Carbohydrates and fat for training and recovery

An important goal of the athlete's everyday diet is to provide the muscle with substrates to fuel the training programme that will achieve optimal adaptation for performance enhancements. In reviewing the scientific literature on post-exercise glycogen storage since 1991, the following guidelines for the training diet are proposed. Athletes should aim to achieve carbohydrate intakes to meet the fuel requirements of their training programme and to optimize restoration of muscle glycogen stores between workouts. General recommendations can be provided, preferably in terms of grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of the athlete's body mass, but should be fine-tuned with individual consideration of total energy needs, specific training needs and feedback from training performance. It is valuable to choose nutrient-rich carbohydrate foods and to add other foods to recovery meals and snacks to provide a good source of protein and other nutrients. These nutrients may assist in other recovery processes and, in the case of protein, may promote additional glycogen recovery when carbohydrate intake is suboptimal or when frequent snacking is not possible. When the period between exercise sessions is < 8 h, the athlete should begin carbohydrate intake as soon as practical after the first workout to maximize the effective recovery time between sessions. There may be some advantages in meeting carbohydrate intake targets as a series of snacks during the early recovery phase, but during longer recovery periods (24 h) the athlete should organize the pattern and timing of carbohydrate-rich meals and snacks according to what is practical and comfortable for their individual situation. Carbohydrate-rich foods with a moderate to high glycaemic index provide a readily available source of carbohydrate for muscle glycogen synthesis, and should be the major carbohydrate choices in recovery meals. Although there is new interest in the recovery of intramuscular triglyceride stores between training sessions, there is no evidence that diets which are high in fat and restricted in carbohydrate enhance training.     

Tacit models,treasured intuitions and the discrete—continuous interplay

We explore conditions for productive synthesis between formal reasoning and intuitive representations through analysis of college students’ understanding of the limit concept in the definition of the derivative. In particular, we compare and contrast cognitive processes that accompany different manifestations of persistence of intuitions and tacit models that coexist with students’ logical reasoning. The students are highly trained in mathematics. We encounter expressions of the persistence and impact of intuitions and tacit pictorial models as described by Fischbein. But we also observe some new characterization of persistence of tacit models in which the tacit pictorial model continues to interfere in the student’s reasoning process, coexists with a logical reasoning but does not prevent the student from reaching a feeling of logical consistency. The empirical analysis and the theoretical discussion offered in the present paper permit us to highlight this very special integration of the formal and the intuitive components of the reasoning process.     

Exploring the phase space of a system of differential equations: different mathematical registers

We describe and analyze a situation involving symbolic representation and graphical visualization of the solution of a system of two linear differential equations, using a computer algebra system. Symbolic solution and graphical representation complement each other. Graphical representation helps to understand the behavior of the symbolic solution. Together with it, the symbolic solution and its analysis are needed to understand the graphical representation and to overcome the limiting constraints of the CAS. The study described in this paper points out the importance of flexibility in building connections between different mathematical registers, together with the fact that the balance between the usage of symbolic representations and of graphical representations can be very different from one student to the other. Research supported by Israel Science Foundation, grant number 1340/05.     

Children’s Appraisals of Gender Nonconformity: Developmental Pattern and Intervention

Gender-nonconforming (GN) children are often perceived less positively, which may harm their well-being. We examined the development of such perceptions and an intervention to modify them. Chinese children’s appraisals were assessed using multiple measures (verbal responses, sharing, and rank order task) after viewing vignettes of gender-conforming (GC) and GN hypothetical peers. In Study 1, children (N = 210; 4-, 5-, 8-, and 9-year-olds) were less positive toward GN than GC peers, especially if they were older or if the peers were boys. In Study 2 (N = 211, 8- and 9-year-olds), showing children exemplars of GN peers who displayed positive and GC characteristics subsequently reduced bias against gender nonconformity. These findings inform strategies aimed at reducing bias against gender nonconformity.     

