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Factors of graphomotor skills may serve as indicators to determine a writer's handwriting proficiency or acclimation to different writing surface textures. This study examines differences in children's graphomotor skills based on types of writing medium and gender. Participants were 97 six-year-old Korean preschool children who had not received formal writing training prior to the study. Writing tasks were completed on a tablet screen and paper. Writing samples were analyzed using the Eye and Pen software to investigate spatial, temporal, and pressure exertion exhibited during the writing tasks. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed differences in graphomotor skills such as print size, writing speed, and writing pressure. Writing on a tablet screen decreased clarity of writing; print size and speed increased as the stylus slides across the tablet surface with relatively less friction, thereby decreasing the exertion of writing pressure. Analysis of writing differences according to gender indicated that boys generated larger print sizes than girls. Results suggest that while simple writing tasks may be feasible on the tablet screen, providing children with a larger writing medium and encouraging larger print sizes for writing practice, especially for boys, may be beneficial in the development of graphomotor skills among young learners.

Banyak faktor yang dapat menurunkan imunitas tubuh, di antaranya diet yang tidak sesuai, kurangnya olahraga serta stres baik fisik maupun psikologis. Selama masa pandemi ini kegiatan Kelompok Program Lansia (Prolanis) Puskesmas IV Denpasar Selatan menjadi menurun. Hal ini mengakibatkan kurangnya aktivitas fisik, motivasi, kualitas hidup serta menurunkan imunitas. Selain aktivitas fisik, imunitas juga dapat ditingkatkan dengan tetap menjaga pola makan (diet) yang sesuai dengan penyakit yang diderita serta mengombinasikannya dengan olahraga secara teratur. Mitra terdiri dari pasien lanjut usia yang menderita penyakit diabetes melitus yang memerlukan penerapan diet dan olahraga sehingga dapat meningkatkan imunitas selama pandemi COVID-19. Pemberdayaan mitra ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman dan keterampilan menerapkan diet yang sesuai serta melakukan exercise agar dapat membantu pengendalian kadar gula darah khususnya bagi pasien diabetes melitus. Metode yang akan dipakai untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut di antaranya melalui penyuluhan, pelatihan dan pendampingan tentang diet, dan exercise berupa Resistance and Aerobic Exercise Combination (RabEC) bagi penderita diabetes melitus sampai dapat diterapkan secara mandiri oleh mitra. Kegiatan dilakukan di Puskesmas IV Denpasar Selatan, dengan melibatkan peserta sebanyak 17 orang peserta. Hasil program ini adalah adanya peningkatan pengetahuan yang dilihat dari hasil rerata postest (81,17) lebih tinggi dari hasil rerata pretest (58,23). Setelah diobservasi, didapatkan peningkatan kemampuan peserta untuk melakukan exercise kombinasi tersebut. Diharapkan dapat dilakukan kegiatan yang serupa sehingga meningkatkan keterampilan anggota Prolanis puskesmas IV Denpasar Selatan dalam exercise kombinasi RabEC.

Abstract Aneuploidies, and in particular, trisomies represent the most common genetic aberrations observed in human genetics today. To explore the presence of trisomies in historic and prehistoric populations we screen nearly 10,000 ancient human individuals for the presence of three copies of any of the target autosomes. We find clear genetic evidence for six cases of trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and one case of trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and all cases are present in infant or perinatal burials. We perform comparative osteological examinations of the skeletal remains and find overlapping skeletal markers, many of which are consistent with these syndromes. Interestingly, three cases of trisomy 21, and the case of trisomy 18 were detected in two contemporaneous sites in early Iron Age Spain (800-400 BCE), potentially suggesting a higher frequency of burials of trisomy carriers in those societies. Notably, the care with which the burials were conducted, and the items found with these individuals indicate that ancient societies likely acknowledged these individuals with trisomy 18 and 21 as members of their communities, from the perspective of burial practice.

In classes of Weyl semimetals where the symmetry protects nodes with higher than unit charge, the nematic Weyl liquid appears as interactions destroy this underlying symmetry. In the symmetry-broken phase, the multiple-charge nodes are split into objects of unit charge, the position of which in momentum space is determined by the nematic order parameter. We examine the phenomenology of this phase, focusing on topological edge states and Landau levels. We find that the symmetry-broken phase itself, as well as the orientation of the nematic order are identifiable from the resulting edge states. We also find that the nematic order couples to an in-plane magnetic field, indicating that it can be controlled in situ via an external field. Finally, we provide an estimate for the critical coupling where spontaneous symmetry breaking occurs for contact interaction.

