School management strategies to improve parental involvement : insights from school principals in Southern Tshwane primary schools

Parental involvement plays a very important role in the development of a child’s formal education. This study explored various management strategies that might serve as guidelines to improve parental involvement in primary schools. The conceptual framework that informed this study was factors that determine school effectiveness as well as Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres and her typology on parental involvement that served as the theoretical framework. A qualitative research approach was used for this study, as it allowed the researcher to conduct in-depth interviews with six principals in Southern Tshwane primary schools and examined relevant documents to collect data. The research indicates that most schools comprehend the importance of parental involvement, yet lack structured implementation frameworks for parental involvement. The study recommends that schools need to plan, manage and implement a parental involvement programme according to the unique circumstances of the school.Ukubandakanyeka kwabazali kudlala indima ebalulekile kakhulu ekuthuthukiseni imfundo esemthethweni yengane. Lolucwaningo luhlola amasu ahlukahlukene okuphatha angase asebenze njengemihlahlandlela yokuthuthukisa ukubandakanyeka kwabazali ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi ase Ningizimu neTshwane. Umhlahlandlela womqondo owazisa lolucwaningo yizici ezenza ukusebenza kahle ezikoleni kanye nenkolelo ka-Epstein yezinhlaka eziqhamukayo ekubandakanyeni kwabazali okwakungumhlahlandlela wemfundo. Indlela yokucwaninga eyasetshenziswa kulolucwaningo yenza ukuthi umcwaningi aqhube izingxoxo ezijulile nothishanhloko abayisithupha bezikole zamabanga aphansi ase Ningizimu neTshwane, futhi wahlola nemibhalo efanele ukuqoqa imininingwane. Ucwaningo lubonisa ukuthi izikole eziningi zinalo ulwazi lokubaluleka kokubandakanya abazali kodwa azinazo izinhlaka ezihlelekile zokwenza ukuthi abazali babandakanyeke. Ucwaningo lukhuthaza ukuthi izikole zidinga ukuhlela, ukuphatha nokusebenzisa uhlelo lokubandakanya abazali ngokuvumelana nezimo ezihlukile zesikole.U dzhenelela ha vhabebi ndi tshipida tsha ndeme tsha u aluwa ha pfunzo ya vhana. Tsedzuluso ino yo sedzulusa ndila dzo fhambanaho dza u langula dzine dza shumisiwa sa nyeletshedzo dza u khwinisa u dzhenelela ha vhabebi kha zwikolo zwa fhundzo dza fhasi Tshitirikini tsha Tshipembe ha Tshwane. Tsedzuluso ino yo di sendeka nga zwithu zwine zwa bveledza tshumelo ya maimo a ntha a zwikolo na pfunzo khulwane ya Epstein ya masia a no shumisana kha u dzhenelela ha vhabebi zwine zwa shumisiwa sa maga a kuhumbulele. Tsedzuluso ino yo shumisa maitele a u sedzulusa a qualitative, ngauri a tendela musedzulusi u vhudzisa mbudziso dzo dzudzanywaho na thoho dza tshikolo dza rathi dza zwikolo zwa fhasi Tshitirikini tsha Tshipembe ha Tshwane, na u sedzulusa manwalo o no yelana na tsedzuluso ino kuvhanganya ndivho. Tsedzuluso i sumbedza uri vhunzhi ha zwikolo zwi dzhiela nzhele u dzhenelela ha vhabebi, fhedzi a zwina maitele o dzudzanywaho a u eletshedza u dzhenelela avhabebi. Tsedzuluso ino i themendela uri zwikolo zwi tea u dzudzanya, u langula na u shumisa maitele o themendelwaho a u katela u dzhenelela ha vhabebi uya nga u fhambana-fhambana ha nyimele dza zwikolo.Educational Management and LeadershipM. Ed. (Education Management

Welfare in transition: the political economy of social protection reform in Indonesia

