The approximate number system and mathematics achievement: it's complicated. A thorough investigation of different ANS measures and executive functions in mathematics achievement in children

The ability to represent approximate numerical magnitudes is often referred to as the approximate number system (ANS) and has regularly been proposed as foundational to mathematics achievement. However, some argue that the relation between ANS acuity and mathematics achievement ceases to exist when controlling for domain-general cognitive abilities. The current debate in the literature on whether ANS acuity remains a predictor to mathematics after strict control is applied leads to the need to simultaneously investigate domain-specific and domain-general foundational abilities in different ages. 174 Children took part in two computerised ANS tasks, two executive function tasks, a verbal skills task, two intelligence subscales, and a mathematics achievement task (i.e. global, formal, and informal mathematics achievement). Results demonstrated that, when controlling for intelligence and visuospatial memory, the relation between ANS acuity and mathematics achievement ceased to exist, and that ANS acuity might only play a predictive role in early informal mathematics

Hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy in Scotland : a total population study

The authors are grateful to the Scottish Government, The Robert Barr Trust and Brooke’s Dream for the funding to set up CPIPS and to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, for continuing funding.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the number of children from a total population of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Scotland who had a displaced or dislocated hip at first registration in a national surveillance programme. Methods: Migration percentage (MP), laterality, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, CP subtype, distribution of CP and age were analyzed in 1171 children. Relative risk was calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Hip displacement and dislocation were defined as a MP of 40 to 99 and > 100 respectively. Results: Radiographs were available from the first assessment of 1171 children out of 1933 children registered on the system. In all, 2.5% of children had either one or both hips dislocated (29/1171) and dislocation only occurred in children of GMFCS levels IV and V. A total of 10% of children had a MP 40 to 99 in one or both hips (117/1171). An increasing GMFCS level was strongly associated with an abnormal MP. Hip dislocation was unusual in patients under the age of seven years. A MP of 40 to 99 was not seen in children with isolated dystonia. Displacement was more frequent in children with bilateral involvement and dislocation was only seen in spastic and mixed tone groups. Conclusion: This data gives an overview of the number of CP children who have hip displacement/dislocation in Scotland and who will possibly require surgery.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Complete Genome Sequence of the Oral Spirochete Bacterium Treponema putidum Strain OMZ 758T (ATCC 700334T)

The oral spirochete bacterium Treponema putidum inhabits human periodontal niches. The complete genome sequence of the OMZ 758(T) (ATCC 700334(T)) strain of this species was determined, revealing a 2,796,913-bp chromosome, with a G+C content of 37.30% and a single plasmid (pTPu1; 3,649 bp) identical to pTS1 from Treponema denticola

Mental toughness in education: exploring relationships with attainment, attendance, behaviour and peer relationships

Mental toughness has frequently been associated with successful performance in sport; however, recent research suggests that it may also be related to academic performance in Higher Education. In a series of three exploratory studies, we examined the relationship between mental toughness and different aspects of educational performance in adolescents aged 11–16, focusing on academic attainment, school attendance, classroom behaviour and peer relationships. Study 1 revealed significant associations between several aspects of mental toughness (but particularly control of life) and academic attainment and attendance. Study 2 revealed significant associations between several aspects of mental toughness (but again particularly control of life) and counterproductive classroom behaviour. Finally, Study 3 demonstrated significant associations between aspects of mental toughness (confidence in abilities and interpersonal confidence) and peer relationships. The results are discussed in terms of the potential value of mental toughness as a useful concept in education

An all-sky radiative transfer method to predict optimal tilt and azimuth angle of a solar collector

This paper describes a radiative transfer method for calculating radiances in all-sky conditions and performing an integration over the view hemisphere of an arbitrary plane to calculate tilted irradiance. The advantage of this method is the combination of cloud parameters inside the radiative transfer model with a tilt procedure. For selected locations this method is applied with cloud, ozone, water vapour and aerosol input data to determine tilted irradiance, horizontal irradiance and optimal tilt angle. A validation is performed for horizontal and tilted irradiance against high-quality pyranometer data. For 27 sites around the world, the annual horizontal irradiation predicted by our model had a mean bias difference of +0.56% and a root-mean-squared difference of 6.69% compared to ground measurements. The difference between the annual irradiation estimates from our model and the measurements from one site that provides tilted irradiance were within ±6% for all orientations except the north-facing vertical plane. For European and African sites included in the validation, the optimal tilt from our model is typically a few degrees steeper than predictions from the popular PVGIS online tool. Our model is generally applicable to any location on the earth’s surface as the satellite cloud and atmosphere data and aerosol climatology data are available globally. Furthermore, all of the input data are standard variables in climate models and so this method can be used to predict tilted irradiance in future climate experiments

G-Quadruplex Visualization in Cells via Antibody and Fluorescence Probe

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acids structures involved in key regulatory and pathological roles in eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses: the development of specific antibodies and fluorescent probes represent an invaluable tool to understand their biological relevance. We here present three protocols for the visualization of G4s in cells, both uninfected and HSV-1 infected, using a specific antibody and a fluorescent G4 ligand, and the effect of the fluorescent ligand on a G4 binding protein, nucleolin, upon binding of the molecule to the nucleic acids structure

Overexpression of CDC25B, CDC25C and phospho-CDC25C (Ser216) in vulvar squamous cell carcinomas are associated with malignant features and aggressive cancer phenotypes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>CDC25 phosphatases are important regulators of the cell cycle. Their abnormal expression detected in a number of tumors implies that their dysregulation is involved in malignant transformation. However, the role of CDC25s in vulvar cancer is still unknown. To shed light on their roles in the pathogenesis and to clarify their prognostic values, expression of CDC25A, CDC25B and CDC25C in a large series of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas were examined.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Expression of CDC25A, CDC25B, CDC25C and phosphorylated (phospho)-CDC25C (Ser216) were examined in 300 vulvar carcinomas using immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis was utilized to demonstrate CDC25s expression in vulvar cancer cell lines. Kinase and phosphatase assays were performed to exclude cross reactivity among CDC25s isoform antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High nuclear CDC25A and CDC25B expression were observed in 51% and 16% of the vulvar carcinomas, respectively, whereas high cytoplasmic CDC25C expression was seen in 63% of the cases. In cytoplasm, nucleus and cytoplasm/nucleus high phospho-CDC25C (Ser216) expression was identified in 50%, 70% and 77% of the carcinomas, respectively. High expression of CDC25s correlated significantly with malignant features, including poor differentiation and infiltration of vessel for CDC25B, high FIGO stage, presence of lymph node metastases, large tumor diameter, poor differentiation for CDC25C and high FIGO stage, large tumor diameter, deep invasion and poor differentiation for phospho-CDC25C (Ser216). In univariate analysis, high expression of phospho-CDC25C (Ser216) was correlated with poor disease-specific survival (p = 0.04). However, such an association was annulled in multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that CDC25C and phospho-CDC25C (Ser216) play a crucial role and CDC25B a minor role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of vulvar carcinomas. CDC25B, CDC25C and phospho-CDC25C (Ser216) were associated with malignant features and aggressive cancer phenotypes. However, the CDC25s isoforms were not independently correlated to prognosis.</p