401 research outputs found

    Effect of audibility on spatial release from speech-on-speech masking

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    This study investigated to what extent spatial release from masking (SRM) deficits in hearing-impaired adults may be related to reduced audibility of the test stimuli. Sixteen adults with sensorineural hearing loss and 28 adults with normal hearing were assessed on the Listening in Spatialized Noise–Sentences test, which measures SRM using a symmetric speech-on-speech masking task. Stimuli for the hearing-impaired listeners were delivered using three amplification levels (National Acoustic Laboratories - Revised Profound prescription (NAL-RP) +25%, and NAL-RP +50%), while stimuli for the normal-hearing group were filtered to achieve matched audibility. SRM increased as audibility increased for all participants. Thus, it is concluded that reduced audibility of stimuli may be a significant factor in hearing-impaired adults' reduced SRM even when hearing loss is compensated for with linear gain. However, the SRM achieved by the normal hearers with simulated audibility loss was still significantly greater than that achieved by hearing-impaired listeners, suggesting other factors besides audibility may still play a role

    What do people with aphasia want to be able to say? A content analysis of words identified as personally relevant by people with aphasia

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    Background Word finding is a common difficulty for people with aphasia. Targeting words that are relevant to the individual could maximise the usefulness and impact of word finding therapy. Aims To provide insights into words that people with aphasia perceive to be personally relevant. Methods and procedures 100 people with aphasia were each asked to identify 100 words that would be particularly important for them to be able to say. Two speech and language therapist researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of the words selected. The words were coded into a framework of topics and subtopics. The frequency with which different words and topics were selected was then calculated. Outcomes and results 100 participants representing 20 areas of the United Kingdom ranged in age from 23 to 85 years. Word finding difficulties ranged from mild to severe. The sample of 9999 words selected for practice included 3095 different words in 27 topics. The majority of words selected (79.4%) were from the topics ‘food and drink’ (30.6%), ‘nature and gardening’ (10.3%), ‘entertainment’ (9.4%), ‘places’ (7.3%), ‘people’ (6.7%), ‘house’ (6.5%), ‘clothes’ (5.2%) and ‘travel’ (3.5%). The 100 words types chosen with the greatest frequency were identified. These account for 27 percent of the 9999 words chosen by the participants. Discussion Personally relevant vocabulary is unique to each individual and is likely to contain specific or specialist words for which material needs to be individually prepared. However there is some commonality in the words chosen by people with aphasia. This could inform pre-prepared materials for use in word finding therapy from which personally relevant words could be selected for practice

    Input matters: speed of word recognition in 2-year-olds exposed to multiple accents

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    Although studies investigating language abilities in young children exposed to more than one language have become common, there is still surprisingly little research examining language development in children exposed to more than one accent. Here, we report two looking-while-listening experiments examining the impact of routine home exposure to multiple accents on 2-year-olds’ word recognition abilities. In Experiment 1, we found that monolingual English-learning 24-month-olds who routinely receive exposure to both Canadian English and a non-native variant of English are less efficient in their recognition of familiar words spoken in Canadian English than monolingual English-learning 24-month-olds who hear only Canadian English at home. In Experiment 2, we found that by 34 months of age all children recognize words equally quickly regardless of their accent exposure at home. We conclude that monolingual toddlers in some locations may form a less homogeneous population than past work has assumed, a factor that should be considered when drawing generalizations about language development across different populations

    Developing a research strategy to better understand, observe, and simulate urban atmospheric processes at kilometer to subkilometer scales

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    A Met Office/Natural Environment Research Council Joint Weather and Climate Research Programme workshop brought together 50 key international scientists from the UK and international community to formulate the key requirements for an Urban Meteorological Research strategy. The workshop was jointly organised by University of Reading and the Met Office

    Effect of classroom-based physical activity interventions on academic and physical activity outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    BACKGROUND: Physical activity is associated with many physical and mental health benefits, however many children do not meet the national physical activity guidelines. While schools provide an ideal setting to promote children\u27s physical activity, adding physical activity to the school day can be difficult given time constraints often imposed by competing key learning areas. Classroom-based physical activity may provide an opportunity to increase school-based physical activity while concurrently improving academic-related outcomes. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of classroom-based physical activity interventions on academic-related outcomes. A secondary aim was to evaluate the impact of these lessons on physical activity levels over the study duration. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, ERIC, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO) was performed in January 2016 and updated in January 2017. Studies that investigated the association between classroom-based physical activity interventions and academic-related outcomes in primary (elementary) school-aged children were included. Meta-analyses were conducted in Review Manager, with effect sizes calculated separately for each outcome assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria for the review, and 16 provided sufficient data and appropriate design for inclusion in the meta-analyses. Studies investigated a range of academic-related outcomes including classroom behaviour (e.g. on-task behaviour), cognitive functions (e.g. executive function), and academic achievement (e.g. standardised test scores). Results of the meta-analyses showed classroom-based physical activity had a positive effect on improving on-task and reducing off-task classroom behaviour (standardised mean difference = 0.60 (95% CI: 0.20,1.00)), and led to improvements in academic achievement when a progress monitoring tool was used (standardised mean difference = 1.03 (95% CI: 0.22,1.84)). However, no effect was found for cognitive functions (standardised mean difference = 0.33 (95% CI: -0.11,0.77)) or physical activity (standardised mean difference = 0.40 (95% CI: -1.15,0.95)). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest classroom-based physical activity may have a positive impact on academic-related outcomes. However, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions due to the level of heterogeneity in intervention components and academic-related outcomes assessed. Future studies should consider the intervention period when selecting academic-related outcome measures, and use an objective measure of physical activity to determine intervention fidelity and effects on overall physical activity levels

    The application of digital tools for knowledge sharing in agriculture : a longitudinal case study from four Australian grower groups

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    Context: Digital tools and platforms are universally used, however their application for knowledge and information sharing in agriculture is less understood. In Australia, grower groups (also known farming systems groups) are integral to information dissemination with farmers, and other industry stakeholders. Objective: Research was conducted to investigate the use of digital tools for knowledge and information sharing by staff at grower groups by examining their perceptions about the implementation, intended audience, impact monitoring, and the facilitators and barriers associated with using digital tools. Methods: This case study involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews at three time points with staff at four grower groups located in four states in Australia to understand their perceptions about using digital tools for knowledge and information sharing with different industry audiences. Results and Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that grower groups are embracing digital technologies: they are applying digital tools broadly and monitoring their uptake closely for the dissemination of industry-specific knowledge and information sharing. Groups were found to be utilising multiple, digital tools and adopting a range of approaches that are regularly monitored for impact, while continuously refining the use of digital tools over time. Despite the broad adoption of digital tools, various challenges were identified, including low audience uptake with some digital methods, limited staffing capacity and expertise to implement digital tools, poor digital infrastructure and unreliable connectivity in remote regions. A set of guidelines to support the application of digital tools for engagement within the agriculture sector have been developed, informed by this research. They include the provisioning of activities for digital engagement for planning, audience engagement, content assessment, piloting and reviewing, and establishing communities of practice for shared learnings. Significance: This research provides important insights about the application of digital tools for knowledge and information sharing with stakeholders in the Australian grains industry, by grower groups. This case study highlights the overwhelming commitment of grower groups to adopt digital tools for sharing knowledge to a wide and varied audience. The adoption of digital tools was ubiquitous by grower groups however their application represents just one component of a broader strategy of information sharing that also incorporates non-digital approaches (paper-based; face-to-face) to meet the information delivery preferences of stakeholders. © 202

    Niemann-Pick C-like endo-lysosomal dysfunction in DHDDS patient cells, a congenital disorder of glycosylation, can be treated with miglustat

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    DHDDS (dehydrodolichol diphosphate synthetase) and NgBR (Nogo-B Receptor) collectively form an enzymatic complex important for the synthesis of dolichol, a key component of protein N-glycosylation. Mutations in DHDDS and the gene encoding NgBR (NUS1) are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders that clinically present with epilepsy, motor impairments, and developmental delay. Previous work has demonstrated both DHDDS and NgBR can also interact with NPC2 (Niemann-Pick C (NPC) type 2), a protein which functions to traffic cholesterol out of the lysosome and, when mutated, can cause a lysosomal storage disorder (NPC disease) characterised by an accumulation of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. Abnormal cholesterol accumulation has also been reported in cells from both individuals and animal models with mutations in NUS1, and suspected lipid storage has been shown in biopsies from individuals with mutations in DHDDS. Our findings provide further evidence for overlap between NPC2 and DHDDS disorders, showing that DHDDS patient fibroblasts have increased lysosomal volume, store cholesterol and ganglioside GM1, and have altered lysosomal Ca2+ homeostasis. Treatment of DHDDS cells, with the approved NPC small molecule therapy, miglustat, improves these disease-associated phenotypes, identifying a possible therapeutic option for DHDDS patients. These data suggest that treatment options currently approved for NPC disease may be translatable to DHDDS/NUS1 patients

    Methods of nutrition surveillance in low-income countries

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    Background In 1974 a joint FAO/UNICEF/WHO Expert Committee met to develop methods for nutrition surveillance. There has been much interest and activity in this topic since then, however there is a lack of guidance for practitioners and confusion exists around the terminology of nutrition surveillance. In this paper we propose a classification of data collection activities, consider the technical issues for each category, and examine the potential applications and challenges related to information and communication technology. Analysis There are three major approaches used to collect primary data for nutrition surveillance: repeated cross-sectional surveys; community-based sentinel monitoring; and the collection of data in schools. There are three major sources of secondary data for surveillance: from feeding centres, health facilities, and community-based data collection, including mass screening for malnutrition in children. Surveillance systems involving repeated surveys are suitable for monitoring and comparing national trends and for planning and policy development. To plan at a local level, surveys at district level or in programme implementation areas are ideal, but given the usually high cost of primary data collection, data obtained from health systems are more appropriate provided they are interpreted with caution and with contextual information. For early warning, data from health systems and sentinel site assessments may be valuable, if consistent in their methods of collection and any systematic bias is deemed to be steady. For evaluation purposes, surveillance systems can only give plausible evidence of whether a programme is effective. However the implementation of programmes can be monitored as long as data are collected on process indicators such as access to, and use of, services. Surveillance systems also have an important role to provide information that can be used for advocacy and for promoting accountability for actions or lack of actions, including service delivery. Conclusion This paper identifies issues that affect the collection of nutrition surveillance data, and proposes definitions of terms to differentiate between diverse sources of data of variable accuracy and validity. Increased interest in nutrition globally has resulted in high level commitments to reduce and prevent undernutrition. This review helps to address the need for accurate and regular data to convert these commitments into practice
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