Longitudinal Relations Between Parental Writing Support and Preschoolers' Language and Literacy Skills

Parental writing support was examined over time and in relation to children's language and literacy skills. Seventy‐seven parents and their preschoolers were videotaped writing an invitation together twice during one year. Parental writing support was coded at the level of the letter to document parents' graphophonemic support (letter–sound correspondence), print support (letter formation), and demand for precision (expectation for correcting writing errors). Parents primarily relied on only a couple print (i.e., parent writing the letter alone) and graphophonemic (i.e., saying the word as a whole, dictating letters as children write) strategies. Graphophonemic and print support in preschool predicted children's decoding skills, and graphophonemic support also predicted children's future phonological awareness. Neither type of support predicted children's vocabulary scores. Demand for precision occurred infrequently and was unrelated to children's outcomes. Findings demonstrate the importance of parental writing support for augmenting children's literacy skills. 本研究以一段长时间考查家长书写支援与儿童的语言和读写技能之关系。七十七名家长与其学前儿童在一年期间两次共同书写一份邀请书;所有书写过程均被录像。家长书写支援的编码,分三个层面进行:在字母层面上家长给予的字形音素支援(字母与发音的相关性),在书写层面上的支援 (字母的构成)和在精确层面上的要求(纠正书写错误的期待)。家长主要依靠几个支援策略:字母书写策略(家长只写出字母)和字形音素策略(即读出整个单字,然后口授字母,让儿童书写其单字)。家长给予学前儿童的字形音素和书写支援能预测儿童的解码技能;字形音素支援也能预测儿童未来的语音意识。这两种支援却不能预测儿童的词汇成绩。精确度的要求很少出现,与儿童的学习成果并无关联。研究结果说明家长书写支援对增强儿童读写能力的重要性。 Se examinó el apoyo de los padres a la escritura a través del tiempo y en relación a las habilidades de lenguaje y alfabetización de los niños. Setenta y siete padres y sus hijos preescolares fueron captados en video escribiendo una invitación juntos en dos ocasiones durante el año. El apoyo de los padres fue codificado al nivel de la letra para documentar el apoyo grafofonémico de los padres (la correspondencia entre la letra y su sonido), el apoyo letral (la formación de la letra), y la exigencia por la precisión (las expectativas en cuanto a la corrección de errores de escritura). Los padres dependían principalmente en sólo un par de estrategias de letra (por ejemplo: el padre escribiendo la letra solamente) y grafofonémicas (por ejemplo, diciendo la palabra completa, dictando letras mientras los niños escribían). El apoyo grafofonémico y letral en los preescolares predecía la habilidad de los niños de descifrar, y el apoyo grafofonémico también predecía la futura conciencia fonológica de los niños. Ninguna de las dos clases de apoyo pudo predecir la nota de los niños en cuanto a vocabulario. La exigencia por la precisión fue infrecuente y no mostró relación con el resultado de los niños. Los resultados demuestran la importancia del apoyo de los padres en la escritura para incrementar las habilidades alfabetizadoras de los niños. لقد تم فحص دعم الكتابة من قبل الوالدين عبر فترة من الزمن وعلاقته بلغة الأولاد ومهاراتهم في معرفة القراءة والكتابة. وقد تم تصوير فيديوهات لسبع وسبعين والداً ووالدةً وأولادهم ما قبل المدرسة وهم يكتبون دعوة معاً مرتين في سنة. وتم ترميز دعم كتابة الوالدين على مستوى الرسالة لتدوين دعم الخط الصوتي (علاقة الحرف بالصوت)، ودعم الخط (تركيب الحروف)، والطلب على الإتقان (توقع تصحيح أخطاء الكتابة). واعتمد