Preschool Children\u27s Development in Number, Geometry, and Executive Function: A Cross-Lagged Examination

Children develop rapidly during early childhood, and this includes their mathematics and executive function (EF) skills. Past research has focused on connections between early mathematics and EF, but more work was needed to fully understand these relations. In particular, past studies have generally used numeracy-based measures to assess early mathematics, although professional guidelines indicate a more comprehensive construct that includes geometry. The research herein addresses some of the gaps of previous work as it examines unique connections between early number, geometry, and EF. One hundred eighteen preschool children from urban and rural communities, being an average age of 53 months at the beginning of the preschool year, were assessed at both the beginning and end of the preschool year. Using the TEAM, a measure of early mathematics inclusive of number and geometry, and the Head Toes Knees Shoulders (HTKS), a measure of early EF with elements of working memory, inhibition, and cognitive shift, relationships between number, geometry, and EF were examined across the preschool year, using a cross-lagged panel model. Three-way ANOVAs were also used to examine differences based on demographic factors, specifically gender, maternal education, household income, and urbanicity (defined by USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes). Findings indicate demographic factors played a limited role; household income was significantly associated with number skills and urbanicity with EF skills at the beginning of the preschool year. No other significant relationships based on demographic variables were found. Number skills at Time 1 universally contributed to number, geometry, and EF performance at Time 2; geometry at Time 2 was universally influenced by number, geometry, and EF at Time 1. EF played a mixed role; Time 1 EF significantly predicted Time 2 geometry, and Time 2 EF was significantly predicted by Time 1 number skills. These findings suggest that geometry is an important area of early mathematics to consider, and the relationship between mathematics and EF may be more nuanced than previously understood

Self-Report QRIS: Challenges with Validation

Research Findings. The current study looks at the validity of a voluntary self-report Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and the characteristics of participating childcare centers. The self-reported quality indicators are compared to external ratings of quality (ECERSR) and correlated with variables such as size of center and number of state subsidy clients. ECERS-R scores were unrelated to capacity but significantly lower for centers with a large percentage of state supported clients. Regarding self-reported quality, centers frequently underreported their quality and what was claimed was not always externally validated, suggesting a self-report QRIS may not be an accurate assessment of quality. Additionally, no significant differences in quality were found between centers participating and those not-participating in the self-report QRIS. Practice or Policy. Self-reported childcare quality was not accurate in this study. Although providers over-reported some quality, they frequently under-reported quality, by claiming fewer indicators than external validators found. When centers are unmotivated to participate in a voluntary, self-report QRIS, when items reported are the easiest to report, and when existing quality indicators are unreported, a self-reported QRIS cannot validly reflect quality. Because providers both over reported and under-reported quality criteria, it is doubtful the system truly incentivizes desired quality changes

Preschool Mathematics Performance and Executive Function: Rural-Urban Comparisons Across Time

This longitudinal study, with urban and rural preschool children, examines the relationship between executive function (EF) and mathematics. A panel of direct and indirect measures of EF were used to determine which EF measures were most predictive and a measure of mathematics assessed both numeracy and geometry skill. One hundred eighteen children, ages 39 to 68 months, and their preschool teachers were included, with assessments given twice, about six months apart. EF measures were compared by the amount of variance in mathematics skill each claimed, including the influence of a child’s age, gender, and rural-urban context. Results suggest the child’s age determines if a panel of direct EF measures is a better predictor of numeracy and geometry skills than the use of a single EF measure. Different EF measures were more strongly related to numeracy versus geometry at Time 1 and Time 2. Differences unrelated to income were found between rural and urban children on numeracy skill but not geometry skill. These results are particularly important to state and regional early childhood directors who work across urban and rural areas, legislators and policymakers, teachers and parents

Montabot – La Pâture

Date de l'opération : 2009 (SD) Dans le cadre de la constitution du circuit des chemins du protestantisme du canton de Percy, l’association de « Sauvegarde et de Valorisation du Patrimoine du Val de Sienne » a entrepris la mise en valeur du cimetière protestant de la Patûre, sur la commune de Montabot. L’étude des archives menée par Jacky Brionne indiquait l’achat du terrain le 23 janvier 1789, pour servir de cimetière aux protestants. Les registres d’état-civil antérieurs à 1837 ayant dispar..

Preschool Mathematics Performance and Executive Function: Rural-Urban Comparisons across Time

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between executive function (EF) and mathematics with rural and urban preschool children. A panel of direct and indirect EF measures were used to compare how well individual measures, as well as analytic approaches, predicted both numeracy and geometry skill. One hundred eighteen children, ages 39 to 68 months, were given EF and mathematics assessments twice, approximately six months apart, concurrent to their teachers completing an indirect assessment of EF for each child. Results suggest: (1) the child’s age determines if a panel of direct EF measures is a better predictor of numeracy and geometry skills than a single EF measure, (2) geometry and numeracy skill are influenced differently by contextual factors, and (3) the EF-geometry link may develop about six months later than the EF-numeracy connection. As the relationship between preschool age EF and mathematics is better understood, efforts can be made to improve the aspects of EF connected to mathematics skill, which may aid in performance

