Executive Function in Preschool Children: Working Memory as a Predictor of Mathematical Ability at School Age

This paper attempts to provide a synthesis and appraisal of the field of executive functions (EF). In a moment in which early education is a very important issue in Romania, the purpose of this study is to emphasize the importance of early development of EF and EF correlation with school readiness (Ionescu and Benga, 2007). Core EF skills are (i) inhibitory control, (ii) working memory (WM), and (iii) cognitive flexibility. According to empirical studies, the model of WM proposes a multicomponent architecture, including specialized subsystems, considered important in developing children’s language skills and mathematics. The WM model comprises four subcomponents. Two domain-specific limited capacity slave systems, the phonological loop (Baddeley, 1986), and the visuo-spatial sketchpad assume responsibility for storing and manipulating verbal or visuo-spatial information. These are coordinated by a domain-general limited capacity system, the central executive, which commands a number of functions including planning, inhibition, switching attention, and monitoring the processing of temporarily held information. The recently added fourth subcomponent, the episodic buffer (Baddeley, 2000), is considered to be responsible for the integration of information from the subcomponents of WM and long-term memory (LTM). Research has suggested that that independent contribution of the different working memory components and functions suggests that the relationship between individual differences in working memory and arithmetic is mediated by a number of resources, not only processing efficiency but also storage capacity and (central) executive ability. In conclusion, the present study shows strong evidence regarding implications of WM for mathematical development and mathematic curricula.executive function, preschool development, math abilities, assessment

Qualitative versus quantitative marketing research

Marketing research approach might be accomplished in different ways. In the practical view, we can say that treating it as quantitative and qualitative is more pragmatic and operational.qualitative research, quantitative research, qualitative techniques, sample, sampling, weighting factors.

Immunohistochemical expression of androgen receptor and prostate-specific antigen in breast cancer.

AR (androgen receptor) and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) are involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, but their role is not clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to analyze by immunohistochemistry the AR and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) expression in 156 female breast carcinomas and to correlate the results with some histopathological parameters, like ER (estrogen receptor), PR (progesterone receptor), HER2/neu, nodal and metastasis status, histological type and grade. ARs and PSA were expressed in 112/156 (72%) and respectively in 61/156 (39%) of cases and we found a positive correlation between AR and PSA expression in breast carcinomas (

Radial artery harvesting technique for use in coronary bypass surgery

Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie ”Gr. T. Popa” Iași, România Institutul de Boli Cardiovasculare „Prof. Gr. George I.M. Georgescu”, Iași, RomâniaThe radial artery (RA) was introduced in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as an alternative to the use of the great saphenous vein at the beginning of the 1970s (Carpentier, 1973). The authors describe the anatomical characteristisc of the radial artery, the main procedures used in harvesting the vessel, underlying the most risky anatomical area that should be avoided during the surgical procedures. Compared with the internal mammary artery (IMA), the radial artery is characterized by an increased prevalence of intimal alterations of fibrointimal hyperplasia or atherosclerosis type. Rigurous knowledge of brachi-antebrahial anatomical structures and gentle manipulation of the RA prevents CABG complications such as arterial spasm, injury to the endothelium, dysesthesia, ischemia, and compartment syndrome. The strategy of the graft procedure (graft type, method of harvesting) depends on the clinico-anamnestic specificities of the case, on the surgeon's choice and his surgical expertise.Artera radială (AR) a fost introdusă în chirurgia cardiacă la începutul anilor 1970 ca alternativă a utilizării venelor în chirurgia de bypass aorto-coronarian (BAC) (Carpentier, 1973). Autorii descriu caracteristicile anatomice ale AR și metoda de recoltare chirurgicală insistând asupra zonelor anatomice riscante care trebuie abordate cu atenție pe parcursul intervenției. Datorită introducerii în practica medicală a blocanţilor de calciu, a perfecţionării tehnicilor de recoltare şi preparare a AR, a crescut durata patenţei graftului arterial, AR redevenind graft de elecţie în chirurgia arterelor coronare. Comparativ cu artera mamară internă (AMI), AR este caracterizată de o prevalență crescută a leziunilor intimale de tip hiperplazie fibrointimală sau ateroscleroză. Cunoaşterea morfologiei și anatomiei topografice a structurilor brahiantibrahiale precum și manevrarea delicată a AR previne apariţia complicațiilor secundare bypass-ului de tipul spasmului arterial, lezarea endarterei, disesteziilor, ischemiei, sindromului de compartiment. Tehnica BAC (alegerea tipului de graft, metoda de recoltare) depinde de particularitățile clinoc-anamnestice ale cazului, opțiunea și experiența chirurgului

Mn-tetratolylporphyrin-Nano-Au complex sensitive to 4-aminosalicylic acid

Porphyrins and metalloporphyrins provide recognition sites for amino acids both through their cationic central metal ion and due to various functional groups at the four mesoand the eight β-positions of pyrolles. Immobilized metallo-phenylporphyrins can be used as sensitive and selective sensors for different analytes as they provide two ways of interaction via the metallic center of porphyrin and between the electrons of the macrocycles and the solute [1]. The purpose of this study was to establish an easy way to determine low concentrations of 4-aminosalycilic acid (PAS) using hybrid materials obtained from porphyrins, namely: Mn(III)-tetratolylporphyrin chloride (MnTTPCl) and gold nanoparticles (n-Au). During the adding of 4-aminosalycilic acid to the MnTTPCl-nAu hybrid it can be observed that the intensity of the plasmonic band is continuously decreasing with the increase in 4-aminosalycilic acid concentration. Another notable feature is the bathochromic shift of the major peak to higher wavelengths from 619 nm to 622 nm. Equilibria processes are involved and accompanied by an isosbestic point around 725 nm. The dependence between the absorption intensity of the plasmonic complex and the concentration of 4-aminosalicylic acid is linear, with an excellent corelation coefficient of 99.31% in a wide range of 4- aminosalicylic acid concentrations: 2.88x10-5M - 8.89x10-4M

