255 research outputs found
Improving the ability to write persuasive texts in a boy with autism spectrum disorder: outcomes of an intervention
In this paper, we describe an intervention implemented to assist a 13.2-year-old boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder, G, without intellectual disability, aimed at improving his ability to compose persuasive texts. There was an initial assessment (baseline), an intermediate assessment after two weeks, a six-session intervention phase, and a post-intervention assessment. Our intervention applied two procedures. The first aimed at enhancing general composition abilities in terms of picking (P) ideas, organizing (O) notes, and writing (W) them down (POW), while the second specified the steps to write a persuasive text addressing a possible reader: a topic sentence (T), reasons (R), an explanation (E) for the reasons and the end of the sentence (E) (TREE). These procedures were termed POW + TREE. To analyze Gâs texts, three types of measures were used by two raters at baseline, intermediate and post-test time: a) the presence of the TREE components; b) the quality of the reasons and explanations for the reasons; c) the number of mental state terms. All these measures showed relevant quantitative improvements, as well as qualitative changes. In addition, when Gâs performance at the end of the intervention was compared to that of typically developing controls, no statistical difference appeared. The results are discussed in light of the potentialities offered by the type of intervention described here
Drammaturgia musicale e altri studi
Numero monografico che raccoglie contributi di neolaureati e giovani studiosi dedicati all'attivit\ue0 musicale a Palermo tra Cinque e Settecento, con notizie inedite ricavate da fonti archivistiche
Silver-Russell syndrome. Clinical and etiopathological aspects of a model genomic imprinting entity
Silver-Russell syndrome is characterized by asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation, with normal head circumference and small, pointed chin, which results in a triangular face. It can also include body asymmetry, among other characteristics. Its global incidence is estimated at 1 in 30 000-100 000 births, even though this figure may be underestimated. In approximately 60 % of cases, a molecular cause can be identified, and the main one is hypomethylation of the paternal allele at the imprinting control region 1 located at 11p15.5-p15.4. It is necessary to make the diagnosis of this entity, exclude differential diagnoses, and know (epi)genotype-phenotype correlations in order to ensure an adequate follow-up, provide available therapeutic options, and offer a timely family genetic counseling. The objective of this article is to describe the current status of the Silver-Russell syndrome, a model of genomic imprinting disorder
Fruit growth stage transitions in two mango cultivars grown in a mediterranean environment
Studying mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit development represents one of the most important aspects for the precise orchard management under nonânative environmental conditions. In this work, precision fruit gauges were used to investigate important ecoâphysiological aspects of fruit growth in two mango cultivars, Keitt (late ripening) and Tommy Atkins (earlyâmid ripening). Fruit absolute growth rate (AGR, mm dayâ1 ), daily diameter fluctuation (ÎD, mm), and a development index given by their ratio (AGR/ÎD) were monitored to identify the prevalent mechanism (cell division, cell expansion, ripening) involved in fruit development in three (âTommy Atkinsâ) or four (âKeittâ) different periods during growth. In âKeittâ, cell division prevailed over cell expansion from 58 to 64 days after full bloom (DAFB), while the opposite occurred from 74 to 85 DAFB. Starting at 100 DAFB, internal changes prevailed over fruit growth, indicating the beginning of the ripening stage. In Tommy Atkins (an early ripening cultivar), no significant differences in AGR/ÎD was found among monitoring periods, indicating that both cell division and expansion coexisted at gradually decreasing rates until fruit harvest. To evaluate the effect of microclimate on fruit growth the relationship between vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and ÎD was also studied. In âKeittâ, VPD was the main driving force determining fruit diameter fluctuations. In âTommy Atkinsâ, the lack of relationship between VPD and ÎD suggest a hydric isolation of the fruit due to the disruption of xylem and stomatal flows starting at 65 DAFB. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis
Fractional and noncommutative spacetimes
We establish a mapping between fractional and noncommutative spacetimes in
configuration space. Depending on the scale at which the relation is
considered, there arise two possibilities. For a fractional spacetime with
log-oscillatory measure, the effective measure near the fundamental scale
determining the log-period coincides with the non-rotation-invariant but
cyclicity-preserving measure of \kappa-Minkowski. At scales larger than the
log-period, the fractional measure is averaged and becomes a power-law with
real exponent. This can be also regarded as the cyclicity-inducing measure in a
noncommutative spacetime defined by a certain nonlinear algebra of the
coordinates, which interpolates between \kappa-Minkowski and canonical
spacetime. These results are based upon a braiding formula valid for any
nonlinear algebra which can be mapped onto the Heisenberg algebra.Comment: 15 pages. v2: typos correcte
Pyrrolomycins as potential anti-staphylococcal biofilms agents
With the goal of discovering new anti-infective agents active against microbial biofilms, we focused on some natural pyrrolomycins, a family of halogenated pyrrole antibiotics. In this study we investigated the anti-staphylococcal biofilm activity of pyrrolomycins C, D, F1, F2a, F2b, F3 and of the synthesized related compounds I, II, III. The susceptibility of six staphylococcal biofilms was determined by methyltiazotetrazolium (MTT) staining. Most of the compounds were active at concentrations of 1.5 ÎŒg/mL with significant inhibition percentages. A few of the compounds were active at the lowest screening concentration of 0.045ÎŒg/mL. We also report the population log reduction of activity against the two best biofilm forming S. aureus strains as determined by viable plate counts. In order to adequately assess the utility of these compounds, their toxicity against human cells was evaluated.
In conclusion, pyrrolomycins and synthetic derivatives are promising compounds for developing novel effective chemical countermeasures against staphylococcal biofilm
Monitoraggio in tempo reale dello stress idrico del pesco
La frutticoltura odierna Ăš sempre piĂč caratterizzata dallâutilizzo di nuove tecnologie che si basano sullâutilizzo di molteplici sensori. Una delle grandi sfide della Smart Agriculture (agricoltura intelligente) Ăš quella di integrare le informazioni provenienti da sensori remoti, prossimali e a contatto in modelli informativi in grado di sostenere gli agricoltori, in modo tale da determinare un sostanziale beneficio economico per le aziende. La complessitĂ delle informazioni ottenute scoraggia lâintegrazione di dati apparentemente molto diversi, ma allo stesso tempo apre le porte a nuovi modelli dâimpresa. In questo lavoro vengono messi in risalto alcuni vantaggi e difficoltĂ dellâutilizzo congiunto di sensori su foglie e frutti di nettarine
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