Improving cognitive and physical function through 12-weeks of resistance training in older adults: Randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

We performed a randomized, controlled trial to analyse the effects of resistance training (RT) on cognitive and physical function among older adults. Fifty participants (mean age 67 years, ~60% woman) were randomly assigned to an RT program or a control group. Participants allocated to RT performed three sets of 10-15RM in nine exercises, three times per week, for 12-weeks. Control group did not perform any exercise. Variables included cognitive (global and executive function) and physical function (gait, mobility and strength) outcomes. At completion of the intervention, RT was shown to have significantly mitigated the drop in selective attention and conflict resolution performance (Stroop test: -494.6; 95%CI: -883.1; ?106.1) and promoted a significant improvement in working memory (digit span forward: -0.6; 95%CI: ?1.0; ?0.1 and forward minus backward: -0.9; 95% CI: ?1.6; ?0.2) and verbal fluency (animal naming: +1.4, 95%CI 0.3, 2.5). No significant between-group differences were observed for other cognitive outcomes. Regarding physical function, at completion of the intervention, the RT group demonstrated improved fast-pace gait performance (?0.3; 95% CI: ?0.6; ?0.0) and 1-RM (+21.4 kg; 95%CI: 16.6; 26.2). No significant between-group differences were observed for other mobility-related outcomes. In conclusion, RT improves cognitive and physical function of older adults.     

The Importance of Multiple Representations of Mathematical Problems: Evidence from Chinese Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Analysis of a Learning Goal

This article describes a study of how Chinese preservice teachers unpacked a learning goal pertaining to adding fractions and understanding the concepts underlying the operation. Based on work in the USA by Morris, Hiebert, and Spizter (Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 40(5), 491–529, 2009), 50 Chinese preservice teachers completed a task, anticipating an ideal student response, in the context of four representations: (1) fraction pieces, (2) graph paper, (3) common denominator algorithm, and (4) pennies. Like the US-based study, this study shows that Chinese preservice teachers’ ability to unpack a learning goal was highly influenced by how the problem was represented. The pennies and graph paper problems provided more supportive contexts for unpacking the learning goal; the algorithm problem provided the least supportive context. The main difference between the preservice teachers from these two countries was the US preservice teachers chose the pennies and graph paper problems as having the most potential for revealing students’ understanding of the learning goal; while the Chinese preservice teachers chose the algorithm problem despite the problem’s unsupportive context. Chinese preservice teachers’ preference suggests that they privileged algorithmic/symbolic representations over pictorial/concrete representations. Based on our results, we argue that it is time for cross-cultural comparative research to refocus on the common barriers, challenges, and benefits as related to mathematics teacher preparation and professional development. A cooperative instead of competitive orientation will lead to richer and deeper dialogues among mathematics educators.     

Maintenance of responding when reinforcement becomes delayed

In four experiments with rats, we examined the persistence of behavior when reinforcement was switched from immediate to delayed. In Experiment 1, lever pressing elicited by instrumental training with immediate reinforcement continued when a 20-sec delay of reinforcement was introduced (easy-to-hard condition), whereas when the delay condition was introduced from the start (hard-to-hard condition), responding remained low throughout. A similar result was obtained in Experiment 2, in which lever pressing was elicited by a classical conditioning (autoshaping) procedure. In Experiment 3, rats initially trained with delayed reinforcement continued to respond at a low rate when switched to immediate reinforcement (hard-to-easy condition). By measuring magazine entry (goal tracking) as well as lever pressing (sign tracking) in Experiment 4, we confirmed that such transfer effects at least partly involve the persistence of whatever type of behavior was initially dominant.     

