Promoting Executive Function Skills in Preschoolers Using a Play-Based Program

In recent years, play has been shown to be a powerful means to enhance learning and brain development. It is also known that through play children enhance their executive function (EF) skills. Furthermore, well-developed EF in preschoolers has been shown to be an important predictor for later academic and life success. Armed with this information a program, Building Brains and Futures (BBF), for developing EF through play was designed for 3–5-year-old. The program consisted of 10 simple, fun, and interactive games selected to enhance various facets of EF. The 10 games included were: dimensional change card sort, lips and ears, block building, musical freeze, opposites, pretend play, red light/green light, shared project, Simon says, and wait for it. The program was implemented with a group of children shown to have challenges with respect to kindergarten readiness. The approach was first, to build adult capability by sharing knowledge of brain development, EF, and the importance of play with educators, caregivers, and parents. Second, to build skills in delivering the program in the school setting. Children engaged with the program of games for a minimum of 6 weeks. Their performance on a battery of direct measures of EF, language, and motor skills, were recorded before and after the program. The results showed improvement in all three domains. In addition, adopters of the BBF program reported it was easily and successfully integrated into their existing preschool curricula. The importance of intentional adult directed play in building developmental learning, including EF, is discussed.

Download Full-text

Safety Evaluation of Alternative Signal Head Design

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.3141/1635-19 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1635 (1) ◽

pp. 140-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tarek Sayed ◽

Walid Abdelwahab ◽

John Nepomuceno

Keyword(s):

Empirical Bayes ◽

Traffic Accidents ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Safety Evaluation ◽

Signalized Intersections ◽

Effective Measure ◽

Amber Light ◽

Standard Signal ◽

Before And After

A before and after safety evaluation of the installation of a larger signal head design was conducted. The design consists of a 300-mm red light, a 300-mm amber light, and a 300-mm green light, all with 150-W lamps and a yellow backboard with an additional 50-mm reflective border. The signal head design was field tested in 10 urban intersections in British Columbia. The intersections were originally equipped with the standard signal head design consisting of a 300-mm 150-W red light; a 200-mm 69-W amber light, and a 200-mm 69-W green light, with a yellow backboard. An Empirical Bayes before and after safety analysis indicated that the improved signal head design had a significant effect in reducing the overall frequency and severity of accidents at the treatment sites. Accidents were reduced by approximately 24 percent; injury and fatal accidents were reduced by approximately 16 percent. Classical simple before and after techniques were found to overestimate these benefits by approximately one third. It is concluded that increasing traffic signal visibility through the improvement of signal head design is an effective measure of reducing both the frequency and severity of traffic accidents at signalized intersections.

Download Full-text

Perancangan Sistem Kontrol Lampu Lalulintas Cerdas Dengan Menggunakan Mikrokontroler dan Kamera

Jurnal MIPA ◽

10.35799/jmuo.8.3.2019.26198 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 200

Author(s):

Tjerie Pangemanan ◽

Arnold Rondonuwu

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Digital Image ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Processing Method ◽

Traffic Lights ◽

Traffic System ◽

Road Users ◽

Adjustment System ◽

System Time

Masalah lalu lintas merupakan salah satu masalah yang sangat sulit diatasi dengan hanya menggunakan system waktu (timer). Oleh sebab itu diperlukan suatu system pengaturan otomatis yang bersifat real-time sehingga waktu pengaturan lampu lalu lintas dapat disesuaikan dnegan keadaan di lapangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan suatu simulasi sistem yang mampu mengestimasi panjang antrian kendaraan menggunakan metoda pengolahan citra digital hanya dengan menggunakan satu kamera untuk dijadikan parameter masukan dalam menghitung lama waktu nyala lampu merah dan lampu hijau. Oleh karena itu, sistem lalulintas sangatlah diperlukan, sebagai sarana dan prasarana untuk menjadikan lalulintas lancar, aman, bahkan sebagai media pembelajaran disiplin bagi masyarakat pengguna jalan raya. Penelitian ini penulis menggunakan sistem pengontrolan berbasis citra digital dimana camera sebagai sensor. Untuk aplikasi dari semua metode dalam penelitian ini digunakan Microcontroller AurdinoTraffic problems is one of the problems that is very difficult to overcome by only using the system time (timer). Therefore we need an automatic real-time adjustment system so that the time settings for traffic lights can be adjusted according to the conditions on the ground. This study aims to develop a system simulation that is able to estimate the length of the vehicle queue using a digital image processing method using only one camera to be used as input parameters in calculating the length of time the red light and green light. Therefore, the traffic system is very necessary, as a means and infrastructure to make traffic smooth, safe, even as a medium for disciplined learning for road users. In this study the authors used a digital image-based control system where the camera as a sensor. For the application of all methods in this study, Aurdino Microcontroller is used

