Steam reforming on transition-metal carbides from density-functional theory

A screening study of the steam reforming reaction (CH_4 + H_2O -> CO + 3H_2) on early transition-metal carbides (TMC's) is performed by means of density-functional theory calculations. The set of considered surfaces includes the alpha-Mo_2C(100) surfaces, the low-index (111) and (100) surfaces of TiC, VC, and delta-MoC, and the oxygenated alpha-Mo_2C(100) and TMC(111) surfaces. It is found that carbides provide a wide spectrum of reactivities towards the steam reforming reaction, from too reactive via suitable to too inert. The reactivity is discussed in terms of the electronic structure of the clean surfaces. Two surfaces, the delta-MoC(100) and the oxygen passivated alpha-Mo_2C(100) surfaces, are identified as promising steam reforming catalysts. These findings suggest that carbides provide a playground for reactivity tuning, comparable to the one for pure metals.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

VISUOMOTOR INTEGRATION SKILLS IN CHILDREN AFFECTED BY OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Introduction: Sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) consist of frequent and repetitive episodes of pharyngeal obstruction during sleep, with consequent intermittent hypoxia, sleep architecture fragmentation, daytime sleepiness and/or behavioural problems and executive impairment in children. When untreated, SRBD and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) mainly, may impact school performance, cognition, metabolism, and cardiovascular function. Aim of the present study is assessing the visuomotor integration skills in children affected by OSA. Materials and methods: 57 subjects affected by mild-to severe OSA, PSG diagnosed according to international diagnostic criteria, (31 males and 26 females) (mean age 10.8; SD \ub1 2.49) and 83 healthy children (45 males and 38 females) (mean age 9.95; SD \ub1 1.87; p = 0.725). All subjects underwent assessment of motor coordination skills with Movement-ABC tests and visual-motor integration ability with Visual Motor Integration (VMI) test. Results: The subjects with OSA show a worse average performances in all items of Movement ABC (p <0.001) respect of controls. Specifically, children with OSAS show significantly higher values of total points (p <0.001), manual dexterity (p <0.001), ball skills (p <0.001) and balance (p <0.001). Accordingly, the average centile in OSA children at the MABC-test is significantly reduced compared with controls (p <0.001). (Table 1) On the other hand, the VMI test evaluation among children with OSAS shows worst result in total Visuo-Motor Integration (p <0.001), and in Motor Coordination sub-item (p <0.001) than controls. (Table 1). Conclusion: Our results also support for children and adolescents the hypothesis that executive functioning deficits might be linked primarily to the degree of severity nocturnal hypoxemia rather than daytime sleepiness, although several other studies are needed

Animals-assisted therapy: A brief review

In rehabilitative setting, the presence of animals can be considered as an important stimulus for verbal and social communication, and for mood regulation. Interaction with an animal is beneficial for children's development and numerous psychological tests have revealed that growing up with pets has a beneficial effect on children's self-esteem and self-confidence, can improve empathy, a sense of responsibility and cognitive development, as well as social status within the peer group

Visual\u2013spatial training efficacy in children affected by migraine without aura: A multicenter study

Routinely in the clinical practice, children affected by migraine without aura (MwA) tend to exhibit severe and persistent difficulties within cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and visual\u2013motor integration (VMI) skills. The aim of this study was to assess the visual\u2013spatial and visual\u2013motor abilities among a sample of children with MwA and the effects of a specific computerized training. The study population was composed of 84 patients affected by MwA (39 girls and 45 boys; mean age: 8.91\ub12.46 years), and they were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B) comparable for age (P=0.581), gender (P=0.826), socioeconomic status (SES), migraine frequency (P=0.415), and intensity (P=0.323). At baseline (T0), the two groups were comparable for movement assessment battery for children (M-ABC) and VMI performances. After 6 months of treatment (T1), group A showed lower scores in the dexterity item of M-ABC test (P<0.001) and higher scores in M-ABC global performance centile (P<0.001) and total (P<0.001), visual (P=0.017), and motor (P<0.001) tasks of VMI test than group B. Moreover, at T1, group A showed higher scores in total (P<0.001) and motor (P<0.001) tasks of VMI test and in M-ABC global performance centile (P<0.001) and lower scores in the dexterity item of M-ABC test (P<0.001) than at T0. Group B showed, at T1, performances comparable to T0 for all evaluations. As reported by recent studies about alteration MwA among children in motor abilities, our study confirmed these difficulties and the efficacy of a specific software training, suggesting a new rehabilitative proposal in childhood

Neuropsychomotricity in water: A new rehabilitative tool for neruodevelop-mental disorders

Neuropsychomotricity in water is a rehabilitative practice that avails itself just of the liquid element, as a mediator of relationships: in water yes they upset all dynamics, be they relational, of equilibrium, of movement and perception, due to the fact that proprioceptive sensations, created by bodily contact with water, they are different than those generated by contact with air

Executive functioning in preschool children affected by autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a complex set of neurological dysfunction and development characterized by deficits in social and non-verbal interaction. Few studies have explored the executive functioning in ASD preschoolers. The aim of this pilot study is the assessment of executive functioning in preschool children with ASD. Material and methods: 8 ASD children (7 males, 1 female) mean age 3.09 (SD \ub1 0.83 years) were enrolled in the study and compared with a control group of 15 typically developing children (12 males, 3 females) (mean age 24.3 \ub1 0.61). All subjects underwent assessment of executive functioning with the BRIEF-P test. Results: The two groups were matched for age (p = 0.625) and gender (p = 0.900). Table 1 shows the comparison between the two groups at the BRIEF-P, with significantly higher scores on all subscales of ASD children compared with controls. Conclusions: Despite the small sample examined the results of this study agree with what is already known in the literature confirm the presence of a significant deficit in executive functions of subjects with ASD emphasizing for the first time the emergence of such problems at an early stage of development, but demanding further studies to confirm this

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) application in sport medicine: A brief review

Since 1985, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used for non-invasive exploration of motor control in humans and for a wide range of applications in all ages of life. This brief review examined briefly the potential interest in sport medicine

Life events and primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: A pediatric pilot study

Introduction: The association between primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) and behavioral disorders was highlighted frequently, suggesting psychiatric origin. On the other hand, there is no difference between the incidence of mental disorders in children with PMNE and controls, although the psychological genesis could provide additional secondary forms, in which the child might react to stressful events with the resumption of involuntary urination at night, with a possible alteration of bowel control due to a high vulnerability to stressors. The purpose of this study is assessing the stressful events of life in a sample of children with PMNE. Materials and methods: 56 subjects with PMNE, (37 males and 19 females) (mean 10.87 years; SD \ub1 1.68) were recruited consecutively. All subjects were evaluated for the presence of stressful events (ICU) with test Coddington Life Events Scales (CLES). The control group consists of 98 typically developing children (65 males, 33 females) (p = 0.855) (mean 11.3 years; SD \ub1 1.85; p = 0.594). Results: Individuals with enuresis do not show a significant difference in the prevalence of stressful events than the control group (42.85% vs 41.83%; Chi-square = 0.002; p = 0,963) (table 1). Conclusions: These results for the first time show that PMNE can be regarded as an independent state by stress factors, suggesting that it itself represents a stress factor that can affect the proper psychological and neuropsychological development in children

Borderline intellectual functioning and parental stress: An italian case-control study

Introduction: Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) children comprises a group of subjects whit intelligence quotient (IQ) ranging 71-85, with a prevalence about 13.6%. Several studies pinpointed the role of parenting on BIF management. Aim of present study was evaluating with objective and validated tool the parental stress rate in mothers of an Italian sample of BIF children. Materials and methods: 26 BIF children (20 males and 6 females) aged 6-10 years (mean age 10.36\ub1 2.03), according to DSM-5 criteria, and 53 (42 males and 11 females) typical developing children (mean age 10.58 \ub1 1.97) were recruited for present study. Mothers of all enrolled children underwent an evaluation with Parental Stress Index (PSI) test. Results: The two studied groups were comparable for age (p = 0.646) and gender (p = 0.956). Table 1 shows comparison between BIF and Control groups among PSI-SF scale results (Table 1), specifically mothers of BIF children have a significantly higher levels of global parental stress (p <0.001 ), stress related to parenting (p <0.001), stress linked to difficult child (p <0.001) and stress related to parent-child interaction (p <0.001) than mothers of control children. (Table 1) Conclusion: Several reports showed the key role of BIF as risk factor for psychiatric troubles and poor long-term adjustment. Our findings emphasize the need to approach this condition also from a family point of view, stressing that care should not be limited to child rehabilitative treatment but must also involve a family centered intervention

Adhd-like symptoms in children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A case-control study

Introduction: ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or a combination of these symptoms. Sleep disorders may be considered as a not secondary underlying cause of ADHD and growing evidence evidenced that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) symptoms may overlap ADHD's ones. Aim of the present study is verifying the presence of ADHD-like symptoms in other frequent condition such as sleep-related breathing disorders in pediatric age. Materials and methods: 34 children (19 males and 15 females) aged 6-10 years (mean age 9.706 \ub1 3.434) with polysomnographic diagnosis of OSA, according to ICSD-3 criteria, were recruited. Control group was composed by 89 typical developing children (47 males, 42 females) (mean age 9,528 \ub1 3,351). The Conners' Rating Scale- Revised (CRS-R) test was administered to mothers to assess their children's behavior. Results: The two groups are comparable for age (p = 0.794) and sex distribution (p = 0.918). Subjects affected by OSA present higher scores in pathological range in all scales of CRS-R than controls (Table 1). Conclusions: Scientific and clinical evidences tend to stress the similarities between ADHD and OSA effects/comorbidities in pediatric age, suggesting sleep screening as mandatory before starting stimulant drugs treatment