Mediating Effects of Social Support in the Association Between Problems in Childhood and Adolescence and Well‑Being in Adult Domestic Adoptees

Research concerning adulthood and adoption has gained popularity in recent years, but there are very few studies involving positive variables of adjustment. Adopted people are believed to have more behavioral and emotional problems in childhood than the general population. Previous research suggests overall continuity of functioning in later life. However, certain variables might change that continuity. Through Structural Equation Modeling analyses, this paper assesses the mediating role of social support in the well-being of 70 adult adoptees. Findings showed a well-fitted model, where problems in adolescence had a direct effect on well-being in adulthood. Additionally, we found two mediating effects: (a) social support mediated the relationship between problems in adolescence and well-being later in life; and (b) problems in adolescence mediated the relationship between problems in childhood and well-being. The main implication of these results is that social support helps develop good levels of adjustment and well-being in adulthood. Taking all this into account, it is important for adoption professionals to encourage families to support their children and to provide additional support for those adoptees needing it

Evolución de un modelo de competición en una escuela de baloncesto formativo

En la iniciación del Baloncesto existen numerosas escuelas que plantean unos objetivos muy concretos para realizar el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de los niños y niñas que lo practican. Dichos objetivos se centran fundamentalmente en fomentar no sólo el progreso eficaz de los jugadores y jugadoras en el área de Baloncesto. También centran su atención en la formación integral de los participantes a través de una minuciosa selección del profesorado, así como la aplicación de una metodología que permita a los niños y niñas desarrollar su capacidad de percepción y decisión, su actitud activa y reflexiva ante sus propios aprendizajes, su necesidad de fomentar determinados elementos educativos, relacionados con aspectos psicosociales, de salud y lúdicos. El sistema de competición de los jugadores y jugadoras que practican en este tipo de Escuelas de Baloncesto, adquiere una esencial importancia, considerándola como un medio para conseguir los fines perseguidos. Por este motivo, es preciso presentar un modelo de competición que garantice la formación integral de los niños y niñas que participan. La Escuela de Baloncesto de la Fundación Real Madrid plantea el sistema de competición utilizado y los aspectos más relevantes que han propiciado ciertas modificaciones a lo largo de su etapa desde su creación.In the initiation to Basketball, there are a great number of schools, which suggest particular objectives, in order to conduct the learning and teaching process for the children who practice it. Those aims are focused mainly on encouraging not only the efficient progress of the Basketball players. But also, they are centred on the integral formation of the participants throughout detailed selection of the faculty, as well as the application of a methodology that allows children to develop their capacity of perception and decision, their active and reflexive behaviour before their own learning, its need to promote certain educational elements, related to psychological, healthy and fun aspects. The competition system of the players who practice in this kind of Basketball schools, obtains an essential importance, being considered as a medium to achieve the pursued purposes. That’s why it is necessary to present a competition model, which ensures the integral formation of the participating children. The Real Madrid Foundation’s basketball school displays the competition system used, and the more relevant aspects that have contribute to certain modifications since its creation

Upper Ordovician cryptostomatid bryozoans and microfossils from the Don Braulio Formation, Eastern Precordillera, Argentina

En la clásica sección de la Quebrada de Don Braulio, en la Precordillera Oriental de la Provincia de San Juan, afora la Formación Don Braulio de edad hirnantiana. Fragmentos de colonias de Bryozoos,algunas espículas de esponjas mal conservadas y una placa de crinoideos, fueron recuperados de los sedimentos silicoclásticos de esta formación. Los restos de las colonias de briozoos se caracterizan por su hábito de crecimiento erecto, su diámetro pequeño y por la presencia de estriaciones longitudinales. Estos fragmentos tienen una pobre preservación, sin embrago los mismos han sido comparados con el género Nematopora perteneciente a la familia Arthrostylidae (suborden Rhobdomesina, orden Cryptostomata), que tuvo numerosos representantes durante el Ordovícico. Escasas y fragmentadas espículas de esponja hexactinéllidas y otros tipos de microfósiles también han sido recuperados de los depósitos post-glaciales de la Formación Don Braulio.In the classical section of the Don Braulio Creek at the Villicum Range, Eastern Precordillera of San Juan Province, crops out the siliciclastic Don Braulio Formation of Hirnantian age. Fragments of bryozoan colonies, few poorly preserved sponge spicules and a crinoidal plate, were recovered from these shelf sedi-ments. The bryozoan colonies remains are characterized by its erect growth habit, its small diameter, and for showing clear longitudinal striations. These fragments have a poor preservation, but they have been compared with the genus Nematopora belonging to the Arthrostylidae family (Rhobdomesina suborder, Cryptostomata order), that had numerous representatives during the Ordovician. Very scarce and highly fragmented sponge spicules are classifed as hexactins. These microfossils have been recovered in the post-glacial deposits from the Don Braulio section at the Villicum range.Fil: Jiménez Sánchez, Andrea. University of West Bohemia; República ChecaFil: Beresi, Matilde Sylvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Mestre García, Ana Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Mineras; ArgentinaFil: Heredia, Susana Emma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones Mineras; Argentin