الوالدان على إستراتيجيات معدودة للكتابة (أي يكتب الوالد بنفسه) وللخط الصوتي (أي ينطق الكلمة كوحدة واحدة ويملى الحروف والأولاد يكتبونها). وتنبأ دعم الخط الصوتي والكتابة مهارات الأطفال ما قبل المدرسة في تفكيك الخط وكذلك تنبأ دعم الخط الصوتي الوعي الصوتي المستقبلي لدى الأطفال. ومع ذلك، فلم يتنبؤ لا دعم الكتابة ولا الخط الصوتي علامات امتحانات مفردات الأطفال. ونادراً ما حدث الطلب على الإتقان ولم تتم علاقة بينه وبين نتائج الأولاد. وتبين النتائج أهمية دعم الوالدين للكتابة لتعزيز مهارات الأطفال في معرفة القراءة والكتابة. Пoмoщь poдитeлeй пpи cтaнoвлeнии нaчaльныx нaвыкoв пиcьмa y дeтeй в дaльнeйшeм, кaк выяcняeтcя, влияeт нa языкoвыe нaвыки и гpaмoтнocть дeтeй – этим cвязям и пocвящeнo дaннoe иccлeдoвaниe. Ceмьдecят ceмь poдитeлeй и иx дeти дoшкoльнoгo вoзpacтa, вмecтe пиcaвшиe oткpыткy‐пpиглaшeниe, двaжды в тeчeниe гoдa были cняты нa видeo. Пoмoщь poдитeлeй былa зaдoкyмeнтиpoвaнa пo cлeдyющим пapaмeтpaм: гpaфoфoнeмикa (cooтнoшeниe звyк‐бyквa), гpaфo‐мoтopикa (нaпиcaниe бyкв) и тpeбoвaниe тoчнocти (oжидaниe иcпpaвлeния oшибoк). Poдитeли, в ocнoвнoм, пpимeняли двe cтpaтeгии: гpaфичecкyю (пиcaли бyквy caмocтoятeльнo) и гpaфo‐фoнeмaтичecкyю (пpoизнocили cлoвo цeликoм, зaтeм диктoвaли eгo пo бyквaм, a дeти пиcaли). Гpaфoфoнeмикa и пoмoщь в нaпиcaнии бyкв пpeдoпpeдeляют нaвыки дeтeй дoшкoльнoгo вoзpacтa в дeкoдиpoвaнии peчи, a гpaфoфoнeмикa являeтcя eщe и пpeдиктopoм пocлeдyющeгo фoнoлoгичecкoгo paзвития peбeнкa. Hи oдин из пpaктикyeмыx типoв пoмoщи нe вызвaл pacшиpeния cлoвapнoгo зaпaca дeтeй. Tpeбoвaниe иcпpaвить oшибки вcтpeчaлocь нeчacтo и нe пoвлиялo впocлeдcтвии нa yлyчшeниe кaчecтвa дeтcкoгo пиcьмa. Peзyльтaты дeмoнcтpиpyют вaжнocть poдитeльcкoй пoддepжки пpи cтaнoвлeнии нaвыкoв пиcьмa для coвepшeнcтвoвaния нaвыкoв oпepиpoвaния cлoвoм в цeлoм. Nous avons examiné dans la durée et en relation avec les compétences des enfants en matière de langage et de littératie l'aide qu'apportent les parents à l'écriture des enfants. Nous avons enregistré en vidéo à deux reprises au cours d'une année soixante‐dix sept parents et leurs enfants d'âge préscolaire en train d'écrire ensemble une invitation. L'aide apportée par les parents a été codée au niveau de la lettre afin de distinguer l'aide grapho‐phonétique (correspondances lettres‐son), l'aide au graphisme (formation des lettres), et le degré de précision de leurs exigences (attentes relatives à la correction des erreurs d'écriture). Les parents s'intéressent d'abord seulement au graphisme (par exemple, des parents écrivent eux‐mêmes les lettres) et aux stratégies grapho‐phonétiques (par exemple, ils disent le mot entier ou dictent des lettres pendant que l'enfant écrit). L'aide grapho‐phonétique et au graphisme apportée au niveau préscolaire permet de prédire les compétences en décodage des enfants, et l'aide grapho‐phonétique permet aussi de prédire la conscience phonologique ultérieure. Aucun de ces types d'aide n'est prédictif des résultats en vocabulaire. Les exigences en matière de précision ne sont pas fréquentes et ne sont pas liées aux résultats des enfants. Ces résultats mettent en évidence l'importance qu'a l'aide des parents pour l'amélioration des compétences des enfants en littératie.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102675/1/rrq55.pd

