scholarly journals Mathematical achievement: the role of spatial and motor skills in 6–8 year-old children

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10095
Author(s):  
Laura M. Fernández-Méndez ◽  
María José Contreras ◽  
Irene Cristina Mammarella ◽  
Tommaso Feraco ◽  
Chiara Meneghetti
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Mathematical Achievement ◽  
Mathematical Ability ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Motor Abilities ◽  
Mathematical Performance ◽  
Visuospatial Reasoning ◽  
Relevant Role

Several studies have tried to establish the factors that underlie mathematical ability across development. Among them, spatial and motor abilities might play a relevant role, but no studies jointly contemplate both types of abilities to account for mathematical performance. The present study was designed to observe the roles of spatial and motor skills in mathematical performance. A total of 305 children aged between 6 and 8 years took part in this study. A generalized linear regression model with mathematical performance as a dependent variable was performed. Results revealed that Block design (as a visuospatial reasoning measure) accounted for mathematical performance, especially among 6- and 7-year-olds but not in 8-year-olds. After controlling for the effect of the block design, mental rotation and manual dexterity predicted mathematical performance. These findings highlight the role of underlying cognitive (spatial) and motor abilities in supporting mathematical achievement in primary school children.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Executive Functions in Predicting Mathematical Creativity in Typical Elementary School Classes: A Twofold Role for Updating

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Marije Stolte ◽  
Trinidad García ◽  
Johannes E. H. Van Luit ◽  
Bob Oranje ◽  
Evelyn H. Kroesbergen
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Mathematical Creativity ◽  
Mathematical Ability ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Starting Model ◽  
General Creativity

The goal of the current study was to investigate the role of executive functions in mathematical creativity. The sample included 278 primary school children (ages 8–13). Two models were compared: the starting model tested whether executive functions (shifting, updating, and inhibition), domain-general creativity, and mathematical ability directly predicted mathematical creativity. The second model, which fitted the data best, included the additional assumption that updating influences mathematical creativity indirectly through mathematical ability and domain-general creativity. Updating was positively related to mathematical creativity. Additionally, updating was positively related to mathematical ability and domain-general creativity. Inhibition, shifting, domain-general creativity and mathematical ability did not have a significant contribution to either model but did positively correlate with mathematical creativity. This study reports the first empirical evidence that updating is a predictor of mathematical creativity in primary school children and demonstrates that creativity is a higher order cognitive process, activating a variety of cognitive abilities.

scholarly journals Hitting the Target: Mathematical Attainment in Children Is Related to Interceptive-Timing Ability

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1334-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar T. Giles ◽  
Katy A. Shire ◽  
Liam J. B. Hill ◽  
Faisal Mushtaq ◽  
Amanda Waterman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Mathematical Ability ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
General Motor ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Abstract Representations ◽  
Timing Ability ◽  
Interceptive Timing ◽  
Age Reading

Interceptive timing is a fundamental ability underpinning numerous actions (e.g., ball catching), but its development and relationship with other cognitive functions remain poorly understood. Piaget suggested that children need to learn the physical rules that govern their environment before they can represent abstract concepts such as number and time. Thus, learning how objects move in space and time may underpin the development of related abstract representations (i.e., mathematics). To test this hypothesis, we captured objective measures of interceptive timing in 309 primary school children (5–11 years old), alongside scores for general motor skill and national standardized academic attainment. Bayesian estimation showed that interceptive timing (but not general motor capability) uniquely predicted mathematical ability even after we controlled for age, reading, and writing attainment. This finding demonstrates that interceptive timing is distinct from other motor skills with specificity in predicting childhood mathematical ability independently of other forms of attainment and motor capability.

A Response Evocation Program for /ɝ/

1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence D. Shriberg
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Professional Issues ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Program Step ◽  
Skills Learning ◽  
Learning Principles

A response evocation program, some principles underlying its development and administration, and a review of some clinical experiences with the program are presented. Sixty-five children with developmental articulation errors of the /ɝ/ phoneme were administered the program by one of 19 clinicians. Approximately 70% of program administrations resulted in a child emitting a good /ɝ/ within six minutes. Approximately 10% of children who were given additional training on program step failures emitted good /ɝ/'s in subsequent sessions. These preliminary observations are discussed in relation to the role of task analysis and motor skills learning principles in response evocation, clinician influences in program outcomes, and professional issues in service delivery to children with developmental articulation errors.

Medic Interaction Modes and Hospitalized Children Health

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveed Shibli ◽  
Miss Shehrish Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Pain Scale ◽  
Hospitalized Children ◽  
Face Pain ◽  
Children Health ◽  
Face Pain Scale

<p></p><p>In the present experimental study different interaction ‘modes’ those took place between a psychologist and a child were tested for the role of these towards health recovery of the child? Following were the interaction modes, a) presenting a flower with smile plus inquiring about health, b) offering a blessing plus inquiring about health, c) making an indifferent presence plus inquiring about health with flat tone, d) inquiring about health with providing precautions about prognosis. It was assumed that all modes would differently influence health outcomes? 100 hospitalized children located in child wards of different hospitals with randomized pre-post block design interacted. One each from four interaction modes was used for a group of 25 participants each. Actual ward discharge was compared with anticipatory estimated by each ward in-charge to calculate effect of mode on outcome. Face Pain Scale, The Children Happiness Scale and a Demographic Sheet were also used. Results reflected ‘modes’ relationship with outcomes. More studies would clarify further.</p><br><p></p>

scholarly journals The Role of Extracellular Vesicles as Shuttles of RNA and Their Clinical Significance as Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 902
Author(s):  
Eva Costanzi ◽  
Carolina Simioni ◽  
Gabriele Varano ◽  
Cinzia Brenna ◽  
Ilaria Conti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Tumor Metastasis ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
Donor Cells ◽  
Relevant Role

