The Role of Motor Competences in Predicting Working Memory Maintenance and Preparatory Processing

The purpose of the study was the examination of the longitudinal association between motor competences and changes in preparatory processing during a task requiring working memory maintenance. At baseline, 52 Caucasian children aged 10–12 years completed the MOBAK-5 test battery and a Sternberg task, whereas the cue-P300 and the initial contingent negative variation (iCNV) were recorded via electroencephalography. After 9 months, the Sternberg task was administered again to assess changes in these neurophysiological indices and behavioral performance. Path analyses revealed that motor competences predicted the change in cue-P300 and iCNV from baseline to follow-up. The present findings indicate that the cognitive control strategy during a task demanding working memory maintenance changes as a function of children's baseline motor competences.     

Interference screws vs. suture anchors for isolated medial patellofemoral ligament femoral fixation: A systematic review

Purpose:The present study aimed to systematically review and compare 2 femoral autograft fixation techniques,namely,interference screws and suture anchors,for isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability at mid-to long-term follow-up.Methods:A literature search was performed in September 2020.All studies reporting the outcomes of primary isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for recurrent patellofemoral instability were considered for inclusion.Only studies reporting the type of femoral autograft fixation under examination were considered.Studies reporting data from patients with elevated tibial tuberosity-tibial groove,patella alta,and/or Dejour’s trochlear dysplasia types C and D,were not included.Only articles reporting data with a minimum follow-up period of 18 months were considered.Results:Data from 19 studies(615 patients)were retrieved.The overall age was 24.4±6.7 years(mean±SD).The mean follow-up was 46.5±20.9 months.There were 76 patients in the anchor group and 539 in the screw group.Comparability was found with regard to age and follow-up duration between the 2 study groups.There was comparability between the Kujala,Lysholm,and Tegner scores at baseline.At the last follow-up,no worthy differences were found in terms of mean Kujala(+2.1%;p=0.04),Lysholm(+1.7%;p=0.05),and Tegner(+15.8%;p=0.05)scores.Although complications occurred almost exclusively in the screw cohort,no statistically significant difference was found.Conclusion:Femoral autograft fixation through interference screws or suture anchors report similar clinical scores and rate of apprehension test,persistent joint instability,re-dislocations,and revisions.These results must be interpreted within the limitations of the present study.     

Development of a magnetic immunosorbent for on-chip preconcentration of amyloid β isoforms: Representatives of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers

Determination of amyloid β (Aβ) isoforms and in particular the proportion of the Aβ 1-42 isoform in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients suspected of Alzheimer's disease might help in early diagnosis and treatment of that illness. Due to the low concentration of Aβ peptides in biological fluids, a preconcentration step prior to the detection step is often necessary. This study utilized on-chip immunoprecipitation, known as micro-immunoprecipitation (μIP). The technique uses an immunosorbent (IS) consisting of magnetic beads coated with specific anti-Aβ antibodies organized into an affinity microcolumn by a magnetic field. Our goal was to thoroughly describe the critical steps in developing the IS, such as selecting the proper beads and anti-Aβ antibodies, as well as optimizing the immobilization technique and μIP protocol. The latter includes selecting optimal elution conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficiency of anti-Aβ IS for μIP and specific capture of 5 Aβ peptides under optimized conditions using various subsequent analytical methods, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), capillary electrophoresis, microchip electrophoresis, and immunoblotting. Synthetic Aβ peptides samples prepared in buffer and spiked in human CSF were analyzed. Finally, on-chip immunoprecipitation of Aβ peptides in human CSF sample was performed.     

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,executive functions and prefrontal brain oxygenation in children: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Despite accumulating evidence that regular exercise improves executive functioning, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms have rarely been investigated. The present study aimed to compare cognitive performance as well as task-specific concentration changes in oxygenated haemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex between children with higher and lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Physical activity was measured over 7 consecutive days using actigraphy. Afterwards, participants (N = 50) completed verbal fluency tests (VFTs) and mental arithmetic (MA) for the assessment of cognitive flexibility and working memory capacity. During the tasks, changes of oxygenated haemoglobin were measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Using average MVPA of 11-year-old children as cut-point, the sample was divided into children with lower and higher MVPA. Analyses of variance revealed no significant differences in correct and false responses on the cognitive tests between groups. With regard to oxygenated haemoglobin, no group differences were found for concentration changes in response to the cognitive tasks. In conclusion, VFTs and MA increased children’s activation in prefrontal regions associated with cognitive flexibility and working memory, respectively. However, these executive functions and cortical activation were not different between children with lower and higher MVPA.     

