Correlates of dementia-related anxiety: self-perceived dementia risk and ageism

ABSTRACT

As public awareness of and exposure to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) have increased worldwide, the fear of developing ADRD, or dementia-related anxiety (DRA), is expected to increase as well. It was hypothesized that at least part of what makes dementia so anxiety-provoking is the association of ADRD with older adults, an often stigmatized group. To test this hypothesis, two online studies examined how ageist beliefs contribute to DRA; the roles of ADRD-related factors, such as self-perceived risk and personal exposure, were also examined. Study 1 included university students (n = 295, age range: 18 to 58 years, M_age  = 21.16, SD_age  = 4.85) to determine what factors may contribute to young adults’ DRA. Study 2 included adults of all ages (n = 352, age range: 18 to 81 years, M_age  = 37.85, SD_age  = 12.88) to determine whether Study 1 results were replicable among adults of all ages. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used. Results from both studies demonstrated that being female and having higher self-perceived dementia risk and benevolent ageism uniquely explicated higher levels of DRA. Within Study 2, significant relationships for both benevolent and hostile ageism were observed, suggesting that diverse negative attitudes toward older adults are associated with DRA. It is possible that strong ageist attitudes stigmatize older adults as those who are forgetful and this may contribute to DRA, as age is a major risk factor for developing dementia. Study limitations and directions for future research are discussed.     

Relationship between Compostion,Density and Refractive Index for Heavy Metal Fluoride Glasses

The density and the refractive index for various compositions of heavy metal fluoride(HMF) glasses,used to make low-loss optical wave-guides,have been measured by standard archimedes method and by using as Pulfrich refrctometer respectively.The density as a function of composition is calculated considering the effective volume of the ions contained in the glass to be invariant.The refractive index as a function of composition is also calcuated.based on the Lorenz-Lorentz equation,by computing the electronic polarizability of HMF glasses.All calculated results are in good agreement with the observed data.     

基于校企利益共同体的高职育人机制探索

当前高职教育校企合作育人中存在一些需要解决的问题,在校企深度合作的基础上建立多种形式的校企利益共同体,具有合作主体优势互补、合作目标互惠多赢、合作领域多元拓展、合作体制科学合理、合作机制灵活高效等特征。同时,以校企利益共同体为平台构建高职育人机制,能有效提高高素质技能型人才的培养质量。     

不同民族文化背景下师生课堂互动的比较研究——以西北地区部分汉族、藏族、回族、维吾尔族课堂教学状况为例

对西北地区部分汉族、藏族、回族、维吾尔族师生课堂互动的调查研究发现,不同民族文化影响下的师生互动行为存在较明显的差异,师生课堂互动各有特点。学生视角中的师生互动、课堂环境、学习动机方面,各民族均有明显差异,表明课堂教学中确实存在民族心理与行为特点方面的影响因素;教师视角中的师生互动、教师效能、专业承诺、专业发展方面,各民族均有明显差异,表明不同民族文化背景下的教师课堂互动的理念与方法各不相同。民族地区课堂教学中强调现代教学的共性较多,关注文化差异性较少,这是导致民族地区课堂教学质量不高的一个重要原因。民族地区课堂教学的改革要充分考虑各民族文化的特点、师生的心理与行为方式特点,并以此作为提升其教学质量的一大基础。     

The role of fictive kinship relationships in mediating classroom competition and supporting reciprocal mentoring

Previous research has suggested that competitive classroom environments can play a role in perpetuating race and class inequalities. However, classroom competition can also promote learning, and eliminating it could do students a disservice. This paper draws on research literature and data from a qualitative study by Konstantinos Alexakos, Jayson K. Jones, and Victor H. Rodriguez on fictive kinship in order to explore the conditions under which classroom competition could benefit students from non-dominant groups. Based on their data, I argue that competition can support the learning of students from non-dominant groups, provided that it takes place in the context of strong emotional ties and successful interaction rituals. I also discuss the role of competition in facilitating reciprocal mentoring, as students seek knowledge and skills from each other in order to participate in solidarity-building classroom interactions. In addition, I show how their study challenges a perceived dichotomy between competition and cultural orientations towards communalism.     

