THE PARAPAPIO SPECIES OF STERKFONTEIN, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA

The premolar and molar dimensions of the Parapapio specimens hitherto described from the South African lower Pleistocene deposits at Sterkfontein have been re-examined. The relatively minor sexual dimorphism in these teeth (except P3 length) was confirmed. 103 new cercopithecoid specimens from Sterkfontein were tentatively assigned to the 3 previously described Parapapio spp. from that site. The new and old samples of each species were compared and then pooled. Analysis of this new enlarged sample, and also the newly available distribution data of Parapapio from other South African deposits, both tend to support the validity of 3 Parapapio spp., P. jonesi, P. broomi and P. whitei, at Sterkfontein.Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Researc

What factors influence midwives to provide obstetric high dependency care on the delivery suite or request care be escalated away from the obstetric unit? Findings of a focus group study

Abstract Background In the United Kingdom, midwives will engage in discussions with the multidisciplinary team as to whether they can provide Obstetric High Dependency Care (OHDC) on the Delivery Suite or whether a woman’s care should be escalated to the critical care team. This study aimed to explore the question: What factors influence midwives to provide OHDC or request care be escalated away from the obstetric unit in hospitals remote from tertiary referral centres? Methods Focus groups were undertaken with midwives (n = 34) across three obstetric units in England, with annual birth rates ranging from 1500 to 5000 per annum, in District General Hospitals. Three scenarios in the form of video vignettes of handover were used as triggers for the focus groups. Scenario 1; severe pre-eclampsia, physiologically unstable 2; major postpartum haemorrhage requiring invasive monitoring 3; recent admission of woman with chest pain receiving facial oxygen and requiring continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. Two focus groups were conducted in each of the obstetric units with experienced midwives. Data were analysed using a qualitative framework approach. Results Factors influencing midwives’ care escalation decisions included the care environment, a woman’s diagnosis and fetal or neonatal factors. The overall plan of care including the need for ECG and invasive monitoring were also influential factors. Midwives in the smallest obstetric unit did not have access to the facilities for OHDC provision. Midwives in the larger obstetric units provided OHDC but identified varying degrees of skill and sometimes used ‘workarounds’ to facilitate care provision. Midwifery staffing levels, skill mix and workload were also influential. Some differences of opinion were evident between midwives working in the same obstetric units as to whether OHDC could be provided and the support they would enlist to help them provide it. Reliance on clinical guidelines appeared variable. Conclusions Findings indicate that there may be inequitable OHDC provision at a local level. Organisationally robust systems are required to promote safe, equitable OHDC care including skills development for midwives and precise escalation guidelines to minimise workarounds. Training for midwives must include strategies that prevent skills fade. </jats:sec

<i>‘What retention’ means to me</i>: the position of the adult learner in student retention

Studies of student retention and progression overwhelmingly appear adopt definitions that place the institution, rather than the student, at the centre. Retention is most often conceived in terms of linear and continuous progress between institutionally identified start and end points. This paper reports on research that considered data from 38 in-depth interviews conducted with individuals who had characteristics often associated with non-traditional engagement in higher education who between 2006 and 2010 had studied an ‘Introduction to HE’ module at one distance higher education institution, some of whom had progressed to further study at that institution, some of whom had not. The research deployed a life histories approach to seek a finer grained understanding of how individuals conceptualise their own learning journey and experience, in order to reflect on institutional conceptions of student retention. The findings highlight potential anomalies hidden within institutional retention rates – large proportions of the interview participants who were not ‘retained’ by the institution reported successful progression to and in other learning institutions and environments, both formal and informal. Nearly all described positive perspectives on lifelong learning which were either engendered or improved by the learning undertaken. This attests to the complexity of individuals’ lives and provides clear evidence that institution-centric definitions of retention and progression are insufficient to create truly meaningful understanding of successful individual learning journeys and experiences. It is argued that only through careful consideration of the lived experience of students and a re-conception of measures of retention, will we be able to offer real insight into improving student retention

Communities in university mathematics

This paper concerns communities of learners and teachers that are formed, develop and interact in university mathematics environments through the theoretical lens of Communities of Practice. From this perspective, learning is described as a process of participation and reification in a community in which individuals belong and form their identity through engagement, imagination and alignment. In addition, when inquiry is considered as a fundamental mode of participation, through critical alignment, the community becomes a Community of Inquiry. We discuss these theoretical underpinnings with examples of their application in research in university mathematics education and, in more detail, in two Research Cases which focus on mathematics students' and teachers' perspectives on proof and on engineering students' conceptual understanding of mathematics. The paper concludes with a critical reflection on the theorising of the role of communities in university level teaching and learning and a consideration of ways forward for future research

Sorghum Improvement for Semi-Arid Tropics Region : Past Current and Future Research Thrusts in Asia

