Nonfiction interests and reading habits of third grade students

In recent years there has been a push for informational text use in the areas of reading and writing. The Common Core State Standards was introduced in 2009 as an initiative to have all students, no matter where they live, be prepared for college and careers. Further the reading panel of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) requires a high proportion of informational text on its assessments particularly as children advance through the grades. The NAEP (2007) developed a framework to look at the distribution of literary and informational passages. By fourth grade the literary and informational passages are evenly split for state testing. By eighth grade, state tests suggest a slight increase with informational texts at 55% and literary passages at 45%. However the passages really show a shift with testing in the twelfth grade as the passages are 70% informational and 30% literary. Thus, it is important that these types of texts are introduced and apparent in the classroom. This is based on what students will need to live a successful life. “Informational literacy is central to success, and even survival, in advanced schooling, the workplace, and the community” (Duke, 2013). As a result of this increase in demand of non-fiction, this thesis looks at how students are currently viewing and using nonfiction when they have a choice in their literature. It further examines what teaching practices can be used to shape students view of informational texts. The goal of this study is to understand if students choose nonfiction when their interests are considered in the nonfiction selection

An Experiential Qualitative Analysis Exploring the Sexual Identity Experiences of Latino Caribbean Cisgender Gay Men

This qualitative study aims to explore the unique experiences and challenges faced by Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men within their cultural and social contexts. Using focus group and thematic analysis, the researcher examines the narratives and perspectives of a diverse sample of Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men (n = 6) to gain insights into their sexual identity process, cultural influences, family dynamics, and support systems utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the methodological framework. The researcher’s findings highlight the themes of Awareness of Sexual Identity, Visibility Management, Spanish Caribbean Families\u27 Influences, Being True to Oneself, and Positive Experiences & Role Models as key factors influencing the participants\u27 experiences. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the intersections between sexual and cultural identities for Latino Caribbean cisgender gay men. The participants navigate the complex process of self-acceptance and disclosure while balancing cultural expectations and societal norms. The role of family and community support emerges as both a source of strength and potential challenge in their journeys of self-exploration and acceptance. The findings shed light on the need to research the sexual identity process for Caribbean LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families within a social justice framework. These findings highlight the importance of creating inclusive spaces, promoting visibility, and providing culturally sensitive support services to address the unique needs of this population. And contribute to the existing literature on sexual identity development, cultural diversity, and family dynamics, and provide insights that can inform interventions, policies, and practices aimed at promoting the well-being and empowerment of Latino Caribbean LGBTQ+ individual

El adolescente ante la consulta psiquiátrica. Algunos testimonios

César Mella Mejías (biografía): Psiquiatra y escritor dominicano. Nació en San Pedro de Macorís, República Dominicana, en el año 1950. Estudió medicina en la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), y en La Habana, Cuba, se especializó en psiquiatría. Como profesor ha impartido las asignaturas de Epidemiología, Medicina preventiva, Psicología médica, Psiquiatría, Clínica psiquiátrica y Psiquiatría y bioética en la UASD y en la Universidad Iberoamericana. Como parte del cuerpo académico de la UASD, ha sido, además de profesor, coordinador ejecutivo de la Oficina de Educación y Planificación de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, director de la Escuela de Medicina y, por dos períodos consecutivos, decano de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. También fue presidente del Colegio Médico Dominicano y de la Sociedad Dominicana de Psiquiatría, y es el actual director del Instituto Dominicano del Seguro Social. Entre sus obras están "Introducción a la bioestadística", "Notas de psiquiatría popular", "Salud mental del dominicano", "Religiosidad popular y psiquiatría", "De salud y otras cosas", "Marco conceptual y tipificación de la corrupción" y "De psiquiatría y otras cosas".................//..................Julio Ravelo Astacio (biografía): Psiquiatra dominicano. En la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) ha detentado la cátedra de Psiquiatría, ha sido decano de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y ha sido rector, cargo que desempeñó desde 1990 hasta 1993. Es fundador de la Revista Ciencias de la Salud, editada por la UASD.Este es un artículo testimonial de dos psiquiatras dominicanos que reflexionan sobre la adecuada aproximación terapéutica a los adolescentes. Como se sabe, la adolescencia es un período crítico en la evolución de la personalidad, pues suele determinar hasta cierto punto las características posteriores de la existencia psicosocial del individuo. La conciencia de que es una etapa de cambios y de fluctuaciones emocionales en la que el joven recela y desafía a la autoridad mientras se busca a sí mismo hace que se subestimen y que se etiqueten como algo "de la edad" posibles desviaciones patológica, las cuales deben ser tratadas de manera psiquiátrica en ese justo momento si se ha de evitar daños irreparables en su desarrollo personal. Para el éxito de la consulta psiquiátrica de un adolescente, los autores recomiendan ante todo que se logre una rápida empatía con el paciente, de suerte que este, a pesar de sus aprehensiones, se abra y confíe en el psiquiatra, quien deberá a su vez mantener una conducta terapéutica objetiva y flexible, adaptada a las condiciones sinuosas que presenta la referida etapa etaria. Para ello resulta vital no confrontar al joven en las fases iniciales de la consulta, darle prioridad frente a la familia y la escuela como fuentes de información y entender su sensibilidad y la necesidad natural de reforzamiento de su yo