Download Full-text

Study of the Interaction between Executive Function and Adaptive Behavior at School in Girls with Fragile X Syndrome

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12081108 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1108

Author(s):

Lorena Joga-Elvira ◽

Jennifer Martinez-Olmo ◽

María-Luisa Joga ◽

Carlos Jacas ◽

Ana Roche-Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Fragile X Syndrome ◽

Adaptive Behavior ◽

Neuropsychological Tests ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Fragile X ◽

School Setting ◽

Control Group ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between executive functions and adaptive behavior in girls with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in the school setting. This study is part of a larger investigation conducted at the Hospital Parc Tauli in Sabadell. The sample consists of a total of 40 girls (26 with FXS and 14 control) aged 7–16 years, who were administered different neuropsychological tests (WISC-V, NEPSY-II, WCST, TOL) and questionnaires answered by teachers (ABAS-II, BRIEF 2, ADHD Rating Scale). The results show that there is a greater interaction between some areas of executive function (cognitive flexibility, auditory attention, and visual abstraction capacity) and certain areas of adaptive behavior (conceptual, practical, social, and total domains) in the FXS group than in the control group. These results suggest that an alteration in the executive functions was affecting the daily functioning of the girls with FXS to a greater extent.

Download Full-text

Modeling Energy LED Light Consumption Based on an Artificial Intelligent Method Applied to Closed Plant Production System

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11062735 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 2735

Author(s):

Ernesto Olvera-Gonzalez ◽

Martín Montes Rivera ◽

Nivia Escalante-Garcia ◽

Eduardo Flores-Gallegos

Keyword(s):

Energy Consumption ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Nonlinear Models ◽

Light Emitting Diode ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Plant Production ◽

Production Plant ◽

Light Component ◽

Gp Model

Artificial lighting is a key factor in Closed Production Plant Systems (CPPS). A significant light-emitting diode (LED) technology attribute is the emission of different wavelengths, called light recipes. Light recipes are typically configured in continuous mode, but can also be configured in pulsed mode to save energy. We propose two nonlinear models, i.e., genetic programing (GP) and feedforward artificial neural networks (FNNs) to predict energy consumption in CPPS. The generated models use the following input variables: intensity, red light component, blue light component, green light component, and white light component; and the following operation modes: continuous and pulsed light including pulsed frequency, and duty cycle as well energy consumption as output. A Spearman's correlation was applied to generate a model with only representative inputs. Two datasets were applied. The first (Test 1), with 5700 samples with similar input ranges, was used to train and evaluate, while the second (Test 2), included 160 total datapoints in different input ranges. The metrics that allowed a quantitative evaluation of the model's performance were MAPE, MSE, MAE, and SEE. Our implemented models achieved an accuracy of 96.1% for the GP model and 98.99% for the FNNs model. The models used in this proposal can be applied or programmed as part of the monitoring system for CPPS which prioritize energy efficiency. The nonlinear models provide a further analysis for energy savings due to the light recipe and operation light mode, i.e., pulsed and continuous on artificial LED lighting systems.

