Simple Toys Research Articles

A vision to enhance self-regulation in children: The promise of pediatric hypnosis

ABSTRACT Pediatric hypnosis practices are a valuable tool for enhancing emotional self-regulation and promoting resilience. Hypnotically informed materials, toys, and language are simple ways to encourage relaxation and stress management. By learning hypnosis skills such as becoming imaginatively absorbed in imagery, “belly breathing,” and using simple toys to promote muscle relaxation, children can access natural and novel ways to navigate life’s challenges. An example of these hypnotically informed materials and skills training exercises can be found in Comfort Kits (developed by Dr. Karen Olness circa 1996 and widely distributed by Drs. Culbert and Olness since 2004, used by thousands of children in hospitals and in community settings following natural disasters and wars. Extending this supportive tool and self-hypnosis training into schools presents an opportunity to introduce children to self-directed stress management skills in a practical and convenient manner. Training children to use hypnotically informed self-regulation skills begins to fill the gap between the need for mental health services and available resources. By incorporating hypnotically informed stress management training and self-hypnosis practices into schools, we can equip children with essential tools for improved mental well-being, particularly when they need psychological first aid. Using hypnotic practices and skills can help children manage difficult experiences and develop a sense of comfort and control. Next steps include looking at the feasibility and efficacy of positioning self-directed self-regulation practices (like those found in Comfort Kits and used by clinicians trained in therapeutic pediatric hypnosis) in schools, including through consultation with experts in curriculum development and assessment.

Sleight of hand: role-differentiated bimanual manipulation speed across infancy

ABSTRACT Role-differentiated bimanual manipulation (RDBM) is a complex behaviour requiring the complementary movement of two hands to achieve a common goal. We investigated the relation of RDBM speed (time to complete a successful RDBM) with a hand preference for acquiring objects (early right, late right, left, no preference), toy type (simple/difficult), age (9-14 months), and hand (right/left) used to perform the RDBM. Changes in RDBM speed across age were examined across different hand preference groups for RDBMs performed on simple toys using the right hand. The analysis revealed that early-right preference infants had a steeper slope than the no preference/left-preference infants. The same was true for right-preference infants (early- and late-) for RDBMs performed on difficult toys using the right hand. A mixed ANOVA revealed that there were decreases in RDBM times across age, therefore infants are faster at performing RDBMs over time, regardless of toy type, hand used, or hand preference. The results of the present study suggest that when exploring the development of hand preference, we should consider the influence of age, hand preference, and hand used.

Striking a (vocal) chord: musical instruments as mnemonic devices when teaching the functional anatomy of the larynx.

Mnemonic devices are memory aids that make it easier to recall information and are widely used by students studying anatomy and physiology. Simple musical instruments and toys can serve as mnemonic devices for students learning the functional anatomy of the larynx: balloons can help learners understand and recall how sound is produced; tuning pegs can help learners understand how tension affects vocal pitch; fingers on a fretboard can help learners understand how pitch is further modulated; and a common coach's whistle can demonstrate how vocal volume is controlled. Using instruments and toys engages adult learners and helps them connect complex laryngeal anatomy with previous experiences.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Musical instruments and toys can be used as mnemonic devices to help students recall and understand the functional anatomy of voice production. The mnemonics can be implemented in a variety of classrooms and are flexible and engaging.

TWO SIZES TOO SMALL: TWO CATEGORIES OF MINIATURE POTTERY IN MINOAN CRETE

Often assumed to be ritual votives or toys for children, miniature ceramic vessels in the Bronze Age Aegean have been afforded little thorough study. Their presence at peak sanctuaries, sacred caves and shrines on Crete has led to their uncritical association with ritual activity, even outside of sacred areas. When miniature pots are found in domestic spaces, they are often dismissed as objects of household ritual or simple toys. Yet miniature vessels, diverse in form and context, are so common in archaeological investigations of Minoan settlements that they merit further comprehensive study. Considered alongside the abundance of small-scale Minoan material culture, including figurines, seals, miniature wall paintings, and models, miniature pottery appears to be one facet of a larger semiotic ideology – one well-versed in the language and power of the miniature. By analysing 504 miniature pots from 13 sites in central and east Crete, this paper explores the wide range of miniature vessel types used in the Protopalatial and Neopalatial periods and applies contextual analysis to draw out their meanings. Contextualisation and data analysis reveal two distinct categories within the corpus of miniature pots: ‘micro-miniatures’ and ‘small miniatures’. While micro-miniatures were indeed inherently cultic, small miniatures served a variety of practical functions within the world of Minoan Crete and should not be assumed to relate to ritual. To differentiate between the categories, the relationship between the miniature and its prototype, as well as its semiotic meaning are considered. By applying Peircean understandings of iconicity and indexicality to these two categories, the use and significance of Bronze Age miniature vessels are further illuminated, in ritual and beyond.