Using mass-flow controllers for obtaining extremely stable ECR ion source beams

Original publication available at http://www.jacow.orgInternational audienceBeam stability and reproducibility is of paramount importance in applications requiring precise control of implanted radiation dose, like in the case of Hadrontherapy. The beam intensity over several weeks or months should be kept constant. Moreover, the timing for changing the nature of the beam and, as a consequence, the tuning of the source should be minimized. Standard valves usually used in conjunction of ECR ion sources have the disadvantage of controlling the conductance, which can vary significantly with external conditions, like ambient temperature and inlet pressure of the gas. The use of flow controllers is the natural way for avoiding these external constraints. In this contribution we present the results obtained using a new model of Mass-flow controller in the source Supernanogan, for production of C4+ and H3+ beams. Extremely stable beams (± 2.5%) without retuning of the source over several weeks could be obtained. The reproducibility of the source tuning parameters could also be demonstrated

Data set for the proteomic inventory and quantitative analysis of chicken eggshell matrix proteins during the primary events of eggshell mineralization and the active growth phase of calcification

This research was funded by the French National Research Agency ANR (ANR-13-BSV6-0007-01, ANK-13-BSV6-0007-02 and ANK-13-BSV6-0007-05). The high resolution mass spectrometer was financed (SMHART project, 35069) by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Conseil Regional du Centre, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), ARN acknowledges funding through Grants CGL2011-25906 (Ministerio de Economia, Spain).Chicken eggshell is a biomineral composed of 95% calcite calcium carbonate mineral and of 3.5% organic matrix proteins. The assembly of mineral and its structural organization is controlled by its organic matrix. In a recent study [1], we have used quantitative proteomic, bioinformatic and functional analyses to explore the distribution of 216 eggshell matrix proteins at four key stages of shell mineralization defined as: (1) widespread deposition of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), (2) ACC transformation into crystalline calcite aggregates, (3) formation of larger calcite crystal units and (4) rapid growth of calcite as columnar structure with preferential crystal orientation. The current article detailed the quantitative analysis performed at the four stages of shell mineralization to determine the proteins which are the most abundant. Additionally, we reported the enriched GO terms and described the presence of 35 antimicrobial proteins equally distributed at all stages to keep the egg free of bacteria and of 81 proteins, the function of which could not be ascribed.French National Research Agency (ANR) ANR-13-BSV6-0007-01 ANK-13-BSV6-0007-02 ANK-13-BSV6-0007-05European Union (EU) 35069Region Centre-Val de LoireFrench National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm)Ministerio de Economia, Spain CGL2011-2590

Protein expression reveals a molecular sexual identity of avian primordial germ cells at pre-gonadal stages

International audienceIn poultry, in vitro propagated primordial germ cells (PGCs) represent an important tool for the cryopreservation of avian genetic resources. However, several studies have highlighted sexual differences exhibited by PGCs during in vitro propagation, which may compromise their reproductive capacities. To understand this phenomenon, we compared the proteome of pregonadal migratory male (ZZ) and female (ZW) chicken PGCs propagated in vitro by quantitative proteomic analysis using a GeLC-MS/MS strategy. Many proteins were found to be differentially abundant in chicken male and female PGCs indicating their early sexual identity. Many of the proteins more highly expressed in male PGCs were encoded by genes localised to the Z sex chromosome. This suggests that the known lack of dosage compensation of the transcription of Z-linked genes between sexes persists at the protein level in PGCs, and that this may be a key factor of their autonomous sex differentiation. We also found that globally, protein differences do not closely correlate with transcript differences indicating a selective translational mechanism in PGCs. Male and female PGC expressed protein sets were associated with differential biological processes and contained proteins known to be biologically relevant for male and female germ cell development, respectively. We also discovered that female PGCs have a higher capacity to uptake proteins from the cell culture medium than male PGCs. This study presents the first evidence of an early predetermined sex specific cell fate of chicken PGCs and their sexual molecular specificities which will enable the development of more precise sex-specific in vitro culture conditions for the preservation of avian genetic resources

Transforming Growth Factor β Promotes Neuronal Cell Fate of Mouse Cortical and Hippocampal Progenitors In Vitro and In Vivo: Identification of Nedd9 as an Essential Signaling Component

Transforming Growth Factor β (Tgfβ) and associated signaling effectors are expressed in the forebrain, but little is known about the role of this multifunctional cytokine during forebrain development. Using hippocampal and cortical primary cell cultures of developing mouse brains, this study identified Tgfβ-regulated genes not only associated with cell cycle exit of progenitors but also with adoption of neuronal cell fate. Accordingly, we observed not only an antimitotic effect of Tgfβ on progenitors but also an increased expression of neuronal markers in Tgfβ treated cultures. This effect was dependent upon Smad4. Furthermore, in vivo loss-of-function analyses using Tgfβ2−/−/Tgfβ3−/− double mutant mice showed the opposite effect of increased cell proliferation and fewer neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Gata2, Runx1, and Nedd9 were candidate genes regulated by Tgfβ and known to be involved in developmental processes of neuronal progenitors. Using siRNA-mediated knockdown, we identified Nedd9 as an essential signaling component for the Tgfβ-dependent increase in neuronal cell fate. Expression of this scaffolding protein, which is mainly described as a signaling molecule of the β1-integrin pathway, was not only induced after Tgfβ treatment but was also associated with morphological changes of the Nestin-positive progenitor pool observed upon exposure to Tgfβ