The classroom observations of Vietnamese teachers: mediating underlying values to understand student learning

This study uses the grounded theory approach (GTA) to investigate the value and characteristics of teacher observations, when used to understand student learning. Earlier studies have analysed the act of observation, defining it as a combination of joint observation and interpretation activities. By contrast, this analysis of 28 primary school teachers in remote areas of Vietnam reveals that the act of observation is mediated by underlying values. This study develops a discussion about the way in which the inherent ‘compliance-with-a-plan’ value restricts teachers’ ability to develop knowledge, as proposed in the literature, while the value of ‘exploration’ encourages teachers to develop a broader interpretation of classroom interactions. Figures and tables illustrate these GTA-based results.     

Multi-segment trunk models used to investigate the crunch factor in golf and their relationship with selected swing and launch parameters

The use of multi-segment trunk models to investigate the crunch factor in golf may be warranted. The first aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the trunk and lower trunk for crunch factor-related variables (trunk lateral bending and trunk axial rotation velocity). The second aim was to determine the level of association between crunch factor-related variables with swing (clubhead velocity) and launch (launch angle). Thirty-five high-level amateur male golfers (Mean ± SD: age = 23.8 ± 2.1 years, registered golfing handicap = 5 ± 1.9) without low back pain had kinematic data collected from their golf swing using a 10-camera motion analysis system operating at 500 Hz. Clubhead velocity and launch angle were collected using a validated real-time launch monitor. A positive relationship was found between the trunk and lower trunk for axial rotation velocity (r(35) = .47, P < .01). Cross-correlation analysis revealed a strong coupling relationship for the crunch factor (R² = 0.98) between the trunk and lower trunk. Using generalised linear model analysis, it was evident that faster clubhead velocities and lower launch angles of the golf ball were related to reduced lateral bending of the lower trunk.     

How a young child learns how to take part in mealtimes in a Japanese day-care center: a longitudinal case study

This research is a longitudinal, ethnographic study that focuses on mealtimes with one boy from 9 to 78 months of age in a day-care center in Japan. It looks at routine interactions between a child, his nursery teachers, and the environment, which is a shared and mutually available communicative space between participants in collaboration. The aim of this study is to clarify how the meal as a learning problem is “solved,” especially with young children whom the teacher cannot instruct verbally, and how the environment in which this takes place affects the process and is used in collaboration. The first part, a diachronic illustration of the child’s environment, in which all materials are organized as a total system to constrain his action, demonstrates the dynamic relation between his actions, the nursery teachers’ actions, and the environment. The second part presents the findings of a microanalysis of the interaction between a nursery teacher and the boy at 15 months, which is a critical transitional time from other-assisted to self-organized eating. It shows the close interdependence between the child’s environment and the teacher’s way of caring for him. The teachers generally used environmental modifications to assist his eating and to channel his actions toward their preferences. This study has demonstrated that children can learn much through an intentional arrangement of an artificial environment.     

Social mapping and environmental education: dialogues from participatory mapping in the Pantanal,Mato Grosso,Brazil

Abstract

This article illustrates the steps taken to enact a new methodology for participatory social mapping by the Environmental Education, Communications and the Arts (GPEA) Research Group of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT). The aim of Social Mapping is to record the identities, territories and socio-environmental conflicts experienced by social groups, based on their own namings and narratives, rather than relying on those more typically generated or provided by researchers or theorists. As such, it offers an important dialogical pathway for environmental education practices, in that it highlights the intrinsic relationship between culture and nature, and reinforces the understanding that the loss of one implies the disappearance of the other.     

Separation of serum LD isoenzymes by capillary electrophoresis

Separation and quantitative estimation of the isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase(LD) in serum were accomplished with capillary electrophoresis system. An uncoated fused silica capillary column 50 cm long, 75μm I.D. and substrate containing running buffer including L-lactic acid and NAD⁺ were used for the separation of serum LD isoenzymes. The resulting product of “NADH” was detected at 340 nm. Injection of 10 nL of five fold diluted serum sample were performed by pressure injection within 2 seconds. The isoenzymes were separated at 10 kV of voltage for 5 min, by turning off the voltage applied for 30 min incubation at 24°C for reaction between substrate and isoenzymes, and applying voltage of 30 min. Under these conditions, the isoenzymes of LD were detected by a NADH generated as isoenzyme of LD-5 emerged at 20 min, LD-1 peak at 23.5 min with close to baseline separation of the other isoenzymes which emerge between LD-5 to LD-1, after the emergence to LD-1 peak, followed another peak, termed “sample shock”: The results obtained by the proposed method correlated well with those by gel electrophoresis systemes (r=0.92∼0.98) for each five LD isoenzymes, respectively. Within-run precision CVs for 5 replicate analysis were 3.01 (LD-3, mean 14.6%)%∼7.82% (LD-4, mean 4.22%.), respectively.     

