Life Chances and Birth Registration: A Study from Rural China

Berenice Nyland,Yang Gao,Zeng Xioadong,Josephine Ng 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2016 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.10 No.3

In recent years early childhood education has become a focus for ambitious reforms in China. The emphasis on early experiences in this study was designed to address issues of unequal life chances, that is, the opportunities that individuals have to improve their lives across the life span. Children in rural China are more likely to be educationally disadvantaged and lack of birth registration compounds this problem. This paper examines data from rural China that was designed to collect household information including details of birth registration. The survey data indicated that a significant number of children in the study had no birth registration. Here we contrast the families with a registered child and the families with an unregistered child in relation to their knowledge of childrearing and how their knowledge and beliefs were put into practice. Findings indicate that there were identifiable differences in the two groups and these may be significant for policy makers and local governments when designing interventions to assist in alleviating poverty.

Music as Experience: from Dewey to Rogoff

Berenice Nyland,Jill Ferris,Jan Deans 한국유아교육학회 2005 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Vol.11 No.1

Toxic effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on human mesenchymal stem cells

Peralta‑Vega Adriana‑Berenice,Parra‑Barrera Alberto,Ramos‑Godínez María del Pilar,López‑Marure Rebeca,Arellano‑Galindo José,Gisela Gutiérrez‑Iglesias 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2020 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.16 No.3

Background Titanium dioxide ( TiO2) is employed in the production of cosmetics, sunscreen, food, and drugs; however, TiO2 is toxic at the nanometric scale. Objective To analyze the in vitro toxic effect of TiO2 NPs on mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Methods The hMSCs from Wharton`s jelly were exposed to 4, 62.5 and 500 μg/mL of TiO2 NPs. Viability and cell proliferation tests were carried out at 2, 5 and 7 days of exposure. Additionally, the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity was evaluated. Results TiO2 NPs had a perinuclear arrangement and internalized in vesicles into cytosol, diminished significantly the viability (40% and 30% and 30%) and the proliferation cellular (35%, 50% and 55%), differentiation to osteoblast (38%) and adipoblasts (20%). Conclusion TiO2 NPs affect viability, proliferation, and differentiation of hMSCs. Our result suggests more regulation of the use of TiO2.

What Knowledge and Skills Do Chinese Kindergarten Teachers Need in a Time of Reform: Director’s Perspectives

Xin Fan,Berenice Nyland,Chris Nyland 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2016 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.10 No.3

This paper reports on a research program that investigates policy and practice relating to the building of a Chinese early childhood workforce in a context of changed government policy, improved standards regarding teacher qualifications and curriculum content, and changing parental expectations. The evolving context reflects the fact that recent economic development in China has witnessed enhanced need for a workforce that is suitable for jobs that require advanced skills and a high capacity to learn. This identified need has brought a renewed interest in early childhood education. Subsequently, policy makers have raised questions regarding what early childhood teachers should know and the skills they need to acquire to be competent practitioners. The research findings draw on interviews conducted with 24 kindergarten directors from provinces across China. The interview explored opinions about skills and attributes teachers require, level and form of knowledge they need, and how teachers’ capacities might be enhanced.

Early Childhood Kindergarten Programs in China: Issues of Access and Funding

Zeng Yaqin,Berenice Nyland,Zeng Xiaodong 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2011 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.5 No.1

China has a complex system of multiple types of preschool provision, different funding models, a rural-urban divide and a diverse population in relation to place of origin, language dialects and socio economic status. In this paper we explore the complex situation of preschool provision and implications for policy makers in China. As the provision of preschool education is increasingly privatized there is a concern that children from low income families may not have access to quality early care and education services. Affordability and access to education in the early years has become a major concern of governments concerned about equity and the development of human capital. Case studies have been carried out in Beijing, as a developed urban centre and in Yinchuan, as a rural centre in the west of China. The data presented examines the relationship between types of service, fees charged and the income of families who access these services.

The perceptions of commoditisation and internationalisation of higher education in Australia: an interview study of Chinese international students and their lecturers

Mark McCrohon,Berenice Nyland 서울대학교 교육연구소 2018 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.19 No.1

This paper examined domestic educator and Chinese international student (CIS) perspectives on their experience of the commoditisation of international higher education in Australia. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with academic and student participants. A Trans-disciplinary Framework derived from grounded theory and the Auditable Systematised Qualitative Analysis tool, provided structure and a method to systematise interview data. An interpretation of positioning theory gave insights into the perceived reality of research participants. Findings indicated that a number of academics struggled in their role as teachers of CIS. Concerns varied from disquiet about high fees to a perception that the quality of the teaching and learning program was lower because of the university’s emphasis on international students as a source of income. Conversely, some international students paid a high price for a Western education and considered success a fait accompli.