A confinement stress test with 75% tank space reduction and behavioural monitoring through tri-axial accelerometers externally attached to the operculum was designed. This procedure was validated by demonstrating the less pronounced stress response in gilthead sea bream than in European sea bass (950–1200 g). Our study aimed to assess habituation to high stocking densities with such procedure in gilthead sea bream. Animals (420–450 g) were reared (June–August) in a flow-through system at two stocking densities (CTRL: 10–15 kg/m3; HD: 18–24 kg/m3), with natural photoperiod and temperature (21–29 °C), and oxygen levels at 5.2–4.2 (CTRL) and 4.2–3.2 ppm (HD). At the end, blood and muscle were sampled for haematology and transcriptomic analyses, and external tissue damage was assessed by image-based scoring. Four days later, fish underwent a 45 min confinement stress test over two consecutive days. HD fish showed reduced feed intake, growth rates and haematopoietic activity. Muscle transcriptome changes indicated a shift from systemic to local growth regulation and a primed muscle regeneration over protein accretion in HD animals with slight external injuries. After stress testing, HD fish exhibited a decreased recovery time in activity and respiration rates, which was shorter after a second stressor exposure, confirming habituation to high densities.

This study investigates what characteristics are considered important for a hypothetical multilingual person to be perceived as a "native" speaker of English. The data was collected from 521 participants from the United Kingdom, Singapore and South Korea, responding to a survey comprised of 30 questions with opportunities for qualitative comments. Several empirical statistical methods of analysis were employed to compare the data of three groups. The results indicated that expertise in the English language via education, self-perceived native speaker competence and a home language were the three most significant factors while ethnicity and nationality were the least important considerations for participants when perceiving multilingual speakers as "native" speakers of English. In this study, the stereotypically portrayed characteristics of "native speakers of English" as "innate," "fixed" and "monolingual" were not significant. These findings can contribute to discussions about "native speakerism" and what constitutes a "native" speaker, which has no sign of abating.

In recent years, the ways in which to read English picture books to young children has become diverse in English as a foreign language (EFL) context. The present study examined the effect of parent-child interactions and digital pen use during English picture book reading in the child's interest in learning English. A total of 320 Korean mothers of three to five year old preschool children participated in the study. The results revealed the following. First, children's interest in learning English was higher when they used digital pens and engaged in frequent parent-child interactions during English picture book reading. Second, parent-child interaction was a more significant variable in children's interest in learning English compared to digital pen use. Third, the moderator effect of digital pen use in the relation between parent-children interaction and children's interest in learning English was insignificant. In other words, parent-child interaction was important in increasing children's interest in learning English, regardless of digital pen use. While rapid advances in technology enhanced teaching pedagogy, parent-child interaction in foreign language learning still remains as a crucial factor. Further implications and future directions are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cognitive abilities of listening and reading comprehension and morphological awareness affect children's writing to dictation. Data were collected from 194 first-grade elementary schoolchildren in South Korea on the effects of repetitive practice and memorization by comparing impromptu and one semester's regular dictation tests. The results first revealed that spelling, spacing, and punctuation were highly correlated with the three cognitive abilities in the impromptu writing to dictation, but far less in the regular dictation test. Second, it was found that children's listening and reading comprehension and morphological awareness influenced their spelling, while reading comprehension and morphological awareness affected spacing and punctuation significantly in the impromptu dictation test. However, in the case of the regular dictation test, which involved memorization, the number of significant factors was small, and final explanatory power of those cognitive abilities was much smaller.

Editorial

BackgroundNeuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) disorders, recognized as the primary cause of childhood dementia globally, constitute a spectrum of genetic abnormalities. CLN8, a subtype within NCL, is characterized by cognitive decline, motor impairment, and visual deterioration. This study focuses on an atypical case with congenital onset and a remarkably slow disease progression.MethodsWhole-genome sequencing at 30× coverage was employed as part of a national genomics program to investigate the genetic underpinnings of rare diseases. This genomic approach aimed to challenge established classifications (vLINCL and EPMR) and explore the presence of a continuous phenotypic spectrum associated with CLN8.ResultsThe whole-genome sequencing revealed two novel likely pathogenic mutations in the CLN8 gene on chromosome 8p23.3. These mutations were not previously associated with CLN8-related NCL. Contrary to established classifications (vLINCL and EPMR), our findings suggest a continuous phenotypic spectrum associated with CLN8. Pathological subcellular markers further validated the genomic insights.DiscussionThe identification of two previously undescribed likely pathogenic CLN8 gene mutations challenges traditional classifications and highlights a more nuanced phenotypic spectrum associated with CLN8. Our findings underscore the significance of genetic modifiers and interactions with unrelated genes in shaping variable phenotypic outcomes. The inclusion of pathological subcellular markers further strengthens the validity of our genomic insights. This research enhances our understanding of CLN8 disorders, emphasizing the need for comprehensive genomic analyses to elucidate the complexity of phenotypic presentations and guide tailored therapeutic strategies. The identification of new likely pathogenic mutations underscores the dynamic nature of CLN8-related NCL and the importance of individualized approaches to patient management.

