Practices and Challenges of Children’s Learning Assessment in Pre-school Centers

The purpose this study was to investigate practices and challenges assessing children in pre-school centers. In the study, 66 teachers participated from government and non-government pre-school centers. To collect data, questionnaire, interview and observation guide were used. The quantitative data was analyzed through frequency, percentage, and mean and the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Findings show that educators hold diverse views and have varying approaches to assessment, using different tools and methods. All participants agree that assessment is important for supporting children’s learning and development.The findings revealed that poor curriculum implementation and instruction, unfair assessment practices such as unhealthy comparison among children, labelling children as failures by emphasizing on norm, using paper-pencil tests, focusing on few domains of children’s development, using the assessment result for promotion, and a possible wrong interpretation of assessment results.  Moreover, poor documentation of learning activities of the children, using few assessment tools throughout the semester and summative assessment approaches, poor parent communication and feedback provision were common problems in the majority of preschool centres. Lack of professional staff, lack of ECCE syllabus, large class size, and lack of knowledge and skill were the major challenges. Keywords: Assessment Practice; Challenges; Children assessment; Pre-school DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-4-0

Significance of Blastocystis hominis in patients referred for bacteriological stool culture at EHNRI

No Abstract. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (1) 2007: pp. 61-6

Magnetic Connectivity between Active Regions 10987, 10988, and 10989 by Means of Nonlinear Force-Free Field Extrapolation

Extrapolation codes for modelling the magnetic field in the corona in cartesian geometry do not take the curvature of the Sun's surface into account and can only be applied to relatively small areas, \textit{e.g.}, a single active region. We apply a method for nonlinear force-free coronal magnetic field modelling of photospheric vector magnetograms in spherical geometry which allows us to study the connectivity between multi-active regions. We use vector magnetograph data from the Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun survey (SOLIS)/Vector Spectromagnetograph(VSM) to model the coronal magnetic field, where we study three neighbouring magnetically connected active regions (ARs: 10987, 10988, 10989) observed on 28, 29, and 30 March 2008, respectively. We compare the magnetic field topologies and the magnetic energy densities and study the connectivities between the active regions(ARs). We have studied the time evolution of magnetic field over the period of three days and found no major changes in topologies as there was no major eruption event. From this study we have concluded that active regions are much more connected magnetically than the electric current.Comment: Solar Physic

How to optimize nonlinear force-free coronal magnetic field extrapolations from SDO/HMI vector magnetograms?

The SDO/HMI instruments provide photospheric vector magnetograms with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Our intention is to model the coronal magnetic field above active regions with the help of a nonlinear force-free extrapolation code. Our code is based on an optimization principle and has been tested extensively with semi-analytic and numeric equilibria and been applied before to vector magnetograms from Hinode and ground based observations. Recently we implemented a new version which takes measurement errors in photospheric vector magnetograms into account. Photospheric field measurements are often due to measurement errors and finite nonmagnetic forces inconsistent as a boundary for a force-free field in the corona. In order to deal with these uncertainties, we developed two improvements: 1.) Preprocessing of the surface measurements in order to make them compatible with a force-free field 2.) The new code keeps a balance between the force-free constraint and deviation from the photospheric field measurements. Both methods contain free parameters, which have to be optimized for use with data from SDO/HMI. Within this work we describe the corresponding analysis method and evaluate the force-free equilibria by means of how well force-freeness and solenoidal conditions are fulfilled, the angle between magnetic field and electric current and by comparing projections of magnetic field lines with coronal images from SDO/AIA. We also compute the available free magnetic energy and discuss the potential influence of control parameters.Comment: 17 Pages, 6 Figures, Sol. Phys., accepte

Management of undescended testes: a retrospective study from a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia

Background: Undescended testis is one of the commonest congenital malformations seen in boys. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern of presentation, approach to diagnosis, treatment and follow up in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, a tertiary teaching hospital in Ethiopia.Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study of all boys with undescended testis operated in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital between September 2012 and August 2014.Results: Of 82 boys operated within the study period, 66 boys with 78 undescended testes are studied. Twenty-six percent (17/66)came before the age of 2 years, while the majority of the study group, 50% (33/66), presented beyond 5 years of age. Of the 17 boys brought to the hospital before 2 years, only 41% (7/17) them were treated before the age of two years. The majority 89% (59/66) of the boys were treated after 2 years of age. Seventy-one testes of 78 [91%] were in the inguinal canal, 5 were intra-abdominal and 2 were absent. 46% (36/78) were on the left side, 29% (23/78) on the right side and the rest were bilateral. Among the 54 boys who had ultrasound examination, the ultrasound report is consistent with operative findings in 33 [61%]. Associated congenital malformations were found in 31.8% (21/66) of the boys. Hypospadia was the predominant malformation comprising 38% (8/21) of the total congenital malformations. Orchidopexy was done for 82% (64/78) of the total testes, orchiectomy was done for 9% (7/78) and biopsy was taken in 1 case. Among the total operated boys only 62% (41/66) were followed in our clinic; of those who had follow up 10% (4/41) testes atrophied and 1 [2%] testis retracted.Conclusion: Boys with undescended testes present and are treated late in Tikur Anbesa Hospital. As opposed to the literatures most of the undescended testes were found on the left side. Ultrasound examination cannot be the only mode of examination for undescended testes as it misses more than one third of the cases. Hypospadia is the commonest associated congenital malformation. Post operative follow up is very poor after treatment for undescended teste

Coronal Magnetic Field Structure and Evolution for Flaring AR 11117 and its Surroundings

In this study, photospheric vector magnetograms obtained with the Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun survey (SOLIS), are used as boundary conditions to model the three-dimensional nonlinear force-free (NLFF) coronal magnetic fields as a sequence of nonlinear force-free equilibria in spherical geometry. We study the coronal magnetic field structure inside active regions and its temporal evolution. We compare the magnetic field configuration obtained from NLFF extrapolation before and after flaring event in active region (AR) 11117 and its surroundings observed on 27 October 2010. We compare the magnetic field topologies and the magnetic energy densities and study the connectivities between AR 11117 and its surroundings. During the investigated time period, we estimate the change in free magnetic energy from before to after the flare to be 1.74x10^{32}erg which represents about 13.5% of nonlinear force-free magnetic energy before the flare. In this study, we find that electric currents from AR 11117 to its surroundings were disrupted after the flare.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, Accepted by Solar Physics Journa