Permeating the social justice ideals of equality and equity within the context of Early Years: challenges for leadership in multi-cultural and mono-cultural primary schools

The ideology and commitment of social justice principles is central to Early Years practice, however, the term social justice in education is complex and remains contested. This paper explores the ideology of social justice through links between equality and equity and how it is embedded within Early Years, and what remain the potential challenges for leadership. Interviews in English multi-cultural and mono-cultural primary schools were conducted. Findings showed that the ideology of social justice, equality and equity was interpreted differently. Multi-cultural schools appear to use a greater variety of activities to embed social justice principles that involved their diverse communities more to enrich the curriculum. In mono-cultural schools leadership had to be more creative in promoting equality and equity given the smaller proportion of their diverse pupil and staff population. Tentative conclusions suggest that the vision for permeating equality and equity in Early Years, at best, is at early stages

Use of Avian Bornavirus Isolates to Induce Proventricular Dilatation Disease in Conures

The fulfillment of Koch’s postulates shows that the virus causes proventricular dilatation disease in parrots

Renal allograft survival rates in kidneys initially declined for paediatric transplantation

BACKGROUND: The outcome of organs which have been declined for paediatric recipients is not known. This study aimed to determine the outcome of kidneys initially declined for paediatric recipients and establish renal allograft survival in kidneys that were eventually transplanted. METHODS: Data were obtained from the UK Transplant Registry for all donation after brain death (DBD) kidneys offered and declined to paediatric recipients (< 18 years) in the UK from 2009 to 2014. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent (503/615) of kidneys initially declined for paediatric transplantation were eventually transplanted, 7% (46/615) of kidneys went to paediatric recipients and 62% (384/615) of kidneys went to adult (kidney only) recipients. The remainder were used for multiple organ transplants. In the 46 kidneys that went to paediatric recipients, 1 and 3-year renal allograft survivals were 89% (95% CI 75.8-95.3%) and 82% (95% CI 67.1-90.6%), respectively. In the 384 kidneys given to adult kidney-only recipients, 1 and 3-year renal allograft survivals were 96% (95% CI 93.5-97.6%) and 94% (95% CI 90.7-96.1%), respectively. Eighty-four percent of the 204 children who initially had an offer declined on their behalf were eventually transplanted and have a functioning graft at a median 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports acceptable short-term renal allograft survival in kidneys that were initially declined for paediatric recipients and subsequently transplanted. Evidence-based guidelines are required to ensure that the most appropriate kidneys are selected for paediatric recipients

New weapons in the toad toolkit: A review of methods to control and mitigate the biodiversity impacts of invasive cane toads (rhinella marina)

© 2017 by The University of Chicago Press. All rights reserved. Our best hope of developing innovative methods to combat invasive species is likely to come from the study of high-profile invaders that have attracted intensive research not only into control, but also basic biology. Here we illustrate that point by reviewing current thinking about novel ways to control one of the world’s most well-studied invasions: that of the cane toad in Australia. Recently developed methods for population suppression include more effective traps based on the toad’s acoustic and pheromonal biology. New tools for containing spread include surveillance technologies (e.g., eDNA sampling and automated call detectors), as well as landscape-level barriers that exploit the toad’s vulnerability to desiccation— a strategy that could be significantly enhanced through the introduction of sedentary, rangecore genotypes ahead of the invasion front. New methods to reduce the ecological impacts of toads include conditioned taste aversion in free-ranging predators, gene banking, and targeted gene flow. Lastly, recent advances in gene editing and gene drive technology hold the promise of modifying toad phenotypes in ways that may facilitate control or buffer impact. Synergies between these approaches hold great promise for novel and more effective means to combat the toad invasion and its consequent impacts on biodiversity

The type and frequency of interactions that occur between staff and children outside in Early Years Foundation Stage settings during a fixed playtime period when there are tricycles available

