Aligning school reform and teacher education reform in the middle years: An Australian case study

This paper discusses the development of a new Bachelor of Education (Middle Years of Schooling) at The University of Queensland. The middle years of schooling have increasingly been the focus of education reform initiatives in Australia, but this has not been accompanied by significant increases in the number of teacher education institutions offering specialised middle schooling-level teacher preparation programmes. Considering the rapidly changing social and economic context and the emergent state of middle schooling in Australia, the programme represented a conceptual and practical opportunity and challenge for The University of Queensland team. Working collaboratively, the team sought to design a teacher education preservice programme that was both responsive and generative: that is, responsive to local school contexts and to current educational research and reform at national and international levels; and generative of cutting-edge theories and practices associated with middle schooling, teachers' work, and teacher education. This paper focuses on one component of the Middle Years of Schooling Teacher Education programme at The University of Queensland; namely, the practicum. We first present the underlying principles of the practicum programme and then examine "dilemmas" that emerged early in the practicum. These issues and tensions were associated with the ideals of "middle years" philosophy and the pragmatics of school reform associated with that new approach. In this paper, and within this context, we explore what it means to be both responsive and generative, and describe how we as teacher educators negotiated between the extremes these terms implied.

Screening of human primary melanocytes of defined melanocortin-1 receptor genotype: Pigmentation marker, ultrastructural and UV-survival studies

Recent population studies have demonstrated an association with the red-hair and fair-skin phenotype with variant alleles of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) which result in amino acid substitutions within the coding region leading to an altered receptor activity. In particular, Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp and Asp294His were the most commonly associated variants seen in the south-east Queensland population with at least one of these alleles found in 93% of those with red hair. In order to study the individual effects of these variants on melanocyte biology and melanocytic pigmentation, we established a series of human melanocyte strains genotyped for the MC1R receptor which included wild-type consensus, variant heterozygotes, compound heterozygotes and homozygotes for Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp, Val60Leu and Val92Met alleles. These strains ranged from darkly pigmented to amelanotic, with all strains of consensus sequence having dark pigmentation. UV sensitivity was found not to be associated with either MC1R genotype or the level of pigmentation with a range of sensitivities seen across all genotypes. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that while consensus strains contained stage IV melanosomes in their terminal dendrites, Arg151Cys and Arg160Trp homozygote strains contained only stage II melanosomes. This was despite being able to show expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 markers, although at reduced levels and an ability to convert exogenous 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine (DOPA) to melanin in these strains.

Suppressor of cytokine signalling gene expression is elevated in breast carcinoma

Cytokines are important for breast cell function, both as trophic hormones and as mediators of host defense mechanisms against breast cancer. Recently, inducible feedback suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS/JAB/SSI) have been identified, which decrease cell sensitivity to cytokines. We examined the expression of SOCS genes in 17 breast carcinomas and 10 breast cancer lines, in comparison with normal tissue and breast lines. We report elevated expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS immunoreactive proteins within in situ ductal carcinomas and infiltrating ductal carcinomas relative to normal breast tissue. Significantly increased expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS transcripts was also shown by quantitative in situ hybridisation within both tumour tissue and reactive stroma. CIS transcript expression was elevated in all 10 cancer lines, but not in control lines. However, there was no consistent elevation of other SOCS transcripts. CIS protein was shown by immunoblot to be present in all cancer lines at increased levels, mainly as the 47 kDa ubiquitinylated form. A potential proliferative role for CIS overexpression is supported by reports that CIS activates ERK kinases, and by strong induction in transient reporter assays with an ERK-responsive promoter. The in vivo elevation of SOCS gene expression may be part of the host/tumour response or a response to autocrine/paracrine GH and prolactin. However, increased CIS expression in breast cancer lines appears to be a specific lesion, and could simultaneously shut down STAT 5 signalling by trophic hormones, confer resistance to host cytokines and increase proliferation through ERK kinases.

