The potential of symbolic approximation. Disentangling the effects of approximation vs. calculation demands in nonsymbolic and symbolic representations.

Mathematical skills that we acquire during formal education mostly entail exact numerical processing. Besides this specifically human faculty, an additional system exists to represent and manipulate quantities in an approximate manner. We share this innate approximate number system (ANS) with other nonhuman animals and are able to use it to process large numerosities long before we can master the formal algorithms taught in school. Dehaene´s (1992) Triple Code Model (TCM) states that also after the onset of formal education, approximate processing is carried out in this analogue magnitude code no matter if the original problem was presented nonsymbolically or symbolically. Despite the wide acceptance of the model, most research only uses nonsymbolic tasks to assess ANS acuity. Due to this silent assumption that genuine approximation can only be tested with nonsymbolic presentations, up to now important implications in research domains of high practical relevance remain unclear, and existing potential is not fully exploited. For instance, it has been found that nonsymbolic approximation can predict math achievement one year later (Gilmore, McCarthy, & Spelke, 2010), that it is robust against the detrimental influence of learners´ socioeconomic status (SES), and that it is suited to foster performance in exact arithmetic in the short-term (Hyde, Khanum, & Spelke, 2014). We provided evidence that symbolic approximation might be equally and in some cases even better suited to generate predictions and foster more formal math skills independently of SES. In two longitudinal studies, we realized exact and approximate arithmetic tasks in both a nonsymbolic and a symbolic format. With first graders, we demonstrated that performance in symbolic approximation at the beginning of term was the only measure consistently not varying according to children´s SES, and among both approximate tasks it was the better predictor for math achievement at the end of first grade. In part, the strong connection seems to come about from mediation through ordinal skills. In two further experiments, we tested the suitability of both approximation formats to induce an arithmetic principle in elementary school children. We found that symbolic approximation was equally effective in making children exploit the additive law of commutativity in a subsequent formal task as a direct instruction. Nonsymbolic approximation on the other hand had no beneficial effect. The positive influence of the symbolic approximate induction was strongest in children just starting school and decreased with age. However, even third graders still profited from the induction. The results show that also symbolic problems can be processed as genuine approximation, but that beyond that they have their own specific value with regard to didactic-educational concerns. Our findings furthermore demonstrate that the two often con-founded factors ꞌformatꞌ and ꞌdemanded accuracyꞌ cannot be disentangled easily in first graders numerical understanding, but that children´s SES also influences existing interrelations between the different abilities tested here.

Some Temporal Aspects of Indexing and Classification: Toward a Metrics for Measuring Scheme Change

In this paper we discuss the temporal aspects of indexing and classification in information systems. Basing this discussion off of the three sources of research of scheme change: of indexing: (1) analytical research on the types of scheme change and (2) empirical data on scheme change in systems and (3) evidence of cataloguer decision-making in the context of scheme change. From this general discussion we propose two constructs along which we might craft metrics to measure scheme change: collocative integrity and semantic gravity. The paper closes with a discussion of these constructs.

Social participation and interventions supporting teenagers and young adults living with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): results from a Scoping Review

Background: The impact of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) on teenagers’ and young adults’ participation is not well documented. This article aims to synthesize the current knowledge on social participation, which is the performance of an individual in realizing his daily activities and social roles within its life environment. Strategies and interventions to support youths (15-25 years old) with DCD were also synthesized. Methods: A scoping review interrogating three databases and using ‘snowballing techniques’ was performed to identify both scientific and grey literature published between 2004 and 2014. Over 1000 documents were screened and 57 were read in full; 28 met inclusion criteria. A charting form based on 12 life habits described in the Disability Creation Process (DCP) and developed by two reviewers was used to extract data and report the results. Results: All life habits were reported to be affected for teenagers and young adults with DCD, with education and interpersonal relationships being the most frequently discussed. During adolescence and adulthood, new tasks and subsequent difficulties emerge, such as driving. Mental health difficulties emerged as a key theme. Few strategies and interventions were described to support social participation of youths with DCD. Conclusion: Many life habits are challenging for youths with DCD, but few evidence-based strategies and interventions have been designed to help them to increase their social participation.

In vitro application of biocontrol agents to improve the safety and quality of grapevine products

