Entry Modes for Finnish Firms into the Zambian Renewable Energy Industry

The renewable energy industry in Zambia is poised for growth and offers many possibilities for Finnish firms willing to enter the market. The Zambian government’s deliberate policy measures aim at attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into this sector. This study rationalises that this could be the pull factor for Finnish firms. The thesis gives an overview of the industry and investigates an appropriate mode of entry, basing its arguments on the comparison analysis of the two economies with the use of the world forum’s stages of economic development as a framework. The theoretical part of the study examines internationalisation theories, entry mode choice and factors influencing the choice. The multiple case study approach is implored, analysing four case companies from Finland with the use of extant literature on internationalisation relevant to the study. The research design involves the use of documentation, secondary data, interviews and observation. The results of the case analyses show that the Finnish firm’s most preferred entry mode initially is exporting because it is considered to be less risky. Additionally, the findings also reveal that the selection of a suitable mode of entry is dependent on the firms’ size, orientation and international experience and could therefore be considered to be subjective. Paramount is the act of gaining market knowledge. The study shows that only hydro-electrical, solar energies and biomass are by far the most used and known forms of renewable energy in Zambia, while other alternative sources still remain un-exploited thus highlighting a growth potential. However, policy formulation and the regulatory framework in the renewable energy sector were found to be wanting.

Intracranial Nimodipine Implant: Feasibility and Implications for the Treatment of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage – A Pre-Clinical Study

Intracranial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate neurocritical care. A ruptured aneurysm must be isolated from arterial circulation to prevent rebleeding. Open surgical clipping of the neck of the aneurysm or intra-arterial filling of the aneurysm sack with platinum coils are major treatment strategies in an acute phase. About 40% of the patients suffering from aSAH die within a year of the bleeding despite the intensive treatment. After aSAH, the patient may develop a serious complication called vasospasm. Major risk for the vasospasm takes place at days 5–14 after the primary bleeding. In vasospasm, cerebral arteries contract uncontrollably causing brain ischemia that may lead to death. Nimodipine (NDP) is used to treat of vasospasm and it is administrated intravenously or orally every four hours for 21 days. NDP treatment has been scientifically proven to improve patients’ clinical outcome. The therapeutic effect of L-type calcium channel blocker NDP is due to the ability to dilate cerebral arteries. In addition to vasodilatation, recent research has shown the pleiotropic effect of NDP such as inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and inhibition of microthrombi formation. Indeed, NDP inhibits cortical spreading ischemia. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of the vasospasm has evolved in recent years to a complex entity of early brain injury, secondary injuries and cortical spreading ischemia, instead of being pure intracranial vessel spasm. High NDP levels are beneficial since they protect neurons and inhibit the cortical spreading ischemia. One of the drawbacks of the intravenous or oral administration of NPD is systemic hypotension, which is harmful particularly when the brain is injured. Maximizing the beneficial effects and avoiding systemic hypotension of NDP, we developed a sustained release biodegradable NDP implant that was surgically positioned in the basal cistern of animal models (dog and pig). Higher concentrations were achieved locally and lower concentrations systemically. Using this treatment approach in humans, it may be possible to reduce incidence of harmful hypotension and potentiate beneficial effects of NDP on neurons. Intracellular calcium regulation has a pivotal role in brain plasticity. NDP blocks L-type calcium channels in neurons, substantially decreasing intracellular calcium levels. Thus, we were interested in how NDP affects brain plasticity and tested the hypothesis in a mouse model. We found that NDP activates Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor TrkB and its downstream signaling in a reminiscent of antidepressant drugs. In contrast to antidepressant drugs, NDP activates Akt, a major survival-promoting factor. Our group’s previous findings demonstrate that long-term antidepressant treatment reactivates developmental-type of plasticity mechanisms in the adult brain, which allows the remodeling of neuronal networks if combined with appropriate rehabilitation. It seems that NDP has antidepressant-like properties and it is able to induce neuronal plasticity. In general, drug induced neuronal plasticity has a huge potential in neurorehabilitation and more studies are warranted.

Modulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry by cyclic-ADP-ribose

Store-operated Ca2+ entry plays an important role in Ca2+ homeostasis in cells but the mechanisms of control of these channels are not completely understood. We describe an investigation of the role of the CD38-cyclic-ADP-ribose (cADPR)-ryanodine-channel (RyR) signaling pathway in store-operated Ca2+ entry in human smooth muscle. We observed that human myometrial cells have a functional store-operated Ca2+ entry mechanism. Furthermore, we observed the presence of transient receptor potential 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ion channels in human myometrial cells. Store-operated Ca2+ transient was inhibited by at least 50-70% by several inhibitors of the RyR, including ryanodine (10 µM), dantrolene (10 µM), and ruthenium red (10 µM). Furthermore, the cell permeable inhibitor of the cADPR-system, 8-Br-cADPR (100 µM), is a potent inhibitor of the store-operated entry, decreasing the store operated entry by 80%. Pre-incubation of cells with 100 µM cADPR and the hydrolysis-resistant cADPR analog 3-deaza-cADPR (50 µM), but not with ADP-ribose (ADPR) leads to a 1.6-fold increase in the store-operated Ca2+ transient. In addition, we observed that nicotinamide (1-10 mM), an inhibitor of cADPR synthesis, also leads to inhibition of the store-operated Ca2+ transient by 50-80%. Finally, we observed that the transient receptor potential channels, RyR, and CD38 can be co-immunoprecipitated, indicating that they interact in vivo. Our observations clearly implicate the CD38-cADPR-ryanodine signaling pathway in the regulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry in human smooth muscle cells.

Basic life support knowledge of first-year university students from Brazil

We aimed to evaluate knowledge of first aid among new undergraduates and whether it is affected by their chosen course. A questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge of how to activate the Mobile Emergency Attendance Service - MEAS (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência; SAMU), recognize a pre-hospital emergency situation and the first aid required for cardiac arrest. The students were also asked about enrolling in a first aid course. Responses were received from 1038 of 1365 (76.04%) new undergraduates. The questionnaires were completed in a 2-week period 1 month after the beginning of classes. Of the 1038 respondents (59.5% studying biological sciences, 11.6% physical sciences, and 28.6% humanities), 58.5% knew how to activate the MEAS/SAMU (54.3% non-biological vs 61.4% biological, P=0.02), with an odds ratio (OR)=1.39 (95%CI=1.07-1.81) regardless of age, sex, origin, having a previous degree or having a relative with cardiac disease. The majority could distinguish emergency from non-emergency situations. When faced with a possible cardiac arrest, 17.7% of the students would perform chest compressions (15.5% non-biological vs 19.1% biological first-year university students, P=0.16) and 65.2% would enroll in a first aid course (51.1% non-biological vs 74.7% biological, P<0.01), with an OR=2.61 (95%CI=1.98-3.44) adjusted for the same confounders. Even though a high percentage of the students recognized emergency situations, a significant proportion did not know the MEAS/SAMU number and only a minority had sufficient basic life support skills to help with cardiac arrest. A significant proportion would not enroll in a first aid course. Biological first-year university students were more prone to enroll in a basic life support course.

Determinants of left ventricular mass as measured by Doppler echocardiography in pre-adolescents