Socialising principals: early career primary school principals in Trinidad and Tobago

This paper utilises an interpretivist framework and recent developments in practice theory to examine the conditions which influence practices of socialising into the role of school principal in Trinidad and Tobago. The results indicate that for the 11 early career primary school principals, role socialisation occurs within complex practice landscapes, where the practices of preparing classroom teachers for the principalship materialise within a context of contest. There is conflict between historical antecedents and the expectations and practices of socialising institutions such as the church, the school, the community and the Ministry of Education. This small-scale study has implications for leadership preparation practices and highlights principal socialisation as a challenge of context and history.     

The decline of the nation-state and the education of national minorities

Many forces are shifting the role of the nation-state and altering our fundamental understanding of how it should function. The author argues that the transplanted European model of the nation-state has become dysfunctional, creating national minorities, serving as an ideological cloak for various forms of oppression and opposing forms of education that would promote diversity of languages and cultures. The decline of territorial sovereignty under the forces of globalization, the move to supranational forms of organization and the emergence of sub-national areas of economic and social development (often city-regions) provide a new range of opportunities for development of minority schooling.

---

Zusammenfassung Viele Kräfte verändern die Rolle des Nationenstaates und ändern damit auch unser grundsätzliches Verständnis zu dessen Funktion. Der Autor argumentiert, daß das übertragene europäische Modell des Nationenstaates außer Funktion gesetzt und damit nationale Minderheiten geschaffen wurden. Somit besteht ein ideologischer Deckmantel für verschiedene Arten von Unterdrückung und Widerstand gegen Erziehungsarten, die eine Vielfalt der Sprachen und Kulturen fördern würden. Der Verfall territorialer Unabhängigkeit unter den Kräften der Globalisierung, die Bewegung hin zu einer supranationalen Form der Organisation und die Schaffung regionaler Gebiete wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Entwicklung (oft Stadtbezirke) bieten neue Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten hinsichtlich der Schulbildung für Minderheiten.

---

Resumen Son muchas las fuerzas que están cambiando el papel que desempeña el estado-nación y que alteran nuestro concepto básico de cómo este debería funcionar. El autor argumenta que el modelo europeo trasplantado del estado-nación se ha vuelto disfunctional, creando minorías nacionales y sirviendo de manto ideológico para encubrir diferentes formas de opresión y de oposición a una educación que intenta promover la diversidad de lenguas y culturas. El ocaso de la soberanía territorial bajo las fuerzas de globalización, el cambio hacia formas de organización supranacionales y el surgimiento de sectores subnacionales de desarrollo económico y social (frecuentemente en regiones urbanas) proveen un nuevo tipo de oportunidades para el desarrollo de una educación escolar de minorías.

---

Résumé De nombreuses pressions modifient le rôle de l'Etat-nation et transforment notre conception fondamentale de son fonctionnement. L'auteur expose que le modèle européen d'Etat-nation qui a éé transposé dans d'autres régions est maintenant atteint de dysfonctionnement, car il crée des minorités nationales, sert de prétexte idéologique à différentes formes d'oppression et fait obstacle à des modèles d'éducation qui encourageraient la diversité des langues et des cultures. Le déclin de la souveraineté territoriale sous la pression de la mondialisation, l'évolution vers des formes d'organisation supranationales et l'apparition de concentrations régionales du développement éconnomique et social (souvent en tant que régions urbanisées) constituent de nouveaux stimulants pour l'élaboration d'une scolarité adaptée aux minorités.

---

, . , - , , . , ( -) .

     

综合与特色——关于师范院校改革与发展的思考

文章认为,我国教师教育正面临根本性转变,为适应这一转变,师范院校一是必须以学科建设为核心,积极推进综合化进程;为此,应扩大学科覆盖、突出学科重点、提高学科层次、激发学科活力、优化学科队伍。二是必须以为基础教育服务为己任,弘扬教师教育之特色;为此,应解决好七大问题:明晰概念、把握主题、建构体制、改造专业、更新模式、规范市场、做强学科。