Parent-child conversations about science: The socialization of gender inequities?

This study investigated the family as a context for the gender typing of science achievement. Adolescents (N=52) from 2 age levels (mean ages=11 and 13 years) participated with their mothers and fathers on separate occasions; families were from predominantly middle-income European American backgrounds. Questionnaires measured the parents' and the child's attitudes. Each parent also engaged his or her child in 4 structured teaching activities (including science and nonscience tasks). There were no child gender or grade-level differences in children's science-related grades, self-efficacy, or interest. However, parents were more likely to believe that science was less interesting and more difficult for daughters than sons. In addition, parents' beliefs significantly predicted children's interest and self-efficacy in science. When parents' teaching language was examined, fathers tended to use more cognitively demanding speech with sons than with daughters during one of the science tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in Advanced Age: A Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies.

A meta-analysis examined data from 36 studies linking physical activity to well-being in older adults without clinical disorders. The weighted mean-change effect size for treatment groups (dC. = 0.24) was almost 3 times the mean for control groups (dC. = 0.09). Aerobic training was most beneficial (dC. = 0.29), and moderate intensity activity was the most beneficial activity level (dC. = 0.34). Longer exercise duration was less beneficial for several types of well-being, though findings are inconclusive. Physical activity had the strongest effects on self-efficacy (dC.= 0.38), and improvements in cardiovascular status, strength, and functional capacity were linked to well-being improvement overall. Social-cognitive theory is used to explain the effect of physical activity on well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PACT: an experiment in integrating concurrent engineering systems

The Palo Alto Collaborative Testbed (PACT), a concurrent engineering infrastructure that encompasses multiple sites, subsystems, and disciplines, is discussed. The PACT systems include NVisage, a distributed knowledge-based integration environment for design tools; DME (Device Modeling Environment), a model formulation and simulation environment; Next-Cut, a mechanical design and process planning system; and Designworld, a digital electronics design, simulation, assembly, and testing system. The motivations for PACT and the significance of the approach for concurrent engineering is discussed. Initial experiments in distributed simulation and incremental redesign are reviewed, and PACT's agent-based architecture and lessons learned from the PACT experiments are described     

MKS: A conceptually centralized knowledge service for distributed CIM environments

The Manufacturing Knowledge System (MKS) uses a uniform representation of manufacturing knowledge, in combination with uniform access to that knowledge in a distributed environment, to provide a comprehensive computational framework for manufacturing. MKS should be viewed as a meta-CIM system, whose goal is to tie together existing CIM systems and other resources of a large manufacturing enterprise, not to duplicate their functionality. At the core of MKS is a conceptually centralized, object-oriented model containing information that is common to many applications. The model is connected to existing CIM systems, to equipment and to databases which supply up-to-date information about the status of engineering and manufacturing processes. Application modules access the CIM data and each other's services using language independent knowledge service protocols that insulate them from details such as where data or services reside, and how they are called. MKS itself is designed to be both scalable and efficient. It has a distributed implementation that allows incremental growth and robust operation in large and dynamic enterprises. Changing information is communicated to application modules that have registered their interests with the model by means of a message based notification mechanism. The focus in this paper is on the system-level features of the current implementation of MKS. Examples from the domain of semiconductor manufacturing are used to illustrate real world applications.     

Effects of a collaborative annotation method on students’ learning and learning-related motivation and affect

Two studies tested the effectiveness of a web-based collaborative annotation system (Hy-Lighter) for learning comprehension, and learning-related affect and motivation. In an undergraduate course setting, students (N = 27) in study 1, (1) highlighted and annotated selected articles, and (2) highlighted and annotated selected articles and reviewed peer highlights and annotations. In a graduate course setting, students (N = 40) in study 2, (1) highlighted and annotated selected articles, and (2) highlighted and annotated selected articles and reviewed peer highlights and annotations. Control groups in both studies read a hard copy of the articles -without using HyLighter and engaging in its associated annotation practices. The main dependent variables included: (a) performance on quizzes, and (b) a number of affective and motivational variables related to reading assignments and academic success. Although not statistically significant, summative assessment scores were higher for students using HyLigther relative to the ones exposed to conventional instruction. HyLighter use also seemed to be associated with more positive affect in undergraduate students relative to their graduate counterparts. Somewhat equivocal findings between the two studies were attributed to the differential implementation of the software in and outside of the classroom. Recommendations for optimal use and desired outcomes were advanced.