Depression to decolonization:Berclays Bank (DCO) in the West Indies, 1926-1962. By Kathleen E.A. Monteith. Kingston: University of the West Indies Press, 2008. xvi + 355pp. Illustrations, tables. figures, appendix, bibliography, notes, index. $30.00. ISBN: 879-976-640-198-6.

Book review

Charges against members of the House and lobby activities of the National association of manufacturers of the United States and others. Hearings before the Select Committee of the House of Representatives appointed under House resolution 198, Sixty-third Congress, first session, July 12 to [Sept. 19] 1913.

Mode of access: Internet.

Helga Kelle / Johanna Mierendorff (Hrsg.): Normierung und Normalisierung der Kindheit. Weinheim und Basel: Beltz Juventa 2013 (198 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Helga Kelle / Johanna Mierendorff (Hrsg.): Normierung und Normalisierung der Kindheit. Weinheim und Basel: Beltz Juventa 2013 (198 S.; ISBN 978-3-7799-1555-3)

Uso de las tecnologías de información y comunicación y su efecto en el rendimiento académico por parte de los estudiantes de Segundo Ciclo de Educación Básica en el distrito no. 1208 del municipio de San Miguel, departamento de San Miguel

El objetivo del trabajo de investigación fue la de conocer los efectos negativos que ocasiona el uso de las tecnologías de información y comunicación en los estudiantes, mediante el análisis de cómo incide el uso prolongado de las TIC’s en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes y se identificó para qué actividades utilizan las tecnologías de información y comunicación los estudiantes. Metodología: la técnicas de investigación empleadas fueron la bibliográfica en cuanto a la recopilación de información escrita; descriptiva, para conocer el fenómeno estudiado, las situaciones, costumbres y actitudes predominantes a través de la descripción exacta de las actividades; de campo, la teoría es comparada con el campo para la verificación de validez y un acercamiento con la realidad. Conclusión: se concluye que los estudiantes del segundo ciclo utilizan las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación en mayor medida como medios de entretenimiento y distracción, invirtiendo gran cantidad de tiempo en actividades como navegar en Internet, ingresando a Facebook, vídeo juegos, etc., dejando de lado muchas de sus responsabilidades y tareas como el estudio provocando de esta forma que su rendimiento académico no sea el más óptimo, las razones por las cuales los y las estudiantes obtienen notas regulares se deben al poco tiempo que dedican a estudiar y a realizar sus tareas, y al tiempo excesivo que permanecen en las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación.

La motivación en el aprendizaje de la asignatura de matemática en los estudiantes de Segundo Ciclo de Educación Básica turno matutino de las escuelas públicas del distrito 1207 y 1208 del departamento de San Miguel durante el periodo de febrero a julio de 2015

El presente estudio se enfoca en comprender los factores motivacionales que mueven a los estudiantes durante el proceso de aprendizaje de la asignatura de Matemática en los grados del Segundo Ciclo de Educación Básica, enmarcándose en un diseño metodológico cualitativo, descriptivo e interpretativo que pretende conocer, describir e interpretar los significados que envuelven la motivación dentro del proceso de aprendizaje. Así mismo este estudio sigue en su desarrollo una serie de puntos que incluyen elementos como el método fenomenológico, el cual ha permitido que las experiencias vividas que se hayan dado en cuanto al tema estudiado tengan un verdadero significado y se puedan realizar las interpretaciones y reflexiones necesarias. El presente estudio involucro a la población docente y estudiantil contenida en el segundo ciclo de Educación Básica en los Distritos 1207 y 1208 del Departamento de San Miguel, seleccionando una muestra intencional de 9 Docentes y 27 Estudiantes que emitieron sus opiniones a través de las técnicas de la Entrevista y de Grupos Focales cada uno con su respectivo Instrumento, con los resultados obtenidos en la aplicación de los instrumentos se derivó en una interpretación y análisis de las opiniones emitidas por cada uno de los involucrados derivando finalmente en la construcción de la información para cada una de los puntos (que para este caso se denominaron como categorías) que se buscaron definir en este estudio y derivando consiguientemente en elaborar las conclusiones y recomendaciones respectivas. Culminadas las fases de este estudio se logró en buena medida llenar los objetivos plasmados en un inicio, de igual forma se pudo plantear una propuesta que diera una contribución significativa en cuanto a trabajar la motivación en el aprendizaje de la asignatura de matemática.

Resolución 198 del 20 de diciembre de 2012: El acto de renovación del proponente de la sociedad Aseguradora solidaria de Colombia LTDA

Servicios registrales

Contrast sensitivity changes due to glaucoma and normal aging: low-spatial-frequency losses in both magnocellular and parvocellular pathways

PURPOSE: To explore the effects of glaucoma and aging on low-spatial-frequency contrast sensitivity by using tests designed to assess performance of either the magnocellular (M) or parvocellular (P) visual pathways. METHODS: Contrast sensitivity was measured for spatial frequencies of 0.25 to 2 cyc/deg by using a published steady- and pulsed-pedestal approach. Sixteen patients with glaucoma and 16 approximately age-matched control subjects participated. Patients with glaucoma were tested foveally and at two midperipheral locations: (1) an area of early visual field loss, and (2) an area of normal visual field. Control subjects were assessed in matched locations. An additional group of 12 younger control subjects (aged 20-35 years) were also tested. RESULTS: Older control subjects demonstrated reduced sensitivity relative to the younger group for the steady (presumed M)- and pulsed (presumed P)-pedestal conditions. Sensitivity was reduced foveally and in the midperiphery across the spatial frequency range. In the area of early visual field loss, the glaucoma group demonstrated further sensitivity reduction relative to older control subjects across the spatial frequency range for both the steady- and pulsed-pedestal tasks. Sensitivity was also reduced in the midperipheral location of "normal" visual field for the pulsed condition. CONCLUSIONS: Normal aging results in a reduction of contrast sensitivity for the low-spatial-frequency-sensitive components of both the M and P pathways. Glaucoma results in a further reduction of sensitivity that is not selective for M or P function. The low-spatial-frequency-sensitive channels of both pathways, which are presumably mediated by cells with larger receptive fields, are approximately equivalently impaired in early glaucoma.

Reducing MRI gradient coil vibration with rib stiffeners

This work investigates the effect of rib stiffeners on the free and forced vibration of a gradient coil in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. Several reinforcement schemes are studied in this paper. One scheme utilizes the existing holes in the gradient coil structure (typically reserved for magnetic shims) to produce the reinforcement. Non-ferrous, non-magnetic carbon fibre rib stiffeners are employed to fill these holes in several ways to strengthen a gradient coil. Another scheme replaces the inner half of the gradient coil material with a grid of interconnected axial and circumferential rib stiffeners. It is found that the structural stiffness of the gradient coil increases substantially when the coil is reinforced by carbon fibre rib stiffeners. The reinforcement affects the noise and vibration response of the gradient coil structure in the following ways. It increases the frequency range of forced response of the gradient coil at low frequencies due to the increased resonant frequency of the fundamental mode of the coil. Secondly, it reduces the forced response amplitude of the coil structure (which is governed by the structural stiffness of the coil). Thirdly, it reduces the number of natural modes in the low and medium frequency range and therefore lessens the chance of the coil structure being excited resonantly by magnetic resonance signal acquisition sequences. It is shown that gradient coils modelled by solid finite element models have higher stiffness along the coil’s circumference and lower stiffness in the axial direction than those using shell finite element models.

Exercise alone is not enough : weight loss also needs a healthy (Mediterranean) diet?

Objective: In the majority of exercise intervention studies, the aggregate reported weight loss is often small. The efficacy of exercise as a weight loss tool remains in question. The aim of the present study was to investigate the variability in appetite and body weight when participants engaged in a supervised and monitored exercise programme. ---------- Design: Fifty-eight obese men and women (BMI = 31·8 ± 4·5 kg/m2) were prescribed exercise to expend approximately 2092 kJ (500 kcal) per session, five times a week at an intensity of 70 % maximum heart rate for 12 weeks under supervised conditions in the research unit. Body weight and composition, total daily energy intake and various health markers were measured at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. ---------- Results: Mean reduction in body weight (3·2 ± 1·98 kg) was significant (P < 0·001); however, there was large individual variability (−14·7 to +2·7 kg). This large variability could be largely attributed to the differences in energy intake over the 12-week intervention. Those participants who failed to lose meaningful weight increased their food intake and reduced intake of fruits and vegetables. ---------- Conclusion: These data have demonstrated that even when exercise energy expenditure is high, a healthy diet is still required for weight loss to occur in many people.

What is the future for rimonabant in the treatment of obesity

Orlistat and sibutramine only cause modest reductions in body weight. Rimonabant, a cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist, is a new approach to weight reduction, but is it safe, efficacious, and better than the existing agents?

Synthesis and characterization of sodalite–polyimide nanocomposite membranes

Nanocomposite membranes are fabricated from sodalite nanocrystals (Sod-N) dispersed in BTDA-MDA polyimide matrices and then characterized structurally and for gas separation. No voids are found upon investigation of the interfacial contact between the inorganic and organic phases, even at a Sod-N loading of up to 35 wt.%. This is due to the functionalization of the zeolite nanocrystals with amino groups (==Si_(CH3)(CH2)3NH2), which covalently link the particles to the polyimide chains in the matrices. The addition of Sod-N increases the hydrogen-gas permeability of the membranes, while nitrogen permeability decreases. Overall, these nanocomposite membranes display substantial selectivity improvements. The sodalite–polyimide membrane containing 35 wt.% Sod-N has a hydrogen permeability of 8.0 Barrers and a H2/N2 ideal selectivity of 281 at 25 C whereas the plain polyimide membrane exhibits a hydrogen permeability of 7.0 Barrers and a H2/N2 ideal selectivity of 198 at the same testing temperature.

Serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in pooled serum are higher in children (2-5 years of age) than in infants and adults

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in many products and have been detected in human samples worldwide. Limited data show that concentrations are elevated in young children. Objectives: We investigated the association between PBDEs and age with an emphasis on young children from Australia in 2006–2007. Methods: We collected human blood serum samples (n = 2,420), which we stratified by age and sex and pooled for analysis of PBDEs. Results: The sum of BDE-47, -99, -100, and -153 concentrations (Σ4PBDE) increased from 0–0.5 years (mean ± SD, 14 ± 3.4 ng/g lipid) to peak at 2.6–3 years (51 ± 36 ng/g lipid; p < 0.001) and then decreased until 31–45 years (9.9 ± 1.6 ng/g lipid). We observed no further significant decrease among ages 31–45, 45–60 (p = 0.964), or > 60 years (p = 0.894). The mean Σ4PBDE concentration in cord blood (24 ± 14 ng/g lipid) did not differ significantly from that in adult serum at ages 15–30 (p = 0.198) or 31–45 years (p = 0.140). We found no temporal trend when we compared the present results with Australian PBDE data from 2002–2005. PBDE concentrations were higher in males than in females; however, this difference reached statistical significance only for BDE-153 (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The observed peak concentration at 2.6–3 years of age is later than the period when breast-feeding is typically ceased. This suggests that in addition to the exposure via human milk, young children have higher exposure to these chemicals and/or a lower capacity to eliminate them. Key words: Australia, children, cord blood, human blood serum, PBDEs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Environ Health Perspect 117:1461–1465 (2009). doi:10.1289/ehp.0900596