Pathogenic fungi are responsible for vine diseases affecting the grapevine yield and the organoleptic quality of the final wine products. Using of biocontrol agents can represent a sustainable alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides whose intense use can have negative effects on the ecosystem and cause increase resistant pathogen population to synthetic agents. The principal aim of my PhD thesis was the isolation and characterization of new yeast strains and Bacillus subtilis SV108 as biocontrol agent and the comprehension of the mechanism of their antimicrobial action. Accordingly, twenty wild yeast and one selected bacterium isolated among 62 samples, isolated from different Italian and Malaysian regions and molecularly identified, were evaluated in a preliminary screening test on agar. Results showed the highest effects on inhibiting mycelial growth by Starmerella bacillaris FE08.05, Metschnikowia pulcherrima GP8 and Hanseniaspora uvarum GM19. On the other side, Bacillus subtilis SV108 showed the ability of inhibit the mycelial growth of selected fungi by producing antimicrobial compounds on Malt Extract Broth medium recovered by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and identified by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometer Triple TOF 5600. Moreover, in order to analyze the volatile fraction of compounds, the quantitative analysis of the VOCs profiles was performed by GC/MS/SPME. The analysis highlighted the presence of isoamyl and phenylethyl alcohols and an overall higher presence of low-chain fatty acids and volatile ethyl esters. All the data collected suggest that the tested yeasts, found among the epiphytic microbiota associated with grape berries, can be potentially effective for the biological control of pathogenic moulds. On the other hand, the proteomic study conducted on B. subtilis SV108 revealed that there are two cyclic antifungal peptides which can explain the antimicrobial effect of Bacillus subtilis SV108 acting as biocontrol agent against fungal pathogens in grapevine.

Myotonic syndromes: analysis of factors with pathogenetic and prognostic significance

Background: The natural history of Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 is largely unclear, longitudinal studies are lacking. Objectives: to collect clinical and laboratory data, to evaluate sleep disorders, somatic and autonomic skin fibres, neuropsychological and neuroradiological aspects in DM1 patients. Methods: 72 DM1 patients underwent a standardized clinical and neuroradiological evaluation performed by a multidisciplinary team during 3 years of follow-up. Results: longer disease duration was associated with higher incidence of conduction disorders and lower ejection fraction; higher CVF values were predictors for a reduced risk of cardiopathy. Lower functional pulmonary values were associated with class of expansion and were negatively associated with disease duration; arterial blood gas parameters were not associated with expansion size, disease duration nor with respiratory function test. Excessive daytime sleepiness was not associated with class of expansion nor with any of the clinical parameters examined. We detected apnoea in a large percentage of patients, without differences between the 3 genetic classes; higher CVF values were predictors for a reduced risk of apnoea. Skin biopsies demonstrated the presence of a subclinical small fibre neuropathy with involvement of the somatic fibres. The pupillometry study showed lower pupil size at baseline and a lower constriction response to light. The most affected neuropsychological domains were executive functions, visuoconstructional, attention and visuospatial tasks, with a worse performance of E1 patients in the visuoperceptual ability and social cognition tasks. MRI study demonstrated a decrease in the volumes of frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital cortices, accumbens, putamen nuclei and a more severe volume reduction of the isthmus cingulate, transverse temporal, superior parietal and temporal gyri in E2 patients. Discussion: only some clinical parameters could predict the risk of cardiopathy, pulmonary syndrome and sleep disorders, while other clinical aspects proved to be unpredictable, confirming the importance of periodic clinical follow-up of these patients.

Audiovisual materials and second-language acquisition: a comparison between native language subtitles and target language captions.

Over the last few years, the massive popularity of video streaming platforms has managed to impact our daily habits by making the watching of movies and TV shows one of the main activities of our free time. By providing a wide range of foreign language audiovisual content, these entertainment services may represent a powerful resource for language learners, as they provide them with the possibility to be exposed to authentic input. Moreover, research has shown the beneficial role of audiovisual textual aids such as native language subtitles and target language captions in enhancing language skills such as vocabulary and listening comprehension. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the existing literature on the subject of subtitled and captioned audiovisual materials used as a pedagogical tool for informal language learning.

Pedagogia do esporte : identificação, discussão e aplicação de procedimentos pedagogicos no processo de ensino-vivencia aprendizagem da modalidade basquetebol

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Os sentidos da dança : construção de identidades de dança a partir da experiencia com o ?por qua? grupo experimental de dança

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Pedagogia do treinamento : metodo, procedimentos pedagogicos e as multiplas competencias do tecnico nos jogos desportivos coletivos

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

A motricidade como base para a aprendizagem : o estudo de um caso pela reorganização neurofuncional

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

A física do violino

Neste artigo apresentamos uma descrição geral da física do violino, analisando os conceitos que lhes dão sustentação física e que revelam toda a riqueza e o potencial pedagógico do assunto. Destacamos as contribuições de físicos como Helmholtz, Savart, Raman e Saunders no esforço para descrever a vibração produzida pelo arco nas cordas, e por compreender as propriedades acústicas do instrumento. Descrevemos a função de cada uma das componentes do instrumento e discutimos a importância dos modos normais de vibração dos tampos e do cavalete na resposta acústica do violino. A ressonância acústica da caixa do violino (ressonância de Helmholtz) será discutida fazendo-se um paralelo entre osciladores mecânico, elétrico e acústico. Discutiremos a resposta acústica do violino e descreveremos a produção de seu som caraterístico, que resulta da forma de onda originada pela excitação das cordas pelo arco, influenciada pelas vibrações e ressonâncias do corpo do violino, seus tampos e o cavalete.

