How valid are 11-plus tests? Evidence from Kent

Despite profound influence of selection-by-ability on children’s educational opportunities, empirical evidence for validity of 11-plus tests is scarce. This study focused on secondary selection in Kent, the largest grammar school area in England. We analysed scores from the ‘Kent Test’ (the 11-plus test used in Kent), Cognitive Assessment Tests (CAT4), and Key Stage 2 Standardised Assessment Tests (KS2) using longitudinal data of two year cohorts (N1=95, N2=99) from one primary school. All the assessment batteries provided highly overlapping information, with the decisive effect of content area (e.g. verbal versus maths) over task type (e.g. knowledge-loaded versus knowledge-free). Thus, the value in differentiating ‘pure’ (i.e. knowledge-free) ability in 11-plus testing is questionable. KS2 and Kent Test aggregated scores overlapped very strongly, sharing nearly 80% of variance; moreover, KS2-based eligibility decisions had higher sensitivity than the Kent Test in predicting the actual admissions to grammar schools after Head Teacher Assessment (HTA) appeals have taken place. Finally, the use of multiple pass marks for each Kent Test component as well as the total score was found to increase the chance of false rejection. This study provides preliminary evidence that national examinations could be a good basis for selection to grammar schools; it challenges the use of complex admission rules and multiple decisions and questions the value of 11-plus tests

A clinically applicable tool for rapidly estimating muscle volume using ultrasound images

Purpose: This study aimed to identify a safe, rapid, and accessible method of estimating muscle volume of key lower limb muscle groups to reduce the time-demand of acquiring this measurement and potentially facilitate its application as a clinical monitoring tool. Methods: Unilateral MRI images were acquired from the 12th thoracic vertebrae to the base of the foot in 18 recreationally active males. Panoramic B-mode ultrasound images were acquired from the same leg at the mid-hip, 25%, 50%, and 75% of thigh length, and 25% of shank length. Body mass, height, limb lengths, and circumferences at the sites corresponding to the ultrasound images were acquired. A single investigator manually analysed all images. Regression analyses were conducted to identify models for estimating volume of the hip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle groups. Results: Models were developed for estimating hip extensor (SEE = 8.92%, R2 = 0.690), knee extensor (SEE = 5.24%, R2 = 0.707) and flexor (SEE = 7.89%, R2 = 0.357), and ankle plantarflexor (SEE = 10.78%, R2 = 0.387) muscle group volumes. The hip and knee extensor models showed good potential for generalisation. Systematic error was observed for the knee flexor and ankle plantarflexor models. Conclusions: Hip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle group volumes can be estimated using B-mode ultrasound images and anthropometric measurements. The error shown for each of the models was sufficient to identify previously reported differences in muscle volume due to training or injury, supporting their clinical application

Antifungal susceptibility and phenotypic characterization of oral isolates of a black fungus from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient under radiotherapy

10.1186/s12903-015-0023-9BMC Oral Health15

The Interplay of Reovirus with Autophagy

Autophagy participates in multiple fundamental physiological processes, including survival, differentiation, development, and cellular homeostasis. It eliminates cytoplasmic protein aggregates and damaged organelles by triggering a series of events: sequestering the protein substrates into double-membrane vesicles, fusing the vesicles with lysosomes, and then degrading the autophagic contents. This degradation pathway is also involved in various disorders, for instance, cancers and infectious diseases. This paper provides an overview of modulation of autophagy in the course of reovirus infection and also the interplay of autophagy and reovirus

The Forum: Summer 2005

Summer 2005 journal of the Honors Program at the University of North Dakota. The issue includes stories, poems, essays and art by undergraduate students.https://commons.und.edu/und-books/1057/thumbnail.jp

Evolution of tolerance to PCBs and susceptibility to a bacterial pathogen (\u3cem\u3eVibrio harveyi\u3c/em\u3e) in Atlantic killifish (\u3cem\u3eFundulus heteroclitus\u3c/em\u3e) from New Bedford (MA, USA) harbor

A population of the non-migratory estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus (Atlantic killifish) resident to New Bedford (NB), Massachusetts, USA, an urban harbor highly contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), demonstrates recently evolved tolerance to some aspects of PCB toxicity. PCB toxicology, ecological theory, and some precedence supported expectations of increased susceptibility to pathogens in NB killifish. However, laboratory bacterial challenges of the marine pathogen Vibrio harveyi to wild fish throughout the reproductive season and to their mature laboratory-raised progeny demonstrated comparable survival by NB and reference killifish, and improved survival by NB males. These results are inconsistent with hypothesized trade-offs of adaptation, and suggest that evolved tolerance in NB killifish may include mechanisms that minimize the immunosuppressive effects of PCBs. Compensatory strategies of populations persisting in highly contaminated environments provide a unique perspective for understanding the long-term ecological effects of toxic chemicals

The effects of theatre-based vocal empowerment on young Egyptian women’s vocal and language characteristics

This study investigates the impact of a theatre-based vocal empowerment program on the vocal and language characteristics and the self-perceptions of young bilingual Egyptian women. The program used applied theatre, a dramatic practice that promotes civic action by utilizing improvisational techniques to engage participants in exploring solutions to self-identified community concerns. These techniques supported participants&rsquo; pursuit of vocal empowerment: the ability to comfortably express their intended content with a clear audible voice, accompanied by the belief that what they had to say was worthwhile. The program was implemented in Alexandria and Aswan, two Egyptian cities in different regions of the country, with distinct socio-economic profiles. Thirty-six young women from Aswan and nineteen from Alexandria participated. The program was facilitated in Arabic, for 90 minutes per day over twelve consecutive days in 2018. Participants in both groups spoke Arabic as a home language and studied English in school settings but differed in their educational experiences and English proficiency. The vocal and language characteristics of each participant were tested in Arabic and English pre- and post- program using a spontaneous speech task and a reading aloud task. Their self-perceptions were evaluated through a vocal self-perception survey. Results indicated that participants responded differently in each city. In Alexandria, participants showed significant improvement in language skills (e.g., mean length of utterance). In contrast, participants in Aswan showed a significant change in fundamental frequency. Overall, the self-surveys indicated that all participants experienced an increased sense of confidence, a stronger belief in self-authorship, and an increased desire to voice their opinions clearly in public; however, there were subtle differences between the groups. In analyzing these results, we conclude that to design effective vocal empowerment outreach programs internationally, it is necessary to consider participants&rsquo; cultural backgrounds, language diversity, and socio-economic status.</p