This study examined factors contributing to the differences in left ventricular mass as measured by Doppler echocardiography in children. Fourteen boys (10.3 ± 0.3 years of age) and 1 1 girls (10.5 ± 0.4 years of age) participated in the study. Height and weight were measured, and relative body fat was determined from the measurement of skinfold thickness according to Slaughter et al. (1988). Lean Body Mass was then calculated by subtracting the fat mass from the total body mass. Sexual maturation was self-assessed using the stages of sexual maturation by Tanner (1962). Both pubic hair development and genital (penis or breast for boys and girls respectively) development were used to determine sexual maturation. Carotid Pulse pressure was assessed by applanation tomometry in the left carotid artery. Cardiac mass was measured by Doppler Echocardiography. Images of cardiac structures were taken using B-Mode and were then translated to M- Mode. The dimensions at the end diastole were obtained at the onset of the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram in a plane through a standard position. Measurements included: (a) the diameter of the left ventricle at the end diastole was measured from the septum edge to the endocardium mean border, (b) the posterior wall was measured as the distance from to anterior wall to the epicardium surface, and (c) the interventricular septum was quantified as the distance from the surface of the left ventricle border to the right ventricle septum surface. Systolic time measurements were taken at the peak of the T-wave of the electrocardiogram. Each measurement was taken three to five times before averaging. Average values were used to calculate cardiac mass using the following equation (Deveraux et al. 1986). Weekly physical activity metabolic equivalent was calculated using a standardize activity questionnaire (Godin and Shepard, 1985) and peakV02 was measured on a cycloergometer. There were no significant differences in cardiovascular mesurements between boys and girls. Left ventricular mass was correlated (p<0.05) with size, maturation, peakV02 and physical activity metabolic equivalent. In boys, lean body mass alone explained 36% of the variance in left ventricular mass while weight was the single strongest predictor of left ventricular mass (R =0.80) in girls. Lean body mass, genital developemnt and physical activity metabolic equivalent together explained 46% and 81% in boys and girls, respectively. However, the combination of lean body mass, genital development and peakV02 (ml kgLBM^ min"') explained up to 84% of the variance in left ventricular mass in girls, but added nothing in boys. It is concluded that left ventricular mass was not statistically different between pre-adolescent boys and girls suggesting that hormonal, and therefore, body size changes in adolescence have a main effect on cardiac development and its final outcome. Although body size parameters were the strongest correlates of left ventricular mass in this pre-adolescent group of children, to our knowledge, this is the first study to report that sexual maturation, as well as physical activity and fitness, are also strong associated with left ventricular mass in pre-adolescents, especially young females. Arterial variables, such as systolic blood pressure and carotid pulse pressure, are not strong determinants of left ventricular mass in this pre-adolescent group. In general, these data suggest that although there is no gender differences in the absolute values of left ventricular mass, as children grow, the factors that determine cardiac mass differ between the genders, even in the same pre-adolescent age.

Investigating Changes in Parent Knowledge about Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour Following Group Function-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with High Functioning Autism

This study investigated improvements in parent knowledge of effective intervention strategies following participation in a group function-based CBT treatment (GFbCBT) package for children with comorbid OCD and ASD. Nineteen parents of children ages 7-12 years with High Functioning Autism (HFA) participated in the 9-week treatment program. Key components of treatment included psychoeducation and mapping, cognitive-behavioural skills training, function-based interventions and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Treatment sessions also included direct parent education, which followed a behavioural skills training model (Miltenberger, 2008). Parent knowledge (N = 19) was measured pre and post treatment using a vignette about a child demonstrating obsessive-compulsive behaviour. Results of a one-tailed pairwise t-test indicated statistically significant changes (p=.036) in overall parent knowledge following participation in treatment. Statistically significant changes were also found in parents’ ability to generate ERP and function-based intervention strategies. These results provide preliminary evidence that parents benefit from active involvement in the GFbCBT treatment package.

Evaluating Knowledge of a Function-based Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) which may be similar to obsessions and compulsions in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These behaviours can be intrusive and interfere in the lives of the child and their family. Preliminary studies have shown success in using adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to treat these behaviors in children with high functioning ASD. Using a hypothetical vignette, this thesis attempted to examine procedural knowledge that the children and their parents gained while participating in a CBT treatment that was evaluated in a Randomized Controlled Trial. For both parents and children, there was a significant increase in number of strategies generated from pre to post-treatment. Further, children in the experimental group generated significantly more strategies than the treatment as usual (TAU) group post-intervention. There was no significant correlation between number of strategies generated and the child’s treatment success, age, or IQ.

In Search of Advice for Physicians in Entry-Level Medical Markets

We consider entry-level medical markets for physicians in the United Kingdom. These markets experienced failures which led to the adoption of centralized market mechanisms in the 1960's. However, different regions introduced different centralized mechanisms. We advise physicians who do not have detailed information about the rank-order lists submitted by the other participants. We demonstrate that in each of these markets in a low information environment it is not beneficial to reverse the true ranking of any two acceptable hospital positions. We further show that (i) in the Edinburgh 1967 market, ranking unacceptable matches as acceptable is not profitable for any participant and (ii) in any other British entry-level medical market, it is possible that only strategies which rank unacceptable positions as acceptable are optimal for a physician.