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted interest as mediators of intercellular communication following the discovery that EVs contain RNA molecules, including non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Growing evidence for the enrichment of peculiar RNA species in specific EV subtypes has been demonstrated. ncRNAs, transferred from donor cells to recipient cells, confer to EVs the feature to regulate the expression of genes involved in differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other biological processes. These multiple actions require accuracy in the isolation of RNA content from EVs and the methodologies used play a relevant role. In liver, EVs play a crucial role in regulating cell–cell communications and several pathophysiological events in the heterogeneous liver class of cells via horizontal transfer of their cargo. This review aims to discuss the rising role of EVs and their ncRNAs content in regulating specific aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma development, including tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. We analyze the progress in EV-ncRNAs’ potential clinical applications as important diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver conditions.

scholarly journals Twin-To-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Donor and Recipient and Their Subsequent Cognitive Functioning in Late Childhood as Juvenile Athletes—A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2545
Author(s):  
Ilona Bidzan-Bluma
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Late Childhood ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Gross Motor Skills ◽  
History Of

Objective: It is estimated that twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in 10–15% of monochorionic twin pregnancies. One of the fetuses takes on the role of donor and the other of recipient. The treatment administered involves serial amnioreduction and laser photocoagulation of the communicating blood vessels. After TTTS, children may have deficiencies in psychomotor functioning, in particular in cognitive functions, expressive language, and motor skills. Few scientific reports indicate that twins after TTTS do not demonstrate significant differences in tests which measure intellectual functioning. Methods: The cognitive functioning of twins in the late childhood period was compared using the following tools: an analysis of their medical history, an interview with their parents, and neuropsychological tests allowing the evaluation of their whole profile of cognitive functions. Case Study: Cognitive functioning in the late childhood period was analyzed in a pair of 11-year-old male twins (juvenile athletes), a donor and a recipient, who had developed TTTS syndrome in the prenatal period. Results: Comparison of the cognitive functioning profile of the donor and recipient revealed that children with a history of TTTS develop normally in terms of cognitive and motor functioning in late childhood. A comparative analysis of the donor and recipient was more favorable for the recipient, who had a higher level of general intelligence, visual–motor memory, and semantic fluency. Conclusions: The fact that both the donor and the recipient chose to pursue athletics suggests that gross motor skills are their strongest suit. Playing sports as a method of rehabilitation of cognitive function of children born prematurely after TTTS could contribute to the improvement of cognitive functioning.

scholarly journals The Relevance of the SH2 Domain for c-Src Functionality in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 462
Author(s):  
Víctor Mayoral-Varo ◽  
María Pilar Sánchez-Bailón ◽  
Annarica Calcabrini ◽  
Marta García-Hernández ◽  
Valerio Frezza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Sh2 Domain ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
System A ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Inactivating Mutation

The role of Src family kinases (SFKs) in human tumors has been always associated with tyrosine kinase activity and much less attention has been given to the SH2 and SH3 adapter domains. Here, we studied the role of the c-Src-SH2 domain in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To this end, SUM159PT and MDA-MB-231 human cell lines were employed as model systems. These cells conditionally expressed, under tetracycline control (Tet-On system), a c-Src variant with point-inactivating mutation of the SH2 adapter domain (R175L). The expression of this mutant reduced the self-renewal capability of the enriched population of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), demonstrating the importance of the SH2 adapter domain of c-Src in the mammary gland carcinogenesis. In addition, the analysis of anchorage-independent growth, proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, all processes associated with tumorigenesis, showed that the SH2 domain of c-Src plays a very relevant role in their regulation. Furthermore, the transfection of two different aptamers directed to SH2-c-Src in both SUM159PT and MDA-MB-231 cells induced inhibition of their proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, strengthening the hypothesis that this domain is highly involved in TNBC tumorigenesis. Therefore, the SH2 domain of c-Src could be a promising therapeutic target and combined treatments with inhibitors of c-Src kinase enzymatic activity may represent a new therapeutic strategy for patients with TNBC, whose prognosis is currently very negative.

scholarly journals Lights and Shadows in the Genetics of Syndromic and Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss in the Italian Population

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1237
Author(s):  
Anna Morgan ◽  
Stefania Lenarduzzi ◽  
Beatrice Spedicati ◽  
Elisabetta Cattaruzzi ◽  
Flora Maria Murru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Disease Genes ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Whole Exome ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Multiplex Ligation Probe Amplification ◽  
Syndromic Hearing Loss

Hearing loss (HL), both syndromic (SHL) and non-syndromic (NSHL), is the most common sensory disorder, affecting ~460 million people worldwide. More than 50% of the congenital/childhood cases are attributable to genetic causes, highlighting the importance of genetic testing in this class of disorders. Here we applied a multi-step strategy for the molecular diagnosis of HL in 125 patients, which included: (1) an accurate clinical evaluation, (2) the analysis of GJB2, GJB6, and MT-RNR1 genes, (3) the evaluation STRC-CATSPER2 and OTOA deletions via Multiplex Ligation Probe Amplification (MLPA), (4) Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) in patients negative to steps 2 and 3. Our approach led to the characterization of 50% of the NSHL cases, confirming both the relevant role of the GJB2 (20% of cases) and STRC deletions (6% of cases), and the high genetic heterogeneity of NSHL. Moreover, due to the genetic findings, 4% of apparent NSHL patients have been re-diagnosed as SHL. Finally, WES characterized 86% of SHL patients, supporting the role of already know disease-genes. Overall, our approach proved to be efficient in identifying the molecular cause of HL, providing essential information for the patients’ future management.

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