A Review of Staffing in Childcare Centres in Six Countries

A review of the international literature on staffing in childcare centres in five English language countries and Denmark reveals both remarkable similarities and interesting differences in the childcare workforce. The paper compares characteristics of the workforce; their training and professional membership. It also compares conditions of work in each country, including salaries, staff benefits, and features of the working environment such as job satisfaction and staff turnover. Findings indicate that childcare workers tend to be young and female; that a relatively high proportion of untrained staff work in childcare centres; that, except in Denmark, the level of extrinsic benefits is startlingly low. Workers are paid relatively little compared to the average pay for women in their countries but the workforce does not benefit from enhanced conditions of work to compensate for low pay. However, the level of intrinsic satisfaction with the work is high. Caring for children is a satisfying form of employment, even if it offers a limited career structure.     

DNA fragmentation factor 45 knockout mice exhibit longer memory retention in the novel object recognition task compared to wild-type mice

Apoptosis is an important process in the development and function of the central nervous system (CNS). To study the role of DNA fragmentation factor 45 (DFF45/ICAD) in CNS function, we previously generated DFF45 knockout mice. We found that whereas they exhibit apparently normal CNS development, DFF45 knockout mice exhibit an increased number of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and enhanced spatial learning and memory compared to wild-type mice in a Morris water maze test. In this study, we examined the performance of the DFF45 knockout mice in a novel object recognition task to measure short-term nonspatial memory that is believed to depend on the hippocampal formation. Both wild-type and DFF45 knockout mice exhibited novel object recognition 1 h posttraining. However, whereas wild-type mice no longer did so, DFF45 knockout mice were still able to differentiate the novel versus the familiar object 3 h posttraining. The longer memory retention in DFF45 knockout mice did not last up to 24 h as neither wild-type nor DFF45 knockout mice demonstrated novel object recognition 24 h posttraining. These results suggest that a lack of DFF45 facilitates hippocampus-dependent nonspatial memory, as well as hippocampus-dependent spatial memory.     

A quantitative method for thein vitro study of sounds produced by prosthetic aortic heart valves Part II: an experimental,comparative study of the sounds produced by a normal and simulated-abnormal Starr-Edwards series 2400 aortic prosthesis

A comparative study was made of the sounds produced by a normal Starr-Edwards 2400 aortic valve prosthesis with those produced by the same valve but having a simulated overgrowth at the apex of the struts. Comparisons were made over the entire cardiac cycle for time and amplitude, power-density spectra, power-distribution spectra, power-distribution surfaces associated with individual valves, and three-dimensional power-distribution-difference surface. Power-density spectra were compared for portions of the cycle corresponding to the opening, systolic, and closing sounds of the valve. Physical parameters of an acoustical model were estimated from the power-density spectra. The results showed that each comparison gave information pertinent to the simulated malfunction. Opening. systolic and closing sounds, respectively, were different for each valve. The opening sound of the abnormal valve displayed a much lower frequency. Systolic sounds for the two valves were similar in frequency, but the normal valve produced more total power for this sound. The closing sound of the abnormal valve occurred later than that of the normal valve. These differences were more clearly seen when viewed in the frequency domain.     

A Direct Comparison of the Skin Conductance and Skin Resistance Methods

The purpose of the present study was a direct comparison between simultaneous recordings of skin conductance and skin resistance. Sixty male students received a series of 30 white noise stimuli, while measures were taken continuously from four sites on the palmar surfaces of the fingers. Evaluations were made for response amplitudes, recovery, and for an approximate area measure. Magnitude of reactions and reliabilities were compared using ANOVA procedures. Behavioral concordances were estimated as correlations with the subjects' ratings of stimulus intensities. Conductance and resistance measures do not differ in amplitude, in area, or in strength of their reliabilities and behavioral concordances. No differences in any respect are found between sites. Skin conductance yields significantly (p < .01) shorter recovery times than skin resistance, which is discussed in terms of membrane permeability change.     

A comparison of three methods for titration of poliovirus vaccines

Two methods for in vitro endpoint titration of poliovirus — the roller tube and the microtitration assay — were compared with each other and with the plaque assay, using secondary vervet monkey kidney cells and Vero cells as indicators. The roller tube method is the most reliable under difficult working conditions, but is otherwise cumbersome and expensive. The microtitre method is the most economical and the plaque assay the most sensitive. By suspending freshly trypsinized indicator cells with the virus dilutions before planting, it was possible to simplify the microtitre method considerably. The sensitivity of the plaque assay was improved for Vero cells by absorbing the virus onto freshly planted monolayers. The method was scaled down to a semi-micro level by using 24-well cell culture trays. The slower rate of plaque development under a low calcium overlay medium facilitated a more accurate plaque count.     

