No abstract

This review aims to understand everyday learning of older adults using mobile devices. Specifically, for both academic and practical implications, we wanted to know what theoretical perspectives researchers adopted and how mobile devices play a role in older adults’ informal learning. We analyzed 28 empirical studies (15 qualitative, 10 quantitative, and 3 mixed methods) that met our selection criteria. Our findings revealed that the studies used four theoretical frameworks to understand their learning: (a) technology acceptance theory, (b) experiential learning theory, (c) social cognitive theory, and (d) activity theory. We also identified six themes of older adults’ informal learning using mobile devices through key findings from the existing studies: (a) self-learning of health or medical knowledge, (b) affective and emotional dimensions, (c) ambivalent attitudes, (d) practical uses, (e) interpersonal and intergenerational communication, and (f) collaborative learning experience. We conclude this article with discussion for research and practice.

"Neurohormesis" refers to a response to a moderate level of stress that enhances the ability of the nervous systems to resist more severe stress that might be lethal or cause dysfunction or disease. Neurohormetic phytochemicals, such as, resveratrol, sulforaphane, curcumin, and catechins, protect neurons against injury and disease. Naphthoquinones, such as, juglone and plumbagin, induce robust hormetic stress responses. However, the possibility that subtoxic dose of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (naphthazarin) may protect against brain diseases via the activation of an adaptive stress response pathway in the brain has not been investigated. In this study, we examined the neurohormetic effect of a subtoxic dose of naphthazarin in a Parkinson's disease model. It was found that, under these conditions, naphthazarin enhanced movement ability, prevented loss of dopaminergic neurons, and attenuated neuroinflammation in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's disease model. Furthermore, it was found that the neuroprotective effect of naphthazarin was mediated by the suppression of astroglial activation in response to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine treatment. In conclusion, we suggest that naphthazarin, in view of its hormetic effect on neuroprotection, be viewed as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation.

Family socialization practices in Caribbean cultural communities occur in diverse mating and marital systems, often under harsh economic conditions and in neighborhoods of poor quality. Within this context, several factors have helped to shape current socialization practices and childhood outcomes across Caribbean nations. Among them are sociohistorical experiences (e.g., slavery, indentured servitude, colonialism), ancestral cultural practices, internal working models about gender roles and child-rearing, educational attainment, economic ascendancy, contact with adjacent groups, and migration within and external to the Caribbean.In this chapter, we discuss family structural organization patterns for child-rearing, psychocultural beliefs about child-rearing, parenting styles, practices, and goals, and childhood outcomes in English-speaking Caribbean countries. We focus on early socialization processes in two ethnic groups: African Caribbeans who were brought as slaves to the region and Indo Caribbeans

This study assessed the moderating role of Indo-Guyanese mothers' warmth and affection on the associations between harshness and justness of physical punishment and prosocial behaviours and anger in preschoolers. One hundred and thirty-nine rural Indo-Guyanese mothers filled out Rohner's Parental Acceptance-Rejection (PARQ) and Physical Punishment Questionnaires (PPQ). Teachers provided assessments of children's prosocial behaviours and anger in preschool settings. Maternal warmth did not moderate the relationship between harshness of physical punishment and children's prosocial behaviours and anger, but it did moderate the relationship between justness of physical punishment and prosocial behaviours for sons as well as the association between justness of physical punishment and anger for daughters. In Caribbean societies where harsh punishment is normative, maternal warmth may work more effectively with justness, and not with harshness of physical punishment, to lower negative childhood behavioural outcomes.