Engines at top speed! Using the adventures of a comic book motorsports hero as an approach to understanding recent French history

Jean Graton created a series of comic books called Michel Vaillant, and its motorsports hero bore the same name. Michel Vaillant made his first appearance in 1957 in the weekly Tintin. Young French boys who loved adventure, sports and car racing greeted this publication with great enthusiasm. We studied the first series of Michel Vaillant, composed of 16 comic books produced in the 1960s. We have departed from traditional approaches and have based our method on the analysis of the sources of Graton’s inspiration. We link these sources to the comics’ text bubbles, visual signs and iconic meanings of the drawings. Our analysis of the comics’ iconography based on the establishment of a mass culture dedicated to the automobile brings to light the existence of an urge to go beyond the limits of tradition. Our research highlights that the success of Michel Vaillant is due, in the main, to the series’ detailed knowledge of the automobile sports industry, and to the myths of speed, youth and progress that it promulgates – myths in which its young male readers could see themselves reflected and which would also prepare them for the future.     

Swimming and peak bone mineral density: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to determine the effects of regular swimming on bone mineral density (BMD) in young adults (18–30 years). A systematic search was performed in Pubmed, SPORTDiscus and the Cochrane Library from the earliest possible year to March 2016. Swimmers were compared to non-athletic controls (CG) and to high-impact athletes (HIGH). Effect sizes with the Hedges g in random effects models were developed. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. Swimmers presented similar BMD values to CG in whole-body (g = ?0.20; P = 0.251), femoral neck (g = ?0.05; P = 0.818) and lumbar spine (g = 0.18; P = 0.492); and lower BMD in the whole-body (g = ?1.21; P < 0.001), femoral neck (g = ?1.51; P < 0.001) and lumbar spine (g = ?0.84; P = 0.017) than the HIGH. For the whole-body differences, the higher the latitude the smaller the differences between swimmers and HIGH (B = 0.10; P = 0.001). For the femoral neck differences, age also seemed to reduce the differences between groups (B = 0.19; P = 0.020). Young adult swimmers present similar BMD values than CG and lower values than HIGH.     

Teaching methodologies at university and their relationship with the development of transversal competences / Metodologías de enseñanza en la universidad y su relación con el desarrollo de competencias transversales

This paper aims to understand the use of different methodologies and their relationship with the development of transversal competencies within higher education. A total of 1,137 final-year undergraduate students from the University of Murcia participated in this study, and the data collection instrument used is the CECTGRA questionnaire designed ad hoc. Among the most noteworthy results is the prevalence of lectures compared with other more active methodologies and the perception that the development of transversal competencies could be improved. A positive correlation is obtained between the use of active methodologies and the successful development of different types of competencies. This work invites reflection on the methodologies used by university teachers to develop transversal competencies and the reconsideration of their educational practice.     

Parents’ perceptions of parent–teacher relationship practices in Dutch primary schools – an exploratory pilot study

This paper shows how parents’ perceptions of parent–teacher relationship practices differ between different types of schools with respect to children’s special needs and the socio-economic status of these children. Using a questionnaire, we compare parents’ views from two special education schools, two at-risk schools serving low SES-children, and two mainstream primary education schools in the southern part of the Netherlands. The theoretical framework is based on Epstein’s Model of Parental Involvement. The results illustrate that parents and teachers in special education and at-risk schools are very much accustomed to ‘two-way communication’, in contrast to mainstream schools, and that this is valued highly by these parents. Furthermore, teachers in special and at-risk schools are more familiar with interacting with parents, involve them more in decision-making and more often co-ordinate homework practice with parents.     

An example of the use of dynamic mathematics software to create problem-solving environments that serve multiple purposes

Problem-solving is regarded as a major component of mathematical performance, and well-designed problem-solving-based learning environments have the potential to assist students in developing a meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures. In this respect, given its various features, dynamic mathematics software has been regarded by mathematics educators as a promising tool for designing such environments. This study presents an example of the use of technology to create a dynamic learning environment through a discussion of the pedagogical value of a problem selected for an activity, followed by the implementation sequence of the problem-solving activity in the classroom. The students’ experiences during the implementation of the activity are also discussed; and finally, an additional version of the problem is recommended for use in the classroom.     

Examining social studies teachers’ resistances towards teaching Aboriginal perspectives: the case of Alberta

From 2005–2010 the province of Alberta introduced a social studies program of study mandating that all K–12 teachers use the lens of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit perspectives to help students understand the past as well as key concepts and contemporary issues. This paper offers a systematic examination of a range of data sources, including government reports, surveys, and peer-reviewed journal articles, which have documented teachers’ responses to this curricular mandate. Our analysis revealed a typology of resistances towards this curricular directive that have remained constant over a nearly twenty-year period. Guided by insights from sociocultural theory and the work of Indigenous scholars (e.g.; Marker, 2011), we trace the origins and limitations of these resistances.     

第11届全运会女子举重冠军抓举技术的运动学参数特征研究

采用国产星高钛运动录像采集和解析软件(3D-SignalTEC),对第11届全国运动会女子举重4个级别冠军的抓举技术进行数字录像解析,进一步研究运动员在抓举过程中膝关节角度、髋关节角度、躯干角度和杠铃中心点垂直速度随时间变化曲线的关系,更深层次地揭示我国优秀女子举重运动员的抓举技术特征.     

论新《保险法》免责条款说明义务的完善

由于保险交易消费化特征突出,保险人与投保人之间交易能力相差甚远,投保人对保险条款的理解主要依赖保险人提供的说明,加之保险人利用保险条款进行推诿欺诈的客观事实已经造成了公众对保险事业的信任危机。在此情形下,保险人免责条款说明义务的完善,可以使处于弱势地位的投保人在缔结保险合同时降低信息收集和注意的风险,相应地提高保险人订约信息的收集与交流注意义务。所以完善保险人免责条款说明义务成为一种必然选择。     

P2P数字图书馆虚拟联盟著作权侵权风险分析

基于P2P技术的数字图书馆虚拟联盟的诞生,克服了数字图书馆实体联盟之间缺乏灵活的、有效的动态整合机制的难题。由于虚拟联盟没有中心节点和管理机构,作品的传播难以控制,著作权侵权责任更难以划分。在虚拟联盟中,作为实体机构的数字图书馆主要扮演着者ICP和ISP两种角色,其侵权的方式和责任的认定各不相同。