Design and Analysis of Quad Copter Chassis Using Shape Optimization Technique

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are replacing many traditional methods ranging from simple play toys to critical defense operations. UAVs or drones that are the little flying machines are used in space, defense, food delivery, pest sprays for agriculture, consumer goods delivery, land-surveillance and the list goes on. However, the physics behind it demands a lesser weight for drone to fly high as lesser the weight, lesser is the power required to operate. In all the components that make up a drone, is the frame that is most important structure which holds and bears everything at place. So the material used for the drone frame plays a very crucial role for it should have a lesser mass but sufficient strength. In this work, frame is modeled taking into consideration, its sturdiness and stress analysis is conducted using Autodesk Fusion 360 software and compared for different materials of frames from plastics to metals and the design is shape optimized to meet the objective

Toying with the periodic table: using everyday items to investigate classification and properties of matter

The Periodic Table of Elements is a valuable resource for chemists and all kinds of STEM professionals. However, it can be initially overwhelming and intimidating to some students. This hands-on lesson introduces abstract concepts in the periodic table through a tangible experience with simple toys and household objects. Students collaborate and think critically to explore different ways for classifying and categorizing matter. This experience of analyzing traits and recognizing trends in properties provides an orientation to the periodic table’s development and organization of chemical elements. Extension options and instructional methods are provided, and are adaptable to fit teachers’ curriculum and classroom context.

Environmental enrichment in pig husbandry – Citizens’ ratings of pictures showing housing elements using an online-survey

The level of animal welfare in intensive pig production has been subject to increasing public criticism in recent years. Previous studies revealed a clear citizens’ demand for more species-appropriate pig husbandry systems with various enriching housing elements that ensure adequate behaviour and animal welfare. However, despite intense public debates, to the best of our knowledge, no research has been done to examine a more differentiated rating by citizens of enriching housing elements that can potentially be integrated in farming systems and thus increase social acceptance. Against this background, 14 housing elements were selected that are known to potentially enrich the pigs’ environment. We used a picture-based survey design to show participants what each element looks like. Participants were recruited through an online panel provider using quota sampling. 414 German citizens were asked to rate the selected enrichment elements. In addition to compare the rating of enrichment elements, we conducted a cluster analysis based on the participants’ attitudes towards animal welfare. Participants believed nine out of the 14 housing elements to have a positive influence on animal welfare and to be an important element in a pigsty. Wallows were appreciated the most, closely followed by straw as bedding and enrichment material in a separate rooting area. Showers, tubs, and straw as enrichment material in containers were rated positively as well, although to a lesser extent. In contrast, the slatted outdoor area and all four enriching objects (toys) performed comparatively poorly. Overall, costs associated with the installation/usage of the respective housing elements were rated rather low, and practicability issues were mostly rated as negligible. We identified two citizen segments that showed different ratings of the housing elements and which also differed in gender, meat consumption patterns, interest in agricultural topics, and self-perceived knowledge of animal husbandry. The findings are valuable for farmers to adapt their production systems. Wallows, straw bedding and rooting areas can improve the animal welfare perception from a citizens’ point of view, although there seem to be different citizen segments. Simple toys and slatted areas, even outdoors, seem to be less appropriate when communicating improved husbandry systems to the public.

Soft Microreactors for the Deposition of Conductive Metallic Traces on Planar, Embossed, and Curved Surfaces

AbstractAdvanced manufacturing strategies have enabled large‐scale, economical, and efficient production of electronic components that are an integral part of various consumer products ranging from simple toys to intricate computing systems; however, the circuitry for these components is (by and large) produced via top‐down lithography and is thus limited to planar surfaces. The present work demonstrates the use of reconfigurable soft microreactors for the patterned deposition of conductive copper traces on flat and embossed two‐dimensional (2D) substrates as well as nonplanar substrates made from different commodity plastics. Using localized, flow‐assisted, low‐temperature, electroless copper deposition, conductive metallic traces are fabricated, which, when combined with various off‐the‐shelf electronic components, enabled the production of simple circuits and antennas with unique form factors. This solution‐phase approach to the patterned deposition of functional inorganic materials selectively on different polymeric components will provide relatively simple, inexpensive processing opportunities for the fabrication of 2D/nonplanar devices when compared to complicated manufacturing methods such as laser‐directed structuring. Further, this approach to the patterned metallization of different commodity plastics offers unique design opportunities applicable to the fabrication of planar and nonplanar electronic and interconnect devices, and other free‐form electronics with less structural “bloat” and weight (by directly coating support elements with circuitry).