Children who attend English immersion institutions present largely different attitudes toward learning English. The current study attempted to explain these differences by examining the variations of children's temperament (i.e., impulsiveness and anxiety). The study also investigated whether parent-child interactions as a means for English education could reduce the negative effects of such temperaments on children's interests in learning English. Data collection was conducted through surveys of mothers and teachers of preschool children who attend English immersion institutions. Frequency analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Johnson-Neyman technique were performed. Results suggested that individual differences in children's English learning interests could be explained by variances in the levels of impulsiveness and anxiety. Parent-child interactions using English were found to reduce the negative effects of impulsiveness on children's English learning interests. Findings of this study may offer theoretical contributions to existing research in the domains of child temperament and language learning. Possible methods for practical application within the English learning environment to enhance young children's interests in learning English are also presented.

Background: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) known as pro-inflammatory cytokine increases extracellular matrix expression and proliferation in DN progression. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the Interleukin (IL)-6 gene, rs1800796 play a role in the progression of DN among Asian. Objective: This research seeks to investigate the correlation between IL-6 gene polymorphism (rs1800796) and diabetic nephropathy in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among the Balinese population. Methods: This research employed an observational approach through a case-control design involving a total of 60 subjects for each group selected by a simple random sampling method. The occurrence of the rs1800796 polymorphism was identified through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotype and allele distribution acquired in this study were assessed using the chi-square (χ2) test and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law. Results: There were no significant differences identified in the occurrence of (DN) based on the genotype or allele distribution of the IL-6 gene rs1800796. Genotype CG-GG had a higher risk of becoming DN with Odd ratio 1.230, but not statistically significant (p=0.577). Allele G with OR 1.198 (p=0.502) was not significant in causing DN. Conclusion: No significant association was identified between IL-6 polymorphism (rs1800796) and diabetic nephropathy in Balinese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The lack of association could be due to the presence of other haplotypic connections or might require a larger sample size for conclusive results.

El éxodo rural de posguerra origina multitud de asentamientos irregulares en las periferias urbanas españolas. Muchos de estos nuevos vecindarios carecen de planificación, infraestructuras, equipamientos y servicios, y están constituidos por viviendas autoconstruidas de características rurales, evocando los orígenes de sus habitantes. Posteriormente, se interviene en ellos mediante planeamientos urbanísticos que, en muchos casos,desvirtúan su carácter; siguen un modelo de ciudad-dormitorio donde prevalece sobre lo preexsistente la infraestructura rodada y la edificación de bloques residenciales de gran escala. Coincidiendo con la llegada de la democracia, movimientos ciudadanos, profesionales e instituciones ensayan nuevas soluciones para estos asentamientos periféricos. El Grupo Z es partícipe de este proceso cuando, a comienzos de los años 80, actúa en la reforma interior del barrio de La Paz con la construcción de tres conjuntos residenciales adyacentes. En lugar de adoptar soluciones genéricas y universales, como las derivadas del planeamiento precedente, los arquitectos del Grupo Z proyectan estos edificios dando respuestas específicas basadas en la lógica, aplicadas a un contexto urbano, a una realidad socioeconómica y a una identidad concretas. Estos edificios son más respetuosos con lo preexistente, recuperando valores de arquitecturas rurales: adoptan recursos arquitectónicos vernáculos, como los frentes de fachada, los patios, las dimensiones de huecos, las cubiertas o la materialidad; interaccionan con la trama urbana a través de una volumetría fragmentada; activan el espacio público limítrofe mediante la dispersión de sus accesos; incorporan viviendas de diferentes características para atraer a población diversa y fomentan la identidad comunitaria con una amplia variedad espacios de relación. El propósito de este estudio consiste en analizar en profundidad estos tres conjuntos y reconocer los valores arquitectónicos que han contribuido a la consolidación del vecindario, respetando su forma e identidad originales, en contraposición a otras intervenciones previas, que casi llevaron a una transformación definitiva del distrito periférico. Abstract The rural exodus after the Spanish Civil War led to many irregular settlements on the outskirts of Spanish cities.These new neighbourhoods often lacked planning, infrastructure, public facilities and services and consisted of rural-like self-built housing, evoking the origins of the inhabitants. Later urban planning efforts often distorted the original character of these settlements by pursuing the model of commuter towns dominated by road infrastructure and large-scale residential slabs. With the transition to democracy, citizens, professionals and institutions experimented with new solutions for these peripheral settlements. In the early 1980s, Grupo Z was involved in such efforts, taking part on the interior reform of the La Paz district, building three adjacent residential complexes. Rather than embracing sweeping, universal solutions, such as those resulting from previous planning projects,the architects of Grupo Z, by designing these buildings, offered specific responses based on logic, applied to an urban context, to a particular socioeconomic reality and identity. These buildings were more respectful of the preexisting built environment and restored rural architectural values: used vernacular architectural resources such as façade fronts, courtyards, openings, roofs and materiality; interacted with the urban fabric through a fragmented volumetry; gave new life to the adjacent public space by spreading out the access points; and included very different types of housing to attract a diverse population and promote community identity with a wide variety of relational spaces. The purpose of this study is to analyse these three complexes in detail and to recognise the architectural values that have helped to consolidate the neighbourhood with respect for its original form and identity, in contrast to previous efforts that nearly transformed the peripheral district.