Fintar con balón en la iniciación al baloncesto

En baloncesto, cuando un jugador tiene la posesión del balón, una de las acciones importantes a realizar es la finta, cuyo objetivo es obtener ventaja respecto al oponente haciéndole creer que va a realizar una acción para que, en función de la respuesta de dicho oponente, el jugador elija la acción más eficaz y, de este modo, obtener la ventaja deseada. Hemos analizado a determinados jugadores y jugadoras principiantes de la categoría alevín para comprobar cómo y cuándo realizan las fintas en el momento en que obtienen la posesión del balón. Se ha llevado a cabo realizando la observación y análisis de un número de partidos de equipos de categoría alevín, vinculados a unas escuelas de baloncesto de iniciación. Por otro lado, hemos preguntado a los entrenadores, a través de una entrevista, para comprobar la importancia que tiene este elemento técnico-táctico y cómo lo trabajan durante los entrenamientos. Los resultados de este estudio manifiestan que los jugadores y jugadoras analizados, de la categoría alevín, cuando realizan un trabajo específico de fintas con balón durante los entrenamientos, son capaces de aplicar este elemento mayor número de veces durante los partidos. La finta de tiro es la que realizan con mayor frecuencia y le siguen la finta de pase y finta de salida.In Basketball, when a player has the ball, one of the important actions is feint, whose objective is to obtain an advantage regarding the opponent, making him believe that the individual is going to do something, in order to, based on the answer of that opponent, the player will chose the most effective action and, thus, having the desired advantage. This paper has analysed certain beginners with 9-11 years, to check how and when they make feints while having the ball in their possession. This has been accomplished making an observation, and analysis of the number of groups’ matches among those ages, connected to initiation basketball schools. On the other hand, we have interviewed coaches, to test the importance of this technical-tactical element, and how they work it during their trainings. The results of this study demonstrate that the analysed players, between those ages, when they make a specific work of feints with a ball during their trainings, they are able to apply this element more times during matches. The shot fake is the one carried out more frequently, and to which the fake pass, and jab step follow

Chemiluminescence methods (present and future)

This article provides a general review of chemiluminescent methods in some of their recent applications in drug analysis, sea water analysis or antioxidant activity of natural and synthetic products (including olive oil). Practical considerations are not included in the review since the main interest is to state, through the aforementioned applications, that chemiluminescence has been, is, and will be a versatile tool for Analytical Chemistry in future years.<br><br>Este art&#237;culo da una visi&#243;n general de los m&#233;todos de quimiluminiscencia en algunas de las aplicaciones m&#225;s recientes en an&#225;lisis de drogas, an&#225;lisis del agua marina o la actividad antioxidante de productos naturales y de s&#237;ntesis (incluyendo el aceite de oliva). Las consideraciones pr&#225;cticas no est&#225;n incluidas ya que el principal inter&#233;s es establecer, a trav&#233;s de las aplicaciones mencionadas, que la quimiluminiscencia ha sido, es y ser&#225; en los pr&#243;ximos a&#241;os una herramienta vers&#225;til de la Qu&#237;mica Anal&#237;tica

High-Throughput System for the Early Quantification of Major Architectural Traits in Olive Breeding Trials Using UAV Images and OBIA Techniques

