Evaluierung adaptiver Mechanismen und Einfluss eines explorativen Sakkadentrainings auf Orientierungsfähigkeit und Lebensqualität bei Kindern mit homonymer Hemianopsie

Eine homonyme Hemianopsie als Folge postchiasmaler Schädigungen führt zu Orientierungsschwierigkeiten im Alltag. Evaluiert werden soll, ob Kinder Kompensationsmechanismen aufweisen, ob sie über Einschränkungen im Alltag berichten, ob diese durch das Training weniger werden, und der Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität

Dynamics of promoter bivalency and RNAP II pausing in mouse stem and differentiated cells

Mammalian embryonic stem cells display a unique epigenetic and transcriptional state to facilitate pluripotency by maintaining lineage-specification genes in a poised state. Two epigenetic and transcription processes involved in maintaining poised state are bivalent chromatin, characterized by the simultaneous presence of activating and repressive histone methylation marks, and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) promoter proximal pausing. However, the dynamics of histone modifications and RNAPII at promoters in diverse cellular contexts remains underexplored. We collected genome wide data for bivalent chromatin marks H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, and RNAPII (8WG16) occupancy together with expression profiling in eight different cell types, including ESCs, in mouse. The epigenetic and transcription profiles at promoters grouped in over thirty clusters with distinct functional identities and transcription control. The clustering analysis identified distinct bivalent clusters where genes in one cluster retained bivalency across cell types while in the other were mostly cell type specific, but neither showed a high RNAPII pausing. We noted that RNAPII pausing is more associated with active genes than bivalent genes in a cell type, and was globally reduced in differentiated cell types compared to multipotent

Does understanding what a test measures make a difference? On the relevance of the ability to identify criteria for situational judgment test performance

Situational judgment tests (SJTs) are low‐fidelity simulations that are often used in personnel selection. Previous research has provided evidence that the ability to identify criteria (ATIC)—individuals' capability to detect underlying constructs in nontransparent personnel selection procedures—is relevant in simulations in personnel selection, such as assessment centers and situational interviews. Building on recent theorizing about response processes in SJTs as well as on previous empirical results, we posit that ATIC predicts SJT performance. We tested this hypothesis across two preregistered studies. In Study 1, a between‐subjects planned‐missingness design (N = 391 panelists) was employed and 55 selected items from five different SJTs were administered. Mixed‐effects‐modeling revealed a small effect for ATIC in predicting SJT responses. Results were replicated in Study 2 (N = 491 panelists), in which a complete teamwork SJT was administered with a high‐ or a low‐stakes instruction and showed either no or a small correlation with ATIC, respectively. We compare these findings with other studies, discuss implications for our understanding of response processes in SJTs, and derive avenues for future research

Effects of visual search training in children with hemianopia.

BACKGROUND:This study investigates the effect of a new computer-based visual search training (VST) that was adapted for children with homonymous hemianopia (HH). METHODS:22 children with HH (median age 11 years, 8 months: 6y6m-19y2m) trained at home for 15 minutes twice/day, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. To assess performance before training (T1), directly after training (T2) and 6 weeks after the end of training (T3), we measured search times (STs) during on-screen search (with eye tracking), and in a real life search task. Additional variables analyzed during on-screen search were numbers, amplitudes, and durations of saccades, their directional patterns and the proportional number of saccades into the non-seeing field. The latter was the main variable during free viewing. Sixteen healthy age-matched children, who did not undergo the training, served as comparison group. Quality of Life (QoL)-questionnaires were also applied. RESULTS:STs of the patients decreased significantly during the training and all search performance tests. This improvement persisted 6 weeks after the end of the training. Saccade amplitudes increased, total number of saccades to find the target decreased, and the proportional number of saccades to the non-seeing side increased. These changes were maintained at T3. Saccade durations did not change. During free viewing, saccades were equally distributed to both sides before and after training. Patients reported improvements in QoL and activities of daily living. Performance in the healthy children did not change by simply repeating the visual search test. CONCLUSIONS:The improvement in STs in all search tasks, larger and fewer saccades, and an improved search strategy after VST suggests that the children with HH benefited from the training. The maintained improvement at T3 and the improvement in the real life search task indicate that the newly developed search strategy persists and can be applied to everyday life