Undocumented First-Generation Hispanic Adolescents, Acculturative Stressors, and Academic Performance

Research on the acculturative stressors affecting the academic performance of undocumented first-generation Hispanic adolescents is very limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of undocumented first-generation Hispanic adolescents enrolled in a U.S. middle school and the effects of acculturative stressors on their academic performance. To better understand the effects of acculturative stressors, Bandura’s social learning theory and Berry’s theory of acculturative stress were the theoretical foundations for the study. Seven participants from Mexico and Honduras answered four questions from a semi structured interview protocol. Data analysis included Epoché bracketing, horizonalization, clustering into themes, textural description of the experience, structural experience of the experience, a textural-structural synthesis, and finally, identifying the common lived experience and essence of the phenomenon. Themes that emerged from the interviews were: limited English language skills, fear of failing in school, difficulty learning in the classroom, and two constant phrases used throughout the interviews: “I didn’t understand” and “I didn’t know.” The findings of this study assert that acculturative stressors do affect the academic performance of undocumented Hispanic adolescents. For further enlightenment, social change systems such as educators, institutions, and policy makers could become an integral part of a critical process known as social-emotional learning, an essential part of education and human development, to benefit this group of students. A process needed to acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship, and responsible decision-making

Actitud docente para lograr aprendizajes significativos de las Ciencias Naturales.

57 p.Desde el momento que el hombre comprendió la importancia de educar, es que ha desarrollado las mas diversas formas de enseñanza a trabes de una variada gama de técnicas y metodologías; todo ello con el propósito de alcanzar aprendizajes. Es claro que los intereses y motivaciones de los alumnos son distintos, lo que hace difícil el proceso de enseñanza. Es necesario considerar, además, que quienes desarrollan las prácticas pedagógicas determinan dicho proceso, incentivan y/o lo encauzan, lo que hace imprescindible el compromiso, convicción y actitud positiva hacia el área de Ias respectivas asignaturas que enseñan. El problema surge en las practicas docentes, en las cuales se da la mas variada gama de actitudes, las que van desde irradiar la pasión por una asignatura, como otras casi indiferentes. Es obvio que cuando un docente "vive intensamente lo que enseña" tiene efectos motivacionales distintos en sus alumnos

Optical ultracompact directional antenna based on a dimer nanorod structure

Controlling directionality of optical emitters is of utmost importance for their application in communication and biosensing devices. Metallic nanoantennas have been proven to affect both excitation and emission properties of nearby emitters, including directionality of their emission. In this regard, optical directional nanoantennas based on a Yagi-Uda design have been demonstrated in the visible range. Despite this impressive proof of concept, their overall size and considerable number of elements represent obstacles for the exploitation of these antennas in nanophotonic applications and for their incorporation onto photonic chips. In order to address these challenges, we investigate an alternative design. In particular, we numerically demonstrate unidirectionality of an ultracompact optical antenna based on two parallel gold nanorods (side-by-side dimer). Our results show that exciting the antiphase mode by an emitter placed in the near-field can lead to unidirectional emission. Furthermore, in order to verify the feasibility of this design, we study the effect on the directionality of several parameters such as shape of the nanorods, possible defects in dimer assembly, and different position and orientation of the emitter. We conclude that this design is robust to changes, making it experimentally achievable

Knowledge of Latin American Obstetricians and Gynecologists regarding Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Background. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological complaint affecting quality of life. Objectives. To assess knowledge on diagnosis and treatments of HMB of Latin American (LA) obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs). Methods. A survey was conducted during a scientific meeting, organized to provide updated information on topics of reproductive medicine to OBGYNs from 12 LA countries who were invited to respond to a multiple-choice questionnaire. Results. Of the 210 OBGYNs participating in the survey, from 169 (80.4%) to 203 (96.7%) answered the questions. Most respondents (80%) gave accurate answers regarding the amount of blood loss which defines HMB, underreported the proportion of women who consulted due to HMB, and were aware that the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) with ethynyl estradiol is not an adequate treatment in women with HMB. Female OBGYNs and those who worked in the private sector were more prone to report a higher possibility of improvement of HMB with a COC that contained estradiol valerate and dienogest or with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. Conclusions. In general, the respondents were aware of the importance of HMB in gynecological practice and of the new medical treatments and underreported the proportion of women who consulted due to HMB

Thermal Response Test experiments and modelling applied to shallow geothermal piles of different geometry

Geothermal piles are structural elements that encountered interest in ground source heat pump (GCHP) applications thanks to the great potential in cost reduction compared to the traditional solutions based on borehole heat exchanger (BHE). In this paper a series of experimental results related to TRT measurements carried out on geopiles of different geometry is presented. These geostructures are reinforced concrete cylinders with diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1 m and depth of about 13m, with pipes either arranged as coils or multiple vertical U-tubes. The measurements show that the evolution of the fluid temperature in time cannot be properly described by the usual ILS (infinite line source) solution since the experimental temperature profiles do not gather along any line when represented as a function of the logarithm of the time. Starting from the above findings, measurements are here recast by calculating the temperature response factor of the different pipe arrangements by spatial superposition of base FLS (Finite Line Source) solutions. Finally, a recursive technique of parameter estimation based on a 2 resistance model is applied for calculating the effective BHE resistance and the ground/concrete thermal conductivity at minimum deviation between experimental and predicted temperature profiles

Estudo sobre os desperdícios presentes no processo de fabricação de telhas em uma indústria de cerâmica vermelha / Study on waste present in the tile manufacturing process in a red ceramic industry

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o processo produtivo de uma indústria do segmento de cerâmica vermelha à luz da geração de desperdícios em seu processo produtivo de telhas, tomando como base teórica a redução de desperdícios e metodologia de aplicação de custos em segmento produtivo. Quanto à metodologia, classifica-se como exploratória, descritiva e quantitativa, utilizando-se do método estudo de caso. Para tanto, foram coletados dados primários, obtidos através do preenchimento de formulários para coleta de dados das etapas do processo produtivo durante 30 dias de produção. Também foram levantados os custos de produção e os custos de desperdício. Como resultados foram constatados: desperdício em torno de 11% no processo da maromba (secagem, desenforna e paletização); retrabalho a uma taxa de 3,28% para as telhas cruas, ou seja, que precisam voltar ao processo; emissão de poluentes como cinzas e gases (CO2); alto consumo de recursos naturais como argila, água, energia elétrica e lenha. Foram implantadas medidas para melhoria do processo que surtiram em uma redução de 2% no retrabalho das telhas cruas, apresentação de custos de desperdícios e como poderiam ser reduzidos e treinamento da equipe de produção em algumas ferramentas da qualidade para melhoria do método de trabalho e do ambiente e do ambiente de trabalho.