Role of Neurocognitive Factors in Academic Fluency for Children and Adults With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-265
Author(s):  
Paul T. Cirino ◽  
Paulina A. Kulesz ◽  
Amanda E. Child ◽  
Ashley L. Ware ◽  
Marcia A. Barnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Spina Bifida ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Math Fluency ◽  
Differential Prediction ◽  
Nonverbal Reasoning ◽  
Academic Fluency ◽  
Academic Content

AbstractObjectives: Fluency is a major problem for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including fluency deficits for academic skills. The aim of this study was to determine neurocognitive predictors of academic fluency within and across domains of reading, writing, and math, in children and adults, with and without spina bifida. In addition to group differences, we expected some neurocognitive predictors (reaction time, inattention) to have similar effects for each academic fluency outcome, and others (dexterity, vocabulary, nonverbal reasoning) to have differential effects across outcomes. Methods: Neurocognitive predictors were reaction time, inattention, dexterity, vocabulary, and nonverbal reasoning; other factors included group (individuals with spina bifida, n=180; and without, n=81), age, and demographic and untimed academic content skill covariates. Univariate and multivariate regressions evaluated hypotheses. Results: Univariate regressions were significant and robust (R2=.78, .70, .73, for reading, writing, and math fluency, respectively), with consistent effects of covariates, age, reaction time, and vocabulary; group and group moderation showed small effect sizes (<2%). Multivariate contrasts showed differential prediction across academic fluency outcomes for reaction time and vocabulary. Conclusions: The novelty of the present work is determining neurocognitive predictors for an important outcome (academic fluency), within and across fluency domains, across population (spina bifida versus typical), over a large developmental span, in the context of well-known covariates. Results offer insight into similarities and differences regarding prediction of different domains of academic fluency, with implications for addressing academic weakness in spina bifida, and for evaluating similar questions in other neurodevelopmental disorders. (JINS, 2019, 25, 249–265)

scholarly journals Reaction Time Decomposition as a Tool to Study Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Emma Richards ◽  
Andrea Tales ◽  
Antony Bayer ◽  
Jade E. Norris ◽  
Claire Hanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Vascular Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Driving Safety ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Time Decomposition

Background: The study of reaction time (RT) and its intraindividual variability (IIV) in aging, cognitive impairment, and dementia typically fails to investigate the processing stages that contribute to an overall response. Applying “mental chronometry” techniques makes it possible to separately assess the role of processing components during environmental interaction. Objective: To determine whether RT and IIV-decomposition techniques can shed light on the nature of underlying deficits in subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Using a novel iPad task, we examined whether VCI deficits occur during both initiation and movement phases of a response, and whether they are equally reflected in both RT and IIV. Methods: Touch cancellation RT and its IIV were measured in a group of younger adults (n = 22), cognitively healthy older adults (n = 21), and patients with VCI (n = 21) using an iPad task. Results: Whereas cognitively healthy aging affected the speed (RT) of response initiation and movement but not its variability (IIV), VCI resulted in both slowed RT and increased IIV for both response phases. Furthermore, there were group differences with respect to response phase. Conclusion: These results indicate that IIV can be more sensitive than absolute RT in separating VCI from normal aging. Furthermore, compared to cognitively healthy aging, VCI was characterized by significant deficits in planning/initiating action as well as performing movements. Such deficits have important implications for real life actions such as driving safety, employment, and falls risk.

Examining the Role of Language in Play Among Children With and Without Developmental Disabilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Short ◽  
Rachael Cooper Schindler ◽  
Rita Obeid ◽  
Maia M. Noeder ◽  
Laura E. Hlavaty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Play Skills ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Better Than

