'Changing attitudes with a little imagination': Imagined contact effects on young children's intergroup bias

The current research tested a recent development in social psychology, namely 'imagined contact', among young children (n = 123, 5 to 10 years). Children imagined interacting with a physically disabled child, or did not take part in this activity (the control group). Compared with the control group, children who engaged in 'imagined contact' subsequently showed reduced intergroup bias in their general attitude and ratings of warmth and competence. Imagined contact also led to more positive intended friendship behavior towards the disabled, but only among 5 – 6 year olds. This provides partial support for our hypothesis that younger children, perhaps as a result of their lack of outgroup experience, are more likely to benefit from imagined contact. Implications for the development of attitudes towards the disabled, imagined contact theory and the development of classroom-based prejudice-reduction techniques based on imagined contact are discussed.

Holocene “turn-on” and evolution of the Southern Great Barrier Reef: Revisiting reef cores from the Capricorn Bunker Group

Extensive drilling of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in the 70s and 80s illuminated the main factors controlling reef growth during the Holocene. However, questions remain about: (1) the precise nature and timing of reef "turnon" or initiation, (2) whether consistent spatio-temporal patterns occur in the bio-sedimentologic response of the reef to Holocene sea-level rise then stability, and (3) how these factors are expressed in the context of the different evolutionary states (juvenile-mature-senile reefs). Combining 21 new C14-AMS and 146 existing recalibrated radiocarbon and U/Th ages, we investigated the detailed spatial and temporal variations in sedimentary facies and coralgal assemblages in fifteen cores across four reefs (Wreck, Fairfax, One Tree and Fitzroy) from the Southern GBR. Our newly defined facies and assemblages record distinct chronostratigraphic patterns in the cores, displaying both lateral zonation across the different reefs and shallowing upwards sequences, characterised by a transition from deep (Porites/faviids) to shallow (Acropora/Isopora) coral types. The revised reef accretion curves show a significant lag period, ranging from 0.7-2 ka, between flooding of the antecedent Pleistocene substrate and Holocene reef turn-on. This lag period and dominance of more environmentally tolerant early colonizers (e.g., domal Porites and faviids), suggests initial conditions that were unfavourable for coral growth. We contend that higher input of fine siliciclastic material from regional terrigenous sources, exposure to hydrodynamic forces and colonisation in deeper waters are the main factors influencing initially reduced growth and development. All four reefs record a time lag and we argue that the size and shape of the antecedent platform is most important in determining the duration between flooding and recolonisation of the Holocene reef. Finally, our study of Capricorn Bunker Group Holocene reefs suggests that the size and shape of the antecedent substrate has a greater impact on reef evolution and final evolutionary state (mature vs. senile), than substrate depth alone. 

Electrophysiological and behavioural correlates of facial identity and expression perception deficits following a closed head injury /

A large variety of social signals, such as facial expression and body language, are conveyed in everyday interactions and an accurate perception and interpretation of these social cues is necessary in order for reciprocal social interactions to take place successfully and efficiently. The present study was conducted to determine whether impairments in social functioning that are commonly observed following a closed head injury, could at least be partially attributable to disruption in the ability to appreciate social cues. More specifically, an attempt was made to determine whether face processing deficits following a closed head injury (CHI) coincide with changes in electrophysiological responsivity to the presentation of facial stimuli. A number of event-related potentials (ERPs) that have been linked specifically to various aspects of visual processing were examined. These included the N170, an index of structural encoding ability, the N400, an index of the ability to detect differences in serially presented stimuli, and the Late Positivity (LP), an index of the sensitivity to affective content in visually-presented stimuli. Electrophysiological responses were recorded while participants with and without a closed head injury were presented with pairs of faces delivered in a rapid sequence and asked to compare them on the basis of whether they matched with respect to identity or emotion. Other behavioural measures of identity and emotion recognition were also employed, along with a small battery of standard neuropsychological tests used to determine general levels of cognitive impairment. Participants in the CHI group were impaired in a number of cognitive domains that are commonly affected following a brain injury. These impairments included reduced efficiency in various aspects of encoding verbal information into memory, general slower rate of information processing, decreased sensitivity to smell, and greater difficulty in the regulation of emotion and a limited awareness of this impairment. Impairments in face and emotion processing were clearly evident in the CHI group. However, despite these impairments in face processing, there were no significant differences between groups in the electrophysiological components examined. The only exception was a trend indicating delayed N170 peak latencies in the CHI group (p = .09), which may reflect inefficient structural encoding processes. In addition, group differences were noted in the region of the N100, thought to reflect very early selective attention. It is possible, then, that facial expression and identity processing deficits following CHI are secondary to (or exacerbated by) an underlying disruption of very early attentional processes. Alternately the difficulty may arise in the later cognitive stages involved in the interpretation of the relevant visual information. However, the present data do not allow these alternatives to be distinguished. Nonetheless, it was clearly evident that individuals with CHI are more likely than controls to make face processing errors, particularly for the more difficult to discriminate negative emotions. Those working with individuals who have sustained a head injury should be alerted to this potential source of social monitoring difficulties which is often observed as part of the sequelae following a CHI.