Local dimension and recurrent circulation patterns in long-term climate simulations.

With the recent advent of a sound mathematical theory for extreme events in dynamical systems, new ways of analyzing a system's inherent properties have become available: Studying only the probabilities of extremely close Poincaré recurrences, we can infer the underlying attractor's local dimensionality-a quantity which is closely linked to the predictability of individual configurations, as well as the information gained from observing them. This study examines possible ways of estimating local and global attractor dimensions, identifies potential pitfalls, and discusses conceivable applications. The Portable University Model of the Atmosphere serves as a test subject of intermediate complexity between simple mathematical toys and truly realistic atmospheric data-sets. It is demonstrated that the introduction of a simple, analytical estimator can streamline the procedure and allows for additional tests of the agreement between theoretical expectation and observed data. We, furthermore, show how the newly gained knowledge about local dimensions can complement classical techniques like principal component analysis and may assist in separating meaningful patterns from mathematical artifacts.

Fluids Demonstrations: Trailing Vortices, Plateau Border, Angle of Repose, and Flow Instability

Demonstrations of physics phenomena via relatively simple devices and toys have been around for a long time. Because of the pedagogical value of demonstrations, this journal and other periodicals have published papers on the subject of classroom demonstrations including those related to fluid mechanics. Four new, low-cost apparatuses that demonstrate a variety of fluid mechanics phenomena are presented in this paper. The apparatuses are self-contained, instantly set up, require no electric power for operation, and are maintenance free. They can be used as demonstration tools to enhance classroom lectures and outreach activities. Alternatively, these apparatuses can be assigned as projects for students to construct and test. Further involvement, from an aesthetic point of view, might be to construct variations of them as decorative objects by collaborating with students/teachers in visual arts. Features of the apparatuses are presented first, followed by notes on fabrication to enable interested readers to replicate them.

Interactive mechanism modeling from multi-view images

In this paper, we present an interactive system for mechanism modeling from multi-view images. Its key feature is that the generated 3D mechanism models contain not only geometric shapes but also internal motion structures: they can be directly animated through kinematic simulation. Our system consists of two steps: interactive 3D modeling and stochastic motion parameter estimation. At the 3D modeling step, our system is designed to integrate the sparse 3D points reconstructed from multi-view images and a sketching interface to achieve accurate 3D modeling of a mechanism. To recover the motion parameters, we record a video clip of the mechanism motion and adopt stochastic optimization to recover its motion parameters by edge matching. Experimental results show that our system can achieve the 3D modeling of a range of mechanisms from simple mechanical toys to complex mechanism objects.

Teacher's Kit: Development, Usability, and Communities of Modular Robotic Kits for Classroom Education

Robotics is becoming a mainstream phenomenon, entering all areas of our lives. In addition to cutting-edge research and development, robotics is becoming equally important in the classroom and home education. Numerous educational kits have appeared on the market recently, ranging from simple toolboxes and toys to complex, configurable RaD sets. Their value in formal teaching lies in modularity and the applicability of the associated curriculum. Some kits have already attracted major crowds of users, forming strong communities. The aim of this article is to review the currently available educational robotics kits along with their possible usability in formal education, focusing the analysis on system capabilities, modularity, and teaching materials available. The summary of these teaching aids should ease the decisions of robotics experts and instructors when choosing their tools for teaching and demonstration.

A Review on Distributed Control of Cooperating Mini UAVS

Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAVs) are becoming popular research platform and drawing considerable attention, particularly during the last decade due to their multi-dimensional applications in almost every walk of life. MUAVs range from simple toys found at electronic supermarkets for entertainment purpose to highly sophisticated commercial platforms performing novel assignments like offshore wind power station inspection and 3D modelling of buildings. This paper presents an overview of the main aspects in the domain of distributed control of cooperating MUAVs to facilitate the potential users in this fascinating field. Furthermore it gives an overview on state of the art in MUAV technologies e.g. Photonic Mixer Devices (PMD) camera, distributed control methods and on-going work and challenges, which is the motivation for many researchers all over the world to work in this field.