Equivalência conceitual, de itens e semântica do Physical Activity Checklist Interview (PACI)

Há lacuna de questionários de atividade física para crianças brasileiras. O Physical Activity Checklist Interview (PACI), desenvolvido em crianças americanas, permite aferir atividade física do dia anterior. Constituem objetivos do estudo: (i) descrever os procedimentos envolvidos na escolha do PACI a ser submetido à adaptação transcultural; (ii) avaliar equivalências conceitual, de itens e semântica da versão adaptada para uso em crianças de 7 a 10 anos. Identificou-se o PACI pela revisão sistemática na qual foram incluídos dezoito questionários. Foram realizadas, no processo de escolha do instrumento, discussões com pesquisadores da área de atividade física. Verificou-se que o PACI permite aferir o construto e dimensões nas populações de origem e alvo, sendo necessário suprimir algumas atividades por não serem comuns na população alvo. Na equivalência semântica, realizou-se tradução, retradução e avaliação dos significados conotativo e referencial, com pré-teste em 24 crianças de 7 a 10 anos. Apresenta-se a versão do PACI adaptada, denominada Lista de Atividades Físicas (LAF).

Equivalência conceitual, de itens e semântica da versão brasileira do instrumento Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVSS) para avaliação de disfunção do trato urinário inferior em crianças

Investiga-se a equivalência conceitual, de itens e semântica entre o instrumento Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVSS), utilizado para avaliar a disfunção funcional do trato urinário inferior em crianças, concebido em inglês e uma versão em português. Na primeira etapa realizou-se a avaliação da equivalência conceitual e de itens, seguida de duas traduções do instrumento original para o português. Na segunda etapa foram realizadas 63 entrevistas, com crianças de 3 a 10 anos e responsáveis, e modificação de itens segundo dificuldades de interpretação. Na terceira etapa foi realizada a retradução do instrumento em português para o inglês e avaliação da equivalência semântica. Na quarta etapa, a versão pré-teste foi aplicada em vinte duplas de crianças de 3 a 10 anos e responsáveis. Apresenta-se o instrumento em português com equivalência conceitual, de itens e semântica. Sugere-se que a aplicação do DVSS seja realizada por meio de entrevista por profissional treinado e não baseada em autopreenchimento como proposto no instrumento original.

Do synergies improve accuracy? A study of speed-accuracy trade-offs during finger force production

We explored possible effects of negative covariation among finger forces in multifinger accurate force production tasks on the classical Fitts's speed-accuracy trade-off. Healthy subjects performed cyclic force changes between pairs of targets ""as quickly and accurately as possible."" Tasks with two force amplitudes and six ratics of force amplitude to target size were performed by each of the four fingers of the right hand and four finger combinations. There was a close to linear relation between movement time and the log-transformed ratio of target amplitude to target size across all finger combinations. There was a close to linear relation between standard deviation of force amplitude and movement time. There were no differences between the performance of either of the two ""radial"" fingers (index and middle) and the multifinger tasks. The ""ulnar"" fingers (little and ring) showed higher indices of variability and longer movement times as compared with both ""radial"" fingers and multifinger combinations. We conclude that potential effects of the negative covariation and also of the task-sharing across a set of fingers are counterbalanced by an increase in individual finger force variability in multifinger tasks as compared with single-finger tasks. The results speak in favor of a feed-forward model of multifinger synergies. They corroborate a hypothesis that multifinger synergies are created not to improve overall accuracy, but to allow the system larger flexibility, for example to deal with unexpected perturbations and concomitant tasks.

Postural control during prolonged standing in persons with chronic low back pain

Prolonged standing has been associated with the onset of low back pain symptoms in working populations. So far, it is unknown how individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) behave during prolonged unconstrained standing (PS). The aim of the present study was to analyze the control of posture by subjects with CLBP during PS in comparison to matched healthy adults. The center of pressure (COP) position of 12 CLBP subjects and 12 matched healthy controls was recorded in prolonged standing (30 min) and quiet stance tasks (60 s) on a force plate. The number and amplitude of COP patterns, the root mean square (RMS), speed, and frequency of COP sway were analyzed. Statistical analyses showed that CLBP subjects produced less Postural changes in the antero-posterior direction with decreased postural sway during the prolonged standing task in comparison to the healthy group. Only CLBP subjects were influenced by the prolonged standing task, as demonstrated by their increased COP RMS, COP speed and COP frequency in the quiet standing trial after the prolonged standing task in comparison to the pre-PS trial. The present study provides additional evidence that individuals with CLBP might have altered sensory-motor function. Their inability to generate responses similar to those of healthy subjects during prolonged standing may contribute to CLBP persistence or an increase risk of recurrent back pain episodes. Moreover, quantification of postural changes during prolonged standing could be useful to identify CLBP subjects prone to postural control deficits. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.