Analisis Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah pada Materi Sistem Koordinat Kartesius Ditinjau dari Perbedaan Pola Pikir Divergen dan Konvergen Siswa Kelas VIII SMP

This study aims to determine how the ability of mathematical problem solving in the Cartesian coordinate system material in terms of differences in divergent and convergent thinking patterns in class VIII students in semester 1 of SMP Negeri 1 Kediri in the 2019/2020 academic year. This research is a descriptive study using a quantitative approach. The instruments used in this study were the thinking character questionnaire instrument and the problem solving ability test instrument. The thinking character questionnaire instrument was used to select research samples that met the criteria for divergent thinking and convergent thinking. In this study, 11 students thought divergent and 12 students thought convergent. The problem-solving ability test instrument was used to determine the problem-solving ability of the research sample as measured by Polya's assessment guidelines, namely (1) understanding the questions, (2) planning solutions, (3) solving problems, and (4) checking. The results showed that there was no difference in the average score of problem-solving abilities between students with divergent and convergent thinking patterns, namely 66.19 and 66.73. The only difference lies in the steps each student takes. This shows that different mindsets do not affect a person's ability to solve a problem.

Effects of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporation Effluents on the Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Community along River Rido, Kaduna, Nigeria

The effects of effluent discharged from Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporations (KRPC) on the Phytoplankton species distribution and abundance was studied along river Rido for a period of twelve months from February 2013 to January 2014. A total of Ninety-three (93) species of phytoplankton distributed in five divisions were recorded from four different study stations (A, B, C and D) along the river. Random sequential sampling was employed for selecting a sampling station. Physicochemical parameters were determined in accordance with the standard procedure for wastewater assessment guidelines of American Public Health Association (APHA). Phytoplankton identification was done using appropriate reference materials. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Bacillariophyta9 constituting 78.98% with 41 species, followed by Chlorophyta (6.67%) having 25 species, and then Cyanophyta (6.46%) having 12 species, while 10 species of Dinophyta and 5 species of Euglenophyta constituting 5.42% and 2.49% respectively were observed. The results from the study revealed low density of phytoplankton in station B, while high density of phytoplankton was observed in stations A and D. The physicochemical parameters showed both seasonal and spatial variations. Values of some parameters studied were observed to be above Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) limits at station B. Thus, effluent from KRPC is a source of contamination of water quality and adversely affects phytoplankton community along river Rido. Therefore, effluent retention facility should be established for long term treatment of effluent before discharge into the river

Are Differences in Dysphagia Assessment, Oral Care Provision, or Nasogastric Tube Insertion Associated with Stroke-Associated Pneumonia? A Nationwide Survey Linked to National Stroke Registry Data

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common complication associated with poor outcomes. Early dysphagia screening and specialist assessment is associated with a reduced risk of SAP. Evidence about oral care and nasogastric tube (NGT) placement is equivocal. This study aimed to expose variations in dysphagia management practices and explore their associations with SAP. <b><i>Participants and Methods:</i></b> Speech pathologists from 166 stroke units in England and Wales were surveyed about dysphagia assessment and management, oral care, and NGT placement. Survey data were then linked to the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP), the national register of stroke. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between dysphagia management practices and SAP incidence. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 113 hospitals completed the survey (68%). Variation was evident in dysphagia screening protocols (DSPs), oral care, and NGT practice while specialist swallow assessment data patterns were more consistent. Multivariable analysis showed no evidence of an association in incidence of SAP when using a water-only hospital DSP compared to a multiconsistency DSP (B −0.688, 95% CI: −2.912 to 1.536), when using written swallow assessment guidelines compared to not using written guidelines (B 0.671, 95% CI: −1.567 to 2.908), when teams inserted NGTs overnight compared to teams which did not (B −0.505, 95% CI: −2.759 to 1.749), and when teams had a written oral care protocol compared to those which did not (B −1.339, 95% CI: −3.551 to 0.873). <b><i>Discussion and Conclusion:</i></b> Variation exists in dysphagia screening and management, but there was no evidence of an association between clinical practice patterns and incidence of SAP. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to examine association with SAP.

Learning Assessment Practices in Ethiopian Universities: Quests versus Upheavals

This study examined learning assessment practices in universities taking one Academic Unit in Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopian as a case. A qualitative approach was employed to generate data from 20 instructors who were attending a capacity building training at the Academic Unit. Supplementary data were secured by reviewing literatures and guidelines. The results have shown that students’ mastery of the learning outcomes (LOs), and achievement of the criterion-referenced assessment requirements were not to the required level. As a result, there were practices of manipulations and invalid subversions of marks bay raising scores without changing the phenomena and without enhancing learning and behavioral change to learners. Moreover, there were no modules designed around competencies with explicit, measurable, and transferable LOs to be assessed. Consequently, the quests and expeditions inherent within the criterion-referenced assessment guidelines were unmet - resulting in matchless upheavals. It has, therefore, been recommended that conscious efforts should be made to make alignments and /or linkages among the salient elements that enhance students’ learning with understanding.

