From developmental theory to effective training: long-term and transfer effects of promoting the quantity–to–number word linkage in first-graders at risk for mathematical difficulties

IntroductionThe model of quantity–to–number word linkage (QNL model) identifies relevant milestones in the process of early numerical acquisition and describes a developmental sequence that can guide the fostering of foundational mathematical abilities in at-risk children. While there is substantial evidence for the predictive value of the quantity-number competencies (QNC) described by the model, evidence supporting the preventive potential of interventions targeting these QNC is so far largely restricted to short-term effects. Findings regarding their long-term preventive impact, especially in terms of transfer to mathematical school achievement, are still limited. This quasi-experimental study aimed to address this gap by evaluating the long-term transfer effects of an intervention program that is strictly derived from the QNL model of mathematical development [QNL training; in German “Mengen, zählen, Zahlen” (MZZ)].MethodsWe assessed the quantity-number competencies of 575 first-graders and identified 119 of them as being at risk for mathematical learning difficulties, who were then assigned to three experimental conditions. Sixty one children received 12 sessions of the QNL training, while 30 underwent training in inductive reasoning. Another 28 children served as a control group, receiving no specific intervention.Results and DiscussionMulti-level analyses confirmed both significant short-and long-term effects in the specifically trained quantity–number competencies as well as transfer effects on subsequent mathematical school achievement. In accordance with previous findings, transfer effects of the QNL training on mathematical school achievement were not yet evident immediately after the intervention but turned out to be significant after a delay of 6 months and remained stable even 15 months after training. Effect sizes ranged from d = 0.32 to d = 1.12. These findings both underscore the preventive potential of interventions that are strictly driven by developmental theory and, conversely, support the theoretical assumptions of the QNL model

Accuracy of Frozen Section Analysis of Urethral and Ureteral Margins During Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Diagnostic Meta-Analysis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Developments and applications of the OPTIMADE API for materials discovery, design, and data exchange

The Open Databases Integration for Materials Design (OPTIMADE) application programming interface (API) empowers users with holistic access to a growing federation of databases, enhancing the accessibility and discoverability of materials and chemical data. Since the first release of the OPTIMADE specification (v1.0), the API has undergone significant development, leading to the upcoming v1.2 release, and has underpinned multiple scientific studies. In this work, we highlight the latest features of the API format, accompanying software tools, and provide an update on the implementation of OPTIMADE in contributing materials databases. We end by providing several use cases that demonstrate the utility of the OPTIMADE API in materials research that continue to drive its ongoing development

Regulieren exekutive Funktionen und die emotionale Kontrolle die Stresssymptomatik zwischen dritter und fünfter Klasse?

In dieser Studie wurde der Einfluss kognitiver und emotionaler Regulationsfertigkeiten auf psychische Stresssymptome von Schulkindern untersucht. Möglich wäre ein direkter Einfluss der Regulationsfertigkeiten auf Stresssymptome oder ein indirekter Einfluss mediiert über die Schulleistungen. Bei 177 Drittklässler_innen wurden bis zum Halbjahr der fünften Klasse die psychische Stresssymptomatik, die exekutiven Funktionen, die emotionale Kontrolle sowie die Mathematik- und Deutschnoten erfasst. Es zeigte sich, dass die individuelle psychische Stresssymptomatik sich heterogen veränderte, die exekutiven Funktionen nahmen jedoch weder direkt noch indirekt signifikanten Einfluss auf die psychische Stresssymptomatik oder deren Veränderung. Auch der Einfluss der emotionalen Kontrolle auf die psychische Stresssymptomatik erwies sich als gering

Die Entwicklung mathematischer Kompetenzern bis zum Beginn der Grundschulzeit

Krajewski K, Grüßing M, Peter-Koop A. Die Entwicklung mathematischer Kompetenzern bis zum Beginn der Grundschulzeit. In: Heinze A, Grüßing M, eds. Mathematiklernen vom Kindergarten bis zum Studium. Kontinuität und Kohärenz als Herausforderung für den Mathematikunterricht. Münster: Waxmann; 2009: 17-34

Preventing Surgical Site Infections Using a Natural, Biodegradable, Antibacterial Coating on Surgical Sutures

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common nosocomial infections, which can result in serious complications after surgical interventions. Foreign materials such as implants or surgical sutures are optimal surfaces for the adherence of bacteria and subsequent colonization and biofilm formation. Due to a significant increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, naturally occurring agents exhibiting antibacterial properties have great potential in prophylactic therapies. The aim of this study was to develop a coating for surgical sutures consisting of the antibacterial substance totarol, a naturally occurring diterpenoid isolated from Podocarpus totara in combination with poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) as a biodegradable drug delivery system. Hence, non-absorbable monofilament and multifilament sutures were coated with solutions containing different amounts and ratios of totarol and PLGA, resulting in a smooth, crystalline coating. Using an agar diffusion test (ADT), it became evident that the PLGA/totarol-coated sutures inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus over a period of 15 days. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the coated sutures were not cytotoxic to murine fibroblasts. Overall, the data indicates that our innovative, biodegradable suture coating has the potential to reduce the risk of SSIs and postoperative biofilm-formation on suture material without adverse effects on tissue