The need for the olive farm modernization have encouraged the research of more efficient crop management strategies through cross-breeding programs to release new olive cultivars more suitable for mechanization and use in intensive orchards, with high quality production and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The advancement of breeding programs are hampered by the lack of efficient phenotyping methods to quickly and accurately acquire crop traits such as morphological attributes (tree vigor and vegetative growth habits), which are key to identify desirable genotypes as early as possible. In this context, an UAV-based high-throughput system for olive breeding program applications was developed to extract tree traits in large-scale phenotyping studies under field conditions. The system consisted of UAV-flight configurations, in terms of flight altitude and image overlaps, and a novel, automatic, and accurate object-based image analysis (OBIA) algorithm based on point clouds, which was evaluated in two experimental trials in the framework of a table olive breeding program, with the aim to determine the earliest date for suitable quantifying of tree architectural traits. Two training systems (intensive and hedgerow) were evaluated at two very early stages of tree growth: 15 and 27 months after planting. Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) were automatically and accurately generated by the algorithm as well as every olive tree identified, independently of the training system and tree age. The architectural traits, specially tree height and crown area, were estimated with high accuracy in the second flight campaign, i.e. 27 months after planting. Differences in the quality of 3D crown reconstruction were found for the growth patterns derived from each training system. These key phenotyping traits could be used in several olive breeding programs, as well as to address some agronomical goals. In addition, this system is cost and time optimized, so that requested architectural traits could be provided in the same day as UAV flights. This high-throughput system may solve the actual bottleneck of plant phenotyping of "linking genotype and phenotype," considered a major challenge for crop research in the 21st century, and bring forward the crucial time of decision making for breeders

Visualisation of Perception of Experiential Activities in Business and Administration and Economy

This paper explores how to incorporate information visualization tools into qualitative studies to represent the underlying structure of knowledge. Information visualization plays a key role in many areas such as decision-making, data mining, market studies, or knowledge management. A case of experiential learning was developed for Quantitative Techniques in Business and Administration and Economy Degrees at the University of Granada, Spain. The goal is to analyze the opinion of students (n = 227) on the development of the activity through information visualization techniques. The gathered information was subjected to a categorization process to unify and homogenize the responses. After a term-clumping process, a co-word analysis using the VosViewer software is used to analyze the relationships among terms and provide the network maps. Results display the main associations and clusters of terms used when assessing the experiential activity, using qualitative techniques. In conclusion, the strengths of data visualization enabling a better understanding of data for qualitative studies are established

A literature review on the application of evolutionary computing to credit scoring

The last years have seen the development of many credit scoring models for assessing the creditworthiness of loan applicants. Traditional credit scoring methodology has involved the use of statistical and mathematical programming techniques such as discriminant analysis, linear and logistic regression, linear and quadratic programming, or decision trees. However, the importance of credit grant decisions for financial institutions has caused growing interest in using a variety of computational intelligence techniques. This paper concentrates on evolutionary computing, which is viewed as one of the most promising paradigms of computational intelligence. Taking into account the synergistic relationship between the communities of Economics and Computer Science, the aim of this paper is to summarize the most recent developments in the application of evolutionary algorithms to credit scoring by means of a thorough review of scientific articles published during the period 2000–2012.This work has partially been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science under grant TIN2009-14205 and the Generalitat Valenciana under grant PROMETEO/2010/028

A new approach to truncated regression for count data

Standard Poisson and negative binomial truncated regression models for count data include the regressors in the mean of the non-truncated distribution. In this paper, a new approach is proposed so that the explanatory variables determine directly the truncated mean. The main advantage is that the regression coefficients in the new models have a straightforward interpretation as the effect of a change in a covariate on the mean of the response variable. A simulation study has been carried out in order to analyze the performance of the proposed truncated regression models versus the standard ones showing that coefficient estimates are now more accurate in the sense that the standard errors are always lower. Also, the simulation study indicates that the estimates obtained with the standard models are biased. An application to real data illustrates the utility of the introduced truncated models in a hurdle model. Although in the example there are slight differences in the results between the two approaches, the proposed one provides a clear interpretation of the coefficient estimates

An insight into the experimental design for credit risk and corporate bankruptcy prediction systems

Over the last years, it has been observed an increasing interest of the finance and business communities in any application tool related to the prediction of credit and bankruptcy risk, probably due to the need of more robust decision-making systems capable of managing and analyzing complex data. As a result, plentiful techniques have been developed with the aim of producing accurate prediction models that are able to tackle these issues. However, the design of experiments to assess and compare these models has attracted little attention so far, even though it plays an important role in validating and supporting the theoretical evidence of performance. The experimental design should be done carefully for the results to hold significance; otherwise, it might be a potential source of misleading and contradictory conclusions about the benefits of using a particular prediction system. In this work, we review more than 140 papers published in refereed journals within the period 2000–2013, putting the emphasis on the bases of the experimental design in credit scoring and bankruptcy prediction applications. We provide some caveats and guidelines for the usage of databases, data splitting methods, performance evaluation metrics and hypothesis testing procedures in order to converge on a systematic, consistent validation standard.This work has partially been supported by the Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACYT-Mexico) through a Postdoctoral Fellowship [223351], the Spanish Ministry of Economy under grant TIN2013-46522-P and the Generalitat Valenciana under grant PROMETEOII/2014/062