The effects of stride technique and pitch location on slo-pitch batting

In slo-pitch softball, the ball is delivered in an arc trajectory with a moderate velocity; hence, batters have time to adjust their stride technique based on the pitched ball location. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of stride technique and pitched ball location on the mechanics of slo-pitch batting. A two-way ANOVA of two locations of pitch (inside and outside) x three strides (open, parallel, and closed) repeated measure study was conducted in this study. The results showed that the stride technique and pitched ball location did not have a consistent impact on the participants across different batting conditions, so the study recommends slo-pitch batters to explore different stride techniques when striking the ball. Further, to better understand the generalizability of the findings, the results indicated that participants were quite homogeneous as a group. Hence, coaches and educators may apply the findings from this study to other players with similar skill level.     

Mother-tongue training in school as a determinant of global language proficiency: A Belgian case study

Experimental models of education that incorporate the mother tongue of immigrant children into the structure of their curricula constitute obvious cases-in-point for assessing the validity of bilingual or multilingual education for such children. The present case study of one such model, the so-called Foyer Bicultural Education Project of Brussels, is intended to shed some light on the relationship between formal mother-tongue training and the development of global language proficiency in minority-language children. Since this particular case-in-point involves three languages — Italian (the mother tongue), Flemish and French — it is especially interesting with regard to the validity of the so-called interdependence principle, as formulated by Cummins (1979). The findings presented here confirm Cummins' principle that the development of literacy in the mother tongue is a determinant of global language proficiency in minority-language children.

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Zusammenfassung Versuchsweise eingeführte Erziehungsmodelle, die die Muttersprache von Einwandererkindern in die Struktur ihrer Curricula einarbeiten, stellen ganz offensichtlich Beispiele dar, die es ermöglichen, eine Daseinsberechtiging für die zwei- oder mehrsprachige Erziehung solcher Kinder zu etablieren. Die vorliegende Untersuchung, das sogenannte Foyer bikulturelle Erziehungsprojekt aus Brüssel soll die Beziehung zwischen formaler Muttersprachenausbildung und der Entwicklung globaler Sprachkompetenz bei Kindern mit Minoritätensprachen erläutern. Da der vorliegende Fall drei Sprachen betrifft — Italienisch (als Muttersprache), Flämisch und Französisch — ist er besonders interessant im Hinblick auf die Gültigkeit der sogenannten Interdependenz-Hypothese, die 1979 von Cummins formuliert wurde. Die hier vorgestellten Ergebnisse bestätigen Cummins Hypothese, daß die Entwicklung der Literalität in der Muttersprache ein Determinant der globalen Sprachkompetenz bei Kindern mit Minoritätssprachen sei.

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Résumé Les modèles expérimentaux d'enseignement qui incorporent la langue maternelle d'enfants immigrants dans leurs programmes d'étude constituent des exemples évidents d'évaluation de la validité de l'enseignement bilingue ou multilingue pour ces enfants. La présente étude de cas sur un modèle de ce genre, le Projet Foyer d'Education Biculturelle de Bruxelles, vise à apporter quelques éclaircissements sur la relation entre l'apprentissage formel de la langue maternelle et le développement de la compétence linguistique globale chez les enfants appartenant à une minorité linguistique. Du fait que cet exemple spécifique comprend trois langues — l'italien (langue maternelle), le flamand et le français — il est particulièrement intéressant quant à la validité de ce que l'on appelle le principe d'interdépendance, tel qu'il a été formulé par Cummins (1979). Les résultats qui sont présentés ici confirment le principe de Cummins selon lequel le développement de l'alphabétisme qui s'appuie sur la langue maternelle détermine la compétence linguistique globale d'enfants appartenant à une minorité linguistique.

     

Modeling achievement in mathematics: the role of learner and learning environment characteristics

This study examined a structural model of mathematics achievement among Druze 8th graders in Israel. The model integrates 2 psychosocial theories: goal theory and social learning theory. Variables in the model included gender, father's and mother's education, classroom mastery and performance goal orientation, mathematics self-efficacy and self-regulated learning, mastery and performance goals, and mathematics achievement. Data on learner and learning environment variables and achievement in mathematics were collected from 273 boys and girls. Results indicate appropriate fit of the model for the entire sample. Invariance analysis across gender indicated that only 2 of the 11 path coefficients, mother's education on mathematics achievement and classroom mastery goal orientation on self-regulation, were not invariant across gender. The same pattern of relationships accounted for different amounts of variance in mathematics achievement for boys and girls.     

La compréhension du fonctionnement de la Balance. Une analyse hiérarchique

According to Flavell (1989), psychologists have now to analyze filiations between children’s ideas in more detailed way that the Piagetian one. The rule assessment approach of Siegler (1976, 1978) corresponds to this way, especially the works done about children comprehension of the balance. However, as Larivée et al. (1987) noticed it, the Siegler’s model does not integrate the problem solving strategies of very young children. This research tries to complete the Siegler’s studies. A simple balance with two scales was presented to children between 4 and 6. They were invited either to predict the effect of various manipulations or to explicit the manipulations which can produce some specific effects. The items were inspired by old Piagetian works. Fortyfive children received the first version of the test which was then ajusted (two items were added). The final version was presented to 80 children.     

Faith Tribes as Powerful Communities of Adolescents in Highly Differentiated Societies

This article describes how communal aspects of faith find their way back into the lives of adolescents. The communal aspects of faith within individualized societies need more attention. It seems that with the current emphasis on individual faith, the intrinsic power of communal aspects of faith has been lost. This study shows that informal communities of adolescents—faith tribes—can restore the individual–communal balance in faith development. Youth ministry should encourage adolescents and tribal leaders to be aware of the faith possibilities of tribes.     

Introduction: Reflexions on Interdisciplinarity in Adapted Physical Activity

ABSTRACT

The articles included in this special issue of Quest emerged from a research workshop entitled Thinking About Our Thinking in Adapted Physical Activity, held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, from June 18–19, 2013. The aim of the workshop was to examine different worldviews that contribute to the adapted physical activity research literature, to identify key disciplinary assumptions, and to outline their consequences for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in the field. A lack of understanding of the basic assumptions held by researchers often impedes communication between the disciplines. Hence, a sub-theme of this special issue is communication across disciplines. These conversations are, of course, essential to interdisciplinary inquiry.     

Toward a modular,integrated, miniaturized,and portable microfluidic flow control architecture for organs-on-chips applications

Microfluidic organs-on-chips (OoCs) technology has emerged as the trend for in vitro functional modeling of organs in recent years. Simplifying the complexities of the human organs under controlled perfusion of required fluids paves the way for accurate prediction of human organ functionalities and their response to interventions like exposure to drugs. However, in the state-of-the-art OoC, the existing methods to control fluids use external bulky peripheral components and systems much larger than the chips used in experiments. A new generation of compact microfluidic flow control systems is needed to overcome this challenge. This study first presents a structured classification of OoC devices according to their types and microfluidic complexities. Next, we suggest three fundamental fluid flow control mechanisms and define component configurations for different levels of OoC complexity for each respective mechanism. Finally, we propose an architecture integrating modular microfluidic flow control components and OoC devices on a single platform. We emphasize the need for miniaturization of flow control components to achieve portability, minimize sample usage, minimize dead volume, improve the flowing time of fluids to the OoC cell chamber, and enable long-duration experiments.