Download Full-text

Artificial complementary chromatic acclimation gene expression system in Escherichia coli

Microbial Cell Factories ◽

10.1186/s12934-021-01621-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dwi Ariyanti ◽

Kazunori Ikebukuro ◽

Koji Sode

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Light Exposure ◽

Expression System ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Light Illumination ◽

Multiple Gene ◽

Gene Expression System ◽

Chromatic Acclimation

Abstract Background The development of multiple gene expression systems, especially those based on the physical signals, such as multiple color light irradiations, is challenging. Complementary chromatic acclimation (CCA), a photoreversible process that facilitates the control of cellular expression using light of different wavelengths in cyanobacteria, is one example. In this study, an artificial CCA systems, inspired by type III CCA light-regulated gene expression, was designed by employing a single photosensor system, the CcaS/CcaR green light gene expression system derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, combined with G-box (the regulator recognized by activated CcaR), the cognate cpcG2 promoter, and the constitutively transcribed promoter, the PtrcΔLacO promoter. Results One G-box was inserted upstream of the cpcG2 promoter and a reporter gene, the rfp gene (green light-induced gene expression), and the other G-box was inserted between the PtrcΔLacO promoter and a reporter gene, the bfp gene (red light-induced gene expression). The Escherichia coli transformants with plasmid-encoded genes were evaluated at the transcriptional and translational levels under red or green light illumination. Under green light illumination, the transcription and translation of the rfp gene were observed, whereas the expression of the bfp gene was repressed. Under red light illumination, the transcription and translation of the bfp gene were observed, whereas the expression of the rfp gene was repressed. During the red and green light exposure cycles at every 6 h, BFP expression increased under red light exposure while RFP expression was repressed, and RFP expression increased under green light exposure while BFP expression was repressed. Conclusion An artificial CCA system was developed to realize a multiple gene expression system, which was regulated by two colors, red and green lights, using a single photosensor system, the CcaS/CcaR system derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, in E. coli. The artificial CCA system functioned repeatedly during red and green light exposure cycles. These results demonstrate the potential application of this CCA gene expression system for the production of multiple metabolites in a variety of microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria.

Download Full-text

AB0612 THE FRACTURE PREVENTION UNIT OF THE VIRGEN MACARENA HOSPITAL REDUCES THE GAP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OP, PARTICULARLY IN MALES AND MEETS IOF/ESCEO QUALITY STANDARDS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1448 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1341.2-1341

Author(s):

B. Hernández-Cruz ◽

F. J. Olmo Montes ◽

M. J. Miranda García ◽

M. D. Jimenez Moreno ◽

M. A. Vázquez Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fragility Fracture ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Type A ◽

Traffic Light ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Reference Time ◽

