Trajectories of Ethnic–Racial Identity and Autonomy Among Mexican‐Origin Adolescent Mothers in the United States

This study examined trajectories of ethnic–racial identity (ERI) and autonomy development among Mexican‐origin adolescent females in the United States (N = 181; M_age at Wave 1 = 16.80 years, SD = 1.00) as they transitioned through the first 5 years of parenthood. Trajectories of ERI and autonomy also were examined in relation to psychosocial functioning. Unconditional latent growth models indicated significant growth in autonomy, ERI resolution, and ERI affirmation from middle to late adolescence. Conditional latent growth models indicated that autonomy and ERI exploration growth trajectories were positively associated with psychosocial adjustment. Although adolescent mothers are experiencing transitions that are not normative during adolescence, they also engage in normative developmental processes, and their engagement in such processes is linked with better adjustment.     

Learning and behaviour of three- to five-year-old children with ADHD / Aprendizaje y conducta de niños y niñas con TDAH de tres a cinco años

Early childhood education is a developmental period in which early symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be observed. This work examines the educational background of 206 children, from the ages of three to five years (109 of them with an ADHD diagnosis and 97 without a clinical diagnosis), by analysing 306 reports from their teachers. The aim of this study is to discover if these educational reports reflect differences in academic performance and behaviour between both groups. The 123 educational goals analysed in the reports have been classified into 15 categories. A nonparametric analysis (Chi square) was performed on each variable to compare ADHD/control groups. Our results claim that ADHD children show more difficulties in different curricular and behavioural aspects like attention, self-regulation, independence, motivation, basic learning, social relationships, motor skills and communication. These reports are useful in identifying children who are at risk of developing the disorder and in establishing intervention goals that decrease negative effects in children’s development.     

Positive Aging Beyond “Success”: Towards a More Inclusive Perspective of High Level Functioning in Old Age

Successful aging is the ability to maintain low probability of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical functioning, and active engagement with life (Rowe &; Kahn, 1999 Rowe, J. W. &; Kahn, R. L. (1999). Successful aging. New York, NY: Dell Pub. [Google Scholar]). These criteria allow for a minority of people to be classified as being “successful” and overlook the importance of psychological variables in balancing the weight of disease. A total of 1322 seniors (55 + years) were classified on their overall functioning according to core domains (health, psychological, cognitive, biobehavioural, social, personality). Findings support the idea that a broader perspective of aging outcomes, rather than success criteria, may better reflect reality.     

Students with disabilities in higher education: a biographical-narrative approach to the role of lecturers

This article presents an analysis of how lecturers respond to students with disabilities, the initial question being: do lecturers aid or hinder students? Findings pertain to a broader research project being developed by a multidisciplinary team employing a non-usual research methodology in higher education (HE) research and students with disabilities: biographical-narrative methodology. The general aim is to analyse – by listening to the students themselves – barriers and support identified as affecting access, academic performance and overall perception of the HE experience. The present paper analyses lecturer-centred data to focus specifically on one of the objectives of our research project: the role that lecturers play in the inclusive education of students with disabilities. Unlike other international research, this article explores the barriers and support differentiating between five fields of knowledge: health sciences, experimental sciences, social sciences (law and education), engineering and technology and humanities. Findings are organized in four topic areas: lecturer attitudes, practices in the classroom, curricular adaptations and faculty training. Key findings are discussed in the conclusions section, together with a discussion of contributions made by earlier studies.     

Toward a society where everyone is always studying: access at an elite Chilean research university

After the 1973 coup, Chile swung from a centralized state to a dictatorial decentralized one where education turned from a public to a private good. Since the 1990 restoration of democracy, market-based trends have endured, involving the fomentation of a knowledge society, one where everyone is always studying. The present study, drawn from an action research project to develop English for academic purposes at a top-ranked Chilean university, considers how paradigmatically functionalist research can lead to critical openings for research at an elite Global South university marshalled into public service to promote innovation. As the university in the study fosters innovation to propel Chile from a raw materials to a knowledge-based economy, two points aid our entrée into elite site investigation: the university’s internationalization policy and its focus on graduate students’ getting their work in high-impact journals and conferences. Accessibility remains a challenge for garnering substantive qualitative data at an elite Chilean university, though we suggest that a policy movement toward a knowledge society yields possibilities for researchers able to carry out methodologies with both functionalist and critical aims.     

La Cuestión Social como Objeto de Estudio: Concepto y Fundamento

Este artículo intenta clarificar conceptos relacionados con disciplinas que se ocupan de lo social. Exige una ardua labor de reflexión, verificación y contraste de los implicados en el estudio y la práctica para elaborar una terminología común. Construir los fundamentos de una ciencia, y/o disciplina científica –Pedagogía Social, Educación Social y Trabajo Social –no es una tarea fácil. Intentamos aportar las bases epistemológicas en las que se sustentan las disciplinas mencionadas. En general, los agentes de lo social no han adquirido la capacidad de pensamiento riguroso que es esencial para una profesión en vías de maduración.     

Education and communication is the key for the successful management of vitamin D test requesting

Introduction

Pre-preanalytical and post-postanalytical phases are steps where the laboratory professional may play a crucial role. Measuring the serum circulating 25 hydroxyvitamin D level (25(OH)D) is recommended to evaluate vitamin D status in patients at risk for vitamin D deficiency while 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D) is only recommended to monitor several particular conditions (chronic kidney disease, hereditary phosphate-losing disorders, and some other) clearly defined by the current clinical guidelines of Endocrine Society.
Our research hypothesis was that through education and communication through comments in the Laboratory Information System (LIS), we could improve appropriateness in the request vitamin D tests.

Materials and methods

A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2005 to December 2014. Each 1,25(OH)₂D request was reviewed individually by a member of the laboratory staff. Starting in November 2011, each inappropriate 1,25(OH)₂D request was registered in LIS and 25(OH)D was measured instead of 1,25(OH)₂D. We counted the overall number of 1,25(OH)₂D requests and the number of inappropriate requests which then were marked with a comment.

Results

The request of 25(OH)D increased along years. However, 1,25(OH)₂D requests increased until 2012 when demand began to diminish.

Conclusions

Education and communication through comments in the LIS, corrected the inappropriate request of 1,25(OH)₂D and promoted the use of 25(OH)D to study vitamin D deficiency.Key words: clinical laboratory services, utilization, vitamin D, communication, education