Modelfree global tractography

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. Tractography based on diffusion-weighted MRI investigates the large scale arrangement of the neurite fibers in brain white matter. It is usually assumed that the signal is a convolution of a fiber specific response function (FRF) with a fiber orientation distribution (FOD). The FOD is the focus of tractography. While in the past the FRF was estimated beforehand and was usually assumed to be fix, more recent approaches estimate the response function during tractography. This work proposes a novel objective function independent of the FRF, just aiming for FOD reconstruction. The objective is integrated into global tractography showing promising results

Motion corrected 3D reconstruction of the fetal thorax from prenatal MRI

In this paper we present a semi-automatic method for analysis of the fetal thorax in genuine three-dimensional volumes. After one initial click we localize the spine and accurately determine the volume of the fetal lung from high resolution volumetric images reconstructed from motion corrupted prenatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We compare the current state-of-the-art method of segmenting the lung in a slice-by-slice manner with the most recent multi-scan reconstruction methods. We use fast rotation invariant spherical harmonics image descriptors with Classification Forest ensemble learning methods to extract the spinal cord and show an efficient way to generate a segmentation prior for the fetal lung from this information for two different MRI field strengths. The spinal cord can be segmented with a DICE coefficient of 0.89 and the automatic lung segmentation has been evaluated with a DICE coefficient of 0.87. We evaluate our method on 29 fetuses with a gestational age (GA) between 20 and 38 weeks and show that our computed segmentations and the manual ground truth correlate well with the recorded values in literature

Direct calibration of PICKY-designed microarrays

Abstract Background Few microarrays have been quantitatively calibrated to identify optimal hybridization conditions because it is difficult to precisely determine the hybridization characteristics of a microarray using biologically variable cDNA samples. Results Using synthesized samples with known concentrations of specific oligonucleotides, a series of microarray experiments was conducted to evaluate microarrays designed by PICKY, an oligo microarray design software tool, and to test a direct microarray calibration method based on the PICKY-predicted, thermodynamically closest nontarget information. The complete set of microarray experiment results is archived in the GEO database with series accession number GSE14717. Additional data files and Perl programs described in this paper can be obtained from the website http://www.complex.iastate.edu under the PICKY Download area. Conclusion PICKY-designed microarray probes are highly reliable over a wide range of hybridization temperatures and sample concentrations. The microarray calibration method reported here allows researchers to experimentally optimize their hybridization conditions. Because this method is straightforward, uses existing microarrays and relatively inexpensive synthesized samples, it can be used by any lab that uses microarrays designed by PICKY. In addition, other microarrays can be reanalyzed by PICKY to obtain the thermodynamically closest nontarget information for calibration

Characterisation and correction of signal fluctuations in successive acquisitions of microarray images

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are many sources of variation in dual labelled microarray experiments, including data acquisition and image processing. The final interpretation of experiments strongly relies on the accuracy of the measurement of the signal intensity. For low intensity spots in particular, accurately estimating gene expression variations remains a challenge as signal measurement is, in this case, highly subject to fluctuations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To evaluate the fluctuations in the fluorescence intensities of spots, we used series of successive scans, at the same settings, of whole genome arrays. We measured the decrease in fluorescence and we evaluated the influence of different parameters (PMT gain, resolution and chemistry of the slide) on the signal variability, at the level of the array as a whole and by intensity interval. Moreover, we assessed the effect of averaging scans on the fluctuations. We found that the extent of photo-bleaching was low and we established that 1) the fluorescence fluctuation is linked to the resolution e.g. it depends on the number of pixels in the spot 2) the fluorescence fluctuation increases as the scanner voltage increases and, moreover, is higher for the red as opposed to the green fluorescence which can introduce bias in the analysis 3) the signal variability is linked to the intensity level, it is higher for low intensities 4) the heterogeneity of the spots and the variability of the signal and the intensity ratios decrease when two or three scans are averaged.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Protocols consisting of two scans, one at low and one at high PMT gains, or multiple scans (ten scans) can introduce bias or be difficult to implement. We found that averaging two, or at most three, acquisitions of microarrays scanned at moderate photomultiplier settings (PMT gain) is sufficient to significantly improve the accuracy (quality) of the data and particularly those for spots having low intensities and we propose this as a general approach. For averaging and precise image alignment at sub-pixel levels we have made a program freely available on our web-site <url>http://bioinfome.cgm.cnrs-gif.fr</url> to facilitate implementation of this approach.</p

Analysis of the Maize dicer-like1 Mutant, fuzzy tassel, Implicates MicroRNAs in Anther Maturation and Dehiscence

