The Efficacy of Melodic Based Communication Therapy for Eliciting Speech in Nonverbal Children with Autism

The purpose of this dissertation is to compare the efficacy of Melodic Based Communication Therapy (MBCT) to traditional speech and language therapy for eliciting speech in nonverbal children with autism. Efficacy was assessed by number of: verbalizations, correct words, words reported by parent, and imitative attempts. Additionally it examines the effect of exposure to MBCT on social language abilities as measured by score on the Pragmatic Language Skills Inventory (PLSI); the effect of age on the response to treatment, and the predictors of overall effectiveness of treatment. Participants were 12 nonverbal children with autism ages 5 through 7 randomly assigned to the MBCT or traditional therapy group. Measures included: a criterion referenced test administered weekly over 5 consecutive weeks, parent survey administered pre and post therapy, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test 4th Edition (PPVTIV), Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS) and PLSI. The MBCT group progressed significantly in number of verbalizations after weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, while the traditional group progressed significantly after weeks 4 and 5. The MBCT group progressed significantly in number of correct words after weeks 1 and 3, while the traditional group progressed significantly after weeks 4 and 5. Parents reported a significant number of words heard externally for the MBCT group (p=.04). Participants in the MBCT group had more imitative attempts (p=.02). The MBCT group showed significant improvement in PLSI score (p=.04). All participants irrespective of age demonstrated progress as a result of treatment. Receptive vocabulary score at baseline and imitative ability were significant predictors of response to treatment. Combined, they accounted for 75% of variability in the improvement in the number of correct words following treatment Results suggest MBCT is a valid means of treatment for nonverbal children with autism. The MBCT group responded earlier, showed more progress in the home setting, had more imitative attempts, and showed greater improvements in social language scores. Additionally stronger receptive language scores and imitative abilities may lead to better therapeutic outcomes regardless of the age of the child. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to examine the full benefit of MBCT

Abnormal long wave dispersion phenomena in a slightly compressible elastic plate with non-classical boundary conditions

A two parameter asymptotic analysis is employed to investigate some unusual long wave dispersion phenomena in respect of symmetric motion in a nearly incompressible elastic plate. The plate is not subject to the usual classical traction free boundary conditions, but rather has its faces fixed, precluding any displacement on the boundary. The abnormal long wave behaviour results in the derivation of non-local approximations for symmetric motion, giving frequency as a function of wave number. Motivated by these approximations, the asymptotic forms of displacement components established and long wave asymptotic integration is carried out

Revision of failed hip resurfacing to total hip arthroplasty rapidly relieves pain and improves function in the early post operative period

We reviewed the results of 25 consecutive patients who underwent revision of a hip resurfacing prosthesis to a total hip replacement. Revisions were performed for recurrent pain and effusion, infection and proximal femoral fractures. Both components were revised in 20 cases

Management of peri-prosthetic fractures around total hip arthroplasty: a contemporary review of surgical options

The burden of periprosthetic fractures is increasing with increasing volumes of total hip arthroplasty. These injuries often occur in older patients with more significant co-morbidity and osteopenia. Management of these injuries is often resource intensive and can present significant socioeconomic challenges. Understanding the principles of surgical management these cases and recognising when fixation or replacement is required is critical. The aim of this article is to present a contemporary evidence-based review of the surgical fixation options for management of periprosthetic fractures in the presence of well-fixed or loose components

The Impact of the Multidisciplinary Team on the Management of Prosthetic Joint Infection in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of the Total Joint Arthroplasty (TJA). It presents a great challenge for the clinician to diagnose and manage it appropriately, with significant morbidity for the patients and cost for health care providers. The purpose of this study is to review and examine the role of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach in diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and how this approach can influence outcomes. All published literature examining the role of multidisciplinary care in the management of PJI and the influence of this approach to the management and outcomes of patients with this diagnosis were included. Studies published in languages other than English were excluded. There is a paucity of data on the influence of multidisciplinary care on outcomes of the management of PJI. Evidence suggests that the MDT has important role in ensuring all factors in the management of this complex group are considered and best possible care is delivered. Multicentre randomised clinical trials are required to assess the influence of MDT’S on outcome as well as important questions around the structuring of these teams