Bridging Knowledge Gaps in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Contexte L’occlusion d’une artère du cœur cause un syndrome coronarien aigu (SCA) soit avec une élévation du segment ST (IAMEST) ou sans élévation du segment ST (1). Le traitement des patients avec un IAMEST requiert soit une intervention coronarienne d’urgence (ICP primaire) ou une thérapie fibrinolytique (FL). La thérapie FL peut être administrée soit dans un contexte pré-hospitalier (PHL) ou à l’hôpital. Une prise en charge précoce des patients avec SCA peut être améliorée par un simple indice de risque. Objectifs Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient de : 1) comparer l’ICP primaire et la thérapie FL (2); décrire plusieurs systèmes internationaux de PHL; (3) développer et valider un indice de risque simplifié pour une stratification précoce des patients avec SCA. Méthodes Nous complétons des méta-analyses, de type hiérarchique Bayésiennes portant sur l’effet de la randomisation, d’études randomisées et observationnelles; complétons également un sondage sur des systèmes internationaux de PHL; développons et validons un nouvel indice de risque pour ACS (le C-ACS). Résultats Dans les études observationnelles, l’ICP primaire, comparée à la thérapie FL, est associée à une plus grande réduction de la mortalité à court-terme; mais ce sans bénéfices concluants à long terme. La FL pré-hospitalière peut être administrée par des professionnels de la santé possédant diverses expertises. Le C-ACS a des bonnes propriétés discriminatoires et pourrait être utilisé dans la stratification des patients avec SCA. Conclusion Nous avons comblé plusieurs lacunes importantes au niveau de la connaissance actuelle. Cette thèse de doctorat contribuera à améliorer l’accès à des soins de qualité élevée pour les patients ayant un SCA.

Entre répression et protection : l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC) et la traite de personnes migrantes au Québec : points de vue des agents de l'ASFC et d'intervenants auprès de victimes migrantes

Des lois sont adoptées, des politiques implantées, des centaines de milliers de dollars investis dans la formation des employés, et puis ? Cette recherche de type exploratoire tente de jeter la lumière sur ce qui se passe actuellement dans les points d'entrée canadiens situés au Québec en matière de lutte contre la traite de personnes migrantes et de présenter, s'il y a lieu, les incohérences entre l'engagement du Canada à lutter contre la traite de personnes et les pratiques des agents des services frontaliers du Canada sur le terrain. Pour ce faire, nous avons interviewé sept agents des services frontaliers du Canada travaillant à l'Aéroport international Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau de Montréal, quatrième poste frontalier aéroportuaire en importance au Canada et premier au Québec, afin d'en apprendre davantage sur les connaissances ainsi que sur les expériences de ceux-ci en matière de traite de personnes migrantes. Nous avons aussi rencontré quatre intervenants venant en aide aux victimes migrantes de la traite de personnes au Québec, principalement dans la région de Montréal, dans le but d'en savoir un peu plus sur l'expérience des victimes en lien avec l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada et les impacts de ces expériences sur celles-ci. Si les agents interviewés semblent avoir une assez bonne idée, même si celle-ci paraît largement influencée par les médias, de ce qu'est la traite de personnes migrantes, rares sont ceux qui, dans le cadre de leurs fonctions, ont une expérience pratique auprès des victimes. L'absence de formation substantielle et continue, la perception du rôle de l'ASFC par ses agents ainsi que le manque de leadership de la direction en ce qui a trait à la traite de personnes migrantes semblent être des accrocs majeurs à la volonté politique du gouvernement canadien, plus particulièrement de l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada, de combattre la traite de personnes migrantes sur son propre territoire. Les obstacles sont nombreux dans la lutte contre la traite de personnes aux frontières canadiennes et représentent un défi de taille à la fois complexe et compliqué. Une approche centrée sur la prévention et une plus grande sensibilisation des agents des services frontaliers du Canada proposent un début de solution.