Quality of life assessment in the community-dwelling elderly: Validation of the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) Instrument and comparison with the SF-36

Measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of the elderly requires instruments with demonstrated sensitivity, reliability, and validity, particularly with the increasing proportion of older people entering the health care system. This article reports the psychometric properties of the 12-item Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) instrument in chronically ill community-dwelling elderly people with an 18-month follow-up. Comparator instruments included the SF-36 and the OARS. Construct validity of the AQoL was strong when examined via factor analysis and convergent and divergent validity against other scales. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses and relative efficiency estimates indicated the AQoL is sensitive, responsive, and had the strongest predicative validity for nursing home entry. It was also sensitive to economic prediction over the follow-up. Given these robust psychometric properties and the brevity of the scale, AQoL appears to be a suitable instrument for epidemiologic studies where HRQoL and utility data are required from elderly populations. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Iniciativas or??ament??rias sens??veis ?? quest??o de g??nero: dimens??es chave e exemplos pr??ticos

Este trabalho faz uma breve revis??o sobre as diferentes maneiras de se estruturar uma iniciativa or??ament??ria de g??nero, seja ela elaborada pelo governo ou pela sociedade civil, em n??vel local ou nacional, considerando todo o or??amento ou setores selecionados e dependendo do est??gio do ciclo or??ament??rio em que ela ?? realizada. Este estudo delineia uma estrutura para a an??lise de g??nero de or??amentos, relacionando os insumos ??s atividades, aos resultados e aos impactos e, a partir da??, apresenta alguns exemplos de an??lises de or??amento a partir da perspectiva de g??nero, em diferentes momentos do ciclo or??ament??rio, buscando experi??ncias em diferentes pa??ses. Tamb??m destaca dois princ??pios chave na an??lise do or??amento com enfoque no g??nero, a saber: 1) a avalia????o do impacto do or??amento tanto sobre o indiv??duo como sobre a fam??lia; e 2) o reconhecimento da contribui????o econ??mica do trabalho dom??stico n??o remunerado, a cargo basicamente das mulheres.

O novo paradigma da gest??o p??blica e a busca da accountability democr??tica

O artigo aborda as quest??es ligadas ao tema da accountability dentro do paradigma da nova gest??o p??blica: ?? poss??vel permitir que servidores p??blicos, investidos de poder e prontos para responder aos problemas, tomem decis??es e sejam inovadores, e ainda assim tenham accountability democr??tica? Essa importante quest??o tem assombrado aqueles que defendem uma ???nova gest??o p??blica???. Os proponentes do paradigma da nova gest??o p??blica enfatizam a capacidade de sua estrat??gia de produzir resultados. No entanto, eles ignoram a problem??tica quest??o da accountability pol??tica. Eles dever??o desenvolver um processo que n??o s?? permita aos gestores p??blicos alcan??ar melhores resultados, mas tamb??m garantir a accountability perante um eleitorado democr??tico.

Burocracia profissional e a livre nomea????o para cargos de confian??a no Brasil e nos EUA

A problem??tica do emprego de cargos de livre nomea????o e exonera????o para assegurar o comando pol??tico e administrativo na m??quina p??blica tem sido objeto, tanto no Brasil quanto nos EUA, de diversos questionamentos. Este artigo debate a situa????o em ambos os pa??ses, com base em alguns dados esclarecedores obtidos pela compara????o entre as estruturas de cargos comissionados e suas quantidades e formas de provimento existentes, no n??vel do governo federal, relativos ?? quantidade, tipos e emprego dos cargos em comiss??o, destacando-se a diferencia????o no que se refere ao uso desses cargos, assim como promove, a partir da literatura da ??rea, um exame da influ??ncia da utiliza????o dos cargos de livre provimento sob o aspecto do conflito entre compet??ncia ???neutra??? e ???compet??ncia responsiva???. A partir dos avan??os alcan??ados desde 1998 no Brasil, conclui-se pela necessidade do aprofundamento da profissionaliza????o das estruturas de comissionamento, tendo em vista a possibilidade de que uma estrutura menos vulner??vel ??s injun????es da pol??tica clientelista possa melhor atender aos princ??pios da efici??ncia e da transpar??ncia.

