Relationship of human figure drawing with executive functioning and achievement

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between aspects of children’s human figure drawings to their executive functioning and academic achievement. Participants consisted of 80 third and fourth graders, ages 8 to 10 years, along with their parents. Correlational analysis showed no relationship between the developmental scoring of the Goodenough-Harris or Koppitz with measures of executive functioning, as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000) and the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS; Naglieri & Das, 1997). However, Koppitz’s emotional indicators were significantly correlated with all aspects of BRIEF and CAS. The Goodenough-Harris developmental scoring system was significantly correlated with math achievement, whereas Koppitz’s emotional indicators were significantly correlated with mathematics and reading scores

Activating Library Classrooms: Evaluating Formal Learning Spaces for Active Learning and Student Engagement

Funded by the Association of College & Research Libraries through a 2018 Academic Library Impact Research Grant, the Activating Library Classrooms: Evaluating Formal Learning Spaces for Active Learning and Student Engagement project endeavored to evaluate the design and use of formal learning spaces situated within X X University Libraries. Researchers evaluated seven library classrooms and interviewed seven faculty collaborators at six X X University campuses in order to identify areas of strength and growth for formal learning spaces. The results affirm the significance of formal learning spaces in libraries and how they can demonstrate academic libraries’ ability to partner in university curricula and student success

Marsupial and monotreme milk : a review of its nutrient and immune properties

All mammals are characterized by the ability of females to produce milk. Marsupial (metatherian) and monotreme (prototherian) young are born in a highly altricial state and rely on their mother’s milk for the first part of their life. Here we review the role and importance of milk in marsupial and monotreme development. Milk is the primary source of sustenance for young marsupials and monotremes and its composition varies at different stages of development. We applied nutritional geometry techniques to a limited number of species with values available to analyze changes in macronutrient composition of milk at different stages. Macronutrient energy composition of marsupial milk varies between species and changes concentration during the course of lactation. As well as nourishment, marsupial and monotreme milk supplies growth and immune factors. Neonates are unable to mount a specific immune response shortly after birth and therefore rely on immunoglobulins, immunological cells and other immunologically important molecules transferred through milk. Milk is also essential to the development of the maternal-young bond and is achieved through feedback systems and odor preferences in eutherian mammals. However, we have much to learn about the role of milk in marsupial and monotreme mother-young bonding. Further research is warranted in gaining a better understanding of the role of milk as a source of nutrition, developmental factors and immunity, in a broader range of marsupial species, and monotremes

Chronic pain self-management support with pain science education and exercise (COMMENCE): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

© 2015 Miller et al. Background: Previous research suggests that self-management programs for people with chronic pain improve knowledge and self-efficacy but result in negligible effects on function. This study will investigate the effectiveness self-management support with pain science education and exercise on improving function for people with chronic pain in comparison to a wait-list control. A secondary objective is to determine which variables help to predict response to the intervention. Methods/Design: This study will be an unblinded, randomized controlled trial with 110 participants comparing a 6-week program that includes self-management support, pain science education and exercise to a wait-list control. The primary outcome will be function measured by the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment - Dysfunction Index. Secondary outcomes will include pain intensity measured by a numeric pain rating scale, pain interference measured by the eight-item PROMIS pain interference item-bank, how much patients are bothered by functional problems measured by the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment - Bother Index, catastrophic thinking measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, fear of movement/re-injury measured by the 11-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, sense of perceived injustice measured by the Injustice Experience Questionnaire, self-efficacy measured by the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, pain sensitivity measured by pressure pain threshold and cold sensitivity testing, fatigue measured by a numeric fatigue rating scale, pain neurophysiology knowledge measured by the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire, healthcare utilization measured by number of visits to a healthcare provider, and work status. Assessments will be completed at baseline, 7 and 18 weeks. After the 18-week assessment, the groups will crossover; however, we anticipate carry-over effects with the treatment. Therefore, data from after the crossover will be used to estimate within-group changes and to determine predictors of response that are not for direct between-group comparisons. Mixed effects modelling will be used to determine between-group differences for all primary and secondary outcomes. A series of multiple regression models will be used to determine predictors of treatment response. Discussion: This study has the potential to inform future self-management programming through evaluation of a self-management program that aims to improve function as the primary outcome. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02422459 , registered on 13 April 2015

Database management and analysis of fisheries in Illinois: Final report, 1 March 1999-28 February 2002

Issued May 2002; F-69-RReport issued on: May 200

Prenatal predictors of objectively measured appetite regulation in low-income toddlers and preschool-age children

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152019/1/ijpo12554_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152019/2/ijpo12554.pd

Child cortisol moderates the association between family routines and emotion regulation in lowâ income children