Policy in Practice: Teachers’ Conceptualizations of L2 English Oral Proficiency as Operationalized in High-Stakes Test Assessment

Assessment of foreign/second language (L2) oral proficiency is known to be complex and influenced by the local context. In Sweden, extensive assessment guidelines for the National English Speaking Test (NEST) are offered to teachers, who act as raters of their own students’ performances on this high-stakes L2 English oral proficiency (OP) test. Despite guidelines, teachers commonly construct their own NEST scoring rubric. The present study aims to unveil teachers-as-raters’ conceptualizations, as these emerge from the self-made scoring rubrics, and possible transformations of policy. Data consist of 20 teacher-generated scoring rubrics used for assessing NEST (years 6 and 9). Rubrics were collected via personal networks and online teacher membership groups. Employing content analysis, data were analysed qualitatively to examine (i) what OP sub-skills were in focus for assessment, (ii) how sub-skills were conceptualized, and (iii) scoring rubric design. Results showed that the content and design of rubrics were heavily influenced by the official assessment guidelines, which led to broad consensus about what to assess—but not about how to assess. Lack of consensus was particularly salient for interactive skills. Analysis of policy transformations revealed that teachers’ self-made templates, in fact, lead to an analytic rather than a holistic assessment practice.

Courageous conversations in the Life Orientation classroom and teacher vulnerability

The Independent Education Board (IEB) introduced the need to facilitate critical conversations on controversial topics in the Life Orientation (LO) classroom at the National Conference in 2016. This shifted the focus of discussions to a facilitated critical narrative within IEB Subject Assessment Guidelines (SAGs) topics. This push followed youth activism against systemic racism at educational institutes, which initially created the perception that these conversations related to the socio-political status quo alone. However, the LO curriculum includes a range of topics that require critical narratives. Courageous conversations may trigger cognitive and emotional dissonance in both the teacher and learner. It is, therefore, crucial to interrogate the LO teachers’ lived experiences in facilitating courageous conversations. This study employed individual phenomenological interviews and a focus group discussion. The participants consisted of nine LO teachers from Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and North West province. Each individual interview focused on determining the contexts and the phenomenon of their lived experience of courageous conversations and each participant’s agency in their private capacity as professional educators. The focus group discussion centred around establishing gaps in the motivation, training and skill development of LO teachers to facilitate these conversations. The findings indicate that the courage required of teachers to challenge and be challenged, albeit in a safe environment, results in teacher vulnerability.

European clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders—version 2.0. Part I: assessment

In 2011 a working group of the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) has developed the first European assessment guidelines for Tourette syndrome (TS). Now, we present an updated version 2.0 of these European clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders, part I: assessment. Therefore, the available literature has been thoroughly screened, supplemented with national guidelines across countries and discussions among ESSTS experts. Diagnostic changes between DSM-IV and DSM-5 classifications were taken into account and new information has been added regarding differential diagnoses, with an emphasis on functional movement disorders in both children and adults. Further, recommendations regarding rating scales to evaluate tics, comorbidities, and neuropsychological status are provided. Finally, results from a recently performed survey among ESSTS members on assessment in TS are described. We acknowledge that the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) is still the gold standard for assessing tics. Recommendations are provided for scales for the assessment of tics and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with TS not only in routine clinical practice, but also in the context of clinical research. Furthermore, assessments supporting the differential diagnosis process are given as well as tests to analyse cognitive abilities, emotional functions and motor skills.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENT RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PLANTS OF DEVELOPING AND DEVELOPED COUNTRIES INCLUDING BANGLADESH

Genetically Engineered (GE) plants are the demand of time for increased need of food. The regulation system, followed from the development of a GE plant to its release into the environment is categorized into separate stages for maintaining the proper biosafety including Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). ERA identifies potential risks and its impacts through science based evaluation process where it follows a case by case study. All the countries dealing with GE plants follow specific guidelines to conduct a successful ERA. In this study, ERA guidelines of 4 developing and 4 developed countries including Bangladesh were compared in terms of required data and information against ten criteria. Surprisingly, an adequate amount of data and information requirements (e.g. if the intended modification has been achieved or not, growth habit of GE plants, potential adverse effects on the human health etc.) matched between all the countries. However, a few differences of data requirement such as agronomic conventions of non-transformed plants, clear description of experimental procedures followed etc. were also observed in the study. Moreover, the result indicates that only a few countries provide instructions on the quality of the data used for ERA. Thus, if the similarities are recognized in a more framed manner then the approval pathway of GE plants can be shared.

Estimation of Executive Extension Needs of Rural Women in the Field of Rationalizing Food Consumption Using Broach's

Empowering rural women and girls is not only a fundamental need for agricultural development but also one of the most prominent components of social and economic progress and sustainable development in general. Search data gathered through the questionnaire, the interview with 120 properly addressed, after compiling the data are encoded and discharged and scheduling to fit the statistical analysis methods used, and used some appropriate statistical methods as a percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, as well as using frequency tables to display data, use the SPSS program. The variable was measured for the indicative requirements using equation Borich's needs assessment guidelines. The parent survey results that most rural women aged boys with active level by 59.2%, and education level between a medium and illiteracy, for the exposure to mass media level was low by 76.7%. The most of the sources of information were from Mother of husband by 80%. In conclusion the need to utilize the remaining food through several smaller units to take advantage of it to make a new meal, so they must diversify its sources of information and guidance for the purpose of upgrading rural women to benefit from food waste.