A narratividade do Hip Hop e suas interfaces com o contexto educacional

A presente tese de doutoramento em Educação aborda a cultura do Hip Hop e sua relação com o contexto educativo. Insere-se nas discussões da linha de pesquisa em Educação e Linguagens e problematiza o espaço escolar, enquanto espaço de reprodução da ideologia hegemônica, analisando o projeto “Escola de Rimas”, desenvolvido na Grande Vitória, como movimento de resistência e ressignificação cultural na escola. Parte da pergunta: Como as práticas discursivas do Hip Hop podem ressignificar o contexto escolar? A presente tese aborda a cultura do Hip Hop como campo discursivo singular de uma experiência narrativa (BENJAMIN, 1986; BONDÍA, 2001) e de uma subjetividade eticamente responsável (BAKHTIN, 1992a; 1992b; 2010), fundada no princípio da alteridade (PONZIO, 2009), e o analisa a partir de uma perspectiva crítica e dialógica (FREIRE, 1981; 1994; 1995; GIROUX, 1986; 1987; BRANDÃO, 1986; BAKHTIN, 1992a; 1992b; 2010). Desenvolve a pesquisa em um contexto limiar entre a escola e a cultura hip hop e dimensiona o debate das culturas marginais nos contextos educativos, voltando-se para os sujeitos e suas experiências narrativas, avaliando a interação de algumas de suas práticas discursivas com o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Para isso, analisa o projeto cultural “Escola de Rimas”, criado pelos próprios ativistas do movimento hip hop da Grande Vitória e desenvolvido em uma escola da rede pública estadual de ensino do Espírito Santo, com o objetivo de discutir o seu papel em um processo de ressignificação educacional. Como hipótese de trabalho defende-se que o espaço escolar, como espaço de disputas, é ressignificado com a introdução de outras práticas discursivas e culturais, entre elas o hip hop, que aponta para a necessidade de ouvir responsiva e responsavelmente as narrativas dos educandos, contribuindo, assim, para a formação crítica desses sujeitos e enfrentando, ao mesmo tempo, práticas de exclusão historicamente instituídas.

Efficiency and response of conilon coffee clones to phosphorus fertilization

Studies on nutritional efficiency of phosphorus in conilon coffee plants are important tools to unravel the high limitation that natural low levels of this nutrient in soil impose to these species cultivars. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the nutritional efficiency and the response to phosphorus of conilon coffee clones. Plants were managed during 150 days in pots containing 10 dm³ of soil, in greenhouse. A factorial scheme 13 x 2 was used, with three replications, being the factors: 13 clones constituting the clonal cultivar "Vitória Incaper 8142" and two levels of phosphate fertilization (0% and 150% of the P2O5 usualy recommended), in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results indicate a differentiated response of dry matter production and of phosphorus content on each level of phosphate fertilization for the conilon coffee clones and that CV-04, CV-05 and CV-08 clones are nutritionally efficient and responsive to the phosphate fertilization.

Methods to classify maize cultivars in use efficiency and response to nitrogen

n plant breeding programs that aim to obtain cultivars with nitrogen (N) use efficiency, the focus is on methods of selection and experimental procedures that present low cost, fast response, high repeatability, and can be applied to a large number of cultivars. Thus, the objectives of this study were to classify maize cultivars regarding their use efficiency and response to N in a breeding program, and to validate the methodology with contrasting doses of the nutrient. The experimental design was a randomized block with the treatments arranged in a split-plot scheme with three replicates and five N doses (0, 30, 60, 120 and 200 kg ha-1) in the plots, and six cultivars in subplots. We compared a method examining the efficiency and response (ER) with two contrasting doses of N. After that, the analysis of variance, mean comparison and regression analysis were performed. In conclusion, the method of the use efficiency and response based on two N levels classifies the cultivars in the same way as the regression analysis, and it is appropriate in plant breeding routine. Thus, it is necessary to identify the levels of N required to discriminate maize cultivars in conditions of low and high N availability in plant breeding programs that aim to obtain efficient and responsive cultivars. Moreover, the analysis of the interaction genotype x environment at experiments with contrasting doses is always required, even when the interaction is not significant.

New challenges in mathematics for the european higher education

In this paper we will talk about a math project submitted to the Lifelong Learning Programme. European higher education needs a reform in order to play its full role in the Europe of Knowledge. Modernisation of higher education is necessary in the areas of curricula (Bologna process), funding and governance so that higher education institutions can face the challenges posed by globalisation and contribute more effectively to the training and retraining of the European workforce. On the other hand Mathematics is an essential component of all educational systems. Mathematical literacy is being scrutinized in assessment efforts such as the OCDE Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This showed a low level in Europe. Due to the Bologna Process, which brought several didactical implications for Higher Education (HE) institutions, there is the need of lifelong learning. This evolution is in conflict with the earlier mentioned lack of competencies on basic sciences, such as Mathematics. Forced by this duality, efforts are combined to share expertise in the Math field and the integration of pedagogical methodologies becomes a necessity. Thus, several European countries have proposed an International Project to the Lifelong Learning Programme, Action ERASMUS Modernisation of Higher Education, to make institutions more attractive and more responsive to the needs of the labour market, citizens and society at large. One of the main goals of the project is to attract students to math through high-quality instructional units in an understandable, exciting and attractive way.