Perspective maternelle de la consultation anténatale pour travail préterme : une approche relationnelle

Une femme à risque d’un accouchement prématuré vit un enjeu de santé très éprouvant et stressant ; elle sera souvent hospitalisée pour recevoir des traitements médicaux visant à prolonger la grossesse et améliorer le pronostic du bébé. Dans ce contexte, une consultation avec un néonatalogiste est demandée. Plusieurs associations professionnelles médicales ont émis des lignes directrices sur cette consultation, insistant sur le besoin d’informer les parents au sujet des complications potentielles de la prématurité pour leur enfant. Ces recommandations s’inspirent du point de vue médical, et très peu d’études ont examiné la perspective, les attentes et les besoins des parents à risque d’un accouchement prématuré. Ce projet de thèse a pour objectif de proposer un modèle de relation médecin-patient informé de la perspective maternelle de la consultation anténatale, pour développer une approche clinique répondant à leurs besoins. Afin d’examiner cette problématique de façon complète, un travail constant de va-et-vient a été effectué entre la recension de données empiriques et une réflexion normative bioéthique féministe. Un projet de recherche empirique a d’abord permis d’explorer les attentes et le vécu de ces femmes. Les participantes espéraient recevoir plus que de l’information sur les complications de la prématurité. Elles souhaitaient que le néonatologiste soit attentif à leur situation particulière et qu’il développe une relation de confiance avec elles, leur permettant d’explorer leurs futurs rôles de mères et les encourageant à formuler leurs propres questions. Le cadre théorique féministe d’autonomie relationnelle a ensuite permis de proposer une approche de soin qui sache répondre aux besoins identifiés par les patientes, tout en adressant des enjeux de pouvoir intrinsèques à la clinique, qui influencent la santé et l’autonomie de ces femmes. Cette approche insiste sur l’importance de la relation de soin en clinique, contrastant avec un modèle encourageant une vision réductrice de l’autonomie, dans laquelle un simple transfert de données scientifiques serait équivalent au respect de la norme médicolégale du consentement éclairé. Ce modèle relationnel propose des actions concrètes et pratiques, encourageant les cliniciens à entrer en relation avec chaque patiente et à considérer l’influence qu’ils exercent sur l’autonomie relationnelle de leurs patientes.

Knowledge Building in Landscape Architecture

The objective of this study was to develop an internet-based seminar framework applicable for landscape architecture education. This process was accompanied by various aims. The basic expectation was to keep the main characteristics of landscape architecture education also in the online format. On top of that, four further objectives were anticipated: (1) training of competences for virtual team work, (2) fostering intercultural competence, (3) creation of equal opportunities for education through internet-based open access and (4) synergy effects and learning processes across institutional boundaries. This work started with the hypothesis that these four expected advantages would compensate for additional organisational efforts caused by the online delivery of the seminars and thus lead to a sustainable integration of this new learning mode into landscape architecture curricula. This rationale was followed by a presentation of four areas of knowledge to which the seminar development was directly related (1) landscape architecture as a subject and its pedagogy, (2) general learning theories, (3) developments in the ICT sector and (4) wider societal driving forces such as global citizenship and the increase of open educational resources. The research design took the shape of a pedagogical action research cycle. This approach was constructive: The author herself is teaching international landscape architecture students so that the model could directly be applied in practice. Seven online seminars were implemented in the period from 2008 to 2013 and this experience represents the core of this study. The seminars were conducted with varying themes while its pedagogy, organisation and the technological tools remained widely identical. The research design is further based on three levels of observation: (1) the seminar design on the basis of theory and methods from the learning sciences, in particular educational constructivism, (2) the seminar evaluation and (3) the evaluation of the seminars’ long term impact. The seminar model itself basically consists of four elements: (1) the taxonomy of learning objectives, (2) ICT tools and their application and pedagogy, (3) process models and (4) the case study framework. The seminar framework was followed by the presentation of the evaluation findings. The major findings of this study can be summed up as follows: Implementing online seminars across educational and national boundaries was possible both in term of organisation and technology. In particular, a high level of cultural diversity among the seminar participants has definitively been achieved. However, there were also obvious obstacles. These were primarily competing study commitments and incompatible schedules among the students attending from different academic programmes, partly even in different time zones. Both factors had negative impact on the individual and working group performances. With respect to the technical framework it can be concluded that the majority of the participants were able to use the tools either directly without any problem or after overcoming some smaller problems. Also the seminar wiki was intensively used for completing the seminar assignments. However, too less truly collaborative text production was observed which could be improved by changing the requirements for the collaborative task. Two different process models have been applied for guiding the collaboration of the small groups and both were in general successful. However, it needs to be said that even if the students were able to follow the collaborative task and to co-construct and compare case studies, most of them were not able to synthesize the knowledge they had compiled. This means that the area of consideration often remained on the level of the case and further reflections, generalisations and critique were largely missing. This shows that the seminar model needs to find better ways for triggering knowledge building and critical reflection. It was also suggested to have a more differentiated group building strategy in future seminars. A comparison of pre- and post seminar concept maps showed that an increase of factual and conceptual knowledge on the individual level was widely recognizable. Also the evaluation of the case studies (the major seminar output) revealed that the students have undergone developments of both the factual and the conceptual knowledge domain. Also their self-assessment with respect to individual learning development showed that the highest consensus was achieved in the field of subject-specific knowledge. The participants were much more doubtful with regard to the progress of generic competences such as analysis, communication and organisation. However, 50% of the participants confirmed that they perceived individual development on all competence areas the survey had asked for. Have the additional four targets been met? Concerning the competences for working in a virtual team it can be concluded that the vast majority was able to use the internet-based tools and to work with them in a target-oriented way. However, there were obvious differences regarding the intensity and activity of participation, both because of external and personal factors. A very positive aspect is the achievement of a high cultural diversity supporting the participants’ intercultural competence. Learning from group members was obviously a success factor for the working groups. Regarding the possibilities for better accessibility of educational opportunities it became clear that a significant number of participants were not able to go abroad during their studies because of financial or personal reasons. They confirmed that the online seminar was to some extent a compensation for not having been abroad for studying. Inter-institutional learning and synergy was achieved in so far that many teachers from different countries contributed with individual lectures. However, those teachers hardly ever followed more than one session. Therefore, the learning effect remained largely within the seminar learning group. Looking back at the research design it can be said that the pedagogical action research cycle was an appropriate and valuable approach allowing for strong interaction between theory and practice. However, some more external evaluation from peers in particular regarding the participants’ products would have been valuable.

