T-algebras and Efimov's problem

We study the topological properties of minimally generated algebras (as introduced by Koppelberg) and, particularly, the subclass of T-algebras (a notion due to Koszmider) and its connection with Efimov’s problem. We show that the class of T-algebras is a proper subclass of the class of minimally generated Boolean algebras. It is also shown that being the Stone space of a T-algebra is not even finitely productive. We prove that the existence of an Efimov T-algebra implies the existence of a coun- terexample for the Stone-Scarborough problem. We also show that the Stone space of an Efimov T -algebra does not map onto the product (?1 + 1) × (? + 1). We establish the following consistency results. Under CH there exists an Efimov min- imally generated Boolean algebra; there are Efimov T-algebra in the forcing extensions obtained by adding ?2 Cohen or Hechler reals to any model of CH

Parental beliefs, home learning environment, and school readiness in the Latino population: does the Parents as Teachers Program influence these three variables?

The current study explores the relationship between parental beliefs, parental involvement, the home learning environment, and school readiness in the Latino population. Parents' beliefs, involvement, home learning environment as well as children's school readiness were compared in parents and children that had participated in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program with those who had not participated in the program. No significant differences between the PAT group and the non-PAT group were found. However, descriptive and qualitative findings revealed that Latino parents in this study are involved with their children and believe that children need multiple skills to be ready for school. Implications for the Parents as Teachers program as well as directions for future research are discussed

Relative group size and minority school success: the role of intergroup friendship and discrimination experiences

From an intergroup relations perspective, relative group size is associated with the quantity and quality of intergroup contact: more positive contact (i.e., intergroup friendship) supports, and negative contact (i.e., experienced discrimination) hampers, minority identity, and school success. Accordingly, we examined intergroup contact as the process through which perceived relative proportions of minority and majority students in school affected minority success (i.e., school performance, satisfaction, and self-efficacy). Turkish minorities (N = 1,060) were compared in four Austrian and Belgian cities which differ in their typical school ethnic composition. Across cities, minority experiences of intergroup contact fully mediated the impact of perceived relative group size on school success. As expected, higher minority presence impaired school success through restricting intergroup friendship and increasing experienced discrimination. The association between minority presence and discrimination was curvilinear, however, so that schools where minority students predominated offered some protection from discrimination. To conclude, the comparative findings reveal positive and negative intergroup contact as key processes that jointly explain when and how higher proportions of minority students affect school success

Resisting invisiblity: indigenous women's self-representation in imagined futurisms

This project explores Indigenous Futurisms written by Indigenous women from North America in the early 21st century. The stories were analyzed as resistance literature to the historical violence resulting in the literal and literary invisibility of Indigenous women. Each story focuses on an Indigenous woman protagonist, reflecting the subjectivity of the author. The characters define themselves on their own terms and offer positive, transformative, multifaceted self-representations. The intent is for readers, specifically Indigenous women readers, to see these stories as mirrors that reflect empathy, connection, and empowerment

Environmental Disparities Present a Challenge for Diabetes Prevention and Management Efforts in Dallas County

The State of Texas is home to nearly 2 million men, women and children with diabetes, over half a million of which reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. Recognizing the rising need to identify the disparities in implementing the diabetes prevention and management efforts and adopting the healthy life style in high diabetes prevalence areas in Dallas County, we explored the potential of Geographic Information System (GIS) methodology to analyze the data at zip code level from Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) Research Foundation’s data registry. The objectives of this research were to identify the zip codes with the highest prevalence of diabetes in Dallas County and to analyze the disparities that may relate to the higher diabetes prevalence. The process revealed the zip codes with the highest prevalence of diabetes and the disparities possibly influencing the higher prevalence. The results showed that the zip codes with the highest prevalence of diabetes had very few fresh food and supermarkets, food banks, parks, sidewalks and hospitals and clustered medical clinics, indicating that addressing these disparities may be a promising strategy for decreasing the prevalence of diabetes in these diabetes clusters in Dallas County. The strength of this research is DFWHC research Foundation’s comprehensive data registry which allowed us to analyze the patient data up to the zip code level to identify the high diabetes prevalence areas. Our results have significance in the realm of public health and health care. With the identification of the contributing disparities in the high diabetes prevalence in Dallas County, public health efforts and resources can be more efficiently targeted and focused for prevention and management. Also in the future, we support improvements in health care data-sharing in order to improve coordinate care between different health care providers to prevent diabetes at an early stage and provide coordinated care at treatment and management stage

HIV Drug-resistant Strains as Epidemiologic Sentinels

The decrease in the proportion of drug resistance among newly infected HIV-1 patients may signal a worsening of the epidemic

Relation of serum total antioxidant status with metabolic risk factors in Korean adults

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation of total antioxidant status (TAS) to metabolic risk factors in Korean adults. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum lipids and fasting glucose were determined in 406 men and women. TAS was measured by using commercially available Randox kit. Serum TAS was significantly positively correlated with body weight (p=0.004), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.033), waist circumference (p=0.017), total cholesterol (p=0.038) and triglyceride (TG) (p<0.001). The mean TAS of hypertriglyceridemic subjects (TG ≥150 mg/dl) was significantly higher than that of subjects whose TG was lower than 150 mg/dl (p=0.001). When central obesity, TG, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose and blood pressure were considered as metabolic risk factors, TAS was shown to be elevated with increased number of metabolic risk factors (p=0.004). The positive association between TAS and a number of metabolic risk factors suggests that increased TAS may not always indicate one's healthier condition. In order to help understand TAS as a marker of total antioxidant capacity in humans with various metabolic conditions, it is needed to clarify the factors affecting TAS in relation to changes in metabolic risk factors

Active school transport and fast food intake: are there racial and ethnic differences?

