Increasing Teachers\u27 Metacognition Develops Students\u27 Higher Learning during Content Area Literacy Instruction: Findings from the Read-Write Cycle Project

Success in the 21st century, for individuals and societies, requires competence in comprehending and communicating in the academic disciplines--the natural sciences, history, geography, and more. The Read-Write Cycle (RWC) Project, a three year longitudinal research study conducted from 2005-2008 in ten public elementary schools in southern California, explored the effectiveness of curriculum and instructional strategies that integrate literacy with disciplinary knowledge with the simultaneous goals of: (1) enhancing students\u27 literacy outcomes; and (2) broadening and deepening knowledge of the content area. Funded by the U.S. Institute of Education Sciences, the RWC Project concentrated over years one and two on 1,024 students in grades three through six and the ongoing professional development of 18 classroom teachers. This documentary account focuses on one aspect of the larger project, specifically the RWC Project\u27s effect on teachers\u27 metacognition about their own practice leading to upper elementary grade students\u27 higher learning by developing students\u27: (1) metacognition and reflection; (2) exploration and depth in content domains; and (3) integration of literacy in content areas

Molecular and Cellular Biology Animations: Development and Impact on Student Learning

Educators often struggle when teaching cellular and molecular processes because typically they have only two-dimensional tools to teach something that plays out in four dimensions. Learning research has demonstrated that visualizing processes in three dimensions aids learning, and animations are effective visualization tools for novice learners and aid with long-term memory retention. The World Wide Web Instructional Committee at North Dakota State University has used these research results as an inspiration to develop a suite of high-quality animations of molecular and cellular processes. Currently, these animations represent transcription, translation, bacterial gene expression, messenger RNA (mRNA) processing, mRNA splicing, protein transport into an organelle, the electron transport chain, and the use of a biological gradient to drive adenosine triphosphate synthesis. These animations are integrated with an educational module that consists of First Look and Advanced Look components that feature captioned stills from the animation representing the key steps in the processes at varying levels of complexity. These animation-based educational modules are available via the World Wide Web at http://vcell.ndsu.edu/animations. An in-class research experiment demonstrated that student retention of content material was significantly better when students received a lecture coupled with the animations and then used the animation as an individual study activity

Pay for performance at a crossroads:Lessons from taking a global perspective

Purpose: The use of pay for performance (P4P) as an instrument to incentivise quality improvements in health care is at a crossroads in high-income countries but has remained a commonly used tool in low- and middle-income countries. The authors aimed to take stock of the evidence on effectiveness and design from across income settings to reveal insights for the future design of performance payment across income contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The authors identified Cochrane literature reviews of the use of P4P in health care in any income setting, tracked the development in the quantity and quality of evidence over time, and compared the incentive design features used across high-income countries compared to low- and middle-income countries. Findings: The quantity and quality of the evidence base have grown over time but can still be improved. Scheme design varies across income settings, and although some design choices may reflect differences in context, the authors find that incentive designers in both income settings can learn from practices used in the other setting. Originality/value: The research and literature on P4P in high-, low- and middle-income countries largely operate in silos. By taking stock of the evidence on P4P from across income settings, the authors are able to draw out key insights between these settings, which remain underexplored in the literature

Aspectos microbiológicos e epidemiológicos dos surtos causados por Salmonella sp em criações não industriais de Gallus gallus domesticus no Estado do Paraná

