Mexican-Origin Youth's Cultural Orientations and Values: Do Older Sisters and Brothers Matter?

Family is an important context for cultural development, but little is known about the contributions of siblings. This study investigated whether older siblings’ cultural orientations and familism values predicted changes in younger siblings’ cultural orientations and familism values across 2 years and tested sibling characteristics and younger siblings’ modeling as moderators. Participants were 246 Mexican-origin younger (M_age = 17.72; SD = 0.57) and older siblings (M_age = 20.65; SD = 1.57) and their parents. Findings revealed that older siblings’ Anglo orientations and familism values interacted with younger siblings’ modeling: When younger siblings reported high modeling, older siblings’ Anglo orientations and values predicted increases in younger siblings’ Anglo orientations and values. Discussion highlights the importance of siblings in cultural socialization.     

I. CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE: DELAYED DEVELOPMENT AND RESILIENCE

Children exposed to institutional care often suffer from “structural neglect” which may include minimum physical resources, unfavorable and unstable staffing patterns, and socially emotionally inadequate caregiver‐child interactions. This chapter is devoted to the analysis of the ill effects of early institutional experiences on resident children's development. Delays in the important areas of physical, hormonal, cognitive, and emotional development are discussed. The evidence for and against the existence of a distinctive set of co‐occurring developmental problems in institutionalized children is weighed and found to not yet convincingly demonstrate a “postinstitutional syndrome.” Finally, shared and nonshared features of the institutional environment and specific genetic, temperamental, and physical characteristics of the individual child are examined that might make a crucial difference in whether early institutional rearing leaves irreversible scars.     

Student teachers’ perceptions and evidence of peer learning through co-teaching: improving attitudes and willingness towards co-teaching

European Journal of Psychology of Education - Despite the increasing practice and evidence of its potential, co-teaching has not become a widespread practice in schools yet. Research shows the need...     

Colorimetric Evaluation of Pictorial Coatings in Conservation of Plasterworks from the Islamic Tradition

ABSTRACT

The main aim of our current investigation is the colorimetric evaluation of protective treatments (consolidants) applied to traditional Islamic plasterworks, under natural ageing conditions. From analyses of the original pictorial plaster remains in the Courtyard of the Maidens of the Real Alcázar in Seville, Spain (a World Heritage Site) we prepared test specimens, using materials and techniques similar to the original ones. We analysed 56 test specimens painted with four pigments (yellow, green, blue, and red), using two different binders (animal glue and gum arabic), onto which five representative consolidants were applied: barium hydroxide, acrylic copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, ethyl silicate, and bacterial carbonatogenesis. The test specimens were subjected to natural ageing for one year (indoors and outdoors), enabling a colorimetric assessment to be made of the changes of the polychrome surfaces. The colorimetric heterogeneity of the 56 specimens after ageing registered an average value of 2.7 CIELAB units, assessed using the mean colour difference with respect to the mean. In the aged specimens, the addition of consolidants resulted in average colour differences (mainly lightness differences) of 10.7 and 6.7 CIELAB units, considering as a reference the specimens without consolidants aged indoors and outdoors, respectively. These colour differences were very similar for both binders but not for the four pigments, higher values being found for the blue and red pigments. Considering as reference the samples without consolidants aged outdoors, we found no statistically significant colour differences, either among the five consolidants (p?=?.094) nor the two binders (p?=?.674) used. In addition to the magnitude of colour differences, the choice of the most appropriate consolidants must also consider aspects related to performance and effectiveness. Overall, for the type of paints tested, the polyvinyl butyral consolidant appeared to perform the best, followed by the ethyl silicate.     