This study reports on an investigation into adult and child interactions observed in the outdoor play environment in four Local Authority early years foundation stage settings in England. In this instance the common two features across the settings were the presence of tricycles and a timetabled outdoor play period. In total, across the four schools, there were 204 children. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the nature of the dialogues between staff and children, that is, the types of exchange that occurred when either the child approached an adult or the adult approached a child. The most frequent type of utterance was also analysed. The study concludes that adults in these settings spoke more than children and the greatest type of utterance was that of the adult about domestic matters. When the child initiated the conversation there were more extended child utterances than domestic utterances. This may suggest that children wish to be involved in conversations of depth and meaning and that staff need to become aware of how to develop this conversational language with children

First Incursion of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium DT160 into New Zealand

An outbreak of human Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium DT160 infection in New Zealand was investigated from May to August 2001. Handling of dead wild birds, contact with persons with diarrheal illness, and consumption of fast food were associated with infection. Contaminated roof-collected rainwater was also detected

Understanding first-year students’ curiosity and interest about physics : Lessons learned from the HOPE project

This paper focuses on results of an interview based survey of first-year university physics students, carried out within the EU Horizons in Physics Education (HOPE) project (http://hopenetwork.eu/). 94 interviews conducted in 13 universities have been analyzed to investigate the factors that inspire young people to study physics. In particular, the main motivational factor, which was proven to consist of personal interest and curiosity, was unfolded into different categories and detailed interest profiles were produced. The results are arguably useful to help academic curriculum developers and teaching personnel in physics departments to provide guidance to students in developing and focusing their interest towards specific sub-fields and/or to design targeted recruitment and outreach initiatives.Peer reviewe

Academic self-concept, gender and single-sex schooling

This paper assesses gender differences in academic self-concept for a cohort of children born in 1958 (the National Child Development Study). We address the question of whether attending single-sex or co-educational schools affected students’ perceptions of their own academic abilities (academic self-concept). Academic selfconcept was found to be highly gendered, even controlling for prior test scores. Boys had higher self-concepts in maths and science, and girls in English. Single-sex schooling reduced the gender gap in self-concept, while selective schooling was linked to lower academic self-concept overall

Bartonella seropositivity in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura

BACKGROUND: An association between Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and seropositivity for Bartonella henselae (BH) has been described. The objective of this study was to see if such an association exists in northern Alberta. METHODS: Immunofluorescent antibody testing utilizing an antigen prepared from B. henselae was undertaken on sera from six children with current HSP, 22 children with remote HSP, and 28 controls that were matched for age. Blood from the six children with current HSP was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with primers derived from the citrate synthase (gltA) gene for the detection of Bartonella DNA. RESULTS: The seropositivity rate for BH was 61% in cases versus 21% in controls (p < 0.03). The PCR assay was negative in all six current cases. CONCLUSION: There is an increased seropositivity rate for BH in children with HSP. However, it is not clear if infection with B. henselae or a related Bartonella species can result in HSP, or if the increased seropositivity is from non-specific or cross-reacting antibodies

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a child with Henoch-Schönlein Vasculitis and familial Mediterranean fever

Henoch-Schonlein Vasculitis (HSV) is systemic small vessel vasculitis involving the skin, kidney, joints, and gastrointestinal tract. The proportion of patients reported to have renal involvement varies between 20% and 80%. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)is rare syndrome in children, characterized by clinical features of glomerulonephritis (GN) and rapid loss of renal function. We present a severe kidney involvement in a 14 year old boy with HSV in who is carring MEFV mutation. A 14 year old boy had developed sudden onset of palpable purpuric rash on his extensor surfaces of lower extremities. He had elevated an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (45 mm/h), C-reactive protein (3.74 mg/dl), serum urea 66 mg/dl, serum creatinine 1.8 mg/dl. Also, he had hypocomplementemia. Antinuclear antibody, anti ds DNA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anticardiolipine antibodies were negative. Urinalysis revealed macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria with a 24-h urinary protein excretion of 55 mg/m2/h. The renal biopsy specimen showed crescentic and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. He had also M694V/E148Q compound heterozygote mutation. Clinical symptoms and renal failure resolved with intermittant hemodialysis and medical therapy