The rural exodus after the Spanish Civil War led to many irregular settlements on the outskirts of Spanish cities.These new neighbourhoods often lacked planning, infrastructure, public facilities and services and consisted of rural-like self-built housing, evoking the origins of the inhabitants. Later urban planning efforts often distorted the original character of these settlements by pursuing the model of commuter towns dominated by road infrastructure and large-scale residential slabs. With the transition to democracy, citizens, professionals and institutions experimented with new solutions for these peripheral settlements. In the early 1980s, Grupo Z was involved in such efforts, taking part on the interior reform of the La Paz district, building three adjacent residential complexes. Rather than embracing sweeping, universal solutions, such as those resulting from previous planning projects,the architects of Grupo Z, by designing these buildings, offered specific responses based on logic, applied to an urban context, to a particular socioeconomic reality and identity. These buildings were more respectful of the preexisting built environment and restored rural architectural values: used vernacular architectural resources such as façade fronts, courtyards, openings, roofs and materiality; interacted with the urban fabric through a fragmented volumetry; gave new life to the adjacent public space by spreading out the access points; and included very different types of housing to attract a diverse population and promote community identity with a wide variety of relational spaces. The purpose of this study is to analyse these three complexes in detail and to recognise the architectural values that have helped to consolidate the neighbourhood with respect for its original form and identity, in contrast to previous efforts that nearly transformed the peripheral district.

Las nuevas perspectivas sobre el giro material en la historiografía educativa nos posibilitan estudiar los objetos depositados en los museos de la educación desde ópticas diversas. El Museo de la Educación de la Universidad del País Vasco posee, entre otros materiales, cuadernos, memorias, objetos científicos, etc. Un objeto en su exposición permanente que tiene interés didáctico es una “señal” utilizada en las escuelas regentadas por los Hermanos De La Salle. La presencia de este tipo de objetos hace que tengamos que superar la mera descripción y que sean útiles para explicarlos como objetos didácticos de determinados métodos pedagógicos (la escuela tradicional). En el caso de la “señal” para imponer una pedagogía del silencio. El enfoque metodológico que aplicamos, conocido como “didáctica del objeto en el museo”, resulta útil para hacer hablar a los objetos. Se trata de un material didáctico que regula el aprendizaje de ciertas asignaturas (lectura o escritura), además de imponer el orden en las aulas, objetivo principal de la pedagogía lasaliana. El contexto en el que este objeto surge es una muestra de su utilidad como tecnología didáctica y ordenación del tiempo y el espacio escolar. Hay que resaltar que los resultados que se obtienen con este tipo de planteamientos enriquecen la narración museística y permite a los visitantes un conocimiento directo de unas fuentes con las que se trabaja en historia. Asimismo, se posibilita una forma de educación patrimonial a partir de la multitud de objetos que rodean las experiencias escolares.