Kinematic repeatability of a multi-segment foot model for dance*

The purpose of this study was to determine the intra and inter-assessor repeatability of a modified Rizzoli Foot Model for analysing the foot kinematics of ballet dancers. Six university-level ballet dancers performed the movements; parallel stance, turnout plié, turnout stance, turnout rise and flex-point-flex. The three-dimensional (3D) position of individual reflective markers and marker triads was used to model the movement of the dancers’ tibia, entire foot, hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot and hallux. Intra and inter-assessor reliability demonstrated excellent (ICC ≥ 0.75) repeatability for the first metatarsophalangeal joint in the sagittal plane. Intra-assessor reliability demonstrated excellent (ICC ≥ 0.75) repeatability during flex-point-flex across all inter-segmental angles except for the tibia-hindfoot and hindfoot-midfoot frontal planes. Inter-assessor repeatability ranged from poor to excellent (0.5 > ICC ≥ 0.75) for the 3D segment rotations. The most repeatable measure was the tibia-foot dorsiflexion/plantar flexion articulation whereas the least repeatable measure was the hindfoot-midfoot adduction/abduction articulation. The variation found in the inter-assessor results is likely due to inconsistencies in marker placement. This 3D dance specific multi-segment foot model provides insight into which kinematic measures can be reliably used to ascertain in vivo technical errors and/or biomechanical abnormalities in a dancer’s foot motion.     

Long-term impact of the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games on sport participation: A cohort analysis

The sport participation rate has been shown to decrease with age in many countries. In Japan, however, the elderly sport participation rate has increased over the last decade and is the highest among all Japanese. This study investigated whether the cohort effect generated by the shared experience of hosting the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games during their youth can explain the increased sport participation of elderly Japanese. Data from the Japanese National Sport-Life Survey over 20 years were analyzed through regression analysis. The results show that, after controlling for demographics and other determinants of sport participation, individuals who experienced the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games participated in sport more frequently than other generations.     

金属间化合物Nd_3Co的比热测定

我们对金属门化合物Nd3Co的比热在2K～35K的温度范围内进行了测量．观察到在8.5K、14K和25K．有三个磁性转变点。     

Effects of series elasticity on the human knee extension torque-angle relationship in vivo

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of series elasticity on the torque-angle relationship of the knee extensors in vivo. Forty-two men volunteered to take part in the present study. The participants performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions at eight knee-joint angles (40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 degrees). The elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of the vastus lateralis muscle was directly measured by ultrasonography, while the participants performed ramp isometric knee extensions to the voluntary maximum at 800 of knee angle. There was no significant difference in the torque value between 50 degrees and 100 degrees, although there was variation in the shape of the "torque-angle" relationship. The variability in the torque-angle curve was not affected by the activation level of agonist and antagonist muscles and the moment arm length. The ratio of torque at 1000 compared to that at 50 degrees was significantly (r(2) = 18-23 %) correlated to the maximal elongation and strain (to initial length) of the tendon structures. These results suggest that increased compliance of tendon structures of the knee extensors may contribute to variations in the torque-angle curves of the knee extensors.     

Investigation of snowboard stiffness and camber characteristics for different riding styles

Previous research has indicated that the flex pattern and camber of a snowboard are crucial to its perceived “feel”, or the physical and psychological feedback given to the rider whilst snowboarding. These features are the primary cause of variation in snowboard performance for different riding styles. Consequently, this article deals with the identification of stiffness and camber characteristics for freestyle, freeride and versatile test boards, and their statistical correlation to a comprehensive list of qualitative feel-based performance requirements. It has been determined that the test boards spanning the major styles all possessed similar bending profiles, that were highly representative of each snowboard’s respective thickness distribution. The torsional stiffness curves however appeared to be driven by the composite architecture used in construction. Unsurprisingly, the freeride test board showed the greatest level of overall stiffness. The versatile board exhibited the greatest fluctuation in bending stiffness along the chord, whereas the freestyle profile was far more even throughout, with less variation from tip to tail. All of the subjective performance parameters except forgiveness showed positive associations to the body stiffness and camber, with manoeuvrability exhibiting the strongest correlations. The forgiveness showed the exact opposite trend, implying that higher levels of flex and less camber promotes a forgiving snowboard.