Electrophysiological and behavioral indicators of musical knowledge about unfamiliar music

Most listeners possess sophisticated knowledge about the music around them without being aware of it or its intricacies. Previous research shows that we develop such knowledge through exposure. This knowledge can then be assessed using behavioral and neurophysiological measures. It remains unknown however, which neurophysiological measures accompany the development of musical long-term knowledge. In this series of experiments, we first identified a potential ERP marker of musical long-term knowledge by comparing EEG activity following musically unexpected and expected tones within the context of known music (n = 30). We then validated the marker by showing that it does not differentiate between such tones within the context of unknown music (n = 34). In a third experiment, we exposed participants to unknown music (n = 40) and compared EEG data before and after exposure to explore effects of time. Although listeners’ behavior indicated musical long-term knowledge, we did not find any effects of time on the ERP marker. Instead, the relationship between behavioral and EEG data suggests musical long-term knowledge may have formed before we could confirm its presence through behavioral measures. Listeners are thus not only knowledgeable about music but seem to also be incredibly fast music learners.

Radical Change

As we examine teleworking rules and best practices, we see people deal every day with the requirement to account for their time, performance, and efficiency. This can be emotionally charged due to a lack of clarity in the ways telework is managed, and that is why the authors examine radical change. Radical change involves behavioral indicators that can prove invaluable to starting or improving teleworking. The effect of emotion on radical change dynamics can be best understood by looking at the change process as separate components. There are three critical steps required to achieve radical change: receptivity, mobilization, and learning. At any fixed point in time, a person can accept the need for the proposed change if there is an interpretive, attitudinal state on the cognitive and emotional level. These steps are used to adjust to the cognitive and emotional levels of people involved in change operations.

A Predictive Model Implemented in KNIME Based on Learning Analytics for Timely Decision Making in Virtual Learning Environments

The present research aims to implement a predictive model in the KNIME platform to analyze and compare the prediction of academic performance using data from a Learning Management System (LMS), identifying students at academic risk in order to generate timely and timely interventions. The CRISP-DM methodology was used, structured in six phases: Problem analysis, data analysis, data understanding, data preparation, modeling, evaluation and implementation. Based on the analysis of online learning behavior through 22 behavioral indicators observed in the LMS of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the National University of San Agustin. These indicators are distributed in five dimensions: Academic Performance, Access, Homework, Social Aspects and Quizzes. The model has been implemented in the KNIME platform using the Simple Regression Tree Learner training algorithm. The total population consists of 30,000 student records from which a sample of 1,000 records has been taken by simple random sampling. The accuracy of the model for early prediction of students' academic performance is evaluated, the 22 observed behavioral indicators are compared with the means of academic performance in three courses. The prediction results of the implemented model are satisfactory where the mean absolute error compared to the mean of the first course was 3. 813 and with an accuracy of 89.7%, the mean absolute error compared to the mean of the second course was 2.809 with an accuracy of 94.2% and the mean absolute error compared to the mean of the third course was 2.779 with an accuracy of 93.8%. These results demonstrate that the proposed model can be used to predict students' future academic performance from an LMS data set.

Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD): Concepts, diagnosis, types of ADHD / Transtorno de déficit de atenção com hiperatividade (TDAH): Conceitos, diagnóstico, tipos de TDAH

Our work describes about ADHD, a neurobiological disorder that results from brain chemistry, showing three behavioral indicators: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. This study aims to conceptualize ADHD, show how to find the disorder, starting from the diagnosis, the types of ADHD, the possible treatments applied, the attention of the family, relatives and friends, the school, the community where the student lives. ADHD and looks from government agencies.

The Actual Independence of the Governors of the Central Bank of Iraq and its Effects on Inflation for the Period 2003-2017

This research presents indicators that were used In estimating the independence of the Central Bank of Iraq, which distinguish between the law independence (de jure autonomy) and the actual independence (de facto autonomy) for the three central bank governors for the period 2003-2017, through the turnover rate index of governors (TOR). The research also provides a new indicator of the turnover rate of members in the executive authority in Iraq for the same period, and the effects on inflation. The study also outlines a set of behavioral indicators ​​for governors that highlight the effects of actual independence on inflation. The main findings of the research were that the actual independence, in terms of the turnover rate index, gradually decreased for the research period, but the behavioral indicators of the governors showed that they maintain price stability. Therefore, the study presents evidence on the effect of the actual independence on inflation, because of the control of the exchange rate through the foreign currency auction and the decline of foreign reserves.

Elucidating the Effects of a Cryptomeria fortunei Forest Environment on Overall Health Based on Open Field Testing of Mice

In order to elucidate the impact of fortunei forest environment on overall health, the effect of the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment on mice was examined. Using an OFT (Open Field Test), the behavior of mice in fortunei forest and in an indoor environment (used as a control) was analyzed, while minor changes in climate, oxygen, and suspended particulate matter were observed and recorded simultaneously. The results indicated that the two environments were significantly different in regard to relative humidity, wind speed, and the oxygen content of air, while there were no significant differences in temperature. Importantly, spontaneous activity behavioral indicators in mice were significantly different. Mice in the Cryptomeria fortunei environment (LS group) spent less time in the corners and near walls in comparison to mice in the indoor environment (CK group). Compared with indoor control mice, for the mice exposed to forest environments total distance traveled, central grid distance, frequency of movement through the central grid, frequency of standing, and body mass significantly increased; The number of fecal grains significantly decreased. The spontaneous activity behavioral indicators changed over time stages. In the early stages there were no differences, but after accumulation of environmental effects in the late stages, significant differences were evident. The above results showed that the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment increased excitability and cognitive ability of mice, was able to effectively alleviate anxiety, and was able to emotionally relax and improve the appetite of the mice.