Contemplation – a century-old and multicultural constant stance – has had a resurgence in the recent decades. In this paper we focus on some of its pillars: specifically, those that can be approached from music and particularly from singing. The latter relates to silence and deep listening, and this triad leads to a special embodied self-awareness. The explanation is based on the origins of the singing voice and on the philosophical foundation that connects the human being with the whole, understood as a form energy and vibration. The repertoire that would be used to apply these affirmations is close to Gregorian chant present in the Western tradition but updated from a new practical and experientially contemplative approach that seeks spiritual growth as its final objective.

Abstract Background Broodstock nutritional programming improves the offspring utilization of plant-based diets in gilthead sea bream through changes in hepatic metabolism. Attention was initially focused on fatty acid desaturases, but it can involve a wide range of processes that remain largely unexplored. How all this can be driven by a different genetic background is hardly underlined, and the present study aimed to assess how broodstock nutrition affects differentially the transcriptome and genome-wide DNA methylome of reference and genetically selected fish within the PROGENSA® selection program. Results After the stimulus phase with a low fish oil diet, two offspring subsets of each genetic background received a control or a FUTURE-based diet. This highlighted a different hepatic transcriptome (RNA-seq) and genome-wide DNA methylation (MBD-seq) pattern depending on the genetic background. The number of differentially expressed transcripts following the challenge phase varied from 323 in reference fish to 2,009 in genetically selected fish. The number of discriminant transcripts, and associated enriched functions, were also markedly higher in selected fish. Moreover, correlation analysis depicted a hyper-methylated and down-regulated gene expression state in selected fish with the FUTURE diet, whereas the opposite pattern appeared in reference fish. After filtering for highly represented functions in selected fish, 115 epigenetic markers were retrieved in this group. Among them, lipid metabolism genes (23) were the most reactive following ordering by fold-change in expression, rendering a final list of 10 top markers with a key role on hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism (cd36, pitpna, cidea, fasn, g6pd, lipt1, scd1a, acsbg2, acsl14, acsbg2). Conclusions Gene expression profiles and methylation signatures were dependent on genetic background in our experimental model. Such assumption affected the magnitude, but also the type and direction of change. Thus, the resulting epigenetic clock of reference fish might depict an older phenotype with a lower methylation for the epigenetically responsive genes with a negative methylation-expression pattern. Therefore, epigenetic markers will be specific of each genetic lineage, serving the broodstock programming in our selected fish to prevent and mitigate later in life the risk of hepatic steatosis through changes in hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism.

An automated methodology is proposed to identify anomalies in buildings’ HVAC systems, through Local Correlation Integral (LOCI) algorithm, improved by Bootstrap to obtain a rule from its score distribution. It has been performed to solve the case study of anomaly detection for HVAC facilities maintenance in a clothing store in Panama. It is defined by a dataset composed of 24 daily readings recorded during 434 days. In each reading, 15 critical quality variables for thermal comfort and energy efficiency were monitored. For algorithm training, anomalous events recorded by HVAC system operators are considered. In this stage, the LOCI parameters that best fit the data are estimated, to obtain a score for each of the observations and then study their distribution by applying Bootstrap techniques to improve the classification performance. For the algorithm performance evaluation, cross-validation is used and from these results, it is compared with two benchmark supervised classification methods such as Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines with polynomial kernel. The LOCI method has been improved by the application of bootstrap resampling, providing estimates of the LOCI score distribution and a critical value from which we define an anomalous observation. It provides the best balance between real anomaly detection and prevention of false alarm identification than current proposals for LOCI.

Abstract Squiggle data is the numerical output of DNA and RNA sequencing by the Nanopore next generation sequencing platform. Nanopore sequencing offers expanded applications compared to previous sequencing techniques but produces a large amount of data in the form of current measurements over time. The analysis of these segments of current measurements require more complex and computationally intensive algorithms than previous sequencing technologies. The purpose of this study is to investigate in principle the potential of using quantum computers to speed up Nanopore data analysis. Quantum circuits are designed to extract major features of squiggle current measurements. The circuits are analyzed theoretically in terms of size and performance. Practical experiments on IBM QX show the limitations of the state of the art quantum computer to tackle real life squiggle data problems. Nevertheless, pre-processing of the squiggle data using the inverse wavelet transform, as experimented and analyzed in this paper as well, reduces the dimensionality of the problem in order to fit a reasonable size quantum computer in the hopefully near future.