Positive Shyness in the Brain: Frontal Electroencephalogram Alpha Asymmetry and Delta–Beta Correlation in Children

Positive shyness is thought to be an approach-dominant form of shyness, whereas non-positive shyness is thought to be an avoidance-dominant form of shyness. This study examined electrocortical and behavioral correlates of motivation and emotion in relation to these shy subtypes in 67 children (M_age = 10.41 years, SD = 3.23). Using resting state electroencephalography, findings revealed that positive shy and low shy children had greater relative left frontal alpha asymmetry compared to non-positive shy children, and positive shy children had a higher frontal delta–beta correlation compared to other groups. Non-positive shy children scored highest on parent-reported school avoidance. These findings converge with previous work reporting distinct correlates in positive and non-positive shyness, extending this to two brain measures of motivation and emotion.     

Future pest status of an insect pest in museums,Attagenus smirnovi: Distribution and food consumption in relation to climate change

The brown carpet beetle Attagenus smirnovi, Zhantiev 1973 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is an important pest of objects of organic origin in museums of cultural and natural history in Europe. Future climate changes are expected to lead to increasing temperatures, which will affect the pest status of this species. In the present study a laboratory investigation was conducted to elucidate the effect of temperature and humidity on the amounts of organic material consumed by larvae of A. smirnovi. In the case of new and old skin, consumption was approximately twice as high at 28 °C compared to 20 °C. Wool was consumed in the greatest amounts: 169 mg of wool was consumed in three months by 30 A. smirnovi larvae. The expected future climate changes in Scandinavia are assumed to lead to higher temperatures in museums and stores where climate is not regulated. Updated data on the present distribution of A. smirnovi in Europe show that it is widespread and common, also in regions with a climate that does not support its survival out of doors. Thus, dispersal of this pest probably only rarely occurs by flight, but usually with human activity. Due to the widespread distribution of A. smirnovi, it is likely that damages in museums and collections in Scandinavia due to this pest will increase as climate changes come into effect.     

Adult-like odor preferences and aversions in three-year-old children

Previous studies of young children have failed to demonstrate adult-like odor preferences in children less than 5 years old. To test whether these results may have been due to inappropriate methods or to stimulus sets that were too limited in range to capture discriminations, a forced-choice procedure embedded in a simple game was used to contrast 3-year-olds' (n = 16) and adults' (n = 17) hedonic reactions to 9 odorants. Subjects indicated liking an odor by pointing to one puppet and disliking an odor by pointing to another puppet. Analyses revealed essentially the same pattern of preferences in both groups. In general, the odorant was a much better predictor of its hedonic quality than was the age of the subject. However, children and adults did differ in their ratings of some odors, and response patterns indicated that children may be more sensitive than adults to some odorants (e.g., the steroid androstenone). These data indicate that the predominant view that adult-like odor preferences and aversions do not exist until between 5 and 7 years of age must be reevaluated.     

Improving media production design skills through the use of a design analysis checklist

Conclusion As they would apply to each production, there are no “right” answers to most of the questions on the Design Analysis Checklist. On many of the items, research and marketing findings and the wisdom gained by successful media designers over a long period of time could perhaps sometimes tell the novice designer which decision would be best in a particular instance. But each production is far too complex and unique as a total entity to be able to make flat general statements as to what is proper in terms of design. Rather than trying to tell you what is right in media design, this analytical exercise is aimed at helping you to identify some of the design elements where decisions must be made—not whatdecision to make. Through experience and learning from experienced, successful designers, you will in time be better able to make the right decisions for each production. Reading some of the sources listed at the end of this article can help you in this regard. While the Checklist probed for answers dealing with dozens of design elements, do not lose sight of the fact that the basic story or message is the most important element. Without a well-organized and vital story or message presented in an interesting manner, it matters little about the other design elements. On the other hand, if your story or message is strong, well-organized, and interesting, these dozens of other elements can be used to improve the production in places where it is appropriate.     

Kindergarten screening results as predictors of academic achievement,potential, and placement in second grade

The ability of a battery of kindergarten screening measures to predict educationally relevant criteria was investigated. Subtest scores on The Vane Test of Language and The Vane Kindergarten Test administered at the beginning of kindergarten were examined and compared to the Metropolitan Achievement Test scores in reading and math, The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test index, and placement into special education or high achievement programs at the end of second grade. A weighted combination of subtests accurately predicted 77% of the children classified as special education students. The same battery also predicted 73% of the children who were classified as high-achieving students.     

Greater expectations: Learning from other nations in the quest for 'world-class standards' in US school mathematics and science

This study examines teachers’ experiences with and opinions on a web‐based, cross‐cultural project. Students from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Macedonia, and Sweden used information and communication technology and international collaboration to explore the links among youth, culture, and the use of alcohol. The data was generated through interviews with the teachers co‐ordinating the project in each of the classes. The teachers’ experiences with the approach as a whole led them to emphasize that the action‐oriented and participatory approach, combined with the use of information and communication technology and international collaboration, brought new, valuable perspectives to their own teaching and to their reflections about emerging new roles and teaching skills needed. The provisions for genuine student participation, authenticity in learning, intrinsic motivation, and the sense of the other were identified by the teachers as the main strengths of the approach.     

Access Patterns of Online Materials in a Blended Course

Patterns in student accesses of online materials and their effects upon student performance in a blended course are examined. Our blended course is an introductory business and economic statistics course where lectures are only available online while the traditional class period is used for complementary learning activities. Timing, volumes, intensity, and consistency of the student accesses of the online lectures are considered. Using bivariate and multivariate analyses, measures of timing and consistency are shown to be related to student performance but volumes and intensity of accesses are not.