Boys Outperforming Girls: an 8‐year cross‐sectional study of attainment and self‐esteem in Year 6

This 8‐year cross‐sectional study measured the self‐esteem, reading and mathematical attainments of eight cohorts of Year 6 children. A total of 1488 children (737 boys, 751 girls) in five randomly selected primary schools within one Local Education Authority (LEA) comprised the sample to which the Lawseq questionnaire (Lawrence, 1982), Mathematics 11 (NFER, 1985) and the Primary Reading Test Level 2 (France, 1981) were administered. Differences in attainment related to gender were found in mathematics, but not in reading, with boys significantly outperforming girls (at the 5% level). The percentage of boys who scored significantly above the mean in mathematics and significantly below the mean in reading contrasted with the girls’ more compressed scores in the middle range. The national test data for Cohorts 7 and 8 followed the national pattern with girls outperforming boys. Boys had significantly higher self‐esteem than the girls (at the 0.1% level). Correlation coefficients between Lawseq and mathematics and reading mean scores for boys and girls were all significant at the 0.1% level. The findings are discussed in relation to the current debate concerning the low performance of boys.     

Proof image

The emergence of a proof image is often an important stage in a learner’s construction of a proof. In this paper, we introduce, characterize, and exemplify the notion of proof image. We also investigate how proof images emerge. Our approach starts from the learner’s efforts to construct a justification without (or before) attempting any formal argument, and it focuses on the process by which a complete but not necessarily communicable image of that justification becomes available to the learner and provides explanation with certainty. We consider the interplay between the learner’s intuitive and logical thinking and, using the theoretical framework of Abstraction in Context, we trace the construction of knowledge that results from and enables progress of this interplay. The existence and identification of proof images and the nature of the processes by which they emerge constitute the theoretical contribution of this paper. Its practical value lies in the empirical analyses of these processes and in the potential to apply them to the design of tasks that support students in constructing their own proofs images and proofs. We believe that such processes are likely to considerably enrich students’ mathematical experience.     

‘We want to be seen as partners,not vultures of the world:’ perspectives of Canadian stakeholders on migration of international students studying in health professions in Canada

ABSTRACT

According to UNESCO, the number of international students worldwide will reach 7 million by 2020. This pilot study examined the Canadian stakeholders’ perspectives on migration and integration of international students enrolled in health professions’ studies in Canada. Qualitative interviews with representatives of migration, education, and health sector communities revealed that international students are a desirable group of immigrants, but their ‘non-immigrant’ status creates a unique set of disadvantages for those intending to stay in Canada. In conclusion, we discuss the role of institutional policy in migration and professional integration of international students in Canada and globally.     

Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity in war reporting

China plays an increasing role in the wars and conflicts around the world with its expanding political and economic interests overseas and its diplomatic role in international affairs. More and more Chinese journalists go to the frontlines overseas to cover distant conflicts for domestic audiences. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 Chinese correspondents who have covered conflicts outside China, this study examines Chinese journalists' perceptions and reflections on objectivity in the war zones. The author adopts a term of Chinese-style pragmatic objectivity to mean that objectivity is a convenient approach for Chinese journalists to do war journalism in the field. At the level of objectivity-as-a-value, objectivity is defined as a pragmatic value and a practical ritual for Chinese journalists to do news within the scope they can reach, to protect themselves from criticisms, and to justify their version of the truth. It promotes allegiance and patriotism. At the level of objectivity-as-a-practice, objectivity in war coverage is compromised by China's foreign policies, military constraints, the press's political orientations and editorial polices, and journalists' personal experiences and values. Chinese journalists use Chinese-style objectivity to negotiate their roles in the power struggle with the state, foreign militaries, the newsroom, and journalists.     

Morning and afternoon nursery sessions: can they be equally effective in giving children a positive start to school?

This paper analyses the effects of gender, attendance period and age on children's adjustment to nursery classes as measured by the teachers using the Child at School Schedule. The sample consisted of 820 children in sixteen nursery classes attached to primary schools in one Local Education Authority. Within the sample three age groups were distinguished: Oldest (4:3 — 4: 8 years); Middles (3:9 — 4:2: years); Youngest (3:1 — 3:8 years). The results of a three‐way analysis of variance showed that boys and afternoon attenders were perceived to be less well‐adjusted to school than girls and morning attenders (at 1% level). In addition, the oldest children were perceived as better adjusted than younger ones: with the exception of three items the youngest were perceived as the least well adjusted. Strategies to help boys and afternoon attenders to experience as positive a start to nursery education as girls and morning attenders are discussed. The key role of the adults in helping children to develop personal and social skills is highlighted as is the need for home/school partnership. The implications of gender for play and classroom organisation are also considered.