School self-evaluation for school improvement: Examining the measuring properties of the LEAD surveys

Research evidence suggests school self-evaluation with the participation of school stakeholders could improve teaching and learning. Identification and use of appropriate self-evaluation frameworks, however, is not an easy task for schools. Such a framework, the LEAD School Effectiveness Surveys, has been developed by Independent Schools Victoria in Australia. The LEAD suite of school stakeholder surveys enables schools to evaluate their overall effectiveness in several domains and make informed decisions for school improvement. This article evaluates the reliability as well as the face, content and construct validity of the LEAD surveys and discusses the ways in which school self-evaluation results could contribute to school improvement. Data were gathered from a total of 119,749 students, teaching staff, general and parents taking the LEAD Surveys in 112 independent (non-government) schools and followed a five-year longitudinal design from 2009 to 2013. The results support the reliability as well as the face, content and construct validity of the LEAD surveys. The importance of evaluating the measuring properties of instruments used for school self-evaluation is discussed and suggestions for school self-evaluation are provided. Independent Schools Victoria (Australia

Food items consumed by students attending schools in different socio-economic areas in Cape Town, South Africa

Objective: We investigated the food consumption patterns of adolescent students at schools. Our findings are intended to reveal the overall nutritional quality of foods eaten by students at school, including foods brought to school and foods purchased at school. Methods: A questionnaire was completed by 476 students, mostly from grades 7 and 10, from 14 schools in Cape Town, South Africa. The schools were representative of the various ethnic groups and socioeconomic strata of the population. The questionnaire requested information on eating habits at school, foods brought to school and food purchases, and breakfast consumption before school. We also tested whether students knew which foods are healthy and which are less healthy choices. Results: The students were mostly 12 to 16 y of age (mean age 14.5 y). The large majority had breakfast before school (77.8%) and ate at school (79.7%). Food was brought to school by 41% to 56%, whereas 69.3% purchased food at school, mainly at the school store (tuck shop). Predefined “unhealthy” foods brought to school outnumbered “healthy” ones by 2 to 1. Among students who purchased food at school, 70.0% purchased no healthy items, whereas 73.2% purchased two or more unhealthy items. With six foods 84% of students correctly stated whether they were healthy or unhealthy; however, with cola drinks, samoosas (deep-fried pastry with spicy filling), and pies, only 47% to 61% knew that these were less healthy choices. Students’ scores on this question were unrelated to whether they purchased healthy or unhealthy foods. Students who attended schools of high socioeconomic status were twice as likely to bring food to school (64.7% versus 31.0%, P < 0.001), scored higher marks on the quiz of healthy versus unhealthy foods (P < 0.01), but were no more likely to purchase healthy food. Conclusions: The large majority of food eaten by adolescent students in Cape Town is classified as being unhealthy choices. This applies to foods brought to school and food purchases. Consideration needs to be given to policy measures to improve this situation and to improve education of students and their parents

Inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 enhances Leishmania major survival in the skin through control of monocytes and monocyte-derived cells

Leishmania major is the causative agent of the neglected tropical disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the mouse, protective immunity to Leishmania is associated with inflammatory responses. Here, we assess the dynamics of the inflammatory responses at the lesion site during experimental long-term, low-dose intradermal infection of the ear, employing noninvasive imaging and genetically modified L. major Significant infiltrates of neutrophils and monocytes occurred at 1-4 d and 2-4 wk, whereas dermal macrophage and dendritic cell (DC) numbers were only slightly elevated in the first days. Quantitative whole-body bioluminescence imaging of myeloperoxidase activity and the quantification of parasite loads indicated that the Leishmania virulence factor, inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2), is required to modulate phagocyte activation and is important for parasite survival at the infection site. ISP2 played a role in the control of monocyte, monocyte-derived macrophage, and monocyte-derived DC (moDC) influx, and was required to reduce iNOS expression in monocytes, monocyte-derived cells, and dermal DCs; the expression of CD80 in moDCs; and levels of IFN-γ in situ. Our findings indicate that the increased survival of L. major in the dermis during acute infection is associated with the down-regulation of inflammatory monocytes and monocyte-derived cells via ISP2.-Goundry, A., Romano, A., Lima, A. P. C. A., Mottram, J. C., Myburgh, E. Inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 enhances Leishmania major survival in the skin through control of monocytes and monocyte-derived cells

Response of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinotage to Irrigation Strategy and Trellis System in the Breede River Valley Region: Vegetative Growth, Yield and Juice Characteristics