Quality of Education in Romania. Case Study – School Results

Education is an important area of training the individual’s personality for a better individual life, contributes to the well-being of society by developing a set of skills that can be applied throughout life, can trigger the emergence of innovative ideas that benefit society as a whole. Lack of education creates problems such as domestic violence, poor health and especially low living standards. That is why without a good education, a better society cannot be formed. The quality of education is given by all the characteristics of the education system. One of the indicators that can highlight the quality of education is represented by the students’ school results. Therefore, the emphasis is on students’ results and the added value of the school. „Education is increasingly becoming a public service, a provider of quality, which is evaluated and self-evaluated as an organization, based on standards and whose management must ensure the satisfaction of customer requirements, in terms of efficiency and maximizing added value ( Preda & Diaconescu, 2013, p.5). Quality in the educational environment is a mirror of performance in knowledge-based educational institutions that tend to be compatible with education systems around the world. And lack of education is a root cause of poverty

Coronary sinus reconstruction - 2 cases report

University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa”, Iasi, Cardiovascular Disease Institute, Iasi (IBCV Iasi)Introduction: Coronary sinus and ostium primum (unique atrium type) atrial septal defects (ASD) represent rare congenital malformations (less than 1% o f total ASDs) and are frequently associated with persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC). The shunt is caused in the first case by the incomplete development of the wall between the coronary sinus and the left atrium and in the second case, the coronary sinus drains into the single atrial cavity. Case description: Two patients (I. P., 15 years, B. G., 12 years) were operated in 2013 in our clinic. In the first case, although enlargement of the coronary sinus was not identified during echography, angio-CT showed fenestration of the coronary sinus wall and cardiac catheterization documented the bidirectional shunt as well as the persistent LSVC. Moreover, the ASD was associated with patent ductus arteriosis and cor triatriatum. In the second case the ostium primum ASD and the persistent LSVC as well as an anterior mitral valve cleft were diagnosed by echography and CT. Both patients underwent elective surgery. The coronaiy sinus was reconstructed in both cases using autologous pericardial patches. Moreover, in the first patient the ductus arteriosis was ligated and the intraatrial trabeculum was excised. In the second case the interatrial septum was reconstructed with autologous pericardium. Both cases had an unremarkable postoperatory recovery. Conclusions: Both cases showed that although the diagnosis for these malformations requires multiple investigations, a surgical correction with good long term results is feasible if the mechanism of the shunt is well documented

Optical detection of Rhodamine B by Pt(II) tetra-(4-allyloxy-phenyl)-porphyrin

Rhodamine B is a red, water-soluble synthetic dye with multiple uses in cosmetics, textiles, medicines, food, plastics. Nevertheless, the colorant is toxic causing irritation of the skin, eyes, and airways. For this reason, the control of foods and cosmetics is a must. The present study reports a simple and fast UV-vis spectrophotometric method for the detection of rhodamine B by using as sensitive material Pt(II)-tetra-(4-allyloxy-phenyl)-porphyrin. The method is viable in the range of rhodamine B concentrations from 1.94 x10-6M to 4.26 x10- 5M with very good accuracy

Platinum-porphyrin involved in the UV-VIS spectrophotometric detection of Rhodamine B and oxygen peroxide

Based on the potential toxicity of rhodamine B, the purpose of this study was to realize a novel UV-vis spectrophotometric method for the rapid and not expensive detection of this dye from water, soft drinks and various foods, using as sensitive material Pt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetra(4- methoxy-phenyl)-porphyrin (Pt(II)-TMeOPP). The method was successful in the detection domain 2x10-8M up to 1.2x10-7M. The second achievement was the application of this complex formed between Pt(II)-TMeOPP and rhodamine B as potential sensitive agent for the sensing of hydrogen peroxide, and it proved to be efficient in the medical field relevance (5- 14x10-8 M)

Zn-metalloporphyrins containing pyridyl groups and their comparative capacity to coordinate hexachloroplatinic acid

Two Zn-metalloporphyrins, both containing at least one-pyridyl group, were studied regarding their capacity to complex hexachloroplatinic acid comprised in leaching solutions and resulted after hydrometallurgical processes on spent automotive catalysts. The number of pyridyl groups and the steric and electronic influences from surrounding groups determine a different type of coordination with the hexachloroplatinic acid from solution, and surprisingly, although containing only one group of basic pyridyl, the unsymmetrical Zn(II)- 5-pyridyl-10,15,20-tris-(3,4-di-methoxy-phenyl)-porphyrin had a removal capacity of 98% higher than that of Zn(II)-meso-tetrakis-pyridylporphyrin, substituted with four pyridyl groups, but with only a removal capacity of 84 %