Sexual reproduction in plants requires development of haploid gametophytes from somatic tissues. Pollen is the male gametophyte and develops within the stamen; defects in the somatic tissues of the stamen and in the male gametophyte itself can result in male sterility. The maize fuzzy tassel (fzt) mutant has a mutation in dicer-like1 (dcl1), which encodes a key enzyme required for microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Many miRNAs are reduced in fzt, and fzt mutants exhibit a broad range of developmental defects, including male sterility. To gain further insight into the roles of miRNAs in maize stamen development, we conducted a detailed analysis of the male sterility defects in fzt mutants. Early development was normal in fzt mutant anthers, however fzt anthers arrested in late stages of anther maturation and did not dehisce. A minority of locules in fzt anthers also exhibited anther wall defects. At maturity, very little pollen in fzt anthers was viable or able to germinate. Normal pollen is tricellular at maturity; pollen from fzt anthers included a mixture of unicellular, bicellular, and tricellular pollen. Pollen from normal anthers is loaded with starch before dehiscence, however pollen from fzt anthers failed to accumulate starch. Our results indicate an absolute requirement for miRNAs in the final stages of anther and pollen maturation in maize. Anther wall defects also suggest that miRNAs have key roles earlier in anther development. We discuss candidate miRNAs and pathways that might underlie fzt anther defects, and also note that male sterility in fzt resembles water deficit-induced male sterility, highlighting a possible link between development and stress responses in plants.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Transcriptional activity of transposable elements in maize

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mobile genetic elements represent a high proportion of the Eukaryote genomes. In maize, 85% of genome is composed by transposable elements of several families. First step in transposable element life cycle is the synthesis of an RNA, but few is known about the regulation of transcription for most of the maize transposable element families. Maize is the plant from which more ESTs have been sequenced (more than two million) and the third species in total only after human and mice. This allowed us to analyze the transcriptional activity of the maize transposable elements based on EST databases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have investigated the transcriptional activity of 56 families of transposable elements in different maize organs based on the systematic search of more than two million expressed sequence tags. At least 1.5% maize ESTs show sequence similarity with transposable elements. According to these data, the patterns of expression of each transposable element family is variable, even within the same class of elements. In general, transcriptional activity of the <it>gypsy</it>-like retrotransposons is higher compared to other classes. Transcriptional activity of several transposable elements is specially high in shoot apical meristem and sperm cells. Sequence comparisons between genomic and transcribed sequences suggest that only a few copies are transcriptionally active.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of powerful high-throughput sequencing methodologies allowed us to elucidate the extent and character of repetitive element transcription in maize cells. The finding that some families of transposable elements have a considerable transcriptional activity in some tissues suggests that, either transposition is more frequent than previously expected, or cells can control transposition at a post-transcriptional level.</p

All-In-One: Advanced preparation of Human Parenchymal and Non-Parenchymal Liver Cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver cells are key players in innate immunity. Thus, studying primary isolated liver cells is necessary for determining their role in liver physiology and pathophysiology. In particular, the quantity and quality of isolated cells are crucial to their function. Our aim was to isolate a large quantity of high-quality human parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells from a single liver specimen. METHODS: Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and stellate cells were isolated from liver tissues by collagenase perfusion in combination with low-speed centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation, and magnetic-activated cell sorting. The purity and functionality of cultured cell populations were controlled by determining their morphology, discriminative cell marker expression, and functional activity. RESULTS: Cell preparation yielded the following cell counts per gram of liver tissue: 2.0+/-0.4x107 hepatocytes, 1.8+/-0.5x106 Kupffer cells, 4.3+/-1.9x105 liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and 3.2+/-0.5x105 stellate cells. Hepatocytes were identified by albumin (95.5+/-1.7%) and exhibited time-dependent activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Kupffer cells expressed CD68 (94.5+/-1.2%) and exhibited phagocytic activity, as determined with 1mum latex beads. Endothelial cells were CD146+ (97.8+/-1.1%) and exhibited efficient uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein. Hepatic stellate cells were identified by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (97.1+/-1.5%). These cells further exhibited retinol (vitamin A)-mediated autofluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: Our isolation procedure for primary parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells resulted in cell populations of high purity and quality, with retained physiological functionality in vitro. Thus, this system may provide a valuable tool for determining liver function and disease