Inclusive vocational schools in Canada and Germany. A comparison of vocational pre-service teachers′ attitudes,self-efficacy and experiences towards inclusive education

Both Canada’s and Germany’s school systems are transitioning into inclusive education systems. This transition is also happening in vocational schools. This paper addresses the new demands that vocational teachers face, due to the introduction of inclusive education in Germany and Canada, by examining Canadian and German pre-service vocational teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy and experiences related to inclusive education. The study identifies significantly more positive ratings in the Canadian sample across all the three scales. We conclude that the different ratings relate to different school systems, experiences with inclusion and the teacher education systems. Based on these research findings, recommendations for teacher education are discussed.     

Bildung und Übergangsrisiken beim Einstieg in den Beruf

Anhand vergleichender empirischer Analysen untersucht der Beitrag institutionelle und strukturelle Determinanten arbeitsmarktad?quater Bildungsabschlüsse. Auf der Basis statisticher Mehrebenenmodelle und Daten des Europ?ischen Labour Force Surveys der Jahre 1992–1997 für zw?lf L?nder der Europ?ischen Union zeigt der Beitrag, dass ein h?heres Bildungsniveau und berufliche Spezialisierung dazu beitragen, Arbeitslosigkeit und geringqualifizierte Besch?ftigung zu vermeiden. Im Vergleich variieren vor allem die Muster beruflicher Allokation zwischen beruflich strukturierten und flexiblen übergangssystemen, im Hinblick auf die Arbeitslosigkeit weichen vor allem die südeurop?ischen L?nder vom allgemeinen Muster ab. Das duale Ausbildungssystem in der Bundesrepublik schneidet insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Vermeidung von Arbeitslosigkeit vortelhaft ab. Es zeigt sich aber auch, dass die Vorteile beruflicher Spezialisierung vor allem in den ersten Berufsjahren zum Tragen kommen, und sich im Zeitverlauf weitgehend nivellieren. Zudem zeigen die Analysen, dass der Arbeitsmarktwert des individuellen Bildungsabschlusses bei hohem Konkurrenzdruck und anhaltend hoher Arbeitslosigkeit steigt.     

Counseling University Instructors Based on Student Evaluations of Their Teaching Effectiveness: A Multilevel Test of its Effectiveness Under Consideration of Bias and Unfairness Variables

Counseling instructors using evaluations made by their students has shown to be a fruitful approach to enhancing teaching quality. However, prior experimental studies are questionable in terms of external validity. Therefore, we conducted a non-experimental intervention study in which all of the courses offered by a specific department at a German university were evaluated twice with a standardized student evaluation questionnaire (HILVE-II; overall 44 instructors, 140 courses, and 2,546 student evaluations). Additionally, twelve full time instructors received counseling after the first measurement point. Long-term effects over a period of 2 years and transfer effects to other courses were analyzed using multi-level analyses with three levels. Possible influences by bias and unfairness variables were controlled for. Our results indicate a moderate to large effect of counseling on teaching quality. In conclusion, if students’ evaluations are accompanied by counseling based on the evaluation results, they present a useful method to assure and increase teaching quality in higher education.     

Imitation in Infancy: Rational or Motor Resonance?

The present study investigates the contribution of 2 mechanisms to imitation in infancy. The principle of rational action suggests that infants normatively evaluate the efficiency of observed actions. In contrast, it has been proposed that motor resonance (i.e., the mapping of others' actions onto one's own motor repertoire) plays a central role in imitation. This study tested 14-month-old infants (n = 95) in 5 conditions and manipulated the extent to which the observed actions could be matched onto the infants' own motor repertoire as well as whether the observed behavior appeared to be efficient. The results suggest that motor resonance plays a more central role in imitation in infancy than does a rational evaluation of the observed action.     

The impact of virtual simulation tools on problem-solving and new product development organization

New product development nowadays makes heavy use of IT instruments such as virtual simulation tools. The main motivation for introducing virtual simulation tools in new product development is to speed up development and lower its cost. Virtual simulation tools, however, do much more. They introduce profound changes in the organization, including the nature of problem-solving, bearing the potential to increase new product development performance beyond cost and lead time reduction. Understanding these profound changes, we argue, holds the key to unlocking the potential of virtual simulation tools for improving new product development performance, including more innovative products. We support our argument with a case study from the European auto industry.