Hard Metal Production by ERS: Processing Parameter Roles in Final Properties

Cemented carbide is a hard composite material, used widely in a variety of industries. The value of the global tungsten carbide market is expected to grow by 4.4% (compound annual growth rate) from 2017 to 2022. One of the main markets is in metal cutting and wear parts, where small pieces (or inserts), a few grams in weight, are used. Field-assisted sintering technique (FAST) technologies allow for the production of small blanks in a single step from powder, which are near final dimensions. Production cycles are very short. In this paper, one of the FAST processes, the ERS technology, is applied to obtain WC10Co parts. A review of the process variable effects on the final properties of the parts is accomplished. Final properties of a range of conventionally produced inserts are obtained, using 100 MPa compacting pressure, 80 MA/m2 of current density, and processing times of around 800 ms.This research was funded by EU, grant number FoF.NMP.2013-10 608729 (7th Framework Programme) EFFIPRO

Timothy R. Robbins y José E. González, eds. New Trends in Contemporary Latin American Narrative: Post-national Literatures and the Canon. Nueva York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

Notas sobre literatura, escritura y arte contemporáneo

Estudios de orientación y movilidad: aproximación del empleo de la memoria espacial para la creación de mapas mentales en un entorno real vs. un entorno virtual

Objetivo: Comparar el desempeño en la realización de tareas que pongan en práctica la creación de mapas mentales y el aprendizaje durante el desarrollo de Estudios de Orientación y Movilidad, mediante el empleo de un entorno virtual versus un entorno real controlado. Procedimiento experimental: Se han llevado a cabo Estudios de Orientación y Movilidad para las condiciones blind, cataratas y normal visión partiendo de un entorno real y otro virtual. El experimento fue dividido en cuatro fases, para las que se han diseñado cinco entornos diferentes (Pasillo, Pasillo + Obstáculos, SL, SL + Obstáculos y Nemty) y en los que se han establecido diversos mapas de rutas que los participantes debieron memorizar y realizar. Resultados: Hemos demostrado que existen diferencias significativas al comparar las velocidades medias (desempeño) de los participantes en el Nemty (entorno virtual) respecto a los entornos Pasillo, Pasillo + Obstáculos, SL, SL + Obstáculos (entornos reales) durante la realización de los estudios O&M para las tres condiciones. Conclusiones: A partir de los resultados obtenidos de nuestro experimento O&M hemos podido identificar la posible implementación de la prueba STM como prueba de cribado para seleccionar los potenciales candidatos para los estudios O&M, lo que se traduciría en una elección más asertiva de los participantes. La familiarización de los participantes con el entorno y la práctica repetitiva en los estudios O&M facilita y robustece el proceso de creación de mapas mentales, lo que a su vez propicia el incremento de la velocidad empleada para la navegación, así como el desempeño general de los participantes. La existencia de diferencias significativas en la velocidad media de los participantes para el entono Nemty, nos indica que la implementación de un entorno virtual para los estudios O&M amerita de un mayor tiempo de adaptación y aprendizaje del entorno por parte del participante con relación a un entorno real.Objective: To compare the performance in carrying out tasks that put into practice the creation of mental maps and learning during the development of Orientation and Mobility Studies, by using a virtual environment versus a real controlled environment. Experimental procedure: Orientation and Mobility Studies have been carried out for blind, cataracts and normal vision conditions starting from a real and a virtual environment. The experiment was divided into four phases, for which five different environments have been designed (Corridor, Corridor + Obstacles, SL, SL + Obstacles and Nemty) and in which various route maps have been established that the participants had to memorize and carry out. Results: We have shown that there are significant differences when comparing the average speeds (performance) of the participants in the Nemty (virtual environment) with respect to the Corridor, Corridor + Obstacles, SL, SL + Obstacles (real environments) during the performance of the O&M studies for the three conditions. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained from our O&M experiment, we have been able to identify the possible implementation of the STM test as a screening test to select potential candidates for O&M studies, which would translate into a more assertive selection of participants. The familiarization of the participants with the environment and the repetitive practice in the O&M studies facilitates and strengthens the process of creating mental maps, which in turn leads to an increase in the speed used for navigation, as well as the general performance of the maps. The existence of significant differences in the average speed of the participants for the Nemty environment indicates that the implementation of a virtual environment for O&M studies requires a longer time for adaptation and learning of the environment by the participant in relation to a virtual environment compared to a real one