There has been significant reform in social protection systems in developing countries in recent years. The extent, nature, and timing of such reform has varied significantly both between countries and within countries between sectors. Most scholars have explained these developments in terms of technical issues of design, implementation, finance or administration rather than political dynamics. However, recognition is growing that these varying patterns of reform and their implications for improving social protection need to be understood in terms of the underlying political context. This dissertation aims to contribute in this respect by examining the political dynamics surrounding social protection reform in Indonesia. I begin the dissertation by advancing a framework for analysing the politics of social protection reform in developing countries, drawing on ‘social conflict’ theory. Applied to social protection reform, this approach entails identifying the actors, interests, and agendas at work in relation to social protection; assessing the relationships of power between them; analysing the way these shift over time; and how this translates into differing levels of ability to influence policy and its implementation. Having developed this analytical framework, I examine the politics of social protection in Indonesia during the New Order (1965-1998) and post-New Order periods (1998-the present), focusing on three sectors: food security, social security and income support. I put forward two broad arguments. First, I argue that the nature of Indonesia’s social protection system has changed slightly over time. Specifically, I argue that the country’s social protection system has gone from being productivist, particularist, unequalising, informal and predatory in nature under the New Order, to remaining productivist and predatory, but becoming more universalist, equalising, and formal in nature during the post-New Order period. The principal change has been the expansion of rights and coverage of social protection in Indonesia, a shift relevant to the particularist-universalist dimension of social protection. Yet, change has varied across different sectors. Reform has been strongest in the case of income support and social security, and weakest in the case of food security. Second, I argue that the above continuities and shifts in the nature of Indonesia’s social protection system are a product of the country’s political and social order. Specifically they have reflected: i) continued control by predatory political, bureaucratic and corporate elites nurtured under the New Order over the state apparatus in the post-New Order period; ii) the increasing power of donors and technocrats in policy-making between 1997-2003, during which their advice and funding were required to ease the crisis; iii) the increased power of politicians and political parties to promote social protection policies to help them foster political support and, in turn, secure votes at election time following democratisation; and iv) the expanding power of popular forces to access, contest, and influence social protection policy following democratisation. I conclude by discussing the implications of this analysis for proponents of social protection reform in the developing world. In this respect, I make four recommendations. First, proponents of social protection reform should focus their activities on areas where the prospect of change is greatest. Second, international organisations should provide increased funding and intellectual support to NGOs and unions. Third, proponents of social protection reform should coordinate their efforts as their influence has been greatest when they have acted collectively. Fourth, supporters of social protection reform should pursue strategies for ensuring that social protection programs circumvent bureaucratic involvement.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 201

Wonen in Houwerzijl:vind je heil in Houwerzijl!

Deze managementsamenvatting omschrijft kort en bondig het onderzoek naar de woonomgeving van Houwerzijl. Deze samenvatting is bedoeld om de hoofdlijnen van het onderzoek weer te geven, voor het totale onderzoek wordt u doorverwezen naar het onderzoeksrapport ‘Wonen in Houwerzijl’. De doelstelling is het advies geven voor mogelijke aanpassingen ten aanzien van de leefomgeving. De probleemstelling en tevens de onderzoeksvraag van dit onderzoek luidt: ‘Wat vinden de inwoners van Houwerzijl van de kwaliteit van hun leefomgeving en hoe zien zij dit in 2020?’ Deze onderzoeksvraag is verder verdeeld in twee deelvragen, die de woonmotieven en de kwaliteit van de woningen onderzoeken. Studentonderzoek in het kader van het thema Werklandschappen

Seasonal detours by soaring migrants shaped by wind regimes along the East Atlantic Flyway

1. Avian migrants often make substantial detours between their seasonal destinations. It is likely some species do this to make the most of predictable wind regimes along their respective flyways. We test this hypothesis by studying orientation behaviour of a long-distance soaring migrant in relation to prevailing winds along the East Atlantic Flyway. 2. We tracked 62 migratory journeys of 12 adult European Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus with GPS loggers. Hourly fixes were annotated with local wind vectors from a global atmospheric model to determine orientation behaviours with respect to the buzzards’ seasonal goal destinations. This enabled us to determine hot spots where buzzards overdrifted and overcompensated for side winds. We then determined whether winds along the buzzards’ detours differed from winds prevailing elsewhere in the flyway. 3. Honey Buzzards cross western Africa using different routes in autumn and spring. In autumn, they overcompensated for westward winds to circumvent the Atlas Mountains on the eastern side and then overdrifted with south-westward winds while crossing the Sahara. In spring, however, they frequently overcompensated for eastward winds to initiate a westward detour at the start of their journey. They later overdrifted with side winds north-westward over the Sahel and north-eastward over the Sahara, avoiding adverse winds over the central Sahara. 4. We conclude that Honey Buzzards make seasonal detours to utilize more supportive winds further en route and thereby expend less energy while crossing the desert. Lifelong tracking studies will be helpful to elucidate how honey buzzards and other migrants learn complex routes to exploit atmospheric circulation patterns from local to synoptic scales

Prediction of electroconvulsive therapy response and remission in major depression: Meta-analysis

