The educational implications of type i diabetes mellitus: A review of research and recommendations for school psychological practice

Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children and youth, with many affected students requiring individualized services and supports within educational settings. This article systematically reviews the research regarding the implications of this illness for students' cognitive and academic functioning to clarify the ways in which this disease may limit children's learning and school performance. The authors synthesize the findings, summarize the related literature regarding school‐based supports, and provide recommendations for school psychologists to support the unique psychoeducational needs of this population. Results highlight the need for more research on effective school‐based interventions to ensure academic success for children with T1DM. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A case of cooperation in the European OR education

European cooperation is a relevant subject that contributes to building a competitive network of high education institutions. A case of teacher mobility on behalf of the Erasmus programme is presented: it considers some Operations Research topics and the development of the Lego on My Decision module. The module considers eight lecture hours in four sessions: (i) the introductory session, to focus on the basics of computational linear algebra, linear programming, integer programming, with computational support (Excel®); (ii) the interim session, to address modelling subjects in a drop by-session; (iii) the advanced session, on the sequence of (i), to consider uncertainty and also how to use multi-criteria decision-making methods; (iv) the final session, to perform the evaluation of learning outcomes. This cooperation at European level is further exploited, including curricula normalisation and adjustments, cultural exchanges and research lines sharing in the idea of promoting the mobility of students and faculty.     

A note on the coherence-based signal-to-noise ratio estimation in systems with periodic inputs

Coherence plays a very important role in linear systems analysis, since, in addition to quantify the similarity between signals, it is related to other quantities of interest, such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The sampling distribution of coherence estimates between Gaussian signals is well established, and hence, in this particular case, the statistics of SNR can be readily found if it is calculated from coherence estimates. However, in some applications, one of the signals is periodic, leading to a different coherence sampling distribution, which has been recently investigated. This work aims at developing analytical expressions for bias, variance and the probability density function of coherence-based SNR estimates under this particular assumption. Routines for obtaining this latter as well as critical values of the estimates are also provided.     

Independent and joint associations of physical activity and fitness with fibromyalgia symptoms and severity: The al-Ándalus project

We examined independent and joint associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) with pain, fatigue and the overall impact of fibromyalgia in 386 fibromyalgia women aged 51.2 ± 7.6 years. Levels of PA (light, moderate and vigorous) and PF were measured with triaxial accelerometry and the Senior Fitness Test, respectively. We used the Short-Form health survey-36 pain sub-scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to assess pain and multiple dimensions of fatigue, respectively. The impact of fibromyalgia was studied with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Both, total PA and global PF were independently associated with pain pressure threshold, SF-36 pain, reduced activity, reduced motivation and FIQR total score (all, P ≤ 0.027). The associations between total PA and symptoms were weaker than those observed between global PF and symptoms. Overall, unfit patients with low PA showed a worse profile that fit patients with high PA (all, P ≤ 0.001). In summary, PA and PF are independently associated with pain, fatigue and the overall impact of fibromyalgia in women. Although PF presented greater associations with symptoms, the results suggest that both being physically active and keep adequate fitness levels might be convenient for fibromyalgia women.     

Does On‐line Distance Higher Education Pay Off for Adult Learners? The Case of the Open University of Catalonia

The increasing opportunities created for adults by on‐line distance universities raise important issues about the payoff to such education. This study uses a unique set of survey data gathered by the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) in 2009 to estimate the earnings gains of the 2000–2003 cohorts of UOC students in six programmes of study over an average six‐year time frame between entering and one year after leaving their studies. It compares their gains with the earnings gains of comparable full‐time workers in the Spanish labour force by age, education level, and gender. The results show that those who studied in UOC's two‐year second‐cycle degree programmes had positive relative earnings gains but those in three‐year first‐cycle degree programmes did not. The study further discusses why adult learners might nevertheless study toward degrees for which payoffs appear low.     

Estimating the economic payoff to virtual university education: a case study of the Open University of Catalonia

This study extends the scope of research that examines the connection between physical attractiveness and student perception through a survey analysis. While other studies concentrate on physical attractiveness alone, we examined not only perceptions of attractiveness but its impact on students’ perception of knowledge, approachability and faculty selection in a hypothetical course. Using ordered logistic regression, logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression to examine the interaction between age, attractiveness, knowledge and approachability, our findings show that younger faculty members are perceived as more approachable and more attractive, while older faculty members are perceived as more knowledgeable. Faculty perceived as more attractive are also perceived to be more approachable. Further, we test the impact that these results have on faculty selection in a hypothetical course and find that students are more likely to select an attractive and approachable faculty member to take a course with, regardless of perceived knowledge of the faculty member. Overall, although the perception of beauty may be cursory, its results may not be when considering the primacy effect, role model effect and teaching effectiveness assessment.     

Working With the Millennial Generation: Challenges Facing 21st‐Century Students From the Perspective of University Staff

This study explored university staff's general perceptions of millennial generation college students. Analysis of structured interviews with university professionals revealed that millennial students generally tend to ignore what may be expected of them, resist being accountable for their own actions, and depend on others for problem solving. Implications for college counselors are discussed.     

‘Marketization’ of higher education in Peru: Who attends private institutions and what are the perceived advantages (disadvantages)?

Debate continues on the effects of the global proliferation of private higher-educational institutions, especially for-profit institutions. We examine two related questions for Peru using mixed methods: Who attends private institutions and what are their perceived advantages/disadvantages? Longitudinal quantitative data suggest higher-educational segmentation starting early in life, whereby young people from wealthier households attended private institutions and those from poorer households attended public ones. Interviews with teachers, students, and staff provide insights on perceived strengths and drawbacks of higher-educational marketization and highlight the importance of family background in higher-educational choices, governmental regulation, and close monitoring of higher-educational quality.