Problem Solving Styles in Autism Spectrum Disorder and the development of higher cognitive functions

The Vygotsky Blocks Test (VBT) assesses problem-solving styles within a theoretical framework for the development of higher mental processes devised by Vygotsky (Daniels et al., 2007). Because both the theory and the associated test situate cognitive development within the child's social and linguistic context, they address conceptual issues around the developmental relation between language and thought that are pertinent to development in autism. Our aim was to document the performance of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the VBT, and our results showed that they made more errors than the typically developing (TD) participants and that these errors correlated with performance IQ. The ASD group also required more cues than the TD group to discern the conceptual structure of the blocks, a pattern that correlated with ADOS Communication and Imagination/Creativity sub-scales. When asked to categorize the blocks in new ways, the ASD participants developed fewer principles on which to base new categorizations, which in contrast to the TD group, correlated with verbal IQ and with the Imagination/Creativity sub-scale of the ADOS. These results are in line with a number of existing findings in the ASD literature and confirm that conceptualization in ASD seems to rely more on non-verbal and less on imaginative processes than in TD individuals. The findings represent first steps to the possibility of outlining a testable account of psychological development in ASD that integrates verbal, non-verbal and social factors into the transition from elementary to higher-level processes

Predictors of Serum Dioxins and PCBs among Peripubertal Russian Boys

Background: Although sources and routes of exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been studied, information regarding exposure among children is limited. Breast-feeding and diet are two important contributors to early life exposure. To further understand other significant contributors to childhood exposure, we studied a cohort of children from a city with high environmental dioxin levels. Objectives: We investigated predictors of serum concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)/co-planar PCBs (C-PCBs), toxic equivalents (TEQs), and PCBs among 8- to 9-year-old boys in Chapaevsk, Russia. Methods: We used general linear regression models to explore associations of log10-transformed serum concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs/C-PCBs, TEQs, and PCBs at study entry with anthropometric, demographic, geographic, and dietary factors in 482 boys in Chapaevsk, Russia. Results: The median (25th, 75th percentile) concentration for total 2005 TEQs was 21.1 pg/g lipid (14.4, 33.2). Boys who were older, consumed local foods, were breast-fed longer, and whose mothers were employed at the Khimprom chemical plant (where chlorinated chemicals were produced) or gardened locally had significantly higher serum dioxins and PCBs, whereas boys with higher body mass index or more educated parents had significantly lower serum dioxins and PCBs. Boys who lived less than 2 km from Khimprom had higher total TEQs (picograms per gram lipid) [adjusted mean = 30.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 26.8–35.0] than boys who lived greater than 5 km away (adjusted mean = 18.8; 95% CI, 17.2–20.6). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are specific local sources of dioxin and PCB exposure among children in Chapaevsk including maternal gardening, consumption of locally grown food, and residential proximity to the Khimprom plant

Эффективность учебно-диспансерной работы в сельских районах и ее роль в подготовке врача-стоматолога

