Abstract:
:Educational expansion in western countries has been achieved mainly by adding years to full-time education; however, this process has probably reduced efficiency. Sooner or later, efficiency must improve, with a greater educational attainment per year. Future societies will probably wish more people to study science throughout high school (aged c. 11-19 years) and the first college degree. 'Science' may be defined as any abstract, systematic and research-based discipline: including mathematics, statistics and the natural sciences, economics, music theory, linguistics, and the conceptual or quantitative social sciences. Since formal teaching is usually necessary to learn science, science education should be regarded as the core function of high schools. One standard way to improve efficiency is the 'division of labour', with increased specialization of function. Modern schools are already specialized: teachers are specialized according to age-group taught, subject matter expertise, and administrative responsibilities. School students are stratified by age and academic aptitude. I propose a further institutional division of school function between science education, and cultural education (including education in arts, sports, ethics, social interaction and good citizenship). Existing schools might split into 'science school' and 'culture school', reflected in distinct buildings and zones, separate administrative structures, and the recruitment of differently-specialized teaching personnel. Science school would be distinguished by its focus on education in disciplines which promote abstract systematic cognition. All students would spend some part of each day (how much would depend on their aptitude and motivation) in the 'science school'; experiencing a traditional-style, didactic, disciplined and rigorous academic education. The remainder of the students' time at school would be spent in the cultural division, which would focus on broader aspects, and aim to generate a more rounded and social individual. For this to happen depends upon a recognition that science is relatively difficult to teach, requiring non-spontaneous and un-natural cognitive processes from students. Furthermore, it is much easier to learn science when young--if science is missed at school, it can be difficult or impossible to make up the ground later. Modern schools currently try to do too many things, and end-up doing none very well: the one big thing all schools should do for all students is to teach them science. For this to happen, schools need to specialize in their core function.
journal_name
Med Hypothesesjournal_title
Medical hypothesesauthors
Charlton BGdoi
10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.011keywords:
subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2006-01-01 00:00:00pages
1-5issue
1eissn
0306-9877issn
1532-2777pii
S0306-9877(06)00123-Xjournal_volume
67pub_type
社论abstract::Focal epilepsy secondary esp to scar or injured cortical tissue forms a source of constant depolarisation site with or without emitting negative charges (current of injury) into the surrounding area. This focal site is localised by EEG, MRI and if required, by PET and/or SPECT studies. The author postulates to implant...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00266-9
更新日期:2002-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::Endogenous lectins of normal tissues can play a functional role in recognition processes and cell adhesion. These functions are areas of particular relevance to tumor growth and metastasis. Our initial results on endogenous lectins of different tumors lead to the working hypothesis that the pattern of endogenous lecti...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(85)90118-5
更新日期:1985-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, which is now viewed as a disease of brain with pathogenesis not fully understood. The main diagnostic methods are examining the retinal nerve fiber layer through optical coherence tomography and investigating visual field defect, but these methods pres...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2018.12.020
更新日期:2019-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::Despite extensive research, a link between the assumed mechanisms of death and known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has not yet been established. Modifiable risk factors such as prone sleeping position, nicotine exposure and thermal stress and non-avoidable risk factors like male gender and some ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.10.019
更新日期:2007-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::The largely empirical dopamine theory has limited value in clarifying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, due to its inability to explain consistent imaging findings, such as cortical grey matter loss, reduced frontal and thalamic activity, and, reduced D1 receptor load. Furthermore, the most effective drug for treatin...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.06.022
更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::This paper discusses a mechanism for converting heterochromatin into the more relaxed state of euchromatin. Actuation of such state conversion stems from disassembly of internal vesicles that are incapable of surviving when trapped within the inner chamber of mammalian nuclei. ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00233-5
更新日期:2002-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::The cancer cell appears to contain two non phosphorylating glycolytic pathways in addition to phosphorylating glycolysis and the aerobic citric acid and phosphogluconate cycles. It is hypothesised that these pathways are all interconnected and in the static adult cell non phosphorylating glycolysis is in a state of co...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(83)90017-8
更新日期:1983-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::Cancer cells proliferate and metastasize against the body's defense mechanisms due to their ability to change in response to challenges, both from the body's internal defenses as well as those from external sources, such as radiation and chemotherapy. This ability of tumor cell populations to change and grow in respon...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(94)90035-3
更新日期:1994-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Individuals with Down syndrome have signs of possible brain damage prior to birth. In addition to slowed and reduced mental development, they are much more likely to have cognitive deterioration and develop dementia at an earlier age than individuals without Down syndrome. Some of the cognitive impairments are likely ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2004.08.020
更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Organogenesis is the result of cell allocation followed by cell differentiation, and the processes involved are still to be elucidated. Present-day teaching suggests that the cytoplasmic membrane, the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton, in combination, are responsible, but the literature also suggests that othe...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(96)90249-2
更新日期:1996-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::Reconciling the early promising results of radiation therapy in the treatment of epilepsy with the recent theory concerning the role of nonsynaptic mechanisms in focal epileptogenesis, it is suggested that the potential of irradiation as an alternative to temporal lobe resection in intractable epilepsy should be re-ev...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(80)90102-4
更新日期:1980-05-01 00:00:00
abstract::The authors present an extended version of Clark's and Ariëns's classical theory that enables the interpretation and quantitative characterization of dose-response curves which are not in accordance with classical theory. Being supported by the chemical receptor theory, the new model expands its applicability to two o...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(85)90063-5