构建核心价值观与进取精神相结合的企业文化

当前我国越来越多的企业认识到企业文化的重要性，但要构建有特色的优秀企业文化，必须坚持核心价值观与进取精神相结合，并以持之以恒的实践精神因时因势地不断创新。     

Tales from three countries: reflections during COVID-19 for mathematical education in the future

How can school mathematics prepare citizens for a democratic society? Answers to this question are not static; they change as society and its problems change. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with its corresponding disease COVID-19 presents such a problem: what is needed to navigate this complex situation that involves, among other things, mathematics? Using the essay genre, we use three narratives from three countries—Italy, the USA (California), and Germany—to reflect on the goals of teaching mathematics during this crisis and examine aspects of each country’s standards for mathematics education. These three stories are framed by the authors’ backgrounds, experiences, interests, their country’s situation, and response to the pandemic. We first present the three narratives and then examine common issues across them that might provide insights beyond this current crisis, for preparing students to become active citizens. In particular, we focus on three issues: (1) developing a positive mindset toward mathematics to engage with and reflect on real-world problems, (2) improving interdisciplinary connections to the sciences to better understand how science professional practices and insights are similar or different from everyday practices, and (3) considering interpersonal and collective matters beyond the individual.

     

指向教学空间优化的小学智慧教室的校本研究

智慧教室的设立和运用,将大大改善学生枯燥的学习氛围,优化学生的学习形式,进一步加强学生在课堂学习中的主体地位。因此,本文结合智慧教室的教学特点,对小学信息技术学科的校本开发展开研究。     

智能时代的信息素养:内涵、价值取向与发展路径

教育信息化的快速发展对师生信息素养提出了更高要求,师生信息素养已成为决定教育教学改革成败的关键因素.总体上,信息素养在工业时代、信息时代和智能时代表现出不同的价值内涵,并逐渐由外延式发展向内涵式发展转变.信息素养外延式发展的目标、过程、结果的外在性容易使得人的发展陷入单向度境地,在促进信息技术与教育深度融合、培养创新人才、建设教育强国的时代背景下,要实现人的全面发展,培养信息时代的合格公民,加快信息素养向内涵式发展转变至关重要.为此,我们必须树立以人为本的信息素养培育理念,尊重人的主体性地位,促进差异化、个性化发展;创新人技融合的信息素养教学方式,构建人与技术的具身关系,实现个体具身性、适应性的发展;构建生命主义取向的评价体系,采用数据驱动的评价方式,推进师生信息素养发展从外部要求向内生动力转变.     

对《消费者权益保护法》中消费者的界定

消费者是指非以盈利为目的购买商品或接受服务的个人或单位。《消费者权益保护法》中的消费者应包括个人和单位。不能够以购买者的购买动机与目的为识别“生活消费”的标准,也不能以生活消费品为消费对象作为识别标准。判断购买者是否为消费者不应该从正面直接规定为生活消费需要而购买、使用商品或者接受服务,应该采用“排除法则”来断定。支付对价不是消费者的构成要件。     

基于动态能力的旅游企业双元创新演化路径研究——以乌镇旅游股份有限公司为例

本研究认为动态能力对旅游企业双元创新的形成具有重要的推进作用。通过以乌镇旅游股份有限公司为案例，运用扎根理论识别出乌镇旅游发展的改造、重塑、优化和拓展四个阶段以及动态能力与双元创新的关键因子，据此将乌镇旅游的创新发展认定为动态能力推动下的双元创新，并以案例分析的方式梳理出不同阶段感知能力、整合能力、再配置能力作用下的利用式创新与探索式创新的演化路径，深入剖析了差异性战略和战略领导力作为关键性因素对动态能力作用下的乌镇旅游双元创新演化的影响，从而获取了跨时空下动态能力对旅游企业双元创新演化的作用机制，为旅游企业明确动态能力与双元创新的关系以及二者的协同发展提供了理论依据与实践指导。     

商业航天发射寡头市场竞争策略研究

对市场结构中的寡头垄断特征进行了分析。运用市场份额、市场集中度和进入壁垒等指标对商业航天发射市场进行剖析,认为该市场属于典型的寡头垄断市场。进而,对商业航天发射市场的竞争格局进行了描述,在此基础上,提出适合我国在该市场上进行竞争的相关策略。