Does Mathematical Anxiety Differ Cross-Culturally?

Las matemáticas son la base en la formación de ingenieros porque su competencia en este razonamiento se constituirá en una herramienta para la resolución de problemas reales cuando se inserten en el sector productivo y durante su vida profesional. El objetivo de este estudio comparativo fue determinar la diferencia entre la ansiedad en el aprendizaje de las matemáticas y en la evaluación de la ansiedad en matemáticas para estudiantes de Ingeniería en dos universidades con diferentes bagajes culturales. La muestra incluyó a 20 estudiantes de Ingeniería del sureste de los Estados Unidos y a 88 estudiantes de Ingeniería de Colombia. La versión en inglés y español de la Escala abreviada de ansiedad matemática (AMAS), que contenía nueve ítems divididos en dos subescalas, se utilizó para recolectar datos. Se llevó a cabo una serie de ANOVA factorial de dos vías para responder a las preguntas de la investigación que están relacionadas con el trasfondo cultural, el sexo y el efecto de interacción entre el grupo cultural y el sexo. Los resultados indicaron que había una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el aprendizaje de la ansiedad matemática entre las dos culturas.Mathematics constitutes a foundation in the training of engineering students because their competence in this reasoning will be utilised as a tool for the resolution of real problems when inserted in the productive sector and throughout their professional life. The purpose of this causal comparative research study was to determine the difference in learning math anxiety and math evaluation anxiety for engineering students at two universities with different cultural backgrounds. The sample included 20 engineering students from the south-eastern United States and 88 engineering students from Colombia. The English and Spanish version of the AMAS, which contained nine items was divided into two subscales, used to collect data. A series of two-way factorial ANOVAs were conducted to answer the research questions that are related to cultural background, gender and the interaction effect between cultural group and gender. The results indicated there was a statistically significant difference in learning maths anxiety when comparing the two cultures

Mathematical anxiety and academic performance in engineering students

El objetivo del estudio es analizar la relación entre la ansiedad matemática percibida y el rendimiento académico en estudiantes de Ingeniería de una universidad privada de Barranquilla-Colombia. La metodología fue de corte cuantitativo y un diseño descriptivo-correlacional. El instrumento utilizado fue la Escala Abreviada de Ansiedad Matemática (AMAS), en su adaptación al español. Para el rendimiento académico se tomaron los datos del sistema de información de la institución y categorizaron según normatividad vigente. La muestra intencional correspondió a 87 estudiantes. Los resultados no evidencian relación existente entre la ansiedad matemática y el desempeño académico, en cambio sí se identifican relaciones entre la edad y la ingeniería que estudian, y entre la ansiedad matemática global y la ingeniería. Se proponen otras variables relacionadas para explicar un problema complejo como el aprendizaje de las matemáticas. En conclusión, los resultados descriptivos muestran que los estudiantes presentan en un alto porcentaje de ansiedad moderada.The objective of the study is to analyze the relationship that exists between perceived mathematical anxiety and academic performance in engineering students at a private university in Barranquilla, Colombia. The methodology was quantitative and with a descriptive-correlational design. The instrument used was the Abbreviated Mathematical Anxiety Scale (AMAS), in its Spanish adaptation. Academic performance was based on data from the Institution's Information System and was categorized according to current regulations. The sample was 87 students. The results do not evidence a relationship between mathematical anxiety and academic performance. Instead, the results show relationships between student age and engineering subject and between global mathematical anxiety and engineering. This study proposes other related variables to explain the complex problem of learning mathematics. In conclusion, the descriptive results suggest that there is a high percentage of moderate anxiety among students

RESPUESTA DE HÍBRIDOS DE CHILE ANAHEIM (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) CARDÓN Y 118, CULTIVADOS BAJO DOS SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCIÓN EN CONDICIONES DE INVERNADERO

The production system under greenhouse makes possible to obtain higher yields and better fruit quality. Two Anaheim pepper hybrids were produced during summer-fall season of 2011 at the experimental field of the University of Sonora, México. The objectives were to evaluate the yield and fruit quality, and to determine the water use efficiency, under greenhouse conditions using two production systems, substrate and soil. In the soil system the higher fruit weights were obtained with 63.12 g fruit-1 and 61.98 g fruit-1, in Cardon and 118 respectively. The fruit number per plant and the yield in the first harvest were higher in the substrate system; however, the final averages were no significant among treatments. The higher fruit length, 17.52 and 15.52 cm in Cardon and 118 respectively, were obtained in the soil system. The fruit diameter did not present significant differences among treatments. The water use efficiency (WUE) was higher in the soil system, with 36.4 and 31.2 kg m-3 compared to 9.1 y 9.9 kg m-3 obtained in the substrate system for 118 and Cardon respectively

Nitrogen fertilization in wheat, in clay soils at the Mexicali valley, Baja California, Mexico

