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Head size and intelligence, learning, nutritional status and brain development. Head, IQ, learning, nutrition and brain.

This multifactorial study investigates the interrelationships between head circumference (HC) and intellectual quotient (IQ), learning, nutritional status and brain development in Chilean school-age children graduating from high school, of both sexes and with high and low IQ and socio-economic strata (SES). The sample consisted of 96 right-handed healthy students (mean age 18.0 +/- 0.9 years) born at term. HC was measured both in the children and their parents and was expressed as Z-score (Z-HC). In children, IQ was determined by means of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults-Revised (WAIS-R), scholastic achievement (SA) through the standard Spanish language and mathematics tests and the academic aptitude test (AAT) score, nutritional status was assessed through anthropometric indicators, brain development was determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SES applying the Graffar modified method. Results showed that microcephalic children (Z-HC < or = 2 S.D.) had significantly lower values mainly for brain volume (BV), parental Z-HC, IQ, SA, AAT, birth length (BL) and a significantly higher incidence of undernutrition in the first year of life compared with their macrocephalic peers (Z-HC > 2S.D.). Multiple regression analysis revealed that BV, parental Z-HC and BL were the independent variables with the greatest explanatory power for child's Z-HC variance (r(2) = 0.727). These findings confirm the hypothesis formulated in this study: (1) independently of age, sex and SES, brain parameters, parental HC and prenatal nutritional indicators are the most important independent variables that determine HC and (2) microcephalic children present multiple disorders not only related to BV but also to IQ, SA and nutritional background.

Adolescent↗

Caregiving--learning to cope, learning the options.

Preplanning and education are the best ways caregivers can help themselves. This recommends learning about options before the need arises to alleviate some of the stress. Belonging to support groups is one way that caregivers can help each other. In addition to sharing their problems and concerns, group members recommend that keeping journals help to relieve stress. Reynolds, who took care of her father in her home, says that hindsight is invaluable. "If I had known about a company that ensured he would eat meals and take medication, I would have had some relief," she says. "I hope my experience can help other caregivers."

Adaptation, Psychological↗

How the SARS vaccine effort can learn from HIV-speeding towards the future, learning from the past.

A remarkable collaborative effort coordinated by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) team at WHO resulted in discovery of the etiologic agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome less than 2 months after the announcement of global alert. The development of a vaccine to prevent SARS should be pursued with the same urgency and cooperative spirit, as SARS is highly lethal and, if not controlled during the first few generations of transmission, is likely to become endemic in regions of the world where health-care infrastructure is underdeveloped and epidemiological control measures are weak. The scientific community already learned many important lessons from HIV vaccine development; these should be heeded. For example, consideration should be given to the development of a vaccine that will protect across regional strains of SARS, as the newly emergent coronavirus SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is proving to be variable and may be mutating in response to immune pressure. SARS-specific research reagents should also be collected and shared. These would include SARS peptides, adjuvants, DNA vaccine vectors and clinical grade viral vectors. Rapidly developing a collaborative approach to developing a SARS vaccine that will be both effective and safe is the only way to go. This article reviews parallels between HIV and SARS and proposes an approach that would accelerate the development of a SARS vaccine.

AIDS Vaccines↗

"We're living what we're learning": student perspectives in distance learning degree and certificate programs in public health.

The authors used surveys and interviews to study participants' motivations for enrolling and perceptions of the weaknesses and strengths of two distance learning programs administered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health (SPH): the MPH in Public Health Leadership and a certificate program organized collaboratively with the Mahidol University SPH in Thailand. Chief motivations were career advancement, job performance improvement, convenience, and obtaining a degree from a reputable institution. Strengths included the curriculum, networking opportunities, and administrative and technical support. Concerns included quality of interaction with faculty and instructional methods.

Adult↗

The learning curve in learning the curve: a review of Nuss procedure in teenagers.

BACKGROUND: The Nuss procedure is a new minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum that was first published in 1998. Modifications in technique are constantly evolving to minimize complications, especially bar displacement, which are higher in adolescents and adults. The present study reviews our early experience with this procedure in a much older group of children than previously reported and suggests an alternative method of avoiding bar displacement. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was carried out on 78 consecutive patients who underwent the Nuss procedure between December 1999 and January 2004. All patients underwent a uniform technique using bilateral lateral stabilisers and thoracoscopy was not used. Operative details, subjective cosmetic results and complication rates were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age was 15.4 +/- 3.2 years. Single bars were used in 95%, double bars in 5%. The defect was asymmetrical in 26%. The defect was mild in 7%, moderate in 59% and severe in 34%. The median length of stay was 6.0 days (range 4-11). Total operating time was 58 min (range 35-95). Patient controlled analgesia (morphine) for pain relief was used for 105 h (range 61-169) or 4.4 days; the epidural infusion was stopped 1 day earlier. Cosmetic results were excellent in 80.3%. There was residual asymmetry in 75% of the asymmetrical defects although all were improved. Complications included eight (10%) reoperations for bar displacement. This was related to the learning curve as seven of these occurred in the first 2 years of the series. Removal of the bar has been accomplished in 31 (40%) patients. This was elective in all but four patients (three early removals for pain and one for infection). CONCLUSIONS: The Nuss procedure gives good results even in teenagers. Modification of technique and increased experience has reduced complications. The use of bilateral lateral stabilisers without additional wire fixation is an alternative method to avoid bar displacement.

Adolescent↗

The role of different types of instrumentality in motivation, study strategies, and performance: know why you learn, so you'll know what you learn!

