Action-Research, Professional Development of the Physical Education Teachers in Rural Schools

La finalidad de este estudio es analizar la influencia de un grupo de trabajo de Investigación-Acción en el desarrollo profesional de maestros de Educación Física (EF) que ejercen su labor docente en la Escuela Rural. El diseño es un estudio multicaso. Para la recogida de datos se utilizaron: historias de vida, entrevistas en profundidad, análisis de documentos y diario de investigación. El análisis de datos se realizó a través de un proceso de categorización. Los resultados muestran que: (a)-los maestros de EF que ejercen su labor docente en la escuela rural pasan por situaciones difíciles y complicadas los primeros años, y que la pertenencia a grupos de Investigación-Acción les ayuda a que la adaptación a este contexto educativo sea más rápida y fácil; (b)-la metodología de Investigación-Acción genera procesos de reflexión que ayudan a mejorar su práctica docente, influye positivamente en su desarrollo profesional y supone un apoyo.The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of a Action Research group on professional development of physical education (PE) teachers in rural school. The research methodology used was case study. Data collection was conducted through interviews, life stories, document analysis and research notebook. Data analysis was performed through a categorization process. The results show that: (a)-PEF teachers in rural school engaged in difficult situations at early years, and to be a membership of Action Research group helps them adapt to this context educational faster and easier, (b)-the Action Research methodology generates reflective processes that help improve their teaching, has a positive influence on their professional development and represent a suppor

The invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans biosynthesizes ascorbate.

l-Ascorbate, commonly known as vitamin C, serves as an antioxidant and cofactor essential for many biological processes. Distinct ascorbate biosynthetic pathways have been established for animals and plants, but little is known about the presence or synthesis of this molecule in invertebrate species. We have investigated ascorbate metabolism in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where this molecule would be expected to play roles in oxidative stress resistance and as cofactor in collagen and neurotransmitter synthesis. Using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry, we determined that ascorbate is present at low amounts in the egg stage, L1 larvae, and mixed animal populations, with the egg stage containing the highest concentrations. Incubating C. elegans with precursor molecules necessary for ascorbate synthesis in plants and animals did not significantly alter ascorbate levels. Furthermore, bioinformatic analyses did not support the presence in C. elegans of either the plant or the animal biosynthetic pathway. However, we observed the complete (13)C-labeling of ascorbate when C. elegans was grown with (13)C-labeled Escherichia coli as a food source. These results support the hypothesis that ascorbate biosynthesis in invertebrates may proceed by a novel pathway and lay the foundation for a broader understanding of its biological role

Sea level height, sea surface temperature, and tuna yields in the Panama bight during El Niño

Between 1988 and 1998, annual tuna landings at Buenaventura (Colombian Pacific) are correlated with the sea surface temperature in the central Equatorial Pacific (<i>r</i>=0.78, <i>p</i>&lt;0.05) and the sea level height at Buenaventura (<i>r</i>=0.76, <i>p</i>&lt;0.05) and Balboa (Panama) (<i>r</i>=0.79, <i>p</i>&lt;0.05). Seasonal oceanic upwelling is forced by the Panama wind jet, which may favour oceanic fisheries such as tuna. Here we first apply a bivariate correlation method (Pyper and Peterman, 1994) and then a multivariate approach (principal components analysis or PCA) to investigate the relationships of these environmental variables with landings. With the first method, we find that landing is best correlated with the sea surface temperature in the Ni&#241;o 3 region, whereas the other relationships are less clear. In contrast, with PCA we find that PC1 explains 90.6% of the total variance and suggests that sea surface temperature plays a major role in determining tuna availability in the area (especially during El Ni&#241;o events). Since PC2 is mainly correlated with sea level height at Balboa but only represents 6.8% of the total variance, we suggest that oceanic upwelling effects on tuna landings at Buenaventura are not significant at interannual scales

Season and Enterprise Effects on Cow Milk Production Indicators in Ciego de Ávila.

The effects of season and enterprise on cow milk production indicators between 2008 and 2012 in the province of Ciego de Ávila,  Cuba, are presented. Official information of the productive, economic, and financial indicators from the Economic and Production Departments of the enterprises evaluated was used. The mean productivity and effi-ciency indicators were calculated from the basic information collected. Descriptive statistical  analysis and variable comparisons between seasons and enterprises were made.  The bio-economic indicators in the rainy season  produced the least unfavorable results. More than one milk kg/cow was produced in the rainy season, and yields per area had a mean of 8.2 and 12.9 kg of milk/ha/month in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively.  Different results were observed in annual  efficiency and production  indicators, both primary and secondary.  Ruta  Invasora  was  the enterprise with the best productive results; whereas Orlando González Enterprise had the highest overall yields

Las competencias directivas y su relación con el desempeño en las pequeñas y medianas empresas familiares

The objective of the research is to analyze the relationship between managers’ competencies and their businesses performance. The study was approached from the quantitative paradigm, applying a questionnaire to 114 managers of small and medium-sized family businesses, located in the states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The results shared show, in the context of a family business, the relationship between the study variables, which allows providing knowledge in the family businesses management, which are important economic units in this country, as sources of employment generation. The structural equations technique was applied in the validation of the research hypotheses. It is inferred that only intrategic and personal effectiveness competencies are positively related to organizational performance, with no positive relationship between strategic competencies and organizational performance.La presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar la relación existente entre las competencias de los directivos con el desempeño de sus negocios. Para ello se abordó el estudio desde el enfoque cuantitativo, aplicando un cuestionario estructurado a 114 empresarios de pequeñas y medianas empresas familiares de los estados de Tamaulipas y San Luis Potosí, México; este trabajo comparte los resultados del piloto del cuestionario para explorar su construcción al contexto empresarial de las empresas familiares. Se aplicó la técnica de ecuaciones estructurales para la validez de constructos y de las hipótesis de investigación. Se infiere que no todas las competencias de los gerentes están relacionadas con los resultados empresariales