Social-Emotional Development - Highlights in the Romanian Curriculum for Early Education

Social-emotional development represents a main developmental domain proposed by the current curriculum for early education in Romania. The main aspects related to this domain are the proper initiation and maintenance of social interactions, the ability to identify and express emotions, to react adequately to the emotions expressed by others, and the self-concept development. Thus, in kindergarten, children learn what solidarity and responsibility for their own actions and for their own behavior mean and that they can control their behavior towards others. All these are essential for the individual wellbeing and learning outcomes, as well as for his future social integration. The Romanian curriculum for early education describes behavioral indicators related to the social-emotional development of children, which can be followed by educators within daily didactic activities. The current study describes the main highlights related to this developmental field found in the main document of the regulatory framework for the Romanian preschool education system. Taking the pandemic context into consideration, we can affirm that educators are required to reconsider the implications of the proper development of social-emotional skills more than before.

Mental Fatigue-Associated Decrease in Table Tennis Performance: Is There an Electrophysiological Signature?

Mental fatigue (MF) is a psychobiological state negatively impacting both cognitive and physical performance. Although recent research implies that some table tennis (TT) performance outcomes are impaired by MF, open skill sports such as TT require a more detailed overview of MF-related performance decrements. Moreover, research into MF and sport-specific psychomotor performance lacks the inclusion of brain-related measurements to identify MF mechanisms. Eleven experienced TT players participated in this randomized counterbalanced crossover trial. Participants were either required to perform an individualized Stroop task (MF condition) or watch a documentary (control condition). The primary outcomes were reaction time on a sport-specific visuomotor task and EEG activity throughout the trial. The subjective feeling of MF was significantly different between both conditions and confirmed that the MF condition induced the mentally fatigue state of participants (p < 0.001), though no behavioral indicators (i.e., decrease in performance on Stroop and flanker task) of MF. MF worsened reaction time on the visuomotor task, while other secondary measurements remained largely ambiguous. Spectral power (i.e., decreases in upper α band and θ band) was influenced by MF, while ERPs measured during the visuomotor task remained unaltered. The present study confirms that MF negatively impacts table tennis performance, specifically inhibitory stimuli during the visuomotor task. These findings also further augment our understanding of the effects of MF on human performance.

Assessing Cardiometabolic Health Risk in Children Living With Grandparent Primary Caregivers: Interim Analysis

Minimal research has been conducted on the effect that grandparents as primary caregivers have on the cardiometabolic health of children who live with them, even though a number of studies have examined the influence of parent caregivers. As a first step towards filling that gap, we examined physiological and behavioral indicators of cardiometabolic health risk among children (aged 7 to 12 years) living with grandparent primary caregivers in Oregon and Washington. We measured body mass index and total cholesterol/glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), as well as physical activity/sleep and diet. In this preliminary analysis of our findings with 10 dyads (mean age 64.2 ± 4.0 years for grandparents; 9.3 ± 1.9 years for grandchildren), we report that on most of the indicators - obesity, physical activity, sleep, and diet - these children’s levels were comparable to national averages across all household types (not differentiated by type of family structure). However, 25% of the grandchildren (n=2) participating in our study had a total cholesterol level ≥ 200, compared to 7.4% of children from a nationally representative dataset. Similarly, 14% of the grandchildren (n=1) participating in our study had HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, compared to &lt; 0.5% of children from a nationally representative dataset. Our findings suggest that these children may be at higher cardiometabolic health risk (e.g., hyperlipidemia). Further investigations with a larger sample and more examination of cardiometabolic risk profiles including lipids/blood glucose assessment are required to validate our preliminary findings.

Score estimate of covid-19 risks as per socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators

Epidemiologic situation remains a serious concern all over the world due to the coronavirus infection spread. It is vital to adhere to measure of non-specific COVID-19 prevention. According to literature data, the highest risks of the infection spread occur in public transport, retail outlets where foods and nonfoods are sold, medical organizations, and chemists’ shops. Our research objects were socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators that were risk factors of the coronavirus infection. Our research aim was to substantiate a score estimate of the COVID-19 contagion risk based on socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators. Questioning was applied to determine frequency of visiting public places and adherence to basic measurements of non-specific COVID-19 prevention; overall, 400 respondents took part in it. A questionnaire was developed by experts of the De-partment of General Hygiene at Sechenov University and contained questions aimed at revealing informative signs (risk factors) of the coronavirus infection spread. Cluster analysis was applied to group respondents’ questions and to identify informative signs for further development of a scale showing risk categories. Factor analysis in a form of principal component analysis was applied to questions that had the highest number of statistically significant indicators of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. We developed a procedure for assessing risks of COVID-19 contagion according to socio-hygienic and behavioral in-dicators and substantiated risk categories. The most significant risk factors were indicators related to mandatory mask wearing when visiting specific social objects (risk objects); when taking trips by various means of public transport and duration of such trips; keeping social distance when visiting social objects. We performed score estimate of risk categories regarding COVID-19 contagion.