Важнейшими предпосылками дальнейшего усовершенствования подготовки специалистов является укрепление связи учебного процесса с учебно-диспансерной и лечебной работой студентов в сельской местности, приближение будущего врача к предстоящей практической деятельности в условиях сельской больницы. Успешное ее решение, по нашему опыту, способствует достаточно высокий исходный уровень теоретических знаний у студентов, умение использовать их на практике, овладение необходимыми мануальными навыками. Кроме того, большое значение имеет консультации профессора, доцентов, опытных ассистентов. В современной стратегии профилактической деятельности важное место принадлежит всеобщей диспансеризации населения, которая предполагает ежегодное медицинское обследование каждого жителя с целью выявления лиц с ранними проявлениями заболеваний челюстно-лицевой системы. В 1987/88 г.г. в районах Полтавской области осмотрено 17157 человек. Наряду с диспансерным осмотром организованных групп (механизаторов, животноводов, ветеранов войны и труда) осмотрено 7 635 детей в детских садах, школах, ПТУ. Из числа осмотренных 11 215 нуждались в санации полости рта. Санировано 3 741 человек. Причем вся эта работа проводилась с учетом режима занятий и занятости учащихся на осенних сельхозработах; The most important prerequisites for further improvement of the training of specialists are to strengthen the connection between the educational process and the educational and clinical work of students in rural areas, the approach of the future doctor to the forthcoming practical activities in a rural hospital. Its successful solution, in our experience, contributes to a sufficiently high initial level of theoretical knowledge among students, the ability to use them in practice, mastering the necessary manual skills. In addition, the importance of consulting the professor, associate professors, experienced assistants. In the current strategy of preventive activities, an important place belongs to the universal medical examination of the population, which involves an annual medical examination of each resident in order to identify those with early manifestations of diseases of the maxillofacial system. In 1987/88. in the Poltava region, 17157 people were examined. Along with the dispensary examination of organized groups (machine operators, livestock breeders, veterans of war and labor) 7,635 children were examined in kindergartens, schools, vocational schools. Among those examined, 1115 were in need of sanitation of the oral cavity. 3 741 people were sanitized. And all this work was carried out taking into account the mode of employment and employment of students in the autumn agricultural work; Найважливішими передумовами подальшого удосконалення підготовки фахівців є зміцнення зв'язку навчального процесу з навчально-диспансерної і лікувальною роботою студентів в сільській місцевості, наближення майбутнього лікаря до майбутньої практичної діяльності в умовах сільської лікарні. Успішне її рішення, за нашим досвідом, сприяє досить високий вихідний рівень теоретичних знань у студентів, вміння використовувати їх на практиці, оволодіння необхідними чуттєвими навичками. Крім того, велике значення має консультації професора, доцентів, досвідчених асистентів. У сучасній стратегії профілактичної діяльності важливе місце належить загальної диспансеризації населення, яка передбачає щорічне медичне обстеження кожного жителя з метою виявлення осіб з ранніми проявами захворювань щелепно-лицьової системи. У 1987/88 р.р. в районах Полтавської області оглянуто 17157 осіб. Поряд з диспансерним оглядом організованих груп (механізаторів, тваринників, ветеранів війни та праці) оглянуто 7 635 дітей в дитячих садах, школах, ПТУ. З числа оглянутих 11 215 потребували санації порожнини рота. Санувати 3 741 осіб. Причому вся ця робота проводилася з урахуванням режиму занять і зайнятості учнів на осінніх сільськогосподарських роботах

Analiza wpływu obciążeń sejsmicznych na deformacje wieżowca w zależności od liczby kondygnacji

In the article results of influence of seismic load on deformations of constructions of high-rise building with different number of floors are presented. Calculations have been made by the finite element method under direct time integration with Newmark’s scheme, taking into account damping. It is shown that maximum building oscillations can appear under partial height of a building. This effect should be taken into consideration in designing of buildings.W pracy przedstawione są wyniki wpływu obciążeń sejsmicznych na deformacje konstrukcji wieżowca przy różnej liczbie kondygnacji. Obliczenia zostały przeprowadzone metodą elementów skończonych drogą całkowania bezpośredniego względem czasu metodą Newmarka z uwzględnieniem tłumienia. Pokazano, że drgania maksymalne mogą występować przy niepełnej wysokości budynku. Zjawisko to należy uwzględnić przy projektowaniu budynków

The Study of Protective Properties of Vaccines against Virulent Strains of the Virus Tick-Borne Encephalitis Three Genotypes: European, Far Eastern and Siberian (Experimental Research)

Researches and presents comparative characteristics of protective properties of vaccines EC domestic and foreign production by immunization line BALB/c mice in a standard experiment for estimating the immunogenic activity against virulent strains of TBE virus three genotypes: genotype 1 - the strain «Sof'in», genotype 2 - strain «Absettarov», genotype 3 - strain «Lesopark». The results are of considerable interest in the evaluation of the efficiency and interchangeability of vaccines for the prevention of TBE in areas of natural foci of the disease in Russia. Currently, the circulation of the pathogen in the Russian Federation dominated by the TBE virus strains Siberian subtype (genotype) -more than 70% of virulent strains of TBE virus released into the natural foci of the Urals, Siberia, the Trans-Baikal. In studies on mice of BALB/c did not reveal significant differences in terms of protection (MID50 and DT50) against virulent strains of TBE virus three genotypes - the Far East, Europe and Siberia for three vaccines: «The vaccine encephalitis culture purified concentrated dry» (production Mikhail Chumakov Federal Research Centre for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations, Moscow), EntseVir (production Federal State Unitary Enterprise «Scientific and Production Association «Microgen»), FSME-Immun (Baxter AG production, Austria). Vaccines have shown good protection (protective) properties against 3 genotypes of TBE virus. Revealed a lower protective activity of vaccines Entsepur (manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) strains of TBE 1 and 3 genotypes. These results confirm earlier studies to study the humoral response in mice BALB/c in the experiments with double and triple immunization