Estudo dos indicadores de qualidade e de risco na interaça o mãe-filho(a)

O presente estudo tem como principal objetivo identificar na interação mãe- bebés de 3 meses, indicadores de risco e de qualidade e, consequentemente, criar um guião que ajude os profissionais a identificar esses mesmos indicadores. Para o efeito observámos 30 díades mãe-filho(a) em jogo livre distribuídas em dois grupos: 1) 12 díades sem condições assinaláveis de risco e 2) 18 díades em risco socioeconómico. O comportamento interativo dos bebés e das mães foi avaliado através do Child-Adult Relashionship Experimental, designado pela autora de CARE-Index (Crittenden, 2003). Os comportamentos maternos e infantis foram cotados de acordo com os 7 aspetos do comportamento diádico: Expressão Facial, Expressão Verbal, Posição e Contato Corporal, Afetividade, Reciprocidade, Diretividade e Escolha da Atividade. Os resultados do nosso estudo revelam que as díades mãe-filho(a) sem condições assinaláveis de risco apresentam interações mais positivas, recíprocas e ajustadas à idade das crianças do que as díades sujeitas a condições de risco e que o comportamento materno sensível e responsivo surge associado ao comportamento cooperativo infantil e negativamente correlacionado com a dificuldade infantil, enquanto que uma postura controladora, diretiva ou punitiva da mãe surge positivamente correlacionada com a submissão e evitamento infantil. Por fim, encontramos associados a comportamentos maternos sensíveis uma variabilidade de comportamentos infantis desde satisfação, coerção, procura de proximidade ou evitamento. Na discussão dos resultados apresentamos um script dos indicadores de qualidade e de risco do comportamento materno. - Abstract This study main goal was to study mother-infant quality of interaction in dyads with 3 months babies. Moreover, our goal was to explore maternal and infant key behaviors that shape the quality of the interaction in order to organize a script that helps professionals to identify these critical interactive behaviors. To this end we observed 30 mother-child dyads (a) in free play interaction divided into two groups: 1) 12 dyads without any known risk condition and 2) 18 dyads at socioeconomic risk. The interactive behavior of infants and mothers was assessed using the Child-Adult Relationship Experimental, designated by the author of CARE-Index (Crittenden, 2003). The maternal and infant behaviors were rated according to seven aspects of dyadic behavior: Facial Expression, Verbal Expression, Position and Contact Body, Affection, Reciprocity, Directivity and Choice of Activity. Findings indicate that mother-child dyads without know risk conditions are more likely to present positive interactions, reciprocal and age-adjusted than dyads at risk. The sensitive and responsive maternal behavior emerges associated with children's cooperative behavior and negatively correlated with infant difficultness, while a controlling or punitive maternal behavior is positively correlated with infant compliance and avoidance. Finally, sensitive maternal behaviors were associated with a variability of child behaviors, from satisfaction, coercion, avoidance or proximity search. In the results discussion we present a script of the quality and risks indicators of maternal behavior.