BACKGROUND: Two theories in the field of motivation and achievement, namely the future time perspective theory and goal theory, result in conflicting recommendations for enhancing students' motivation, because of their differential emphasis on the task at hand and on the future consequences of a task. AIMS: We will present a framework consisting of four types of instrumentality that combines both perspectives. The implications of those different types for goal orientation, motivation, cognitive strategies, study habits and performance are investigated. SAMPLES: Participants were a group of 184 first-year nurse students with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years. METHODS: Questionnaires were administered that measured instrumentality, goal orientation, motivation, deep and surface level learning strategies, study habits, and a manipulation check. At the end of the year, exam scores were collected. RESULTS: The results showed that different types of instrumentality are related differently to the motivational, cognitive and achievement measures. Being internally regulated and perceiving the utility of the courses resulted both in a more adaptive goal orientation and higher intrinsic motivation, which led to the use of more adaptive cognitive strategies and to better study habits, which ultimately enhanced performance. Linking performance to extrinsic rewards and not seeing the utility of the course for the future yielded the opposite pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Type of instrumentality has indeed a differential influence on motivational, cognitive, and behavioural variables.

Adolescent↗

'Learning Diabetes'--a multi-media learning package for patients, carers and professionals to improve chronic disease management.

A multi-media program for those with insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetes, and for their carers, has been produced. It is delivered on CDROM and contains an extensive amount of very high quality generated video of patients using short clips (maximum 2 min) totalling 2.5 h in 240 files using MPEG compression. The video is combined with a wide range of graphic based activities engaging the user in fully interactive processes and allowing them to obtain extensive understanding of the disease and to relate to attitudes and perceptions about it from those with the same condition. The program is robust and appears to meet the educational needs for its extent of interactivity, degree of choice for the user and provision of information based on real patient experience. It is easily used and modified to meet users of different socio-cultural needs and can be translated into different languages. It offers the opportunity not only for increased learning and improved self-management of those with diabetes, but also greater understanding by those who care for them, both professional and non-professional. Using the same framework, programs are being developed for other chronic diseases including asthma and hypertension.

CD-ROM↗

Animal behaviour learning environment: software to facilitate learning in canine and feline behavior therapy.

Interactive software has been developed on CD-ROM to facilitate learning of problem formulation, diagnostic methodology, and therapeutic options in dog and cat behavior problems. Students working in small groups are presented with a signalment, a case history, and brief description of the problem behavior as perceived by the client. Students then navigate through the case history by asking the client questions from an icon-driven question pad. Animated video responses to the questions are provided. Students are then required to rate the significance of the questions and answers with respect to the development of the unwelcome behavior. Links to online self-assessments and to resource materials about causation and treatment options are provided to assist students in their decision-making process. The activity concludes with a software-generated e-mail submission that includes the recorded history, diagnosis, and recommended treatment for assessment purposes.

Animals↗

[An Internet-based "distance" learning for health, environment and sustainable development "distance learning without a frontier"].

Quality of the environment is crucial for human health. Environmental hazards may lead to adverse health effects, while a sound environment can support of enable health. It has been clear that health and environment must be understood within the context of social and economic development, which was stressed especially in the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Investing in improvement of people's health and their environment is a prerequisite for sustainable development. The telecommunication revolution enables distance learning without frontiers in a reansparent and interactive environment. Applying the Internet and other telecommunication into public health including environmental health holds the greatest promise for global health. A wide application and access would facilitate and expedite the reduction of inequity prevailing between the south and north in an unprecedented speed. This proposed course is thus designed to provide an overview on health and environment in sustainable development through the Internet.

Environmental Health↗

Learning and memory in adolescent psychiatric inpatients with major depression: a normative study of the California Verbal Learning Test.

Depressed adults have deficits in memory functions, especially on demanding tasks, but few studies of depressed adolescents have been published. In order to examine the extent of memory impairment and its diagnostic specificity, adolescent inpatients with DSM-III-R diagnoses of Major Depression (n = 56), Conduct Disorder (n = 42), or mixed Depression and Conduct Disorder (n = 22) were tested on the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and compared to each other, to CVLT norms, and to previously published CVLT norms for adults with Major Depression. Adolescents with Major Depression performed below normative standards on all aspects of the CVLT, but did not have a specific profile of memory impairments that was different from the two comparison samples. Relative to norms for adult patients with Major Depression, adolescent females under performed across all CVLT measures, but males did not differ from adults Depression in adolescence is not associated with specific memory impairments, but adolescent females with depression may have more severe deficits than depressed adults.

Journal Article↗

Complex sensory-motor sequence learning based on recurrent state representation and reinforcement learning.

A novel neural network model is presented that learns by trial-and-error to reproduce complex sensory-motor sequences. One subnetwork, corresponding to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is responsible for generating unique patterns of activity that represent the continuous state of sequence execution. A second subnetwork, corresponding to the striatum, associates these state-encoding patterns with the correct response at each point in the sequence execution. From a neuroscience perspective, the model is based on the known cortical and subcortical anatomy of the primate oculomotor system. From a theoretical perspective, the architecture is similar to that of a finite automaton in which outputs and state transitions are generated as a function of inputs and the current state. Simulation results for complex sequence reproduction and sequence discrimination are presented.

Animals↗

Evidence-based care: 5. Lifelong learning: how can we learn to be more effective? Evidence-Based Care Resource Group.

The authors have developed by trial and error some guidelines for teaching and learning the skills needed to provide evidence-based care. Educational activities should be applied, participatory, self-directed, practice-based and practical, and they should focus on high-priority problems. Efficiency should be emphasized, and expectations of how much any clinician can accomplish should be reasonable.

Canada↗