A comparison of the reverse and power punches in oriental martial arts

In this study, we compared mechanical factors in the reverse and three-inch power punches. Twelve expert male martial artists stood on a force plate, and executed reverse and power punches against a padded target fixed to a wall-mounted force plate. The force plates measured horizontal forces, and subsequently impulses and body centre of mass velocity changes. The motions of four markers attached to the arm were also collected, and were used to compute the horizontal velocities of the knuckle and of the arm centre of mass. The power punch produced smaller velocities immediately before impact than the reverse punch for the whole-body centre of mass (0.14 vs. 0.31 m x s(-1)), for the arm centre of mass (2.86 vs. 4.68 m x s(-1)), and for the knuckle (4.09 vs. 6.43 m x s(-1)). The peak force exerted by the fist was much smaller in the power punch than in the reverse punch (790 vs. 1450 N). However, the linear impulse exerted by the fist during the first 0.20 s of contact was slightly larger in the power punch than in the reverse punch (43.2 vs. 37.7 N x s). The results indicate that the power punch is less potent than the reverse punch, but slightly more effective for throwing the opponent off balance.     

Can Interactive Web-based CAD Tools Improve the Learning of Engineering Drawing? A Case Study

Many current Web-based learning environments facilitate the theoretical teaching of a subject but this may not be sufficient for those disciplines that require a significant use of graphic mechanisms to resolve problems. This research study looks at the use of an environment that can help students learn engineering drawing with Web-based CAD tools, including a self-correction component. A comparative study of 121 students was carried out. The students were divided into two experimental groups using Web-based interactive CAD tools and into two control groups using traditional learning tools. A statistical analysis of all the samples was carried out in order to study student behavior during the research and the effectiveness of these self-study tools in the learning process. The results showed that a greater number of students in the experimental groups passed the test and improved their test scores. Therefore, the use Web-based graphic interactive tools to learn engineering drawing can be considered a significant improvement in the teaching of this kind of academic discipline.     

Effect of the level of effort during resistance training on intraocular pressure

Background: We aimed to evaluate the influence of the level of effort during four basic resistance exercises leading to muscular failure on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion (OPP), as well as the role of exercise type and sex. Methods: Twenty-five young adults (12 women) performed 10 repetitions against their 10-RM (repetition maximum) load in the squat, military press, biceps curl and calf raise exercises. IOP was measured before, during and after exercise, whereas OPP was indirectly assessed before and after each exercise. Results: There was a progressive IOP rise during exercise (p?η²?=?0.531), which was dependent on exercise type (p?=?0.020, η²?=?0.125). The squat exercise induced higher IOP increments in comparison to the other exercises (corrected p-values?p-values?=?0.012 and 0.002). OPP exhibited a significant reduction when leading to muscular failure (p?=?0.001, η²?=?0.364), being statistically significant for the squat and military press exercises (corrected p-values?=?0.037 and 0.047). No effect of sex was found for IOP and OPP (p?>?0.05). Conclusions: A single set of resistance training leading to muscular failure causes an instantaneous and progressive IOP rise in healthy young individuals. These IOP rises depend on exercise type (squat?>?military press?=?biceps curl?>?calf raise), but not on participant´s sex. OPP diminished as a consequence of performing resistance training exercise, being statistically significant for the squat and military press exercises. Future studies should include glaucoma patients aiming to corroborate the generalizability of our findings.     

The Impact of Tourette’s Syndrome in the School and the Family: Perspectives from Three Stakeholder Groups

This article analyzes the perceptions of Spanish health professionals, children with Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) and their parents about social, school and family problems related to the disorder. A qualitative research methodology was used involving Focus Groups (FGs) made up of children with TS (× 2 FGs), parents/caregivers of persons with TS (× 2 FGs) and health professionals (× 1 FG). The study highlights many of the principal areas of concern for persons with TS, parents/caregivers and health professionals that directly and indirectly add to the burden of living with the disorder. The results of the study point out that the stigma and social maladjustment in children with TS is caused in large part by a misunderstanding of the disorder by teachers and peers. Parents of children with TS especially emphasize tics, considering them to be the main cause of social maladaptation. The results suggest that interventions among parents, teachers and peers should be implemented towards a greater understanding of the disorder and its symptoms.