Sorghum Is widely grown in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) for food, feed, fodder arid forage. Although India and Africa represent the major sorghum growing areas, grain yield levels are low compared to those in the developed world. An attempt Is made to summarize the relevant research thrusts that have implications on Improving sorghum genetically. The cultivated taxa, Sorghum bico lo r (L.) Moench with 2n = 20 were evolved and domesticated in North Eastern Africa. Based on spikelet characters, they are grouped into five racescaudatum, guinea, kafir, durra and bicolor and ten hybrid races. The cultivated forms probably arose from S. verticihiflorum. Nearly 35000 landraces collected from 87 countries are being maintained at ICRISAT Asia Center, Hyderabad, India. - Initial attempts to breed sorghum were in understanding inheritance of several morphological traits based on mendelian factors and breeding for specific adaptation. The establishment of All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project in 1970, and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics with sorghum as one of its mandate crop in 1972 and the initiation of conversion program in USA in early part of 1960s demonstrated that wide adaptability and high yield can be combined and also produced materials which contributed well to several national programs in the SAT. Recurrent selection methods adopted with the help of genetic male sterile genes were not as effective as pedigree/backcross methods to achieve high yield. Discovery of genetic-cytoplasmic male sterility in 1954 enabled hybrid seed production cost effective, and it was established soon that hybrids were superior to varieties across all ranges of environments. Several high yielding hybrids were produced and released. Soon, lack of resistance to various yield constraints was recognized. Current research portfolios involve breeding of male-sterile and restorer lines in diversified cytoplasmic background for resistance to various yield constraints with high grain fodder yield. The goal is to produce high yielding resistant cultivars. Future strategies of sorghum improvement for SAT is encoded in ICRISAT's Medium Term Plan which recognized a total of 29 production systems, five adaptation zones, and a multidisciplinary research strategy of producing high yielding resistant parents, and developing integrated pest, diseases, soil and water management methods

Secondary literacy across the curriculum: Challenges and possibilities

This paper discusses the challenges and possibilities attendant upon successfully implementing literacy across the curriculum initiatives – or ‘school language policies’ as they have come to be known - particularly at the secondary or high school level. It provides a theoretical background to these issues, exploring previous academic discussions of school language policies, and highlights key areas of concern as well as opportunity with respect to school implementation of such policies. As such, it provides a necessary conceptual background to the subsequent papers in this special issue, which focus upon the Secondary Schools’ Literacy Initiative (SSLI) – a New Zealand funded programme that aims to establish cross-curricular language and literacy policies in secondary schools

Sorghum grain hardness and its relationship to mold susceptibility and mold resistance

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars exhibiting contrasting reactions to the gram mold complex were grown at Patancheru, India, in one postrainy (1988-1989) and two consecutive rainy seasons (1989 and 1990). Sorghum grain hardness was measured by four methods: grinding time required to obtain a fixed volume of flour from grains in a Stenvert hardness tester, force required to break the grains using Kiya and Instron food testers, and density grading in sodium nitrate solution measured as percentage of floating grains. Ergosterol concentration was determined in grains to assess the extent of mold damage. The Stenvert method was convenient and rapid and was significantly correlated with the other three methods but negatively and significantly correlated with the ergosterol concentration. Grains grown in the postrainy season exhibited higher hardness than those grown in the rainy seasons. Mold-resistant cultivars exhibited significantly greater hardness than mold-susceptible cultivars. Ergosterol concentration indicating the extent of mold attack was negatively and significantly( P < 0.01) correlated with Stenvert hardness values in mold-resistant phenotypically white sorghum grains (without testa) in both the rainy seasons

Genetic analysis of grain mold resistance in white seed sorghum genotypes

Grain molds in rainy season sorghums can cause poor grain quality resulting in economic losses. Grain molds are a major constraint to the sorghum production and for adoption of the improved cultivars. A complex of fungi causes grain mold. Information on genetics of grain mold resistance and mechanisms is required to facilitate the breeding of durable resistant cultivars. A genetic study was conducted using one white susceptible, three white resistant/tolerant sources, and one colored resistant source in the crossing programme to obtain four crosses. P1, P2, F1, BC1, and BC2, and F2 families of each cross were evaluated for the field grade and threshed grade scores, under sprinkler irrigation. Generation mean analyses and frequency distribution studies were carried out. The frequency distribution studies showed that grain mold resistance in the white-grained resistance sources was polygenic. The additive gene action and additive × additive gene interaction were significant in all the crosses. Simple recurrent selection or backcrossing should accumulate the genes for resistance. Epistasis gene interactions were observed in colored resistance × white resistance cross. Gene interaction was influenced by pronounced G × E. Pooled analysis showed that environment × additive gene interaction and environment × dominant gene interaction were significant. The complex genetics of mold resistance is due to the presence of different mechanisms of inheritance from various sources. Evaluation of segregating population for resistance and selection for stable derivatives in advanced generations in different environments will be effectiv