Unraveling the Tangled Complexity of DNA: Combining Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Biology to Understand Replication, Recombination and Repair

How does DNA, the molecule containing genetic information, change its three-dimensional shape during the complex cellular processes of replication, recombination and repair? This is one of the core questions in molecular biology which cannot be answered without help from mathematical modeling. Basic concepts of topology and geometry can be introduced in undergraduate teaching to help students understand counterintuitive complex structural transformations that occur in every living cell. Topoisomerases, a fascinating class of enzymes involved in replication, recombination and repair, catalyze a change in DNA topology through a series of highly coordinated mechanistic steps. Undergraduate biology and mathematics students can visualize and explore the principles of topoisomerase action by using easily available materials such as Velcro, ribbons, telephone cords, zippers and tubing. These simple toys can be used as powerful teaching tools to engage students in hands-on exploration with the goal of learning about both the mathematics and the biology of DNA structure.

Communication and knowledge sharing in human–robot interaction and learning from demonstration

Inexpensive personal robots will soon become available to a large portion of the population. Currently, most consumer robots are relatively simple single-purpose machines or toys. In order to be cost effective and thus widely accepted, robots will need to be able to accomplish a wide range of tasks in diverse conditions. Learning these tasks from demonstrations offers a convenient mechanism to customize and train a robot by transferring task related knowledge from a user to a robot. This avoids the time-consuming and complex process of manual programming. The way in which the user interacts with a robot during a demonstration plays a vital role in terms of how effectively and accurately the user is able to provide a demonstration. Teaching through demonstrations is a social activity, one that requires bidirectional communication between a teacher and a student. The work described in this paper studies how the user's visual observation of the robot and the robot's auditory cues affect the user's ability to teach the robot in a social setting. Results show that auditory cues provide important knowledge about the robot's internal state, while visual observation of a robot can hinder an instructor due to incorrect mental models of the robot and distractions from the robot's movements.

Stimulating children’s interest in acoustics using models and toys

Sound is an important means for sensory perception. Children, being naturally curious and sensitive, respond very well to sound. Simple acoustical toys attract their curiosity and attention. The use of simple sound‐ or music‐producing tools draws their attention and then they ask questions. In answering their questions simple principles of acoustics and scientific reasoning can be taught to them. Simple principles such as tone change due to change of volume in a resonator, the role of length in the sound produced by a tube, the role of damping in cutting down vibration and sound, etc. can be taught to the children. Also, the description of noise being unwanted sound can be demonstrated using simple mechanical models with comparison to desirable sound as music through instruments such as the flute. A model of the human ear can be used to describe the way the sound is perceived. The use of models and encouraging children to ask questions will further enhance their curiosity. The author will share his experi...

Designing and Developing Simple Low Cost Mobile Robots for Autonomous Navigation

Abstract The aim of this azticle is to illustrate how it is possible to design and build low cost mobile robots by using only simple commercial electronic devices and toys. As suggested by Valentino Braitenberg [1] in his experiments on synthetic psychology we developed two simple and compact mobile robots, each capable of doing two different autonomous behaviors: the wall following (moving the robot at a constant distance from the wall on its left or right hand) and the obstacle avoidance (avoiding collision with obstacles during the path). Two different control systems have been developed and compared. The fast system is controlled by an analogical circuit obtained by using electronic components (transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors ...) whereas, the second is controlled by a digital circuit which employs amicro-processor boazd. Those platforms allow the robot configuration to be easily adapted to the specific requirement of each application. Their strengths and limitations are also detailed. Both...

Food products containing inedibles: children recognition of their “double nature” and manipulation-play behaviour

Background: Choking is an important cause of children's injury and death; food products and common objects are the most frequent offending bodies and small-part toys are responsible for a minor number of accidents. Up to now, few data are available regarding the hazards posed by toys sold in combination with food. Method: We evaluated children's ability to recognize the “double nature” of the products (Aim 1) and compared the manipulation-play approach (in particular mouthing activity) into two different settings called food products containing inedibles (FPCIs) session and Simple toys session (Aim 2). Forty-eight children aged 3–6 were presented with three different FPCIs in a randomised cross over design. Results: (1) children show a good ability to recognize the “double nature” of the FPCIs products, especially of the more familiar and physically well separated ones (i.e. chocolate egg); (2) children interact with toy contained in FPCIs in the same way as with toys alone. Conclusions: Our experimental data show that FPCIs do not exhibit a higher risk for accidental ingestion (and possible choking) than simple toys.

