Protective effects of photobiomodulation against resistance exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation in rats

We investigated whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) prior to or post resistance exercise could attenuate muscle damage and inflammation. Female Wistar rats were assigned to non-LLLT or LLLT groups. An 830-nm DMC Laser Photon III was used to irradiate their hind legs with 2J, 4J, and 8J doses. Irradiations were performed prior to or post (4J) resistance exercise bouts. Resistance exercise consisted of four maximum load climbs. The load work during a resistance exercise bout was similar between Control (non-LLLT, 225 ± 10 g), 2J (215 ± 8 g), 4J (210 ± 9 g), and 8J (226 ± 9 g) groups. Prior LLLT did not induce climbing performance improvement, but exposure to 4J irradiation resulted in lower blood lactate levels post-exercise. The 4J dose decreased creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase levels post-exercise regardless of the time of application. Moreover, 4-J irradiation exposure significantly attenuated tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. There was minor macrophage muscle infiltration in 4J-exposed rats. These data indicate that LLLT prior to or post resistance exercise can reduce muscle damage and inflammation, resulting in muscle recovery improvement. We attempted to determine an ideal LLLT dose for suitable results, wherein 4J irradiation exposure showed a significant protective role.     

Effect of Dehydration on Passing Decision Making in Soccer Athletes

It seems that dehydration may impair decision-making performance in athletes. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of dehydration on passing decision-making performance in soccer players. Method: Participants were 40 male soccer players (M_age = 22.3 ± 2.3 years) who agreed to participate in the study and were randomly assigned to the following conditions: control (CON), dehydration (DEH), and euhydration (EUH). The players played in 2 games of 90 min in duration (2 45-min halves) followed by 2 15-min halves (overtime) with and without proper hydration. The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was considered for the analysis of passing decision making. Results: The GPAI analysis indicated effective reduction in the decision-making index in the DEH condition compared with the EUH and CON conditions, F(2, 38) = 31.4, p < .05, ES = 0.8. Conclusions: In conclusion, dehydration may be considered a mediating factor in the passing decision-making performance of male soccer athletes.     

Teaching values in physical education classes: the perception of Brazilian teachers

The contribution of Physical Education (PE) and School Sport to learning of values has been identified by teachers and researchers. However, we know little about how that teaching takes place during classes. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of teachers on teaching values in their classes and to analyse the conception of values that have guided their professional intervention. To do this, a qualitative study was conducted with a sample of three teachers, using class observations and interviews with the teachers as research tools. For all these teachers, teaching values is a central goal of PE classes; for two of the teachers, it is the main goal. Because of this conviction, their pedagogies prioritize the teaching of moral values over others that can be taught in PE. A belief in the possibility of teaching values in the classroom is part of the habitus of the PE teacher; it can sometimes be characterized as an illusio. For these reasons, teachers can set unrealistic expectations, disregarding their own limitations as well as the conflicts and complexity involved in the construction of value systems.     

The Interplay of Psychology and Mathematics Education: From the Attraction of Psychology to the Discovery of the Social

It is a rather safe statement to claim that the social dimensions of the scientific process are accepted in a fair share of studies in the philosophy of science. It is a somewhat safe statement to claim that the social dimensions are now seen as an essential element in the understanding of what human cognition is and how it functions. But it would be a rather unsafe statement to claim that the social is fully accepted in the philosophy of mathematics. And we are not quite sure what kind of statement it is to claim that the social dimensions in theories of mathematics education are becoming more prominent, compared to the psychological dimensions. In our contribution we will focus, after a brief presentation of the above claims, on this particular domain to understand the successes and failures of the development of theories of mathematics education that focus on the social and not primarily on the psychological.     

The role of teacher and faculty trust in forming teachers' job satisfaction: Do years of experience make a difference?

This study relates trust at the level of both the teacher and the faculty to teachers' job satisfaction. Teaching experience is explored as a moderator of the trust–satisfaction relationship. Multilevel analyses on data of 2091 teachers across 80 secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium) revealed positive associations between teacher trust in students, parents, colleagues, and the principal and satisfaction. Although faculty trust did not affect job satisfaction and teaching experience did not moderate the trust–satisfaction relationship, our findings highlight the social dimension of teaching. Improving the quality of teachers' social relationships in the workplace should enhance their job satisfaction.     

Girls' and boys' reasoning on cultural and religious practices: a human rights education perspective

Human rights play a vital role in citizens' political, religious and cultural life (Wang 2002, 171). Due to the prominence of human rights in the everyday life of citizens, including those of South Africa, human rights education has been included in many school curricula. Human rights education aims to develop responsible citizens who inter alia foster an understanding of gender, ethnical, religious and cultural diversities. This, it is hoped will encourage and maintain peace, as outlined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Departing from a human rights position, a qualitative study commenced in 2009 to explore how girls and boys reason about the cultural and religious practices of girls in their communities and families. Narratives by girls and boys highlighted their views on girls' positioning in their specific communities. From the findings it became evident that the participants were aware of conforming to particular cultural and religious practices. However, some participants also challenged how they perceived these practices and the roles of girls in their communities. The article highlights the necessity of embarking on a gendered perspective towards human rights education.     

The criminal act as means of lust： The will and the death in culture

Crime, which is an intriguing aspect of the human condition, has been the object of great concern amongst many modalities of knowledge. Even when dealing with the so-called ＂primal crime＂, dissolution is what always results. If people understand the primal crime of the mythical father as the necessary condition to cross from a horde to a clan state, eventually reaching a fraternal group state, then they should also understand that the social bond, which results from this action, brings in its kernel the scars of irreversible destruction. Freud＇s tyrannical father was murdered because he kept absolute enjoyment for himself, yet this crime did not set free the authors of the crime from their own enjoyment. The dynamics of the criminal act as a means of lust has been studied with the intent of articulating both perverse subjectivation and the pervert act, as well as considering the convict＇s standing in social relationships. Symbolization of reality and temporality are significantly altered by imprisonment, due mainly to lack of scopes and systematic conveying references which reflect reality. The study related to the temporal being of detainees is inferred as to better portray questionings on temporal subjection. The analysis of the discourse production lead to conclude： （1） When it is destined to penal institutions, the condemned lose pace with time （time halts）; （2） Interns must render time objective （produce time）. Rebellion and fights may be endeavors to create rhythm to register time, wherein, the desire to live time is, desperately, externalized; （3） Penal work is a time-reducing factor of imprisonment, therefore, time acquires objective and exchangeable value for the interns; and （4） Three worlds unfold and introduce themselves from the very moment when the imprisoned take place within a penal institution. The internal scope of the penal unit is propagated by the interns as being the inside world, exterior social context and relationships thereof are known as the outside world and the world of crime abides essentially different temporality notions. Within the inside world time halts, in the outside world time escapes and the crime world dimensions time is as time itself.     

The Networked University: The structure,culture, and policy of universities in a changing environment

Tertiary Education and Management - The universities in Europe are finding themselves in a turbulent environment. They are exposed to global and European developments. This article links changes in...