Fracture toughness of cemented carbides obtained by electrical resistance sintering

The unique combination of hardness, toughness and wear resistance exhibited by WC-Co cemented carbides (hardmetals) has made them a preeminent material choice for extremely demanding applications, such as metal cutting/forming tools or mining bits, in which improved and consistent performance together with high reliability are required. The high fracture toughness values exhibited by hardmetals are mainly due to ductile ligament bridging and crack deflection (intrinsic to carbides). In this work two WC-Co grades obtained by using the electric resistance sintering technique are studied. The relationships between the process parameters (cobalt volume fraction, sintering current and time, die materials, etc.), the microstructural characteristics (porosity, cobalt volume fraction, carbide grain size, binder thickness and carbide contiguity) and mechanical properties (Vickers hardness and fracture toughness) are established and discussed. Also the presence of microstructural anisotropy and residual stresses is studied. The sintering process at 7 kA, 600 ms and 100 MPa, in an alumina die, followed by a treatment of residual stress relief (800 °C, 2 h in high vacuum), allows to obtain WC-Co pellets with the best balance between an homogeneous microstructure and mechanical behaviour.EU for funding this research with in the framework of the EU 7th Framework FoF.NMP.2013-10 608729 EFFIPRO Projec

Ensamblando a Mario

Este libro de Jesús Montoya Juárez constituye un esfuerzo inicial de difundir un estudio introductorio a la obra literaria del uruguayo Jorge Mario Varlotta Levrero (1940-2004), conocido más bien por su semiseudónimo Mario Levrero, conformado por su segundo nombre y segundo apellido. El cometido de familiarizar a un público lector académico con la narrativa singular de Levrero coincide con las reediciones de su obra en este siglo, que hasta hace muy poco ha circulado de forma limitada. Si bie..

Medium-frequency electrical resistance sintering of oxidized C.P. iron powder

Commercially pure (C.P.) iron powders with a deliberate high degree of oxidation were consolidated by medium-frequency electrical resistance sintering (MF-ERS). This is a consolidation technique where pressure, and heat coming from a low-voltage and high-intensity electrical current, are simultaneously applied to a powder mass. In this work, the achieved densification rate is interpreted according to a qualitative microscopic model, based on the compacts global porosity and electrical resistance evolution. The effect of current intensity and sintering time on compacts was studied on the basis of micrographs revealing the porosity distribution inside the sintered compact. The microstructural characteristics of compacts consolidated by the traditional cold-press and furnace-sinter powder metallurgy route are compared with results of MF-ERS consolidation. The goodness of MF-ERS versus the problems of conventional sintering when working with oxidized powders is analyzed. The electrical consolidation can obtain higher densifications than the traditional route under non-reducing atmospheres.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad DPI2015-69550-C2-1-PMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad DPI2015-69550-C2-2-

Ensamblando a Mario

Este libro de Jesús Montoya Juárez constituye un esfuerzo inicial de difundir un estudio introductorio a la obra literaria del uruguayo Jorge Mario Varlotta Levrero (1940-2004), conocido más bien por su semiseudónimo Mario Levrero, conformado por su segundo nombre y segundo apellido. El cometido de familiarizar a un público lector académico con la narrativa singular de Levrero coincide con las reediciones de su obra en este siglo, que hasta hace muy poco ha circulado de forma limitada. Si bie..