The national and international markets' demand for wheat commercialization is conditioned by quality standards, among which the protein content and percentage of vitreous grain, without white belly, stand out. In them, nitrogen plays an important role in the yield and quality of the wheat grain. For these reasons, the objective of this research was to determine the effect that nitrogen has on yield, grain protein, and the vitreous grain percentage. A field experiment, planted on December 16, 2009, was conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. The experimental design was of complete randomized blocks with four repetitions. The assessed treatments were 0, 105, 210, 315, and 340 kg of N ha-1 (N0, N105, N210, N315 and N340, respectively). The sown seed was Aconchi F-76 variety crystal wheat. The evaluated variables were grain yield, protein content, and vitreous grain quantity (without white belly). The results indicated that the 210, 315, and 340 kg of N ha-1 treatments affected the yield, protein content, and white belly decrease in the grain. Grain quality is therefore improved with these nitrogen doses, in relation to the quality of the harvested grain in the plots with 0 kg ha-1 and those cultivated with 105 kg ha-1.

Long-term response planting method on wheat under conservation agriculture

Objective: To compare different bed planting systems: narrow beds (80 cm), wide beds (100 cm), and flat soil, on the growth and yield of wheat under conservation system. Design/methodology/approach: Treatments were established on a complete block design with three replicates; also, wheat crop was grown during five seasons. Treatments were as follow: A) wide beds (furrows at 100 cm), B) narrow beds (furrows at 80 cm) and C) flat soil. Response variables were dry weight of 50 stems, weight of 1000 grains, number of spikes (m2), harvest index and yield. Also, the relationship between relative yield and cold units and degree-days were measured. Results: Flat soil reach the highest dry weight of 50 stems, whereas narrow beds had the maximum number of spikes per m2. Yield was equal between flat soil and narrow beds. No differences were found in the harvest index (HI) among the evaluated treatments. When comparing results between years, dry weight of 50 stems increased and the HI index decreased, affecting negatively the yield. A negative association was found between chill hours and yield. Findings/conclusions: Despite yield was equal between flat soil and narrow beds, reduction on yields was mainly associated with of reduction in chill hours occurring in each season.Objetivo: Comparar diferentes métodos de siembra: camas angostas, camas anchas, and melgas planas, sobre el crecimiento y rendimiento de trigo cultivado baja agricultura de conservación. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Los tratamientos fueron establecidos bajo un diseño de bloques completos al zar con tres repeticiones. Además el cultivo de trigo fue cultivado durante cinco años. Los tratamientos fueron: camas de siembra anchas (100 cm), camas de siembra angostas (80 cm) y siembra en melgas planas. Las variables de respuesta fueron el peso seco de 50 tallos, peso de 1000 granos, numero de espigas (m2), índice de cosecha y rendimiento. Así mismo, se identificó la relación entre el rendimiento y las horas frio y unidades grado. Resultados: El tratamiento de melgas planas, alcanzó el peso de tallos más alto, mientras que las camas angostas tuvieron el mayor número de espigas m2. El rendimiento fue igual entre las melgas planas y las camas angostas. No se encontró diferencias en el índice de cosecha entre los tratamientos evaluados. Cuando se compararon los variables en los años evaluados, el peso seco de 50 tallos incrementó y el índice de cosecha se redujo, afectando negativamente el rendimiento. Se identificó una asociación negativa entre la reducción de horas frio y el rendimiento del cultivo. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: La utilización de camas de siembra anchas, redujo el rendimiento del cultivo de trigo, y no se recomienda su utilización. Hallazgos/conclusiones: El rendimiento fue igual entre el tratamiento de melgas planas y camas angostas. La reducción en el rendimiento se asoció principalmente a la reducción de horas frio ocurridas en cada año de producción

Análisis de frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas de las variantes CYP2A6*12 y rs16969968 de CHRNA5 y su asociación con el hábito de fumar y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en sujetos jóvenes del noreste de México

Several studies have reported that variants rs16969968 G>A of the CHRNA5 gene and CYP2A6*12 of the CYP2A6 gene are associated with smoking and smoking refusal, respectively. In addition, some studies report that a higher cigarette consumption is associated with low body mass index (BMI). Aim: To analyze the allele and genotypic frequencies of these variants and their impact on smoking and BMI. Material and Methods: A blood sample was obtained and a survey about smoking habits was answered by 319 university students aged 18 to 35 years (127 women, 171 smokers), living in Northeastern Mexico. Genetic variants were studied by polymerase chain reaction/ restriction fragment length polymorphism and their frequencies were associated with smoking and BMI. Results: No associations were found between the analyzed variants and smoking in the study groups. However, there was an association among non-smoking subjects between the A allele of rs16969968 and high a BMI (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This last variant may be involved in food-addiction disorders

Latin American Consensus: Children Born Small for Gestational Age

72-87Cuatrimestra