Purpose Play is a critical aspect of children's development, and researchers have long argued that symbolic deficits in play may be diagnostic of developmental disabilities. This study examined whether deficits in play emerge as a function of developmental disabilities and whether our perceptions of play are colored by differences in language and behavioral presentations. Method Ninety-three children participated in this study (typically developing [TD]; n = 23, developmental language disorders [DLD]; n = 24, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]; n = 26, and autism spectrum disorder [ASD]; n = 20). Children were videotaped engaging in free-play. Children's symbolic play (imagination, organization, elaboration, and comfort) was scored under conditions of both audible language and no audible language to assess diagnostic group differences in play and whether audible language impacted raters' perception of play. Results Significant differences in play were evident across diagnostic groups. The presence of language did not alter play ratings for the TD group, but differences were found among the other diagnostic groups. When language was audible, children with DLD and ASD (but not ADHD) were scored poorly on play compared to their TD peers. When language was not audible, children with DLD were perceived to play better than when language was audible. Conversely, children with ADHD showed organizational deficits when language was not available to support their play. Finally, children with ASD demonstrated poor play performance regardless of whether language was audible or not. Conclusions Language affects our understanding of play skills in some young children. Parents, researchers, and clinicians must be careful not to underestimate or overestimate play based on language presentation. Differential skills in language have the potential to unduly influence our perceptions of play for children with developmental disabilities.

Chemical Availability of Bromide Dictates CsPbBr3 Nanocrystal Growth

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Je-Ruei Wen ◽  
Benjamin Roman ◽  
Freddy Rodriguez Ortiz ◽  
Noel Mireles Villegas ◽  
Nicholas Porcellino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Growth Mechanism ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Phase Evolution ◽  
Detailed Understanding ◽  
Semiconductor Nanocrystal ◽  
Nanocrystal Growth ◽  
Chemical Availability

Lack of detailed understanding of the growth mechanism of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals has hindered sophisticated morphological and chemical control of this important emerging optoelectronic material. Here, we have elucidated the growth mechanism by slowing the reaction kinetics. When 1-bromohexane is used as an alternative halide source, bromide is slowly released into the reaction mixture, extending the reaction time from ~3 seconds to greater than 20 minutes. This enables us to monitor the phase evolution of products over the course of reaction, revealing that CsBr is the initial species formed, followed by Cs4PbBr6, and finally CsPbBr3. Further, formation of monodisperse CsBr nanocrystals is demonstrated in a bromide-deficient and lead-abundant solution. The CsBr can only be transformed into CsPbBr3 nanocubes if additional bromide is added. Our results indicate a fundamentally different growth mechanism for CsPbBr3 in comparison with more established semiconductor nanocrystal systems and reveal the critical role of the chemical availability of bromide for the growth reactions.<br>

scholarly journals Efficacy of the use of unaffected hand containment in unimanual intensive therapy to increase visuomotor coordination in children with hemiplegia: a randomized controlled pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232110012
Author(s):  
Rocío Palomo-Carrión ◽  
Elisabeth Bravo-Esteban ◽  
Sara Ando-La Fuente ◽  
Purificación López-Muñoz ◽  
Inés Martínez-Galán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Intensive Therapy ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Visuomotor Coordination ◽  
Therapy Program ◽  
Anticipatory Action

Background: The capacity of children with hemiplegia to be engaged in anticipatory action planning is affected. There is no balance among spatial, proprioceptive and visual information, thus altering the affected upper limb visuomotor coordination. The objective of the present study was to assess the improvement in visuomotor coordination after the application of a unimanual intensive therapy program, with the use of unaffected hand containment compared with not using unaffected hand containment. Methods: A simple blind randomized clinical trial was realized. A total of 16 subjects with congenital infantile hemiplegia participated in the study with an age mean of 5.54 years old (SD:1.55). Two intensive protocols for 5 weeks of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) or unimanual therapy without containment (UTWC) were executed 5 days per week (2 h/day). Affected upper limb visuomotor coordination (reaction time, task total time, active range, dynamic grasp) was measured before–after intensive therapy using a specific circuit with different slopes (10°/15°). Results: Statistically significant inter-group differences were found after the intervention, with clinically relevant results for the mCIMT group not seen in UTWC, in the following variables: reaction time 10°slope ( p = 0.003, d = 2.44), reaction time 15°slope ( p = 0.002, d = 2.15) as well as for the task total time 10°slope ( p = 0.002, d = 2.25), active reach 10°slope ( p = 0.002, d = 2.7), active reach 15°slope ( p = 0.003, d = 2.29) and dynamic grasp 10°/15°slopes ( p = <0.001, d = 2.69). There were not statistically significant inter-group differences in the total task time with 15°slope ( p = 0.074, d = 1.27). Conclusions: The use of unaffected hand containment in mCIMT would allow improvements in the affected upper limb’s visuomotor coordination. Thus, it would favor clinical practice to make decisions on therapeutic approaches to increase the affected upper limb functionality and action planning in children diagnosed with infantile hemiplegia (4–8 years old).