Orientador: Yasuyoshi HayashiDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Parana, Setor de Ciencias AgrariasCom o objetivo de verificar a participação de Salmonella sp como causa de mortalidade entre as aves domésticas das criações caseiras no Estado do Paraná, foram analisadas, no período de 1987 a 1991, 671 amostras de aves, obtendo-se 7,0% de isolamento positivo, totalizando 47 cepas do microrganismo. Foram encontrados três sorovares causando doença, entre os quais, S.gallinarum (82,9%) responsável pela maioria dos surtos, seguido pela S.pullorum (12,7%) e S.enteritidis (4,2%). Vale ressaltar que o sorovar S.pullorum afetou somente as aves adultas. As 47 cepas de Salmonella pertenciam ao sorogrupo D1 , apresentando semelhante sensibilidade e resistência aos antibióticos e quimioterápicos quando testados "in vitro". Comprovou-se estatisticamente correlação entre o isolamento dos três sorovares citados com a morbidade e mortalidade ocorridas. Quanto ao sorovar S.gallinarum, as taxas médias de morbidade e mortalidade observadas nas aves consideradas jovens adultas (duas a oito semanas de idade) e adultas (mais de oito semanas de idade), situaram-se em 17 ,8%, 34,3% e 17,3%, 33,6%, respectivamente. No que se refere à S.pullorum as mesmas faixas etárias em relação a morbidade foram de 3,2% e 26,9% e mortalidade de 3,2% e 24,8%. S.enteritidis causou índices de morbidade de 23,8% e mortalidade de 22,6% somente na faixa etária das aves consideradas adultas. As aves jovens (1 a 14 dias de idade) não foram afetadas pela doença. Os percentuais de letalidade em relação à S.gallinarum, S.pullorum e S.enteritidis, foram de 97 ,9%, 93,3% e 95,0%, respectivamente. Observou-se ainda que a salmonelose ocorreu em todos os meses do ano. No entanto, quando distribuídos nas estações do ano, a primavera (31,9%) concentrou maior número de surtos, seguido do outono (25,5%), verão (23,4%) e inverno (19,1%)In order to check the role of the Salmonella as the cause of mortality of non commercial flocks of chicken in the State of Parana - Brazil, between 1987 and 1991, 671 samples were analyzed. The percentage of positive cases was 7,0%, comprising 47 different strains of the microorganism. Three serovars of Salmonella affected the birds. S.gallinarum was present in 82,9% of the outbreaks, S.pullorum in 12,7%, and S.enteritidis in only 4,2% of them. It is important to notice that S.pullorum affected only adult animals. When tested "in vitro" all the 47 strains of Salmonella belonged to the D1 serogroup, and showed similar resistance and sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. There is statistically significant correlation between the isolated serovars and the occurrence of morbidity and mortality .The mean rates of morbidity and mortality caused by the S.gallinarum serovar were respectively 17,8% and 34,3%, for young adults (two to eight weeks) and 17,3% and 33,6%, for adults (more than eight weeks). For the same are groups, the mean rates related to morbidity and mortality caused by S.pullorum was 3,2% and 26,9%, and 3,2% and 24,8%, respectively .The S.enteritidis affected only adult birds, causing 23,8% of morbidity and 22,6% of mortality. The group of young birds (one to 14 days) did not show morbidity or mortality .The lethality caused by S.gallinarum, S.pullorum and S.enteritidis was 97,9%, 93,3% and 95,0%, respectively. The salmonellosis was observed in all months of the year, with the greater number of outbreaks in the spring (31,9%). The percentages for the other seasons were 25,5%,23,4% and 19,1%, for the fallt, summer and winter, respectivel

Culture and collective action: Japan, Germany and the United States after 11 September 2001

In order to put a lens on the issue of international security cooperation after 11 September 2001, this article examines the question of how collective action in International Relations becomes possible. The author maintains that a fair amount of inter-state collective action can be understood, even explained, by analysing the culture of the international system. Using discourse analysis as a tool, the analysis addresses the underlying ideas, norms and identities that constitute the relationship between the United States and Japan, on the one hand, and Germany and the United States, on the other, as it has evolved since September 2001. The method exposes how some ideas are privileged over others, how norms are maintained, reformulated and abandoned, how identity is constructed and how power is legitimized in the 'war on terror'

Pay for performance at a crossroads: lessons from taking a global perspective

Purpose: The use of pay for performance (P4P) as an instrument to incentivise quality improvements in health care is at a crossroads in high-income countries but has remained a commonly used tool in low- and middle-income countries. The authors aimed to take stock of the evidence on effectiveness and design from across income settings to reveal insights for the future design of performance payment across income contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The authors identified Cochrane literature reviews of the use of P4P in health care in any income setting, tracked the development in the quantity and quality of evidence over time, and compared the incentive design features used across high-income countries compared to low- and middle-income countries. Findings: The quantity and quality of the evidence base have grown over time but can still be improved. Scheme design varies across income settings, and although some design choices may reflect differences in context, the authors find that incentive designers in both income settings can learn from practices used in the other setting. Originality/value: The research and literature on P4P in high-, low- and middle-income countries largely operate in silos. By taking stock of the evidence on P4P from across income settings, the authors are able to draw out key insights between these settings, which remain underexplored in the literature

