Autoconcepto, motivación y rendimiento escolar en alumnos de 5º de EGB

En este trabajo se estudian las relaciones entra las dimensiones académicas y no académicas del autoconcepto, la orientación motivacional intrínseca/extrínseca en el aula y el rendimiento académico en una muestra de 668 estudiantes de 5º de EGB. Como medidas del autoconcepto y la motivación se emplearon las adaptaciones de las escalas: The Self Description Questionnaire de Marsh y cols. (1983) y The Scale of Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Orientation in the Classroom (Harter, 1980) que miden diferentes componentes de ambos constructos. Los resultados indican que a medida que el rendimiento es más alto, los sujetos muestran valores más altos en las diferentes dimensiones del autoconcepto académico y en motivación intrínseca (curiosidad, preferencia por el reto, autonomía en el trabajo y criterio interno de evaluación). A partir de la información presentada se destaca la importancia que para la evaluación psicológica dentro del aula tienen las escalas utilizadas en el estudio y la conveniencia de atender al desarrollo del autoconcepto académico y la motivación intrínseca, de cara a favorecer la implicación de los sujetos en el aprendizaje y la mejora de su rendimiento académico. SUMMARY This paper is focused on the study of the relationships between academic and non-academic dimension of self-concept, intrinsic-extrinsic motivation in the classroom and academic achievement of 668 fifth graders. Self-concept was measured with the spanish version of Marsh's Self-Description Questionnaire and Harter's Scale of Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Orientation in the Classroom. Results indicated that the higher achievement the better student's self-evaluation of their academic self-concept dimensions and intrinsic motivation. The importance of the use of the above mentioned scales in the psychological evaluation process is discused. The importance of the development of student's self-concept and intrinsic motivation is considered in order to facilitate a greater engage of students in their learning process

La competencia social y el desarrollo de comportamientos cívicos: la labor orientadora del profesor

En este artículo se analiza el concepto de competencia social desde una óptica positiva y promotora de una convivencia de calidad, así como estimuladora de la formación socioemocional de los alumnos. En un primer momento se realiza una aproximación histórica al término “competencia social”, describiendo los principales cambios terminológicos y conceptuales experimentados en los últimos años. Una vez establecido el marco, se describe a la escuela como un contexto privilegiado donde tienen lugar gran parte de los aprendizajes sociales y donde se sientan las bases para la posterior integración y participación de los alumnos como ciudadanos que conviven y se relacionan con otros. Dentro de este contexto se ha decidido centrar la atención en la figura del profesor

Human Health Risk Assessment For Arsenic: A Critical Review

Millions of people are exposed to arsenic resulting in a range of health implications.This paper provides an up-to-date review of the different sources of arsenic (water, soil and food), indicators of human exposure (biomarker assessment of hair, nail, urine and blood), epidemiological and toxicological studies on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health outcomes, and risk assessment approaches. The review demonstrates a need for more work evaluating the risks of different arsenic species such as; arsenate, arsenite monomethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonous acid, dimethylarsinic acid and dimethylarsinous acid as well as a need to better integrate the different exposure sources in risk assessments

Human subcortical brain asymmetries in 15,847 people worldwide reveal effects of age and sex

The two hemispheres of the human brain differ functionally and structurally. Despite over a century of research, the extent to which brain asymmetry is influenced by sex, handedness, age, and genetic factors is still controversial. Here we present the largest ever analysis of subcortical brain asymmetries, in a harmonized multi-site study using meta-analysis methods. Volumetric asymmetry of seven subcortical structures was assessed in 15,847 MRI scans from 52 datasets worldwide. There were sex differences in the asymmetry of the globus pallidus and putamen. Heritability estimates, derived from 1170 subjects belonging to 71 extended pedigrees, revealed that additive genetic factors influenced the asymmetry of these two structures and that of the hippocampus and thalamus. Handedness had no detectable effect on subcortical asymmetries, even in this unprecedented sample size, but the asymmetry of the putamen varied with age. Genetic drivers of asymmetry in the hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia may affect variability in human cognition, including susceptibility to psychiatric disorders

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection are often non-specific, and there is no definitive test for the accurate diagnosis of infection. The 'omics' approaches to identifying biomarkers from the host-response to bacterial infection are promising. In this study, lipidomic analysis was carried out with plasma samples obtained from febrile children with confirmed bacterial infection (n = 20) and confirmed viral infection (n = 20). We show for the first time that bacterial and viral infection produces distinct profile in the host lipidome. Some species of glycerophosphoinositol, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and cholesterol sulfate were higher in the confirmed virus infected group, while some species of fatty acids, glycerophosphocholine, glycerophosphoserine, lactosylceramide and bilirubin were lower in the confirmed virus infected group when compared with confirmed bacterial infected group. A combination of three lipids achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.911 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.98). This pilot study demonstrates the potential of metabolic biomarkers to assist clinicians in distinguishing bacterial from viral infection in febrile children, to facilitate effective clinical management and to the limit inappropriate use of antibiotics

Estudio de creencias, actitudes y actuaciones del profesorado en torno a la educación para la convivencia a través del cuestionario de "competencia social para el profesorado"

En este trabajo se presenta un instrumento de evaluación destinado a recoger las creencias, actitudes y actuaciones de los docentes a la hora de fomentar la competencia social y la educación para la convivencia dentro de sus aulas. Es fundamental abordar esta cuestión, puesto que la sensibilización y motivación que los docentes tengan hacia este tema influirá en su práctica diaria, en la forma de resolver los conflictos, en el clima del aula y en los vínculos que establezcan con los alumnos. Además, el estudio de la situación real del profesorado es un paso previo a la programación de actividades formativas. Finalmente, a esto debemos añadir que no son muchos los estudios de este tipo de nuestro país.The aim of this paper is to present an assessment tool for collecting information about the beliefs, attitudes and actions of teachers in promoting social competence and education for living together in theri classrooms. It is essential to addreaa this issue because, as educational professionals, we assume that teachers are key socializing agents for change and educational improvement. The awareness and motivation that they have toward this issue will influence ther daily practice, on how to resolve conflicts in the classroom climate and establish ties with students. Moreover, the study of the actual situation of teachers is a prerequisite to the scheduling of actiuvities. Finally, we should add that there are not many studies of this kind in our country

Estudio de creencias, actitudes y actuaciones del profesorado en torno a la educación para la convivencia a través del cuestionario de "competencia social para el profesorado"

En este trabajo se presenta un instrumento de evaluación destinado a recoger las creencias, actitudes y actuaciones de los docentes a la hora de fomentar la competencia social y la educación para la convivencia dentro de sus aulas. Es fundamental abordar esta cuestión, puesto que la sensibilización y motivación que los docentes tengan hacia este tema influirá en su práctica diaria, en la forma de resolver los conflictos, en el clima del aula y en los vínculos que establezcan con los alumnos. Además, el estudio de la situación real del profesorado es un paso previo a la programación de actividades formativas. Finalmente, a esto debemos añadir que no son muchos los estudios de este tipo de nuestro país.The aim of this paper is to present an assessment tool for collecting information about the beliefs, attitudes and actions of teachers in promoting social competence and education for living together in theri classrooms. It is essential to addreaa this issue because, as educational professionals, we assume that teachers are key socializing agents for change and educational improvement. The awareness and motivation that they have toward this issue will influence ther daily practice, on how to resolve conflicts in the classroom climate and establish ties with students. Moreover, the study of the actual situation of teachers is a prerequisite to the scheduling of actiuvities. Finally, we should add that there are not many studies of this kind in our country