Biological and social influences both shape emotion regulation. In 380 lowâ income children, we tested whether biological stress profile (cortisol) moderated the association among positive and negative home environment factors (routines; chaos) and emotion regulation (negative lability; positive regulation). Children (M ageâ =â 50.6, SDâ =â 6.4 months) provided saliva samples to assess diurnal cortisol parameters across 3 days. Parents reported on home environment and child emotion regulation. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether cortisol parameters moderated associations between home environment and child emotion regulation. Results showed that home chaos was negatively associated with emotion regulation outcomes; cortisol did not moderate the association. Child cortisol level moderated the routinesâ emotion regulation association such that lack of routine was most strongly associated with poor emotion regulation among children with lower cortisol output. Findings suggest that underlying child stress biology may shape response to environmental influences.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135499/1/dev21471_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135499/2/dev21471.pd

Impact of Multi-Night Experimentally Induced Short Sleep on Adolescent Performance in a Simulated Classroom

Study Objectives: Investigate whether a realistic "dose" of shortened sleep, relative to a well-rested state, causes a decline in adolescents' learning and an increase in inattentive and sleepy behaviors in a simulated classroom setting. Methods: Eighty-seven healthy 14.0- to 16.9-year olds underwent a 3-week sleep manipulation protocol, including two 5-night sleep manipulation conditions presented in a randomly counterbalanced within-subjects cross-over design. Wake time was held constant. Bedtimes were set to induce Short Sleep (SS; 6.5 hours in bed) versus Healthy Sleep (HS; 10 hours in bed). During the morning at the end of each condition, participants underwent a simulated classroom procedure in which they viewed lecture-based educational videotapes and completed relevant quizzes. Their behaviors in the simulated classroom were later coded by condition-blind raters for evidence of inattention and sleepiness. Results: Adolescents had a longer average sleep period during HS (9.1 hours) than SS (6.5 hours). Compared to scores during HS, adolescents scored significantly lower on the quiz, showed more behaviors suggestive of inattention and sleepiness in the simulated classroom, and were reported by adolescents themselves and by their parents to be more inattentive and sleepy during SS. However, the impact of the manipulation on quiz scores was not mediated by changes in attention or sleepiness. Conclusions: Although effect sizes were modest, these findings suggest that previously-reported correlations between sleep duration and academic performance reflect true cause-effect relationships. Findings add to the growing evidence that the chronically shortened sleep experienced by many adolescents on school nights adversely impacts their functioning and health

Parental Cancer: The Parent-Child Bond at Risk

Within the field of psycho-oncology, it has become increasingly apparent that cancer not only affects the patient, but disrupts the entire family unit, particularly adolescent children. The goal of the current study was to take the next step in this line of research by investigating mechanisms of influence for how parental cancer impacts adolescent adjustment. The framework of attachment theory was applied to make theoretically driven predictions and to create models for how and why these effects would occur. It was hypothesized that many of the adjustment problems found in teens dealing with parental cancer would be related to negative changes in the parent-child attachment relationship. Adults recently diagnosed with cancer, and their adolescent children were asked to complete measures assessing: adolescent and parent functioning, adolescent attachment, adolescent coping, and cancer specific variables. In addition, a matched comparison group completed similar measures (without cancer specific questions). As predicted, adolescents in the parental cancer group displayed more insecure attachment to parents. They also used more Secondary Control Coping (emotion oriented) while the comparison group tended to favor Primary Control Coping (problem focused). In contrast to prior research, we found no differences in adjustment between the two groups. However, after controlling for attachment style, adolescents with a parent with cancer actually reported fewer problems that those in the comparison group. Further, analyses with the groups combined confirmed that attachment style predicted coping, stress responses, and adjustment in the expected ways. Hypotheses were also tested within the cancer group alone to determine what aspects of parental cancer lead to teen difficulties. We found no effects for cancer stage or site, or parental mental health. The effects for perceived severity of illness, which has been widely documented in the literature, were unexpected and initially appeared contradictory. Adolescents who reported higher perceived cancer severity and higher impact of cancer on life in general, had better overall personal adjustment as well as more clinical symptoms. In addition, adolescent emotional symptoms were negatively associated with the amount of information a teen had been given, and positively associated with the number of cancer-related stressors reported. Additionally, attachment style fully mediated the effects of cancer-related stressors on adolescent-reported emotional symptoms. In conclusion, support was found for our hypothesis that many of the previously reported difficulties in teens dealing with parental cancer were actually due to changes in the parent-adolescent attachment relationship. Furthermore, within the cancer group, attachment style fully mediated the effects of cancer-related stressors on adolescent emotional symptoms. There were also interesting findings in this study suggesting posttraumatic growth in adolescents dealing with parental cancer. Several other important variables were predictive of adjustment, such as amount of information given to teens about cancer. This may provide some hope for families as well as implications for intervention and future research