组态视角下的新冠疫情防控成效研究——基于22个国家的定性比较分析*

目的 识别影响疫情防控的关键要素和路径组合,探求影响各国防控差异的机制,为疫情常态化防控提供理论指导。方法 运用清晰集定性比较分析(csQCA)方法,以世界22个典型国家为案例对象,主要从Our World in Data网站获取新冠疫情相关数据,对案例各条件变量及其非集进行必要性分析,对条件组态进行充分性分析。结果 必要性检验一致性水平均低于0.9; 输出5种组态,且单个解(组态)和总体解的一致性均为1,实现了完全一致性。结论 单个要素影响力较弱; 国家低确诊人数存在5条驱动路径,可归纳为资源丰富-弱疫苗型、信任驱动-强疫苗型、经济发达-地理优势型3种模式; 较高的人均GDP、人均床位数和信任度是影响新冠确诊人数的核心要素。     

双色谱柱双FID顶空气相色谱法测量乙醇 浓度的一致性评价

目的 研究双色谱柱双FID检测器顶空气相色谱法（双柱双检法）测量乙醇浓度的一致性,探讨不同一致性评价方法应用价值,为司法鉴定中涉嫌“醉驾”案件准确检测乙醇浓度提供理论依据。方法 配置浓度为80mg/100ml 乙醇溶液和4mg/100ml叔丁醇的混合样。使用自动进样器进样,然后用配备色谱柱和双FIDs的HS-GC分别分析样品。共进行了20次试验,分别计算FID-1和FID-2组的乙醇浓度。采用配对 t 检验、Pearson相关分析、组内相关系数、Bland- Altman 法、ATE/LER区域法等,对两组乙醇检测结果进行一致性评价。结果 FID-1组乙醇浓度为（79.57±1.65） mg/100ml,RSD为2.07%;FID-2组为（81.42±1.33） mg/100 ml,RSD为1.63%。配对 t 检验: t =-7.69（ P <0.001）;Pearson相关系数: r =0.757（ P <0.001）;组内相关系数: ICC =0.739（ P <0.001）;Bland-Altman 法显示,95%的点均落在一致性限内;ATE/LER区域法显示,100%点落在ATE区域,无点落在LER区域。结论 推荐联合使用Bland- Altman图分析法、ATE/LER区域法和组内相关系数作为双柱双检法检测样本中乙醇浓度的一致性评价方法。 双柱双检法测量乙醇浓度的一致性良好。但还应结合测量不确定度等方面对FID-1、FID-2的结果进一步研究。     

中国“顶刊热”的冷思考:基于40年研究主题的多层次国际比较研究

【目的】 在全球视野下,从宏观、中观、微观层面分析中国顶刊论文研究主题的特征及趋势。【方法】 基于1980—2020年Nature和Science期刊上的研究型论文,利用对比分析法,从时间维度对我国顶刊论文不同层级的研究主题展开国际比较研究。【结果】 中国顶刊论文学科结构沿着与全球趋同的方向演进;中国顶刊论文覆盖的研究领域较少,一些增长型和衰减型研究领域呈现追随全球的显著趋势;中国顶刊论文研究主题多为追随型,起步晚、时滞长。【结论】 高水平研究的发展,不仅需要科研人员更加注重论文的内在质量,科技期刊也应充分发挥“把关人”作用,机构与国家应健全科研评价体系,为推动我国高水平研究提供良好的发展氛围与制度保障。     

抗幽门螺杆菌感染二种三联疗法的临床比较

目的　选择高效安全价廉适宜基层医院应用推广的根除幽门螺杆菌 (Hp)的方案。观察二种三联疗法(洛赛克、克拉霉素、阿莫西林、简称LCA ;善胃得、替硝唑、阿莫西林、简称ZTA)抗Hp感染的疗效 ,并与对照组 (泰胃美、简称Tag;普瑞博思、简称Pre)作比较。方法 :对 165例确诊为Hp感染的胃炎及溃疡病者 ,随机分治疗组 83例 (A组 42例、B组 41例 )和对照组 82例 (A1 组 41例均为溃疡、B1 组 41例均为胃炎 )。A组用LCA方案共一周 ,B组用ZTA方案二周 ;A1 组用Tag四周 ,B1 组用Pre十天。除A1 组 1例B1 组 2例失访外 162例治疗后 6周作呼吸试验 ( 1 3C-UBT、部分1 4C -UBT)等以观察近期疗效 ;14 6例 (A组 40例B组 37例 ,A1 组 36例B1 年组 33例 )一年后作胃镜等复查 ,确定Hp根除率及评价远期疗效。结果 :近期Hp根除率治疗组 91.6% (A组 95 .2 %、B组 87.8% )比对照组 35 .4% (A1 组 40 .4%、B1 组 30 .8% )高 (P <0 .0 1) ;远期Hp根除率治疗组 81.8% (A组 85 .0 %、B组 78.4% )明显高于对照组 30 .4% (A1 组 33.3%、B1 组 2 7.3% ) (P <0 .0 1) ;溃疡组 ,治疗A组Hp根除率 82 .6% ,B组 76.5 %均明显高于A1组 33.3% (P <0 .0 1) ;溃疡愈合率治疗组 87.5 % (A组 91.3%、B组 82 .4% )明显高于对照组 5 2 .8% (P <0 .0 1)