Cricket, migration and diasporic communities

Ever since different communities began processes of global migration, sport has been an integral feature in how we conceptualise and experience the notion of being part of a diaspora. Sport provides diasporic communities with a powerful means for creating transnational ties, but also shapes ideas of their ethnic and racial identities. In spite of this, theories of diaspora have been applied sparingly to sporting discourses. Due mainly to its central role in spreading dominant white racial narratives within the British Empire, and the various ways different ethnic groups have ‘played’ with the meanings and associations of the sport in the (post-)colonial period, cricket is an interesting focus for academic research. Despite W.G. Grace’s claim that cricket advances civilisation by promoting a common bond, binding together peoples of vastly different backgrounds, to this day cricket operates strict symbolic boundaries; defining those who do, and equally, do not belong. C.L.R. James’ now famous metaphor of looking ‘beyond the boundary’ captures the belief that, to fully understand the significance of cricket, and the sport’s roles in changing and shaping society, one must consider the wider social and political contexts within which the game is played. The collection of papers in this special issue does just that. Cricket acts as the point of departure in each, but the way in which ideas of power, representation and inequality are ‘played out’ is unique in each

Participant Observation as Ethnography or Ethnography as Participant Observation in Organizational Research

There is a strong tradition of observational research in most areas of the social sciences, especially in Anthropology and Sociology. However, in business and management research observation is often seen as a poor relative to questionnaire surveys and qualitative interviewing. This chapter discusses the use of observational techniques especially for less experienced researchers planning their first major investigation, exploring the difference between participant and non-participant approaches, different techniques of data collection, recording and analysis. Rather than seeking to provide a full guide to conducting participant observation, an impractical task in a single chapter, this offering discusses some of the key issues facing researchers in Business and Management who choose to conduct this sort of research, exploring different approaches to participant observation and some of the ethical and practical challenges associated with the collection and analysis of observational data. The chapter draws on the author’s experience of conducting participant observation in organizations with examples of both employee (Sandiford and Seymour, 2002; Seymour and Sandiford, 2013) and customer perspectives (Sandiford and Divers, 2011). It will also draw from ‘classic’ observational studies such as Mars and Nicod (1984) and more recent examples such as Watson and Watson (2012).Peter John Sandifor

Missed opportunities to prevent risk of offending in young people with ADHD - a service evaluation from a central London FCAMHS service

This service evaluation aims to explore the needs of young people (YP) with ADHD engaging in risk behaviours. Demographic, clinical, social, and service involvement data were extracted from records of 443 YP referred to a Forensic Community CAMHS service. A sixth (74, 16.7%) had a diagnosis of ADHD. They had similar CAMHS input (55, 74.3%) compared to those with autism but many more had Youth Offending Team (YOT) involvement (22, 29.7% with ADHD; 5, 6.4% with ASC). A quarter (20, 27.8%) were in mainstream school with a fifth (13, 18.1%) out of education or training (NEET). Half (41, 55.4%) had an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). The prevalence of ADHD in YP referred and high levels of YOT input suggests missed opportunities to prevent the development of poor outcomes and criminalisation, including those not open to CAMHS and, therefore, unable to access medication, and those out of education without an EHCP

The making of English cricket cultures: Empire, globalization and (post) colonialism

The aim of this article is to understand how English cricket cultures have been made, negotiated and, ultimately, resisted in the context of (post) colonialism. I draw upon research undertaken with white and British Asian cricketers in Yorkshire to identify the place and significance of cricket within the everyday lives of British Asian communities. Over the last decade the number of British Asian cricketers progressing into the upper echelons of the game (mainly the English County Championship) has increased. Many within the game (mainly white people) have used these figures to argue that English cricket is now 'colour blind'. However, I argue that representation is not the equivalent to acceptance and integration, and present evidence to suggest that racial prejudice and discrimination, not to mention inaccurate and essentialized cultural stereotypes of British Asian cricketers, remain firmly and routinely embedded in aspects of the sport at all levels. I argue that the ability of British Asians to resist the hegemonic structures of white 'Englishness', by asserting their own distinctive post-colonial identities in cricket, is paramount to their everyday negotiations of power and racism. © 2011 Taylor & Francis