Fracture Liaison

Background:The Virgen Macarena University Hospital belongs to the Public Health System of Andalusia and serves 481,296 inhabitants in Seville, Spain. In 2018 the Fracture Liaison Service switched to a multidisciplinary unit.Objectives:To describe FLS, to know the characteristics of patients with emphasis on gender differences and to know the completion of International Osteoporosis Foundation quality standards.Methods:Prospective, observational, analytical, research of usual clinical practice. All the consecutive patients attended from May 2018 to October 2019, ≥50 years, with a fragility fracture (occurred in the previous 24 months) were included. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, Code 1084-N-16.Results:Our FLS is a type A multidisciplinary Unit, with a high level of intervention in the evaluation, estimation of fracture risk and fall risk, treatment prescription and follow-up of the patients. We included 408 patients, 80% females, one third with ≥80 years. Fragility fractures recorded in 328 women were hip (132, 40%), clinical vertebral (81, 25%) and no hip no vertebral (115, 35%). Those recorded in 82 males were hip (53, 66%), clinical vertebral (20, 24%) and no hip no vertebral (9, 10%), p=0.0001. Males had a higher rate of secondary causes of OP, drinker, and smoking. The most relevant gender difference was the low percentage of patients receiving pre-FF OP treatment. Forty-nine (16%) women versus 9 (7%) males had received it at some point in their life, p=0.04. Two hundred and seventy-one (86%) women vs 48 males (63%) had received it at after their FF in their reference unit, and all them were treated after the FLS evaluation. The probability of a male not receiving prior treatment was 2.5 (95% CI 1.01- 6.51); p=0,04. This probability was 0.64 (0.38-1.09) after the FF. After twelve months of follow-up in FLs, 96% continued treatment, with no differences between men and women. The completion of IOF quality standards was bad (red light) for patient identification items and FLS reference time. It was poor (amber traffic light) for initial OP screening standard and was good (green light) for the remaining 10 indicators. The completion of IOF quality standards was bad (red light) for patient identification items and FLS reference time. It was poor (amber traffic light) for initial OP screening standard and was good (green light) for the remaining 10 indicators (Figure 1).Figure 1.Figure 1.Conclusion:The FLS is a multidisciplinary type A. Its operation has narrowed the gap in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of FF patients, especially males. It is essential to improve patient recruitment, reduce referral times and increase the overall assessment of the patients.References:[1]Ganda K. et al. Models of care for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Osteoporos Int 2013;24:293-406.[2]Javaid MK et al. A patient-level key performance indicator set to measure the effectiveness of fracture liaison services and guide quality improvement: a position paper of the IOF Capture the Fracture Working Group, National Osteoporosis Foundation and Fragility Fracture Network. Osteoporos Int. 2020 Jul;31(7):1193-1204.Acknowledgements:Spanish Society of Research in Mineral and Bone Metabolism for its support through the competitive project FLS Excellence 2018 to obtain a training grant from the case management nurse.Disclosure of Interests:Blanca Hernández-Cruz Speakers bureau: Sociedad Española de Reumatología, Abbvie, Roche, Bristol, MSD, Lilly, Pfizer, Amgen, Sanofi, Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Sanofi, STADA, UCB, Amgen, Galapagos., Grant/research support from: Fundación para la Investigación Sevilla, Junta de AndalucíaFundación Andaluza de Reumatología, Sociuedad Española de Reumatología., Francisco Jesús Olmo Montes: None declared., Maria José Miranda García: None declared., María Dolores Jimenez Moreno: None declared., María Angeles Vázquez Gómez: None declared., Mercedes Giner García: None declared., Miguel Angel Colmenero Camacho: None declared., José Javier Pérez Venegas: None declared., María José Montoya García: None declared.

Download Full-text

Abundance Changes of the Response Regulator RcaC Require Specific Aspartate and Histidine Residues and Are Necessary for Normal Light Color Responsiveness

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00762-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 190 (21) ◽

pp. 7241-7250 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lina Li ◽

David M. Kehoe

Keyword(s):

Dna Binding ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Red Light ◽

Green Light ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Transcriptional Responses ◽

Dna Binding Activity ◽

Normal Light ◽

Light Color

ABSTRACT RcaC is a large, complex response regulator that controls transcriptional responses to changes in ambient light color in the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon. The regulation of RcaC activity has been shown previously to require aspartate 51 and histidine 316, which appear to be phosphorylation sites that control the DNA binding activity of RcaC. All available data suggest that during growth in red light, RcaC is phosphorylated and has relatively high DNA binding activity, while during growth in green light RcaC is not phosphorylated and has less DNA binding activity. RcaC has also been found to be approximately sixfold more abundant in red light than in green light. Here we demonstrate that the light-controlled abundance changes of RcaC are necessary, but not sufficient, to direct normal light color responses. RcaC abundance changes are regulated at both the RNA and protein levels. The RcaC protein is significantly less stable in green light than in red light, suggesting that the abundance of this response regulator is controlled at least in part by light color-dependent proteolysis. We provide evidence that the regulation of RcaC abundance does not depend on any RcaC-controlled process but rather depends on the presence of the aspartate 51 and histidine 316 residues that have previously been shown to control the activity of this protein. We propose that the combination of RcaC abundance changes and modification of RcaC by phosphorylation may be necessary to provide the dynamic range required for transcriptional control of RcaC-regulated genes.

Download Full-text