Visual events and electronic government: What do pictures mean in digital government for citizen relations?

E-government is becoming more picture-oriented. What meaning do stakeholders attach to visual events and visualization? Comparative case study research show the functional meaning primarily refers to registration, integration, transparency and communication. The political meaning refers to new ways of framing in order to secure specific interests and claims. To what the institutional meaning relates is ambiguous: either it improves the position of citizens, or it reinforces the existing bias presented by governments. Hence, we expect that the emergence of a visualized public space, through omnipresent penetration of (mobile) multimedia technologies, will influence government–citizen interactions.     

Transnational treaties on children’s rights: Norm building and circulation in the twentieth century

During the twentieth century, the socio-legal status of the child changed dramatically. The adoption of three international treaties specific to the rights of the child – namely, the Geneva Declaration (1924), the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights on the Child (1989) – increasing at each stage the number and different types of rights, is a remarkable illustration of this state of fact. National socio-legal developments have, of course, greatly inspired the authors of these treaties. However, the rights of the child assumed a new dimension in intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, exchange platforms par excellence. This article seeks a better understanding of the circulation of children’s rights during the twentieth century, within the three above mentioned treaties. From an interdisciplinary and transnational perspective, the study aims to analyse the multiple facets of children’s rights and the origins of non-domestic influences in this international process. The article appraises the role of international and intergovernmental organisations. Based on archival data, it identifies the concepts, the institutions, the agents and the contexts that influenced the evolution of children’s rights. It shows how the genesis, the diffusion and the promotion of international treaties, as well as their subsequent regimes, structured the circulation of children’s rights.     

Biceps femoris long head muscle fascicle length does not differ between sexes

ABSTRACT

Hamstring strain injury (HSI) rates are higher for males vs. females. This cross-sectional study investigated if inherent differences in biceps femoris long head (BF_LH) fascicle length (Lf) exist between recreationally active males and females (i.e., individuals without specific training practice history). Twenty-four young healthy participants (12 males; 12 females) had their BF_LH muscle architecture (Lf, pennation angle [θp], and muscle thickness [MT]) measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Eccentric and isometric knee flexion strength were also assessed. BF_LH Lf did not differ between sexes when expressed in absolute terms (males, 81.5 ± 14.7 mm; females, 73.6 ± 15.9 mm, P = 0.220, effect size (ES) = 0.52) or relative to femur length (0.140 ≤ P ≤ 0.220, ES = 0.63). Similarly, BF_LH θp did not differ between sexes (P = 0.650) but BF_LH MT was 18.9% larger for males vs. females (P = 0.024, ES = 0.99). Isometric and eccentric knee flexion strength was greater for males vs. females in absolute terms ([both] P < 0.001, 2.00 ≤ ES ≤ 2.27) and relative to body mass ([both] P < 0.001, 1.93 ≤ ES ≤ 2.13). In conclusion, factors other than BF_LH Lf seem likely to be implicated in higher male vs. female HSI rates.     

Our Buddies,Ourselves: The Role of Sexual Homophily in Adolescent Friendship Networks

The present study tests the assumption that peers wield sufficient influence to induce sexual homophily (i.e., similarities in sexual experiences). Because girls face greater stigma for their sexual experiences than do boys, sexual homophily may be greater in girls' friendship networks than in boys'. Stochastic actor-based models were used to analyze network data (n = 2,566; ages 14–18) from two high schools in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Sexual homophily was present in friendship networks. Girls and boys were equally susceptible to their friends' influence, but the former exhibited a stronger preference for befriending same sexual debut status peers than the latter. The findings suggest that adolescents—particularly girls—“curate” their networks to minimize peer ostracism.     

犹太人的科技生意经--以色列如何发展高新技术产业

以色列的领土只有20325平方公里，其中一半的国土基本上是沙漠，人口65万，与中国相比小得可怜。过去的历史中，以色列经常受到敌人压制。在这种情况下，我们必须研制一些特殊的技术满足人们在衣食方面的需求，不能仅仅依靠朋友、盟友，我们必须研发新的技术在国防领域保卫自己，技术发展成为一种现实。     

Beyond the Screen: Narrative Mapping as a Tool for Evaluating a Mixed-Reality Science Museum Exhibit

This article describes the authors' work as formative evaluators of a mixed-reality science museum installation, Journey with Sea Creatures. Looking beyond the focal point of the screen to the spatial and temporal surroundings of the exhibit, the authors employed a technique they call retrospective narrative mapping in conjunction with sustained on-site observations, follow-up interviews with museum visitors, and the development of personas to better understand the user experience in multimodal informal learning environments.     

The Relationship of Teachers' Instructional Decisions and Beliefs about Alternate Assessments to Student Achievement

In the decade since alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) were first required, special education teachers have had to develop content knowledge and pedagogical skills to teach academics to students with significant cognitive disabilities. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that teachers' instructional decisions and beliefs about AA-AAS have on the academic achievement of students with significant cognitive disabilities. A survey of nearly 400 teachers across three states provided evidence of teachers' beliefs, as well as their instructional planning processes for students. Students' learning characteristics were also identified. Survey responses were analyzed in conjunction with students' 2010–2011 scores on their statewide AA-AAS. The results indicated that students with presymbolic communication systems had a lower likelihood of achieving proficiency in English language arts/reading and math than students with abstract symbolic communication. Students with concrete symbolic communication systems had lesser odds of proficiency in ELA/reading but not in math. Teachers who agreed that AA-AAS had an impact on instruction tended to have students with higher achievement proficiency. However, more negative views of the validity of AA-AAS scores were associated with greater odds of proficiency.