Phonological short-term memory and phonological awareness in students from the Elementary School.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize and compare the performance of students at the beginning and at the end of the elementary school in Short-Term Phonological Memory (STPM) and Phonological Awareness (PA). METHODS: We assessed 80 students of both the genders who showed adequate linguistic and academic performance. The sample comprised 40 students in 1st grade and 40 in 5th grade from a public state school with mean age of 6.2 and 9.8 years, respectively. The STPM was assessed using a standardized test of Pseudoword Repetition. PA was assessed through a Sequential Assessment Test (CONFIAS). RESULTS: No difference was found between the students of 1st and 5th years in STPM both in total score and concerning the similarity of the pseudowords. Regarding PA, there was a significant difference among the percentage distribution of correct answers in syllabic and phonemic tasks, and the students from 5th grade presented better performance. CONCLUSION: At the beginning and at the end of the elementary school, there is no difference in STPM performance. On the other hand, there is difference in PA, which highlights the influence of schooling on PA development. The correlation between STPM and PA only in 5th-year students suggests that, at the beginning of literacy, STPM cannot be considered as a predictor to children's performance in PA. Nevertheless, as the schooling advances, there is influence of PA on STPM.

Memória de curto prazo fonológica e consciência fonológica em escolares do Ensino Fundamental / Phonological short-term memory and phonological awareness in students from the Elementary School

RESUMO Objetivos: Caracterizar e comparar o desempenho de escolares no início e término (1° e 5° ano) do Ensino Fundamental I, nas habilidades de Memória de Curto Prazo Fonológica e Consciência Fonológica. Métodos: Foram avaliados 80 escolares, de ambos gêneros, com bom desempenho escolar e linguístico, sendo 40 do 1º ano e 40 do 5º ano de uma escola estadual com média de idade, respectivamente, de 6,2 e 9,8 anos. Para a avaliação da Memória de Curto Prazo Fonológica (MCPF) foi utilizado um teste padronizado de repetição de pseudopalavras. A Consciência Fonológica (CF) foi avaliada por meio de um Instrumento de Avaliação Sequencial - CONFIAS. Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os escolares do 1º e do 5º ano no desempenho em MCPF, tanto na pontuação total quanto em relação à similaridade das pseudopalavras. Quanto à CF, houve diferença significativa entre as distribuições das porcentagens de acertos, tanto no subteste de consciência silábica quanto no de consciência fonêmica nos dois anos escolares, com desempenho superior dos escolares do 5º ano. Conclusão: No início e no término do Ensino Fundamental I, as habilidades de MCPF são semelhantes. O mesmo não acontece para a CF, evidenciando a influência da escolaridade sobre o desenvolvimento da CF. O fato de existir correlação entre MCPF e CF apenas para os escolares do 5º ano sugere que ao início da alfabetização a MCPF não pode ser considerada um preditor para o desempenho das crianças em CF. Entretanto, com o avanço da escolaridade existe influência da CF na MCPF.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To characterize and compare the performance of students at the beginning and at the end of the elementary school in Short-Term Phonological Memory (STPM) and Phonological Awareness (PA). Methods: We assessed 80 students of both the genders who showed adequate linguistic and academic performance. The sample comprised 40 students in 1st grade and 40 in 5th grade from a public state school with mean age of 6.2 and 9.8 years, respectively. The STPM was assessed using a standardized test of Pseudoword Repetition. PA was assessed through a Sequential Assessment Test (CONFIAS). Results: No difference was found between the students of 1st and 5th years in STPM both in total score and concerning the similarity of the pseudowords. Regarding PA, there was a significant difference among the percentage distribution of correct answers in syllabic and phonemic tasks, and the students from 5th grade presented better performance. Conclusion: At the beginning and at the end of the elementary school, there is no difference in STPM performance. On the other hand, there is difference in PA, which highlights the influence of schooling on PA development. The correlation between STPM and PA only in 5th-year students suggests that, at the beginning of literacy, STPM cannot be considered as a predictor to children's performance in PA. Nevertheless, as the schooling advances, there is influence of PA on STPM.

Study of dissolution profiles and desintegration of capsules containing the dried hydroethanolic extract of Calophyllum brasiliense

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess, Calophyllaceae, is of great interest in folk medicine and is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes. Granules containing the hydroethanolic extract from the stem bark of C. brasiliense were obtained. The polyphenol content was standardized, and the average weight, disintegration, and the dissolution profiles of the capsules were determined after encapsulation. The capsules had an average weight of 574.5±8.0 mg. In vitro tests showed that the most efficient disintegration profile was in hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 1.2), with a capsule disintegration time within 9 min. The dissolution analysis showed a better uniformity of capsule content release when the test was performed in a hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 1.2), with a maximal release rate at 15 min (giving a polyphenol content of 4.38%, which corresponds to a concentration of 0.0080 mg/mL). In distilled water, the maximal release was reached at 20 min (giving a polyphenol content of 5.41%, which is equivalent to 0.0105 mg/mL). In phosphate buffer, the maximal release of capsule contents was reached at the end of the dissolution assay (30 min), with the lowest amount of released polyphenols (3.61%, which corresponds to a concentration of 0.0070 mg/mL). The encapsulated form of the hydroethanolic extract of C. brasiliense was shown to have the necessary traits of a desirable delivery agent, and the dissolution test was an effective analysis of this material's polyphenol release profile for the specific dosage form.