De intruso a tutor: impactos da formação em contexto PNEP

Este trabalho decorre de uma experiência de formação contínua de âmbito nacional, durante um ano letivo, relacionada com o ensino do português no 1º Ciclo no contexto do Programa Nacional de Ensino do Português (PNEP). Para se compreender o impacto da formação e do seu modelo, analisaram-se as produções escritas (do género narrativo e epistolar) dos alunos do 1º ao 4º ano de escolaridade, os resultados das Provas de Aferição de Língua Portuguesa do 4º ano, os inquéritos de avaliação dos formandos à própria formação, da competência da Comissão Nacional de Acompanhamento (CNA) e, ainda, as reflexões dos portefólios produzidos pelos formandos ao longo da formação. Em génese, pretende-se aferir de que modo esta formação interferiu nas aprendizagens e no desenvolvimento de competências dos alunos no domínio da língua materna, nomeadamente ao nível da escrita. Nessa perspetiva, são comparados dois grupos de alunos do mesmo agrupamento, do distrito de Lisboa, sendo o grupo experimental constituído pelos alunos cujos professores frequentaram a ação de formação PNEP e o grupo de controlo formado por alunos cujos professores nunca frequentaram a referida ação. Todavia, podendo o PNEP ser considerado como uma formação inovadora, porque se desenvolve em contexto, procura-se também saber como se sentiram os professores ao longo desta formação, bem como que repercussões e mais-valias obtiveram para as suas práticas pedagógicas e para a resolução real dos problemas vividos na sala de aula. Por fim, cruzando todos os dados de que se dispõe, aspira-se compreender o papel e o contributo da figura do formador no contexto PNEP, o que poderá conduzir a uma nova abordagem de formação, mais consentânea com o conceito de “mentoria”, e seus processos, do que com os pressupostos iniciais assentes numa lógica de “tutoria”. - This study originates from a one year education experience, nation wide, in the wake of the PNEP (Programa Nacional de Ensino do Português, in its maiden form) program. The aim is to understand how the model herein impacts first to fourth year primary school children’s learning and writing skills, how it influences the fourth year’s final exam results, and how it is reflected on practitioners’ (teachers undergoing the PNEP) performance evaluation inquires, and on concept development within their portfolios. In genesis, we seek to analyse whether the PNEP changed the way children attending primary school learn and master Portuguese, particularly its written expression. To do so, the study focus on two different publics, whereby an experimental group was build around a set of classes whose teachers had completed the PNEP education and training program, and a control group, set around a similar sample, but where teachers had no PNEP education or training at all. In addition, because PNEP might be considered as an advanced education model, we also wanted to disclosure how it adds to schoolteachers’ education techniques, and how it would help them solve daily ordinary problems within the classroom. Last but not the least, the study reveals that PNEP can change Portuguese standard education perspectives, changing classic tutorial methodologies towards a, more responsive, mentoring approach.

Metal accumulation and oxidative stress biomarkers in octopus (Octopus vulgaris) from Northwest Atlantic

Metals are ubiquitous in the environment and accumulate in aquatic organisms and are known for their ability to enhance the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In aquatic species, oxidative stress mechanisms have been studied by measuring antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative damages in tissues. The aim of this study was to apply and validate a set of oxidative stress biomarkers and correlate responses with metal contents in tissues of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase — CAT, superoxide dismutase — SOD and glutathione S-transferases — GST), oxidative damages (lipid peroxidation — LPO and protein carbonyl content — PCO) andmetal content (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and As) in the digestive gland and armof octopus, collected in the NWPortuguese coast in different periods, were assessed after capture and after 14 days in captivity. CAT and SOD activitieswere highly responsive to fluctuations inmetal concentrations and able to reduce oxidative damage, LPO and PCO in the digestive gland. CAT activity was also positively correlated with SOD and GST activities, which emphasizes that the three enzymes respond in a coordinated way to metal induced oxidative stress. Our results validate the use of oxidative stress biomarkers to assess metal pollution effects in this ecological and commercial relevant species.Moreover, octopus seems to have the ability to control oxidative damage by triggering an antioxidant enzyme coordinated response in the digestive gland.

OsRMC, a negative regulator of salt stress response in rice, is regulated by two AP2/ERF transcription factors

High salinity causes remarkable losses in rice productivity worldwide mainly because it inhibits growth and reduces grain yield. To cope with environmental changes, plants evolved several adaptive mechanisms, which involve the regulation of many stress-responsive genes. Among these, we have chosen OsRMC to study its transcriptional regulation in rice seedlings subjected to high salinity. Its transcription was highly induced by salt treatment and showed a stress-dose-dependent pattern. OsRMC encodes a receptor-like kinase described as a negative regulator of salt stress responses in rice. To investigate how OsRMC is regulated in response to high salinity, a salt-induced rice cDNA expression library was constructed and subsequently screened using the yeast one-hybrid system and the OsRMC promoter as bait. Thereby, two transcription factors (TFs), OsEREBP1 and OsEREBP2, belonging to the AP2/ERF family were identified. Both TFs were shown to bind to the same GCC-like DNA motif in OsRMC promoter and to negatively regulate its gene expression. The identified TFs were characterized regarding their gene expression under different abiotic stress conditions. This study revealed that OsEREBP1 transcript level is not significantly affected by salt, ABA or severe cold (5 °C) and is only slightly regulated by drought and moderate cold. On the other hand, the OsEREBP2 transcript level increased after cold, ABA, drought and high salinity treatments, indicating that OsEREBP2 may play a central role mediating the response to different abiotic stresses. Gene expression analysis in rice varieties with contrasting salt tolerance further suggests that OsEREBP2 is involved in salt stress response in rice.