scholarly journals Refining the role of de novo protein-truncating variants in neurodevelopmental disorders by using population reference samples

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack A Kosmicki ◽  
Kaitlin E Samocha ◽  
Daniel P Howrigan ◽  
Stephan J Sanders ◽  
Kamil Slowikowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Reference Samples

Mechanistic Study of the Role of One-Component Resins in Rubber-to-Brass Bonding in Tires

2004 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 891-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Y. Patil ◽  
William J. van Ooij
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gel Permeation Chromatography ◽  
Mechanistic Study ◽  
Coated Steel ◽  
Adhesion Promoters ◽  
Steel Cords ◽  
Adhesion Performance ◽  
Secondary Ion

Abstract Adhesion between rubber and brass-coated steel cords is enhanced by using resins as adhesion promoters. Experiments were carried out using a squalene liquid rubber modeling approach to study the effect of resins on the chemistry of the vulcanization reaction. The formation of new intermediates during vulcanization and changes in chemical concentrations with reaction time was studied using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis of the reacted squalene mixtures. Also, the effect of presence of resins on the surface of sulfidized brass cords was studied by analyzing the adhesion layer's elemental composition using the Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) characterization techniques. The changes in surface morphology of the adhesion layer with reaction time was noted by taking micrographs using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique. In this paper, a new mechanism is proposed for the role of resins in the improvement of initial and aged adhesion performance between rubber and brass-coated steel tire cords.

Phonological awareness in young second language learners

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Bruck ◽  
Fred Genesee
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Phonological Awareness ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Phoneme Awareness ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Bilingual Group ◽  
English Speaking

ABSTRACTEnglish-speaking children (N = 91) who were attending French schools (bilingual group) were given a battery of phonological awareness tests in kindergarten and in grade 1. At the time of kindergarten testing the mean age of the children was 5:9. Their performance was compared to age-matched English-speaking children (N = 72) attending English schools (monolingual group). The bilingual children showed heightened levels of phonological awareness skills in kindergarten in the area of onset-rime awareness. By grade 1, the pattern of group differences was more complex. The monolingual and bilingual children performed similarly on onset-rime segmentation tasks. The monolingual children had higher phoneme awareness scores than their French-schooled peers; this result is interpreted to reflect the role of literacy instruction on phoneme awareness development. In comparison, the bilingual children had higher syllable segmentation scores than their monolingual peers. This result is interpreted to reflect the role of second language input on phonological awareness.

scholarly journals Tonal priming is resistant to changes in pitch height

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Prince ◽  
Dominique T Vuvan ◽  
Mark A. Schmuckler ◽  
Thomas T. Scott-Clark
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Ceiling Effect ◽  
Behavioral Study ◽  
Pitch Height ◽  
Chord Sequence ◽  
Tonal Context

Research on tonal priming has consistently shown that tonally expected events are processed more efficiently and has confirmed that the locus of the effect is cognitive rather than sensory. However, it is also important to investigate the role of pitch height, because models of tonal priming collapse across octaves, yet it is possible that pitch height may modulate the effectiveness of tonal priming. We systematically tested this issue by varying the pitch heights of a related (tonic) or a less-related (subdominant) target chord following a tonal context. Musically untrained participants (N = 30) made speeded consonant/dissonant judgments of the final chord of an eight-chord sequence. The effects of tonal priming emerged in accuracy and reaction time measures for all octaves, except for a ceiling effect on accuracy in the matching (original pitch height) condition. In a second experiment, we increased the shift to two octaves and compressed the chords to eliminate overlap between the target and context chords; again, tonal priming emerged. These findings have implications for the behavioral study of tonal priming and support the assumption of octave equivalence in computational models.

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