SU(3) Predictions for Weak Decays of Doubly Heavy Baryons -- including SU(3) breaking terms

We find expressions for the weak decay amplitudes of baryons containing two b quarks (or one b and one c quark -- many relationship are the same) in terms of unknown reduced matrix elements. This project was originally motivated by the request of the FNAL Run II b Physics Workshop organizers for a guide to experimentalists in their search for as yet unobserved hadrons. We include an analysis of linear SU(3) breaking terms in addition to relationships generated by unbroken SU(3) symmetry, and relate these to expressions in terms of the complete set of possible reduced matrix elements.Comment: 49 page

Participatory systems mapping for population health research, policy and practice: guidance on method choice and design

Executive Summary: What is participatory systems mapping? Participatory systems mapping engages stakeholders with varied knowledge and perspectives in creating a visual representation of a complex system. Its purpose is to explore, and document perceived causal relations between elements in the system. This guidance focuses on six causal systems mapping methods: systems-based theory of change maps; causal loop diagrams; CECAN participatory systems mapping; fuzzy cognitive maps; systems dynamics models; and Bayesian belief networks. What is the purpose of this guidance? This guidance includes a Framework that aids the choice and design of participatory systems mapping approaches for population health research, policy and practice. It offers insights on different systems mapping approaches, by comparing them and highlighting their applications in the population health domain. This guidance also includes case studies, signposting to further reading and resources, and recommendations on enhancing stakeholder involvement in systems mapping. Who is this guidance for? This guidance is designed for anyone interested in using participatory systems mapping, regardless of prior knowledge or experience. It primarily responds to calls to support the growing demand for systems mapping (and systems-informed approaches more broadly) in population health research, policy and practice. This guidance can however also be applied to other disciplines. How was it developed? The guidance was created by an interdisciplinary research team through an iterative, rigorous fivestage process that included a scoping review, key informant interviews, and a consultation exercise with subject experts. What is the ‘Participatory Systems Design Framework’ included in this guidance? The Design Framework supports users to choose between different methods and enhance the design of participatory systems mapping projects. Specifically, it encourages users to consider: 1) the added value of adopting a participatory approach to systems mapping; 2) the differences between methods, including their relative advantages and disadvantages; and 3) the feasibility of using particular methods for a given purpose. An editable version of the Framework is available to download as a supplementary file. How will this guidance support future use of these methods? Participatory systems mapping is an exciting and evolving field. This guidance clarifies and defines the use of these methods in population health research, policy and practice, to encourage more thoughtful and purposeful project design, implementation, and reporting. The guidance also identifies several aspects for future research and development: methodological advancements; advocating for and strengthening participatory approaches; strengthening reporting; understanding and demonstrating the use of maps; and developing skills for the design and use of these methods

Development and application of the DePtH framework for categorising the agentic demands of population health interventions [Pre-print]

The ‘agentic demand’ of population health interventions may influence intervention effectiveness and equity, yet the absence of an adequate framework to classify agentic demands limits the fields’ advancement. We systematically developed the DEmands for PopulaTion Health Interventions (DePtH) framework identifying three constructs influencing agentic demand - exposure (initial contact with intervention), mechanism of action (how the intervention enables or discourages behaviour), and engagement (recipient response), combined into twenty classifications. We conducted expert qualitative feedback and reliability testing, revised the framework and applied it in a proof-of-concept review, combining it with data on overall effectiveness and equity of dietary and physical activity interventions. Intervention components were concentrated in a small number of classifications; DePtH classification appeared to be related to intervention equity but not effectiveness. This framework holds potential for future research, policy and practice, facilitating the design, selection, evaluation and synthesis of evidence