Research in Developing Countries: Taking "Benefit" Seriously

An April 1998 New York Times Magazine article described Ronald Munger's efforts to obtain blood samples from a group of extremely impoverished people in the Philippine island of Cebu.[1] Munger sought the blood to study whether there was a genetic cause for this group's unusually high incidence of cleft lip and palate. One of many obstacles to the research project was the need to obtain the cooperation of the local health officer. It was not clear to Munger, or the reader, whether the health officer had a bona fide interest in protecting the populace or was looking for a bribe. The health officer asked Munger a few perfunctory questions about informed consent and the study's ethical review in the United States, which Munger answered. Munger also explained the benefits that mothers and children would derive from participating in the research. The mothers would learn their blood types (which they apparently desired) and whether they were anemic. If they were anemic, they would be given iron pills. Lunch would be served, and raffles arranged that families could win simple toys and other small items. Munger told the health officer that if his hypotheses were correct, the research would benefit the population of Cebu: if the research shows that increased folate and vitamin B6 reduces the risk of cleft lip and palate, families could reduce the risk of facial deformities in their future offspring. The reporter noted that the health officer laughs aloud at the suggestion that much of what is being discovered in American laboratories will make it back to Cebu any time soon. Reflecting on his experience with another simple intervention, iodized salt, the health officer said that when salt was iodized, the price rose threefold so those who need it couldn't afford it and those who didn't need it are the only ones who could afford it. The simple blood collecting mission to Cebu illustrates almost all the issues presented by research in developing countries. First is the threshold question of the goal of the research and its importance to the population represented by the research subjects. Next is the quality of informed consent, including whether the potential subjects thought that participation in the research was related to free surgical care that was offered in the same facility (although it clearly was not) and whether one could adequately explain genetic hypotheses to an uneducated populace. Finally, there is the question whether the population from which subjects were drawn could benefit from the research. This research intervention is very low risk--the collection of 10 drops of blood from affected people and their family members. The risk of job or insurance discrimination that genetic research poses in this country did not exist for the Cebu population; ironically, they were protected from the risk of economic discrimination by the profound poverty in which they lived. Even this simple study raises the most fundamental question: Why is it acceptable for researchers in developed countries to use citizens of developing countries as research subjects? A cautionary approach to permitting research with human subjects in underdeveloped countries has been recommended because of the risk of their inadvertent or deliberate exploitation by researchers from developed countries. This cautionary approach generally is invoked when researchers propose to use what are considered populations, such as prisoners and children, as research subjects.[2] Vulnerable populations are those that are less able to protect themselves, either because they are not capable of making their own decisions or because they are particularly susceptible to mistreatment.[3] For example, children may be incapable of giving informed consent or of standing up to adult authority, while prisoners are especially vulnerable to being coerced into becoming subjects. Citizens of developing countries are often in vulnerable situations because of their lack of political power, lack of education, unfamiliarity with medical interventions, extreme poverty, or dire need for health care and nutrition. …

Simple toys do not alter the behavior of aged rhesus monkeys

AbstractSimple toys and sticks have frequently been suggested as inexpensive forms of environmental enrichment for nonhuman primates. Most descriptions of these items do not provide quantitative data on their use, or the effects that their presence have on general behavior. We tested wooden sticks and four different dog toys with aged and young adult rhesus monkeys to determine whether or not they led to decreases in abnormal behaviors, or increases in activity. We monitored object‐use, abnormal behaviors, and general activity in a series of three experiments. Use of all objects tested declined sharply by the second day after they were placed in the cage. High levels of use were seen each time new objects were introduced, suggesting that a regular schedule of object rotation would lead to increased interest from the monkeys. No changes in abnormal behaviors or general activity were attributed to the presence of the objects. We conclude that sticks and simple toys have limited effectiveness as environmental enrichment options for aged rhesus monkeys. Where possible, socialization and/or actively responsive enrichment devices may be more effective in enhancing the lives of captive primates. In the case of animals in zoos, responsive environments and increased social opportunities also contribute to the educational, aesthetic, and health diagnostic missions of the institutions.