Visual Attention and the Dimensional Change Card Sort

The current study examines cognitive flexibility and the development of executive function in children ranging from 3-5 years of age. The importance of executive function is seen in situations that involve multi-tasking, learning new routines, and functioning in a noisy environment. Our task is a variation of Zelazo’s Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS), where young children are given one set of rules for sorting picture cards, which is then followed by a rule switch. Traditionally, 3 year olds fail to abide by the new set of rules and perseverate by using old rules, while 4 year olds effectively follow the new set of rules. The goal of the study is to understand what causes these perseverations. There is no agreement as to what causes perseverations; we suggest they stem from inability to inhibit irrelevant information. We test this hypothesis by examining patterns of eye movements using Tobii eye tracking equipment while children are tested on a computerized version of the DCCS. This approach elucidates children’s ability to strategically allocate attention while looking at stimuli. We expect that children 3-4 years of age are unable to restrain their gaze from irrelevant dimensions, resulting in low efficiency of visual attention. We also predict that 4-5 year olds, who normally pass the postswitch phase, will also be unable to keep their gaze from irrelevant dimensions. However, we predict 4-5 year olds relative engagement with irrelevant features will be lower than that of younger children, which may be enough to reduce perseverations in the postswitch phase. We found similar behavioral data on our computerized version of the DCCS task, with the average 3 year old perseverating during the postswitch phase while on average 4 year olds passed. We also found via looking time data that 3 year olds had difficulty efficiently allocating their gaze away from irrelevant information. We found those who failed a given phase of the DCCS could not focus their visual attention on relevant dimensions of the stimuli for as long as those who passed.No embarg

Enhanced iron magnetic moment in the ThFe11C2 intermetallic compound

International audienceDetailed theoretical investigations on the electronic and magnetic properties of the ThFe11C2 compound have been performed using both the linear muffin-tin orbital and Korringa-Kohn-Rostocker methods of band structure calculation. The structure of the ThFe11C2 compound has three inequivalent iron sites with different local environment. A strongly enhanced magnetic moment is observed on certain Fe positions, coexisting with much lower magnetic moments on other iron positions of the lattice. Band structure calculations indeed show that the Fe magnetic moments depend strongly on the local environment. The average Fe magnetic moment obtained from these calculations is in good agreement with the experimental average Fe moment obtained from magnetization measurements. The orbital contribution to the magnetic moment is found to be especially large on the Fe 4b position. Comparing calculated hyperfine fields with experimental results, it is found that the calculated and experimental hyperfine fields are correlated. However, similarly to the results reported before for elemental Fe, the magnitude of all calculated Fe hyperfine fields is about 25% smaller. The agreement with the Mössbauer measurements is improved by scaling the core polarization contribution and by estimating the orbital valence d-electrons contribution to the magnetic hyperfine fields using the local spin density approximation + dynamical mean field theory calculated orbital moments

Target-Audience-Specific Networking Groups: Could They Be Helpful in Your Work?

Networking groups can assist in connecting service providers with their intended audiences. This article compares and contrasts three groups in Oregon that focus on the needs of Latino families. Results of a survey conducted in a local group are shared, and benefits of joining or starting a networking group are discussed

Uncovering Resources for Your International Extension Experience

Resources for international Extension experiences are available on the national Extension association\u27s Web page described in this article. Ideas that state Extension associations can use to assist their Extension workers in planning their own international experiences are also highlighted

The Death of the Professor: Dialogue Education\u27s Learning Focus

Are your learners happy with their experiences in your workshops and classes? Are they learning? The Dialogue Education approach is a unique way of designing educational experiences for Extension audiences. It was developed by Professor Jane Vella and inspired by the works of Paolo Freire, Malcolm Knowles, Kurt Lewin, and others pioneers of adult education. Design questions focus on the needs of the learners and promote dialogue among participants. Principles such as safety, respect, immediacy, and sound relationships enhance learning. Extension educators can structure specific learning tasks that allow learners to connect new information to their lives in meaningful ways