Pinotage is a South African bred red wine cultivar and is second only to Shiraz in terms of the country’s wine exports. Since rainfall in the Breede River region is low, vineyards in this region depend on irrigation. The sensitivity of Pinotage/99R to water deficits and the most suitable irrigation strategy during water restrictions were studied in a field trial from 1998/99 until 2000/01. The possibility to produce more grapes with the same volume of irrigation water was also investigated. Irrigation strategies entailed combinations of 50% readily available water (RAW) depletion, 75% RAW depletion and no irrigation between various phenological stages, viz. budbreak, flowering, pea size berries, véraison, 17°B and harvest. Irrigation applied at 50% RAW depletion from budbreak in September until harvest in February was regarded as the control. Each experiment plot was split into a six-strand vertical hedge and a two-tier vertical trellis. The experiment layout was a split plot, randomised block design. Cane mass of grapevines on the two-tier trellis was lower compared to those on the six-strand hedge. Irrigation at 75% RAW depletion level until harvest tended to reduce cane mass compared to more frequent irrigation. Drier soil conditions reduced berry mass, regardless of the trellis system. Sustained water deficits reduced yield, but had little effect on juice acidity and pH. More Pinotage grapes were produced on the two-tier vertical trellis compared to the six-strand hedge with the same amount of irrigation, thereby reducing the blue water footprint and increasing the irrigation water use efficiency substantially

Long-term leukocyte reconstitution in NSG mice transplanted with human cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Abstract Background Humanized mice (hu mice) are based on the transplantation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells into immunodeficient mice and have become important pre-clinical models for biomedical research. However, data about their hematopoiesis over time are scarce. We therefore characterized leukocyte reconstitution in NSG mice, which were sublethally irradiated and transplanted with human cord blood-derived CD34+ cells at newborn age, longitudinally in peripheral blood and, for more detailed analyses, cross-sectionally in peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow at different time points. Results Human cell chimerism and absolute human cell count decreased between week 16 and 24 in the peripheral blood of hu mice, but were stable thereafter as assessed up to 32 weeks. Human cell chimerism in spleen and bone marrow was maintained over time. Notably, human cell chimerism in peripheral blood and spleen as well as bone marrow positively correlated with each other. Percentage of B cells decreased between week 16 and 24, whereas percentage of T cells increased; subsequently, they levelled off with T cells clearly predominating at week 32. Natural killer cells, monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) as well as CD1c + and CD141+ myeloid DCs were all present in hu mice. Proliferative responses of splenic T cells to stimulation were preserved over time. Importantly, the percentage of more primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow was maintained over time. Conclusions Overall, leukocyte reconstitution was maintained up to 32 weeks post-transplantation in our hu NSG model, possibly explained by the maintenance of HSCs in the bone marrow. Notably, we observed great variation in multi-lineage hematopoietic reconstitution in hu mice that needs to be taken into account for the experimental design with hu mice

Guidelines to manage aggression and facilitate the mental health of educators in the workplace

Session presented on: Thursday, July 25, 2013: Purpose: To describe a meta-synthesis of research conducted on educators\u27 lived experience of aggression in the workplace in South Africa and guidelines to manage aggression and facilitate mental health. Methods: Qualitative phenomenological interviews, observation and fieldnotes were utilised to collect data from purposefully sampled educators. Data were analysed by means of open coding and re-contexualised within the literature. Measures to ensure trustworthiness were applied through implementation of the strategies of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Ethical principles were applied throughout the research process namely autonomy, non-maleficience, benificience and justice. Results: Educators experience aggression on a personal level as expressed in negative emotions. Educators also experience aggression interpersonally as expressed in: experiencing learners being physically aggressive towards each other in class, disrespectful behaviour from learners and educators. Guidelines were described to manage aggression and facilitate mental health. Intrapersonal guidelines focused on facilitating awareness and value clarification by educators. Interpersonal guidelines focused on facilitating constructive communication, constructive conflict management and resilence of educators. Conclusion: Experienced aggression by educators demonstrate challenges to educators\u27 mental health. Guidelines can be utilised to facilitate educators\u27 awareness, respect, constructive communication and conflict management

Die wese van godsdienssin - ’n empiriese studie

In this article the following issues concerning the essence of religiosity are considered: faith, trust, decision making, knowledge of principles, commitment, direction, hope, peace, meaning and security. The respondents used in this study were politicians, businessmen and teacher educators from all sectors and regions of South Africa. Higher order factor analysis and item analysis were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Subsequently differential differences were investigated by applying Hotelling's T-square test followed by the Student t-test as well as Multivariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe. Significant differences in the degree of religiosity were found between language and religious groups, as well as between respondents with different educational qualifications and between those living in urban and rural areas. Ministers of religion should note that it is essential to guide believers to a greater commitment and to the religious seeking of meaning and peace. The correct knowledge of and insight into the essence of religiosity will lead to attaining this goal

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012." DESIGN: A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development. METHODS: The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable. RESULTS: The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality