Violência intrafamiliar e intimidação entre colegas no ensino fundamental

Esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo investigar a associação entre intimidação entre pares e violência intrafamiliar. Participaram do estudo 239 estudantes, com idades entre 11 e 15 anos, sendo que 34,7% eram meninos e 65,3%, meninas. Construiu-se um questionário baseado em outros instrumentos que continha: questões sobre variáveis sociodemográficas; itens que investigavam a exposição dos estudantes à violência interparental e questões que mediam a violência física e psicológica cometida por mães e pais contra os participantes. O envolvimento em bullying foi avaliado por meio de 26 itens, desenvolvidos especialmente para os propósitos do estudo, baseados em uma versão modificada do questionário de Olweus. Foram encontradas associações entre violência doméstica e bullying, com peculiaridades de acordo com o sexo dos participantes. Estar exposto à violência interparental esteve associado com ser alvo/autor de bullying na escola, especialmente para as meninas, mas não com ser vítima de intimidação. A violência parental direta, por sua vez, aumentou a probabilidade de os meninos relatarem envolvimento em bullying como vítima e também a chance de ser vítima-agressora. Entre as meninas, sofrer violência por parte dos pais mostrou-se um fator associado somente com atuar em intimidação como alvo/autor.

Effective t-J model Hamiltonian parameters of monolayered cuprate superconductors from ab initio electronic structure calculations

The magnetic coupling constant of selected cuprate superconductor parent compounds has been determined by means of embedded cluster model and periodic calculations carried out at the same level of theory. The agreement between both approaches validates the cluster model. This model is subsequently employed in state-of-the-art configuration interaction calculations aimed to obtain accurate values of the magnetic coupling constant and hopping integral for a series of superconducting cuprates. Likewise, a systematic study of the performance of different ab initio explicitly correlated wave function methods and of several density functional approaches is presented. The accurate determination of the parameters of the t-J Hamiltonian has several consequences. First, it suggests that the appearance of high-Tc superconductivity in existing monolayered cuprates occurs with J/t in the 0.20¿0.35 regime. Second, J/t=0.20 is predicted to be the threshold for the existence of superconductivity and, third, a simple and accurate relationship between the critical temperatures at optimum doping and these parameters is found. However, this quantitative electronic structure versus Tc relationship is only found when both J and t are obtained at the most accurate level of theory.

The role of dynamical polarization of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer excitations in the ab initio determination of effective exchange parameters

The role of the bridging ligand on the effective Heisenberg coupling parameters is analyzed in detail. This analysis strongly suggests that the ligand-to-metal charge transfer excitations are responsible for a large part of the final value of the magnetic coupling constant. This permits us to suggest a variant of the difference dedicated configuration interaction (DDCI) method, presently one of the most accurate and reliable for the evaluation of magnetic effective interactions. This method treats the bridging ligand orbitals mediating the interaction at the same level than the magnetic orbitals and preserves the high quality of the DDCI results while being much less computationally demanding. The numerical accuracy of the new approach is illustrated on various systems with one or two magnetic electrons per magnetic center. The fact that accurate results can be obtained using a rather reduced configuration interaction space opens the possibility to study more complex systems with many magnetic centers and/or many electrons per center.

Diferença e desigualdade: dilemas docentes no ensino fundamental

Embora a incorporação das questões da diferença nas pesquisas e práticas educacionais tenha visivelmente se acentuado nos últimos anos, sua abordagem ainda traz mais inquietações do que respostas. Neste texto, pretendemos contribuir para tais discussões, focalizando a tensão desigualdade-diferença identificada em representações de professores e professoras expressas no grupo focal realizado no contexto da pesquisa Multiculturalismo, direitos humanos e educação: a tensão entre igualdade e diferença. Entre as diversas abordagens que vem se afirmando no continente latino-americano, operamos com a perspectiva intercultural. Desse modo, problematizamos as significações atribuídas à palavra "diferença" pelos participantes do grupo focal em tela, para, em conclusão, discutir a associação da expressão "diferença" a "preconceito" e "discriminação", assim como sua significação como "desigualdade". Destacamos a produtividade do grupo focal como alternativa de entrevista coletiva, na medida em que se mostrou espaço privilegiado para a interação dos participantes, oportunizando construções discursivas menos direcionadas pela pesquisa e mais próximas das suas práticas cotidianas.

Trabalho docente na escola fundamental: questões candentes

Derivado de investigação mais ampla sobre a estrutura da escola fundamental, este trabalho apresenta e discute resultados de pesquisa de cunho qualitativo, realizada em escola pública de ensino fundamental, analisando questões relacionadas ao trabalho docente, com destaque para a assistência pedagógica, para as condições objetivas de trabalho na escola e para a gestão do tempo na prática docente cotidiana. O artigo se ampara num conceito de educação como prática democrática, construtora de personalidades humano-históricas, para sugerir a necessidade de transformação na estrutura da escola atual, e traz conclusões a respeito da necessidade de se considerar o caráter peculiar e único do trabalho docente, no encaminhamento de soluções e iniciativas visando à efetiva realização de um ensino de qualidade.

Efeitos de escolas e municípios na qualidade do ensino fundamental

Este estudo, em linha com a literatura sobre os efeitos das escolas, tem como principal objetivo identificar escolas públicas e municípios que contribuem para elevar significativamente os resultados de seus alunos. Para isso, comparamos os efeitos das escolas e dos municípios avaliados com outros indicadores de qualidade educacional, como o Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica - Ideb - e os gastos municipais por aluno, e também a eficiência das redes de ensino públicas dentro dos municípios. Utilizamos as bases de dados da Prova Brasil de 2005, 2007, 2009 e 2011, e estimamos modelos de regressão hierárquicos, que possibilitam um melhor controle sobre os fatores contextuais que influenciam os resultados dos alunos. A conclusão é que os efeitos das escolas e dos municípios são melhores indicadores da qualidade educacional do que o Ideb. Identificamos inúmeras escolas e municípios que, consideradas as características sociodemográficas dos alunos e do contexto escolar, têm efeitos muito acima do esperado e com eficiência de gastos.

Efetividade da política para o Ensino Fundamental em municípios brasileiros

Este artigo discute resultados de pesquisa sobre condições de qualidade educacional a partir da análise da aplicação do Índice de Condições de Qualidade dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental das redes municipais, nos anos de 2007 e 2011. Tomando componentes da política educacional, especificamente as condições de trabalho docente, as condições materiais e estruturais das escolas e as condições de gestão escolar, esse índice dimensiona o possível esforço da política em responder às demandas educacionais postas na realidade brasileira. O estudo conclui mostrando que aparentemente as condições gerais de qualidade educacional no país têm sido incrementadas e os municípios que apresentam melhores resultados são aqueles que atendem até 1000 estudantes ou mais de 10 mil estudantes nas redes municipais.

Recursos informacionais para o ensino fundamental

Caracteriza os produtores de recursos informacionais para o ensino fundamental no Brasil. Identifica, mediante o estudo dos catálogos por eles distribuídos, o modo como são divulgados seus produtos. Conclui que a indústria editorial brasileira voltada para o ensino fundamental apresenta uma produção diversificada, oferecendo uma variedade de materiais, típica do ambiente informacional da sociedade contemporânea. A análise dos catálogos aponta algumas deficiências nas informações necessárias à seleção dos materiais.

Using spatially distributed parameters and multi-response objective functions to solve parameterization of complex applications of semi-distributed hydrological models

Application of semi-distributed hydrological models to large, heterogeneous watersheds deals with several problems. On one hand, the spatial and temporal variability in catchment features should be adequately represented in the model parameterization, while maintaining the model complexity in an acceptable level to take advantage of state-of-the-art calibration techniques. On the other hand, model complexity enhances uncertainty in adjusted model parameter values, therefore increasing uncertainty in the water routing across the watershed. This is critical for water quality applications, where not only streamflow, but also a reliable estimation of the surface versus subsurface contributions to the runoff is needed. In this study, we show how a regularized inversion procedure combined with a multiobjective function calibration strategy successfully solves the parameterization of a complex application of a water quality-oriented hydrological model. The final value of several optimized parameters showed significant and consistentdifferences across geological and landscape features. Although the number of optimized parameters was significantly increased by the spatial and temporal discretization of adjustable parameters, the uncertainty in water routing results remained at reasonable values. In addition, a stepwise numerical analysis showed that the effects on calibration performance due to inclusion of different data types in the objective function could be inextricably linked. Thus caution should be taken when adding or removing data from an aggregated objective function.

Correlation of Locally-based Performance of Asphalts with Their Physicochemical Parameters, HR-298, 1990

This project was undertaken to study the relationships between the performance of locally available asphalts and their physicochemical properties under Iowa conditions with the ultimate objective of development of a locally and performance-based asphalt specification for durable pavements. Physical and physicochemical tests were performed on three sets of asphalt samples including: (a) twelve samples from local asphalt suppliers and their TFOT residues, (b) six core samples of known service records, and (c) a total of 79 asphalts from 10 pavement projects including original, lab aged and recovered asphalts from field mixes, as well as from lab aged mixes. Tests included standard rheological tests, HP-GPC and TMA. Some specific viscoelastic tests (at 5 deg C) were run on b samples and on some a samples. DSC and X-ray diffraction studies were performed on a and b samples. Furthermore, NMR techniques were applied to some a, b and c samples. Efforts were made to identify physicochemical properties which are correlated to physical properties known to affect field performance. The significant physicochemical parameters were used as a basis for an improved performance-based trial specification for Iowa to ensure more durable pavements.