Estudio de pre-factibilidad para ampliar la planta de lácteos de la Cooperativa Coagroles en Sesquilé, Cundinamarca

El estudio de pre-factibilidad para ampliar la planta de lácteos de la cooperativa Coagroles en el municipio de Sesquilé, ubicado en Cundinamarca, surgió con el fin de aportar a los miembros de la cooperativa desde una punto de vista académico, cómo pueden tener un mejor desempeño en las labores para que el funcionamiento de la Cooperativa sea exitoso. Al notar que los asociados de Coagroles han mostrado el interés por este proyecto, nosotros como estudiantes de Administración de Negocios Internacionales y Administración en Logística y Producción, hemos puesto nuestros conocimientos a una investigación, donde se han analizado tanto fortalezas como debilidades con el fin de encontrar alternativas y opciones para mejorar la situación actual como es la producción y enfriamiento de la leche. Teniendo como objetivo el incremento en los ingresos económicos de la cooperativa Coagroles. Este es un trabajo realizado en alianza con una entidad educativa, en este caso Universidad del Rosario y entidades del Gobierno, donde juntos son los encargados del desarrollo integrar de todo el país. Busca brindar a la ciudadanía oportunidades de mejora y progreso en las actividades económicas que realizan. Actualmente, se vive una situación de complejidad en los mercados, donde cada día son más exigentes, teniendo en cuenta que los pequeños productores deben ir fortaleciéndose para competir con otras entidades no solo a nivel nacional sino próximamente a nivel internacional.

Pre-school contributions to future achievements

This paper provides recent evidence about the beneÖts of attending preschool on future performance. A non-parametric matching procedure is used over two outcomes: math and verbal scores at a national mandatory test (Saber11) in Colombia. It is found that students who had the chance of attending preschool obtain higher scores in math (6.7%) and verbal (5.4%) than those who did not. A considerable fraction of these gaps comes from the upper quintiles of studentís performance, suggesting that preschool matters when is done at high quality institutions. When we include the number of years at the preschool, the gap rises up to 12% in verbal and 17% in math.

The effects of question-generation training on metacognitive knowledge, self regulation and learning approaches in Science

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n