Rutin Prevents LTA Induced Oxidative Changes in H9c2 Cells

Gloria Gutierrez-Venegas,Berenice Fernandez-Rojas,Marisol Rosas-Martinez,Manuel Alejandro Sanchez-Carba 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.25 No.2

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a component of Gram-positive bacteria cell walls is involved in infective endocarditis (IE), a life-threatening disease. We evaluated for the first time, whether flavonoid rutin (quercetin-3-rutinoside) can block LTA-induced pro-inflammatory response and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and reduction of antioxidant enzymes. We found that rutin suppresses LTA effects on the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, preventing phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and the increase of ROS production induced by LTA. Taken together, these findings suggest that rutin prevents oxidative damage, inflammation, and MAPKs activation induced by LTA. Rutin may exert a protective effect in IE. These data provide novel insights for future use of rutin to prevent the mechanisms of LTA-related pathogenesis, inflammatory processes, and antioxidant enzyme levels in diseases such as IE.

Colletotrichum fructicola, a Member of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, is the Causal Agent of Anthracnose and Soft Rot in Avocado Fruits cv. “Hass”

( Dionicio Fuentes-aragon ),( Sandra Berenice Juarez-vazquez ),( Mateo Vargas-hernandez ),( Hilda Victoria Silva-rojas ) 한국균학회 2018 Mycobiology Vol.46 No.2

The filamentous Ascomycota Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato is a fungus that has been reported worldwide as a causal agent of anthracnose disease in avocado and other crops. In Mexico, this species affects fruits from an early stage of development in the orchard until the post-harvest stage. Although fungicides are continuously applied to control Colletotrichum species, pericarp cankers and soft rot mesocarp in fruits are still frequently observed. Considering the lack of a precise description of the causative agent, the aim of the current study was to determine the pathogens involved in this symptomatology. Twenty-four isolates were consistently obtained from the pericarp of avocado fruits cv. “Hass” collected in the central avocado-producing area of Mexico. Morphological features such as colony growth, conidia size, and mycelial appressorium were assessed. Bayesian multilocus phylogenetic analyses were performed using amplified sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA; actin, chitin synthase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase partial genes; and APn2-Mat1-2 intergenic spacer and mating type Mat1-2 partial gene from the nine selected isolates. In addition, fruits were inoculated with a conidial suspension and reproducible symptoms confirmed the presence of Colletotrichum fructicola in this area. This pathogenic species can now be added to those previously reported in the country, such as C. acutatum, C. boninense, C. godetiae, C. gloeosporioides, and C. karstii. Disease management programs to reduce the incidence of anthracnose should include C. fructicola to determine its response to fungicides that are routinely applied, considering that the appearance of new species is affecting the commercial quality of the fruits and shifting the original population structure.

A Generalized Vision-based Stiffness Controller for Robot Manipulators with Bounded Inputs

Carlos Vidrios-Serrano,Marco Mendoza,Isela Bonilla,Berenice Maldonado-Fregoso 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2021 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.19 No.1

Generally, stiffness and impedance control schemes require knowledge of the location of any objectwith which a robot interacts within its workspace; therefore, the integration of a computer vision system withinthe control loop allows us to know the location of the robot end effector and the object (target) simultaneously. In this paper, a generalized and saturating vision-based stiffness controller with adaptive gravity compensationis presented. The proposed control algorithm is designed to regulate robot-environment interaction in task-space,where the contact force is modeled as a vector of generalized bounded spring-like forces. In order to control nonredundant robots, the proposed controller has a nonlinear proportional-derivative structure with static model-basedcompensation of gravitational forces, as it includes a regressor-based adaptive term. To support the proposal, theLyapunov stability analysis of the closed-loop equilibrium vector is presented. Finally, the suitable performance ofthe proposed scheme was verified by numerical simulations and experimental tests.

Brazilian Test of Concrete Specimens Subjected to Different Loading Geometries

Victor J. Garcia,Carmen O. Marquez,Alonso R. Zuniga-Suarez,Berenice C. Zuniga-Torres,Luis J. Villalta-Granda 한국콘크리트학회 2017 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.11 No.2

The objective of this work was finding out the most advisable testing conditions for an effective and robust characterization of the tensile strength (TS) of concrete disks. The independent variables were the loading geometry, the angle subtended by the contact area, disk diameter and thickness, maximum aggregate size, and the sample compression strength (CS). The effect of the independent variables was studied in a three groups of experiments using a factorial design with two levels and four factors. The likeliest location where failure beginning was calculated using the equations that account for the stress–strain field developed within the disk. The theoretical outcome shows that for failure beginning at the geometric center of the sample, it is necessary for the contact angle in the loading setup to be larger than or equal to a threshold value. Nevertheless, the measured indirect tensile strength must be adjusted to get a close estimate of the uniaxial TS of the material. The correction depends on the loading geometry, and we got their mathematical expression and cross-validated them with the reported in the literature. The experimental results show that a loading geometry with a curved contact area, uniform load distribution over the contact area, loads projected parallel to one another within the disk, and a contact angle bigger of 12° is the most advisable and robust setup for implementation of BT on concrete disks. This work provides a description of the BT carries on concrete disks and put forward a characterization technique to study costly samples of cement based material that have been enabled to display new and improved properties with nanomaterials.