead and energy consumption. The cluster heads for each cluster are selected based on Node Coverage & average residual energy parameters.In this work, the proposed energy efficient routing algorithm uses improved genetic algorithm (IGA)based on a cost function for dynamic selection of the best path. The proposed cost function uses link lifetime &average link delay parameters to estimate the link cost. The proposed algorithm’s performance compared with other previous routing methods based on extensive simulation analysis. The results showed that the proposed method achieves better performance over three other routing techniques

Ring Laser Gyros: Improving Precision and Accuracy Through Soft-Core Processor-Based Active Current Balance Control Approach- Simulation and Implementation Results

In this article, we intend to demonstrate on digital active current control in ring laser gyros (RLG). The specific source errors that effect the performance of laser gyro is discussed. This work proposes a system of digital detection and control system to address deficiencies of the conventional analog circuits. The hardware framework is constructed using the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and the required analog interface, which incorporates driving and acquisition circuitry for the specific physics of gyros. The software flow is provided in full and uses the parallel PI (proportional-integral) control algorithms. The outcomes demonstrate that the precision of anode currents are accurately controlled within ±0.1µA along with cathode voltage, demonstrating that the performance of the digital system is superior to that of analog circuits, which will be very beneficial for the laser gyro application. The simulation results prove that the proposed approach has good result of balancing anode currents, meanwhile, it makes the sensor a good dynamic performance. In both anodes, the experimental findings are contrasted with balanced and unbalanced currents. The optimal constant current is obtained from the remarkable agreement between simulated and experimental results

Pre-primary education policy in Tanzania: Does it meet the educational needs of newly naturalized refugee children?

Over the past five decades, Tanzania has hosted over two million refugees, about 200,000 of whom have been naturalized as Tanzania citizens. Children from this group face numerous challenges within the mainstream educational system. This paper considered education policy in Tanzania, with a specific focus on children from naturalized refugees’ access to quality pre-primary education. It analyzes relevant policy documents published from 2006 - the year before Tanzania started its latest refugee naturalization phase, to 2016. The 2014 Tanzania Education and Training Policy (ETP), the Pre-primary Curriculum, and the Pre-primary Schools Guide give the most focus on pre-primary education. Three National Five-year Development Plans considered all levels of formal education, except the pre-primary level. Findings revealed that policy documents articulate a commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for all people, regardless of their background, acknowledge existing problems with the educational system and make sensible recommendations. These include abolishing fees in all public schools; increasing flexibility in the choice and use of languages of instruction; decentralizing of program management and accountability; and, recommendations related to curriculum issues. However, the associated working documents do not suggest specific strategic and implementation plans to meet the intended goals, nor do they prioritize increasing educational participation for naturalized refugee children

Quantification of colloid bodies in Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Lichenoid Reaction - A Histochemical Study

Aim: Oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reaction are familiar keratotic lesions found on the oral mucosa. Colloid bodies can be microscopically appreciated in both these lesions. The aim of this study was to identify as well as examine the frequency of colloid bodies in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reaction by histochemical means. Method: The material for the study included 12 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks (7 oral lichen planus and 5 oral lichenoid reaction), retrieved from the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, MCODS, Manipal. Sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) with diastase to identify, locate and examine the frequency of colloid bodies in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reaction. Results: It was observed that the colloid bodies in case of oral lichen planus were present in either epithelium or connective tissue but usually close to the epithelium-connective tissue junction. While in oral lichenoid reaction colloid bodies were mostly seen in lower spinous layer of epithelium. Conclusion: Colloid bodies can be used as one of the criteria to differentiate oral lichen planus from oral lichenoid reaction. However, further studies are required to permit more objective distinction between oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reactio

Urea and ascorbic acid as ameliorators of cement dust toxicity in Oryza Sativa Var. B.P.T.5204

The present study is an attempt to find out the amelioration of urea and ascorbic acid on the inhibitory effect of cement dust on Oryza Sativa (Var. B.P.T.5204). The observations have shown that rice was quite sensitive to cement dust when applied at 3g/m2 daily from three leaf stage until harvest of the crop. The response was analysed in terms of number of leaves, total height, biomass and panicle characters. Urea and ascorbic acid were observed to be quite potent in reverting the inhibitory effect of cement dust. Urea could bring the maximum recovery in shoot and root biomass. These two substances were very useful in reverting the effect of cement dust in terms of height of the plant. Urea increased seed weight upto 35% while ascorbic acid upto 13.4%