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JOURNAL CLUB: SUMMER SESSION http://www.webspawner.com/users/journalclub (NEW) Monday, 19 June 2006, University of Sofia, 1 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Hall 108, 10:00 em, Welcoming, Coffee/Tea and Cake Busses: 94, 102, 88, 120; Trams: 14, 18. Lecture: The Avian Connection to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Author: James E. Hollenbeck, Ph. D., Indiana University Southeast, USA Abstract. The 1918 Influenza pandemic was one of the most virulent strains of influenza in history. This strain quickly dispatched previously held theories on influenza. World War One introduced new environmental stresses and speed of dissemination logistics never experienced by humans.In light of new phylogenic evidence the cause of this influenza outbreak is now being considered to have linkage to the avian influenza. Animals act as reservoirs for this influenza virus and research indicates the influenza virus often originates in the intestines of aquatic wildfowl. The virus is shed into the environment, which in turns infects domestic poultry, which in turn infects mammalian hosts. These animals, usually pigs, act as a transformer or converters; creating a strain that can more readily infect humans. Therefore swine can be infected with both avian and human influenza A viruses and serve as a source for infection for a number of species as the incidents of direct infection from birds to humans have been rare. Increased human habitation near poultry and swine raising facilities pose greater influenza outbreak risk. It was this combination of environmental factors that may have contributed to the greatest pandemic of recent times, and, moreover, similar conditions exist throughout Southeast Asia today. ==================================================================== (NEW) Wednesday, 21 June 2006, University of Sofia, 1 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Hall 108, 10:00 em, Welcoming, Coffee/Tea and Cake Busses: 94, 102, 88, 120; Trams: 14, 18. Lecture: Constructing Academic Success by Developing the Attitudes, Perceptions, and Philosophies of Pre-service Educators Prepared in a Constructivist Methodology Author: James E. Hollenbeck, Ph. D., Indiana University Southeast, USA Abstract. This is a continued study of the attitudes, perceptions, and philosophies of secondary education science teachers pre-serviced in constructivist teaching methodology over their first five-years of teaching at the University of Iowa and Indiana Univeristy Southeast. The following trends came out on reviewing all of the data concerning the attitudes; perceptions and philosophies of five teachers in were prepared as constructivist teachers. In the first year of teaching only three teachers taught as constructivist teachers. In the third year of teaching, the classroom practices of the teachers converged more closely to their beliefs and pre-service preparation in constructivistim. In the fifth year of the study all teachers were ranked in the constructivist teaching methodology and expressed that they were very comfortable in the classroom.Important factors identified by the teachers as condition to their continued success in the classroom are maturation, experience, and acceptance in the school and community. ============================================================= BULGARIAN SOCIETY FOR THE CHEMISTRY EDUCATION AND HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF CHEMISTRY (CE&HPC) Those who join will become members of an active, stimulating society, which welcomes newcomers. For citizens outside Bulgaria the membership is FREE. Dr. James Edward Hollenbeck is a member of the Bulgarian Society for the Chemistry Education and History and Philosohy of Chemistry (CE&HPC), No. 139. E-Mail: [log in to unmask] ================================================================