Longitudinal evaluation of sleep-related breathing disorders in an orthodontic population

Introduction: Les troubles respiratoires du sommeil (TRS), qui représentent une préoccupation croissante pour la santé, ont des effets significatifs sur la santé, le comportement et la performance académique chez l’enfant. Les malformations craniofaciales, l’hypertrophie adéno-amygdalienne et l'obésité, représentent des facteurs de risque importants dans le développement de cette condition. Les symptômes des TRS ont été étudiés dans une étude prospective chez les enfants et adolescents durant leur traitement orthodontique dans un milieu universitaire. Cette étude a cherché à décrire la prévalence et les facteurs de risque principaux des TRS, ainsi que l'impact des différentes interventions orthodontiques sur les symptômes TRS. Matériel et méthodes: dans une étude cohorte prospective, un groupe de 168 sujets âgés de 12 à 21 ans ont été soumis, quatre ans après la prise de données initiale, à un examen craniofacial en plus d'être administré des questionnaires qui ont recueilli des données sur la situation socio-démographique, le bruxisme et les troubles d’ATM, le sommeil et le comportement diurne, et les facteurs neuropsychologiques. Résultats: l'indice de masse corporelle a été augmenté mais est demeurée dans la même catégorie aux deux moments de l'enquête. Il ya eu une augmentation du serrement des dents et des symptômes de l'ATM, une diminution de la taille des amygdales, et une augmentation de la somnolence diurne. La prévalence des TRS n'a pas changé entre l’étude initiale et l’étude de suivi. Aucune intervention orthodontique s'est avérée avoir un effet cliniquement significatif sur les voies aériennes supérieures. Conclusions: la prévalence des symptômes TRS était constante par rapport aux valeurs de base pour la population étudiée, mais a augmenté si rapportée à la population générale. Les traitements orthodontiques ne montrent aucun effet sur les TRS. Mots-clés : apnée du sommeil, craniofacial, prévalence, ronflement, traitement orthodontique, voies aériennes supérieures

Com fomentar la lectura : tert??lies liter??ries dial??giques per a nens. 'Como fomentar la lectura : tert??lias literarias dial??gicas para ni??os'

Los autores explican c??mo se logr?? que la biblioteca escolar del C.P. Doctor Fleming, d??nde hay una diversidad cultural de alumnos, pudiera permanecer abierta dentro y fuera del horario escolar. Tambi??n, se detallan las estrategias y actividades que se llevaron a cabo para fomentar la lectura en los alumnos.

La cultura del cambio.

