Workplace mentoring of degree apprentices: developing principles for practice

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on developing a deep understanding of the nature and impact of the workplace mentor role in degree apprenticeships (DAs). It investigates a theoretical model of DA workplace mentoring activity, with findings used to develop a set of principles for supporting the development of effective mentoring practice. Design/methodology/approach: Data underpinning this paper were collected as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the first year of a Chartered Manager DA programme at a post-1992 university. Workplace mentors and mentees were interviewed to explore their experience of mentoring within this programme. Findings: This study found there to be many positive benefits of workplace mentoring for apprentices, their mentors and the organisation. This understanding can be used to support the development of principles for effective mentoring practice. Research limitations/implications: The data support the validity of the proposed model for DA workplace mentoring activity. In order to become a helpful guide to mentors’ planning of areas of support, the model may need to be refined to show the relative importance given to each activity area. The findings of this small-scale study need now to be extended through work with a larger sample. Practical implications: The set of principles offered will be valuable to workplace mentors of degree apprentices across organisational sectors to ensure the quality of delivery and outcomes. Originality/value: This paper contributes to an understanding of the impact of mentoring as a social practice on mentor and apprentice development. Such an understanding has the potential to positively influence the quality of delivery, mentoring practice and thus apprentices’ learning.Peer reviewe

The Iowa Homemaker vol.2, no.8

Table of Contents Make Thanksgiving a Real Homecoming With a Dinner in Your Church by N. Beth Bailey, page 1 Marie Reviews Fifth Avenue by Mildred Boyt, page 2 Art, As Frank Alvah Parsons Sees It by Viola Jammer, page 2 Costuming and Its Relation to the Individual by Marion B. Gardner, page 3 Painting the Fall and Winter Landscapes by Juanita Beard, page 4 “A Timely Thought Saves Nerves Distraught” by Maida Heiner, page 4 In the Light of Experience by Marcia E. Turner, page 5 Naming Canned Fruits by Katherine Goeppinger, page 5 Who’s There and Where by Jeanette Beyer, page 6 A Tea Room That is Different by Opal F. Milligan, page 7 Sour Milk and Its Uses by Elizabeth Storm, page 7 An Indian Romance by Millie Lerdall, page 10 The Song of Thanksgiving Pie by Eleanor Murray, page 13 Scarlet November by Eleanor Murray, page 1

Spectrum of Perforin Gene Mutations in Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is an autosomal recessive disease of early childhood characterized by nonmalignant accumulation and multivisceral infiltration of activated T lymphocytes and histiocytes (macrophages). Cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cell activity is markedly reduced or absent in these patients, and mutations in a lytic granule constituent, perforin, were recently identified in a number of FHL individuals. Here, we report a comprehensive survey of 34 additional patients with FHL for mutations in the coding region of the perforin gene and the relative frequency of perforin mutations in FHL. Perforin mutations were identified in 7 of the 34 families investigated. Six children were homozygous for the mutations, and one patient was a compound heterozygote. Four novel mutations were detected: one nonsense, two missense, and one deletion of one amino acid. In four families, a previously reported mutation at codon 374, causing a premature stop codon, was identified, and, therefore, this is the most common perforin mutation identified so far in FHL patients. We found perforin mutations in 20% of all FHL patients investigated (7/34), with a somewhat higher prevalence, ∼30% (6/20), in children whose parents originated from Turkey. No other correlation between the type of mutation and the phenotype of the patients was evident from the present study. Our combined results from mutational analysis of 34 families and linkage analysis of a subset of consanguineous families indicate that perforin mutations account for 20%–40% of the FHL cases and the FHL 1 locus on chromosome 9 for ∼10%, whereas the major part of the FHL cases are caused by mutations in not-yet-identified genes

Apical Function in Neocortical Pyramidal Cells: A Common Pathway by Which General Anesthetics Can Affect Mental State

It has been argued that general anesthetics suppress the level of consciousness, or the contents of consciousness, or both. The distinction between level and content is important because, in addition to clarifying the mechanisms of anesthesia, it may help clarify the neural bases of consciousness. We assess these arguments in the light of evidence that both the level and the content of consciousness depend upon the contribution of apical input to the information processing capabilities of neocortical pyramidal cells which selectively amplify relevant signals. We summarize research suggesting that what neocortical pyramidal cells transmit information about can be distinguished from levels of arousal controlled by sub-cortical nuclei and from levels of prioritization specified by interactions within the thalamocortical system. Put simply, on the basis of the observations reviewed, we hypothesize that when conscious we have particular, directly experienced, percepts, thoughts, feelings and intentions, and that general anesthetics affect consciousness by interfering with the subcellular processes by which particular activities are selectively amplified when relevant to the current context

Worldwide comparison of survival from childhood leukaemia for 1995–2009, by subtype, age, and sex (CONCORD-2): a population-based study of individual data for 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries

Background Global inequalities in access to health care are reflected in differences in cancer survival. The CONCORD programme was designed to assess worldwide differences and trends in population-based cancer survival. In this population-based study, we aimed to estimate survival inequalities globally for several subtypes of childhood leukaemia. Methods Cancer registries participating in CONCORD were asked to submit tumour registrations for all children aged 0-14 years who were diagnosed with leukaemia between Jan 1, 1995, and Dec 31, 2009, and followed up until Dec 31, 2009. Haematological malignancies were defined by morphology codes in the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third revision. We excluded data from registries from which the data were judged to be less reliable, or included only lymphomas, and data from countries in which data for fewer than ten children were available for analysis. We also excluded records because of a missing date of birth, diagnosis, or last known vital status. We estimated 5-year net survival (ie, the probability of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis, after controlling for deaths from other causes [background mortality]) for children by calendar period of diagnosis (1995-99, 2000-04, and 2005-09), sex, and age at diagnosis (< 1, 1-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years, inclusive) using appropriate life tables. We estimated age-standardised net survival for international comparison of survival trends for precursor-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Findings We analysed data from 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries. During 1995-99, 5-year agestandardised net survival for all lymphoid leukaemias combined ranged from 10.6% (95% CI 3.1-18.2) in the Chinese registries to 86.8% (81.6-92.0) in Austria. International differences in 5-year survival for childhood leukaemia were still large as recently as 2005-09, when age-standardised survival for lymphoid leukaemias ranged from 52.4% (95% CI 42.8-61.9) in Cali, Colombia, to 91.6% (89.5-93.6) in the German registries, and for AML ranged from 33.3% (18.9-47.7) in Bulgaria to 78.2% (72.0-84.3) in German registries. Survival from precursor-cell ALL was very close to that of all lymphoid leukaemias combined, with similar variation. In most countries, survival from AML improved more than survival from ALL between 2000-04 and 2005-09. Survival for each type of leukaemia varied markedly with age: survival was highest for children aged 1-4 and 5-9 years, and lowest for infants (younger than 1 year). There was no systematic difference in survival between boys and girls. Interpretation Global inequalities in survival from childhood leukaemia have narrowed with time but remain very wide for both ALL and AML. These results provide useful information for health policy makers on the effectiveness of health-care systems and for cancer policy makers to reduce inequalities in childhood survival

Restoration of sandy grassland on former fields by inoculation and grazing – a 16-year model study in southern Hesse

Die basenreichen, offenen Sand-Lebensräume des hessischen Oberrheingebietes sind bekannt für ihre mittlerweile hochgradig gefährdeten Pflanzen- und Tierarten sowie Vegetationstypen. Inzwischen kommen nur noch Reste der früher weitverbreiteten Lebensräume vor, und daher gibt es Projekte im Naturschutz, Trittsteine und Korridore zu restituieren, um die fragmentierten Lebensräume wieder zu verbinden. Seit dem Jahre 1998 entwickelten wir Methoden für Restitutionsprojekte und führten ein wissenschaftliches Monitoring in den Sand-Lebensräumen durch (zusammen mit dem Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, der Stadt Darmstadt und einem Landschaftspflegehof). Dafür wurden biotische und teilweise zusätzlich abiotische Verbesserungen der Flächen kombiniert mit Beweidung. Erstmals können wir nun mit Hilfe von jährlichen pflanzensoziologischen Aufnahmen und ihrer Analyse die 16jährige Vegetationsentwicklung eines ehemaligen Sandackers als Modell für eine Restitution ohne abiotische Maßnahmen aufzeigen. Ergänzend vergleichen wir diese Aufnahmen auch mit solchen der nahegelegenen Leitbildfläche Griesheimer Düne. Die Restitutionsfläche wurde mit Pflanzenmaterial (Rechgut) von Leitbildflächen inokuliert und danach kontinuierlich mit Schafen und Eseln beweidet. Aus Sicht des Naturschutzes war die Entwicklung erstaunlich gut, obwohl die Phosphat-Konzentration im Oberboden trotz Reduktion im 16. Jahr immer noch beträchtlich war. Mittlerweile ist die Anzahl und die Deckung an Zielarten hoch, im Falle von Arten der Koelerio-Corynephoretea sogar höher als in der benachbarten Leitbildfläche. Auch kommt eine Vielzahl an Rote-Liste-Arten vor. Aber es gibt auch ein ruderales Potenzial vor allem mit den Schlüsselarten Calamagrostis epigejos und Cynodon dactylon. Das Beweidungsmanagement muss in der bisherigen Intensität fortgeführt werden, um die Entwicklung insbesondere dieser Arten zu kontrollieren.Base-rich open sandy habitats in the Upper Rhine area of Hesse are wellknown for their highly endangered plant and animal species and vegetation types. Only remnants still exist of habitats that were once widely distributed, prompting initation of nature conservation projects involving installation of stepping stones and corridors to reconnect fragmented sandy habitats. Since 1998, we have developed suitable restoration methods, accompanied by scientific monitoring, for sandy habitats (in cooperation with local authorities in the Darmstadt-Dieburg and Darmstadt districts, and with a landscape management farm) using biotic and/or abiotic improvement measures combined with grazing management strategies. For the first time, we report on development of the vegetation in a former field over 16 years as a model for restoration practice without any abiotic measures. We sampled relevés every year and analysed floral and other structural data. In addition, we compared these relevés with relevés from Griesheimer Düne, a reference site situated nearby. The restoration site in the former field had been inoculated with raked plant material from reference sites and has been grazed continuously by sheep and donkeys. In terms of nature conservation, the vegetation has developed surprisingly well over the 16-year period. Phosphate concentrations in the upper soil layer have decreased but still remain elevated. The number and cover of target species are high, and in the case of Koelerio-Corynephoretea species are higher than in the nearby reference site. We also recorded a high number of species on the Red List. The former field retains a ruderal potential, mainly with the key species of Calamagrostis epigejos and Cynodon dactylon. The grazing management strategy must be continued to control any further increase in these species