更新日期:1985-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::Keratoacanthomas have many characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma and in the past were interpreted as squamous cell carcinomas. It is now known that these lesions spontaneously resolve if left untreated. In man the lesions occur on sunlight damaged areas or areas exposed to tar. Many of the experimental cancers of...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(88)90063-1
更新日期:1988-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Primary hyperparathyroidism is one of the most common causes of hypercalcemia. Most cases result from sporadic benign monoclonal adenomas or hyperplasia. Increased body weight is consistently present in cohorts of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. It has been shown that fat mass is the major determinant of se...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2010.08.039
更新日期:2011-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::Oxidative stress-mediated neurodegeneration is responsible for 12% mortality around the globe. Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, associated with modulation of acetylcholine levels and amyloid beta accumulation & dopamine level and alpha-synuclein o...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109872
更新日期:2020-10-01 00:00:00
abstract::Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with insulin resistance, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Postnatal tissues contain stem cells that though quiescent, retain their capacity to self-renew and regenerate tissues to fulfil organ demands. I propo...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00182-8
更新日期:2003-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is now considered a global public health threat. The primary focus has been on reducing the viral spread and treating respiratory symptoms; as time goes on, the impact of COVID-19 on neurological and haemostatic systems becomes mor...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110480
更新日期:2021-01-04 00:00:00
abstract::Sepsis is a life-threatening disease requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Steroid hormones (e.g., estradiol, dehydroepiandosterone) have been suggested to reduce the hyper-inflammatory response of the immune system and to improve outcome in sepsis. We hypothesize that the impact of steroid hormones on the metaboli...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.05.025
更新日期:2012-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::As human society is mainly cooperative, it is not clear how antisocial personality disorder (APD) persists. The current explanation is that sociopaths are cheaters who maximize their fitness by taking advantages from others. Although this argument is valid, we show here that society also benefits from APD. We propose ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.05.027
更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract::The recent global pandemic created by the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, started in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has generated panic, both in term of human death (4-5% of infected patients identified through testing) and the global economy. Human sufferings seem to be continuing, and it is not clear how long this will cont...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109754
更新日期:2020-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::The existence of homosexuality in humans poses a problem for evolutionary theory. Exclusive male homosexuality has a catastrophic effect on reproduction and yet inherited factors appear to contribute to it. Previous attempts to resolve this conundrum are inconsistent with aspects of evolutionary theory. Additional lim...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00363-8
更新日期:2003-02-01 00:00:00
abstract::The mechanism of dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) is unknown. There are multiple probable trigger mechanisms. Internal malignancy is a specific trigger for some cases of DM/PM. It is known that there are marked changes in the extracellular matrix around tumors and that various fractions of depolymerized glycosamin...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(93)90033-m
更新日期:1993-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::Mood expressions encompassing positive scales like "activity, elation, contemplation, calmness" and negative scales like "anger, excitement, depression, fatigue" were applied for introducing a new tool to assess the effects of acupuncture on brain structures. Traditional acupuncture points defined in the literature fo...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.05.013
更新日期:2015-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Bony abnormalities are common findings in cases of neurofibromatosis 1. We might hypothesize that neurofibromin, the protein encoded by the neurofibromatosis 1 gene, plays important roles in bone development. Loss of function of oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein gene and increased activity of ras p21 might increase ...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00225-6
更新日期:2003-04-01 00:00:00
abstract:UNLABELLED:Physiological acts present the puzzle that we are unable to explain how we performed them, how we solved the technical difficulties involved in their execution. For instance, when we sing, we produce various musical notes by changing the shape of the larynx. The normal person does not even know what the lary...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00156-1
更新日期:2002-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers which has very low response rate and survival rate. Melanoma cells are known to be inherently resistant to the chemotherapy which results in poor outcomes and even failure of the therapy. For this reason, a better understanding of underlying mechanism of melanoma pathogen...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2018.05.002
更新日期:2018-07-01 00:00:00
abstract::The etiology of drug-induced agranulocytosis is poorly understood. Many drugs that induce neutropenia or agranulocytosis can be metabolized to reactive intermediates that covalently bind to macromolecules. Until now, the myeloid precursor cell or an earlier committed progenitor cell has been favoured as the target for...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.1998.0734
更新日期:1999-08-01 00:00:00
abstract::Auer rods are cytoplasmic inclusions found only in the leukaemic cells of some cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The ultrastructure of Auer rods is different in different sub-types of the disease and it is suggested here that this may be a consequence of the Auer rods consisting of different crystalline forms of...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/0306-9877(89)90058-3
更新日期:1989-11-01 00:00:00
abstract::The author, in an attempt to clarify whether the rise of alternative medicine is a phenomenon characteristic of our time or whether it existed in the past as well, has identified at least three alternative medicines, which developed in ancient Rome, ancient India and in the medieval Islamic world. The circumstances le...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 历史文章,杂志文章
doi:10.1054/mehy.2000.1061
更新日期:2000-10-01 00:00:00
abstract::The constant level of various proteins including albumin and cellular components in intravascular pool in vivo is strictly controlled by an unknown homeostatic mechanism, although there are fluctuations seen in pathologic conditions. Because the majority of the IgG in the serum is regarded as self-reactive natural aut...
journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.04.011
更新日期:2006-01-01 00:00:00