Recoge las opiniones de los participantes en un grupo de discusión en el que se debate sobre las pedagogías vigentes en el siglo XX y lo que queda de ellas, así como de las pedagogías emergentes. Se reconoce la vigencia de las tendencias innovadoras del siglo pasado, aunque habría que adaptarlas al contexto actual. Se señala a Freinet como el pedagogo de mayor influencia para ellos. A continuación se analizan otras pedagogías que hoy pueden contribuir a impulsar la innovación y el cambio en la escuela, así como los problemas y retos existentes. Se aprecia un desencanto en el profesorado pero también en los alumnos y para solucionarlo, se proponen nuevos proyectos y contenidos implicando al alumnado. Finalmente, se reclaman más medios, tanto personales como materiales.

En clave internacional.

El artículo forma parte de un dossier titulado: Educación responsable

Los talleres en Educación Infantil.

El proyecto recoge la organización de talleres en el centro, que pueden definirse como actividades cuyo fin es relacionarse con otros alumnos, investigar y producir algo. Se realizan a partir del segundo trimestre, organizados en grupos heterogéneos que cambian, pasando por los diferentes talleres, como el de cocina, de potingues, juegos populares, naturaleza, reciclado, y el de barro. Los objetivos son descubrir y utilizar las posibilidades motrices, sensitivas y expresivas; tomar la iniciativa, planificar y secuenciar las propias acciones para resolver tareas de la vida cotidiana; conocer las normas y modos de comportamiento de los grupos para establecer vínculos fluidos y equilibrados; orientarse y actuar con autonomía; interesarse y apreciar las producciones propias y de sus compañeros; y utilizar las diversas formas de representación y expresión. La metodología es activa y sigue los criterios de formación personalizada, desarrollo armónico e integral, aprendizaje activo, fomento de la interacción, relación escuela-vida, desarrollo de la creatividad y el sentido crítico, participación de las familias, fomento de la autonomía, y significación de los aprendizajes. La evaluación se realiza al final de cada sesión, dejando tiempo a los niños para autoevaluarse. Se elaboran carteles para las zonas de los talleres, carnets para los niños, y al finalizar los talleres se organiza entre todos una exposición de los materiales elaborados. Se incluye un cuadro organizativo de los talleres, los carnets, el cuaderno de trabajo de los alumnos, y un reportaje fotográfico de las actividades de los talleres..

¿Cómo se enseña y estudia historia hoy en las escuelas normales públicas de México? : una aproximación desde las miradas de los estudiantes

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Com hem canviat la mirada... : treballar a l’aula ordinària amb un alumne amb trets autistes

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Resoluci?? dial??gica dels conflictes

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n

Aquatic community patterns across environmental gradients in a Mediterranean floodplain and their application to ecosystem restoration

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo proporcionar una base de conocimiento sólida para la restauración ecológica de ríos, basada en la respuesta de comunidades acuáticas a cambios en la conectividad hídrica, factores medioambientales y presión antrópica. La conectividad hídrica lateral resultó ser el factor principal que estructura hábitats y comunidades acuáticas en el Ebro; mientras que la turbidez, salinidad y concentración de nutrientes fueron factores secundarios. La combinación de estos factores establece un marco ecológico que permite realizar predicciones acerca de los patrones taxonómicos y funcionales con más probabilidades de ocurrir en la llanura del Ebro. La posibilidad de que se creen nuevos humedales de forma natural en el Ebro es muy baja, mientras los que quedan están amenazados por una baja renovación del agua. El objetivo de la restauración ecológica debe por tanto consistir en re-establecer un amplio rango de condiciones hídricas, de acuerdo con el potencial sostenible del ecosistema.

Volatile isoprenoid emissions from plastid to planet

Approximately 1–2% of net primary production by land plants is re-emitted to the atmosphere as isoprene and monoterpenes. These emissions play major roles in atmospheric chemistry and air pollution–climate interactions. Phenomenological models have been developed to predict their emission rates, but limited understanding of the function and regulation of these emissions has led to large uncertainties in model projections of air quality and greenhouse gas concentrations. We synthesize recent advances in diverse fields, from cell physiology to atmospheric remote sensing, and use this information to propose a simple conceptual model of volatile isoprenoid emission based on regulation of metabolism in the chloroplast. This may provide a robust foundation for scaling up emissions from the cellular to the global scale.