Objectives To investigate whether active school transport was associated with fast food consumption, and to examine differences across racial/ethnic groups. Methods Adolescent data (n = 3194) from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey were analyzed with logistic regression models to examine the association between active school transport (AST) and fast food intake across racial/ethnic groups. Results In the overall sample, AST during 1–2 days in the past week was associated with greater likelihood of fast food intake (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.03–2.43), compared with zero days of AST, controlling for demographic and other factors. The association between AST and fast food intake differed significantly by race/ethnicity (p < 0.01). Among Latino adolescents, greater frequency of AST was significantly associated with greater likelihood of fast food intake (1–2 days OR, 2.37, 95%CI: 1.05–5.35; 3–4 days OR, 2.78, 95% CI: 1.04–7.43; 5 days OR, 2.20, 95%CI: 1.23–3.93). Among White and Asian adolescents, there was a curvilinear pattern: relative to adolescents who reported zero days of AST, those who did AST 1–2 days/week had greater likelihood of fast food intake, but AST of 3–4 days and 5 days/week was associated respectively, with higher and lower likelihood of fast food intake among both groups. Conclusions AST appears to be a risk factor for fast food intake, and may expose some ethnic groups more than others to increased opportunity to purchase and consume fast food. Programs and policies to promote AST among adolescents should incorporate efforts to encourage healthy eating and discourage concentration of fast food outlets near schools

Las técnicas grafo plásticas en el desarrollo de la pre-escritura en niños de 4 a 5 años.

The purpose of this work was to investigate and understand the importance of graphoplastic techniques in the development of pre-writing in children aged 4 to 5 years. The principles and pedagogical practices that the teachers of the Technical Fiscal Educational Unit "San Vicente" apply in the area of ​​initial education are presented. The research responds to a qualitative approach. The survey technique was applied to parents, interview applied to teachers and observation sheet applied to children who are enrolled and attending the Educational Unit under investigation. Among the main conclusions, it is determined that teachers and parents recognize that playful games, tracing, play dough, folding, tearing, among others, contribute to the pre-writing process, considering that children have agility and motor skills in your hands and fingers.El presente trabajo tuvo como propósito investigar y comprender la importancia que tienen las técnicas grafo plásticas en el desarrollo de la pre- escritura en niños de 4 a 5 años. Se presentan los principios y prácticas pedagógicas que los docentes de la Unidad Educativa fiscal técnico "San Vicente" aplican en el área de educación inicial. La investigación responde a un enfoque cualitativo. Se aplicó la técnica de encuesta dirigida a padres de familia, entrevista aplicada a docentes y ficha de observación aplicada a los niños que se encuentran matriculados y asistiendo a la Unidad Educativa objeto de investigación. Entre las principales conclusiones se determina que las docentes y padres de familia, reconocen que los juegos lúdicos, el trazado, el juego de plastilina, plegado, rasgado entre otros contribuyen en el proceso de pre escritura considerando que los niños tienen agilidad y habilidad motriz en sus manos y dedos.&nbsp

Designing a physical activity parenting course : parental views on recruitment, content and delivery

Background Many children do not engage in sufficient levels of physical activity (PA) and spend too much time screen-viewing (SV). High levels of SV (e.g. watching TV, playing video games and surfing the internet) and low levels of PA have been associated with adverse health outcomes. Parenting courses may hold promise as an intervention medium to change children’s PA and SV. The current study was formative work conducted to design a new parenting programme to increase children’s PA and reduce their SV. Specifically, we focussed on interest in a course, desired content and delivery style, barriers and facilitators to participation and opinions on control group provision. Methods In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with thirty two parents (29 female) of 6–8 year olds. Data were analysed thematically. An anonymous online survey was also completed by 750 parents of 6–8 year old children and descriptive statistics calculated. Results Interview participants were interested in a parenting course because they wanted general parenting advice and ideas to help their children be physically active. Parents indicated that they would benefit from knowing how to quantify their child’s PA and SV levels. Parents wanted practical ideas of alternatives to SV. Most parents would be unable to attend unless childcare was provided. Schools were perceived to be a trusted source of information about parenting courses and the optimal recruitment location. In terms of delivery style, the majority of parents stated they would prefer a group-based approach that provided opportunities for peer learning and support with professional input. Survey participants reported the timing of classes and the provision of childcare were essential factors that would affect participation. In terms of designing an intervention, the most preferred control group option was the opportunity to attend the same course at a later date. Conclusions Parents are interested in PA/SV parenting courses but the provision of child care is essential for attendance. Recruitment is likely to be facilitated via trusted sources. Parents want practical advice on how to overcome barriers and suggest advice is provided in a mutually supportive group experience with expert input