Development of an Expert System for Forecasting Frost on Bridges and Roadways in Iowa, HR-305, 1991

An expert system has been developed that provides 24 hour forecasts of roadway and bridge frost for locations in Iowa. The system is based on analysis of frost observations taken by highway maintenance personnel, analysis of conditions leading to frost as obtained from meteorologists with experience in forecasting bridge and roadway frost, and from fundamental physical principles of frost processes. The expert system requires the forecaster to enter information on recent maximum and minimum temperatures and forecasts of maximum and minimum air temperatures, dew point temperatures, precipitation, cloudiness, and wind speed. The system has been used operationally for the last two frost seasons by Freese-Notis Associates, who have been under contract with the Iowa DOT to supply frost forecasts. The operational meteorologists give the system their strong endorsement. They always consult the system before making a frost forecast unless conditions clearly indicate frost is not likely. In operational use, the system is run several times with different input values to test the sensitivity of frost formation on a particular day to various meteorological parameters. The users comment. that the system helps them to consider all the factors relevant to frost formation and is regarded as an office companion for making frost forecasts.

Structural assessment of single amino acid mutations: application to TP53 function.

Single amino acid substitution is the type of protein alteration most related to human diseases. Current studies seek primarily to distinguish neutral mutations from harmful ones. Very few methods offer an explanation of the final prediction result in terms of the probable structural or functional effect on the protein. In this study, we describe the use of three novel parameters to identify experimentally-verified critical residues of the TP53 protein (p53). The first two parameters make use of a surface clustering method to calculate the protein surface area of highly conserved regions or regions with high nonlocal atomic interaction energy (ANOLEA) score. These parameters help identify important functional regions on the surface of a protein. The last parameter involves the use of a new method for pseudobinding free-energy estimation to specifically probe the importance of residue side-chains to the stability of protein fold. A decision tree was designed to optimally combine these three parameters. The result was compared to the functional data stored in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) TP53 mutation database. The final prediction achieved a prediction accuracy of 70% and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.45. It also showed a high specificity of 91.8%. Mutations in the 85 correctly identified important residues represented 81.7% of the total mutations recorded in the database. In addition, the method was able to correctly assign a probable functional or structural role to the residues. Such information could be critical for the interpretation and prediction of the effect of missense mutations, as it not only provided the fundamental explanation of the observed effect, but also helped design the most appropriate laboratory experiment to verify the prediction results.

Image Analysis for Evaluating Air Void Parameters of Concrete, HR-396, 1998

This research project investigated the use of image analysis to measure the air void parameters of concrete specimens produced under standard laboratory conditions. The results obtained from the image analysis technique were compared to results obtained from plastic air content tests, Danish air meter tests (also referred to as Air Void Analyzer tests), high-pressure air content tests on hardened concrete, and linear traverse tests (as per ASTM C-457). Hardened concrete specimens were sent to three different laboratories for the linear traverse tests. The samples that were circulated to the three labs consisted of specimens that needed different levels of surface preparation. The first set consisted of approximately 18 specimens that had been sectioned from a 4 in. by 4 in. by 18 in. (10 cm by 10 cm by 46 cm) beam using a saw equipped with a diamond blade. These specimens were subjected to the normal sample preparation techniques that were commonly employed by the three different labs (each lab practiced slightly different specimen preparation techniques). The second set of samples consisted of eight specimens that had been ground and polished at a single laboratory. The companion labs were only supposed to retouch the sample surfaces if they exhibited major flaws. In general, the study indicated that the image analysis test results for entrained air content exhibited good to strong correlation to the average values determined via the linear traverse technique. Specimens ground and polished in a single laboratory and then circulated to the other participating laboratories for the air content determinations exhibited the strongest correlation between the image analysis and linear traverse techniques (coefficient of determination, r-squared = 0.96, for n=8). Specimens ground and polished at each of the individual laboratories exhibited considerably more scatter (coefficient of determination, r-squared = 0.78, for n=16). The image analysis technique tended to produce low estimates of the specific surface of the voids when compared to the results from the linear traverse method. This caused the image analysis spacing factor calculations to produce larger values than those obtained from the linear traverse tests. The image analysis spacing factors were still successful at distinguishing between the frost-prone test specimens and the other (more durable) test specimens that were studied in this research project.