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered to be the most effective treatment in severe major depression. The identification of reliable predictors of ECT response could contribute to a more targeted patient selection and consequently increased ECT response rates. Aims To investigate the predictive value of age, depression severity, psychotic and melancholic features for ECT response and remission in major depression. Method A meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. A literature search identified recent studies that reported on at least one of the potential predictors. Results Of the 2193 articles screened, 34 have been included for metaanalysis. Presence of psychotic features is a predictor of ECT remission (odds ratio (OR) = 1.47, P = 0.001) and response (OR = 1.69, P < 0.001), as is older age (standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.26 for remission and 0.35 for response (P < 0.001)). The severity of depression predicts response (SMD = 0.19, P = 0.001), but not remission. Data on melancholic symptoms were inconclusive. Conclusions ECT is particularly effective in patients with depression with psychotic features and in elderly people with depression. More research on both biological and clinical predictors is needed to further evaluate the position of ECT in treatment protocols for major depression

Oral adverse effects:drug-induced tongue disorders

OBJECTIVES: Due to a worldwide increase in drug consumption, oral healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with patients using one or more drugs. A large number of drugs can be accompanied with adverse drug reactions in the orofacial region, amongst others of the tongue. This paper aims to give an overview of drugs that are known to be accompanied with tongue disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The national drug information database for Dutch pharmacists, composed of scientific drug information, guidelines and summaries of product characteristics, was analysed for drug‐induced tongue disorders. “MedDRA classification” and “Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes” were used to categorize the disorders. RESULTS: The database comprises of 1645 drugs of which 121 (7.4%) are documented to be accompanied with tongue disorders as an adverse effect. Drug‐induced tongue disorders are predominantly observed in the following drug categories: “nervous systems,” “anti‐infectives for systemic use” and “alimentary tract and metabolism”. The most common drug‐induced tongue disorders are glossitis, tongue oedema, tongue discoloration and burning tongue. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with drugs that can cause tongue disorders. The overview of drugs reported in this article supports clinicians in their awareness, diagnosis and treatment of drug‐induced tongue disorders

Discrimination of grade 2 and 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by means of analysis of water soluble proteins recovered from cervical biopsies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3 are usually grouped and treated in the same way as "high grade", in spite of their different risk to cancer progression and spontaneous regression rates. CIN2-3 is usually diagnosed in formaldehyde-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) punch biopsies. This procedure virtually eliminates the availability of water-soluble proteins which could have diagnostic and prognostic value.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To investigate whether a water-soluble protein-saving biopsy processing method followed by a proteomic analysis of supernatant samples using LC-MS/MS (LTQ Orbitrap) can be used to distinguish between CIN2 and CIN3.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fresh cervical punch biopsies from 20 women were incubated in RPMI1640 medium for 24 hours at 4°C for protein extraction and subsequently subjected to standard FFPE processing. P16 and Ki67-supported histologic consensus review CIN grade (CIN2, n = 10, CIN3, n = 10) was assessed by independent gynecological pathologists. The biopsy supernatants were depleted of 7 high abundance proteins prior to uni-dimensional LC-MS/MS analysis for protein identifications.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The age of the patients ranged from 25-40 years (median 29.7), and mean protein concentration was 0.81 mg/ml (range 0.55 - 1.14). After application of multistep identification criteria, 114 proteins were identified, including proteins like vimentin, actin, transthyretin, apolipoprotein A-1, Heat Shock protein beta 1, vitamin D binding protein and different cytokeratins. The identified proteins are annotated to metabolic processes (36%), signal transduction (27%), cell cycle processes (15%) and trafficking/transport (9%). Using binary logistic regression, Cytokeratin 2 was found to have the strongest independent discriminatory power resulting in 90% overall correct classification.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>114 proteins were identified in supernatants from fresh cervical biopsies and many differed between CIN2 and 3. Cytokeratin 2 is the strongest discriminator with 90% overall correct classifications.</p

Regulatory Approaches to Managing Skilled Migration: Indonesian Nurses in Japan

This article examines the Japan–Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement, an agreement that has allowed Japan to supplement its local healthcare workforce while continuing to sidestep the thorny issue of labour and immigration policy reform and Indonesia to increase its skilled workers’ access to the Japanese labour market at a time when it was making a concerted effort to reorient migrant labour flows away from informal sector occupations. Despite the programme’s many problems, it has contributed to the use of trade agreements as a mechanism for regulating labour migration, and so to the normalisation of migrant labour as a tradable commodity rather than a discrete area of policy-making, with all the attendant risks that normalisation brings

"Cognitive trajectories during and after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with MDE: Taking different perspectives" (vol152, pg 132, 2022)

Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa