The Effect of Mothers’ ASL Skill Level on the English Literacy of Their Deaf Children

Previous studies demonstrated a positive relationship between deaf children\u27s ASL acquisition and their English literacy skills and the importance of parental language input. This study examined the role of mothers\u27 ASL skill in the English literacy skills of their deaf children. Mothers and their deaf children in grades six through nine took the TGJASL-R. Correlations were performed to determine if a relationship exists between the mothers\u27 ASL skill level, and the children\u27s English literacy measured by the STAR test. No significant relationship was found; marginal significance was found between the students\u27 ASL skill and their English literacy score

Impact of genetic counseling and Connexin-26 and Connexin-30 testing on deaf identity and comprehension of genetic test results in a sample of deaf adults: A prospective, longitudinal study

Using a prospective, longitudinal study design, this paper addresses the impact of genetic counseling and testing for deafness on deaf adults and the Deaf community. This study specifically evaluated the effect of genetic counseling and Connexin-26 and Connexin-30 genetic test results on participants' deaf identity and understanding of their genetic test results. Connexin-26 and Connexin-30 genetic testing was offered to participants in the context of linguistically and culturally appropriate genetic counseling. Questionnaire data collected from 209 deaf adults at four time points (baseline, immediately following pre-test genetic counseling, 1-month following genetic test result disclosure, and 6-months after result disclosure) were analyzed. Four deaf identity orientations (hearing, marginal, immersion, bicultural) were evaluated using subscales of the Deaf Identity Development Scale-Revised. We found evidence that participants understood their specific genetic test results following genetic counseling, but found no evidence of change in deaf identity based on genetic counseling or their genetic test results. This study demonstrated that culturally and linguistically appropriate genetic counseling can improve deaf clients' understanding of genetic test results, and the formation of deaf identity was not directly related to genetic counseling or Connexin-26 and Connexin-30 genetic test results.CGSP received funding from the National Human Genome Research Institute (Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Branch) (R01 HG003871, http://projectreporter.nih.gov); and from the Brocher Foundation (http://www.brocher.ch/en/brocher-fundati???on-in-brief/) in support of this research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Effect of Pre-test Genetic Counseling for Deaf Adults on Knowledge of Genetic Testing

Empirical data on genetic counseling outcomes in the deaf population are needed to better serve this population. This study was an examination of genetics knowledge before and after culturally and linguistically appropriate pre-test genetic counseling in a diverse deaf adult sample. Individuals ≥18 years old with early-onset sensorineural deafness were offered connexin-26/30 testing and genetic counseling. Participants completed questionnaires containing 10 genetics knowledge items at baseline and following pre-test genetic counseling. The effects of genetic counseling, prior beliefs about etiology, and participant’s preferred language on genetics knowledge scores were assessed (n = 244). Pre-test genetic counseling (p = .0007), language (p < .0001), prior beliefs (p < .0001), and the interaction between counseling and beliefs (p = .035) were predictors of genetics knowledge. American Sign Language (ASL)-users and participants with “non-genetic/unknown” prior beliefs had lower knowledge scores than English-users and participants with “genetic” prior beliefs, respectively. Genetics knowledge improved after genetic counseling regardless of participants’ language; knowledge change was greater for the “non-genetic/unknown” beliefs group than the “genetic” beliefs group. ASL-users’ lower knowledge scores are consistent with evidence that ethnic and cultural minority groups have less genetics knowledge, perhaps from exposure and access disparities. Culturally and linguistically appropriate pre-test genetic counseling significantly improved deaf individuals’ genetics knowledge. Assessing deaf individuals’ prior beliefs is important for enhancing genetics knowledge

Wild Bird Influenza Survey, Canada, 2005

Of 4,268 wild ducks sampled in Canada in 2005, real-time reverse transcriptase–PCR detected influenza A matrix protein (M1) gene sequence in 37% and H5 gene sequence in 5%. Mallards accounted for 61% of samples, 73% of M1-positive ducks, and 90% of H5-positive ducks. Ducks hatched in 2005 accounted for 80% of the sample

Unprecedented tunability of riboswitch structure and regulatory function by sub-millimolar variations in physiological Mg2+

Riboswitches are cis-acting regulatory RNA biosensors that rival the efficiency of those found in proteins. At the heart of their regulatory function is the formation of a highly specific aptamer–ligand complex. Understanding how these RNAs recognize the ligand to regulate gene expression at physiological concentrations of Mg2+ ions and ligand is critical given their broad impact on bacterial gene expression and their potential as antibiotic targets. In this work, we used single-molecule FRET and biochemical techniques to demonstrate that Mg2+ ions act as fine-tuning elements of the amino acid-sensing lysC aptamer's ligand-free structure in the mesophile Bacillus subtilis. Mg2+ interactions with the aptamer produce encounter complexes with strikingly different sensitivities to the ligand in different, yet equally accessible, physiological ionic conditions. Our results demonstrate that the aptamer adapts its structure and folding landscape on a Mg2+-tunable scale to efficiently respond to changes in intracellular lysine of more than two orders of magnitude. The remarkable tunability of the lysC aptamer by sub-millimolar variations in the physiological concentration of Mg2+ ions suggests that some single-aptamer riboswitches have exploited the coupling of cellular levels of ligand and divalent metal ions to tightly control gene expression.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Examining the Relationship Between Genetic Counselors’ Attitudes Toward Deaf People and the Genetic Counseling Session

Given the medical and cultural perspectives on deafness it is important to determine if genetic counselors’ attitudes toward deaf people can affect counseling sessions for deafness genes. One hundred fifty-eight genetic counselors recruited through the National Society of Genetic Counselors Listserv completed an online survey assessing attitudes toward deaf people and scenario-specific comfort levels discussing and offering genetic testing for deafness. Respondents with deaf/Deaf friends or who work in prenatal or pediatric settings had more positive attitudes toward deaf people than those without deaf/Deaf friends or those working in ‘other’ settings. More positive attitudes toward deaf people correlated with higher comfort level talking about genetic testing for the two scenarios involving culturally Deaf clients; and correlated with higher comfort level offering genetic testing to culturally Deaf clients wishing to have a deaf child. Attitudes and comfort level were not correlated in the scenarios involving hearing or non-culturally deaf clients. These results suggest that genetic counselors’ attitudes could affect information provision and the decision making process of culturally Deaf clients. Cultural sensitivity workshops in genetic counseling training programs that incorporate personal interactions with culturally Deaf individuals are recommended. Additional suggestions for fostering personal interactions are provided

Grammatical processing in American sign language : effects of age of acquisition and syntactic complexity

This study investigated the effects of age of acquisition and syntactic complexity on the outcome of American Sign Language (ASL) acquisition. All the participants were ban deaf, had used ASL as a primary language for a minimum of 12 years, and began to acquire it at three different ages. The experimental task was grammatical judgement. In this task, the signer saw dynamic ASL sentences on a computer screen and decided whether they were grammatical or not. Response accuracy and latency were measured. The stimuli were 168 examples of six ASL syntactic structures ranging from simple to complex. Results showed that as age of acquisition increased, response accuracy decreased and response latency increased. Also, as ASL syntactic complexity increased, accuracy decreased and latency generally increased, independent of age of acquisition. The results provide additional evidence for the critical period for language acquisition and psycholinguistic evidence for previous linguistic descriptions of ASL syntax

Utilisation de la toxine botulinique dans les pathologies spastiques

RésuméLa toxine botulinique de type A est un complexe purifié de neurotoxine dérivé de la bactérie anaérobe Clostridium botulinum. Au Canada, un seul des sept sérotypes de la bactérie est actuellement commercialisé sous le nom de Botox. La toxine botulinique de type A est impliquée en clinique dans le traitement de l’hyperactivité musculaire produite par une stimulation excessive de la libération d’acétylcholine. Actuellement, le Botox est approuvé officiellement dans le traitement du strabisme, du blépharospasme, de la dystonie cervicale et de la paralysie cérébrale chez les enfants atteints du pied bot équin. Il existe également d’autres applications cliniques non reconnues de la toxine. En général, les effets indésirables sont transitoires et varient selon la région anatomique visée. Le Botox est un produit nécessitant des conditions particulières d’entreposage et de manipulation. Bien peu d’études cliniques ont été réalisées jusqu’à maintenant afin de connaître les doses optimales, les caractéristiques des patients pouvant bénéficier d’un tel traitement, les techniques d’injection optimales ainsi que les bénéfices cliniques des autres sérotypes de la toxine.AbstractBotulinum toxin type A is a purified complex of neurotoxin that is derived from Clostridium botulinum anaerobic bacteria. In Canada, only one of the seven serotypes of the bacteria is actually marketed under the name Botox. Botulinum toxin type A is used clinically for the treatment of muscular hyperactivity produced by excessive stimulation of acetylcholine release. At the moment, Botox is officially approved for treatment of strabismus, blepharospasm, cervical dystonia and cerebral palsy in children with talipes equinus. There are also other clinical applications of the toxin that are not recognized. Adverse reactions are transient and vary depending on the anatomic area aimed. Botox requires specific storage and handling conditions. Few clinical studies have been made until now to know the optimum doses, characteristics of patients that could benefit from such a treatment, optimum injection techniques as well as clinical benefits of other toxin serotypes

The Effect of Mothers’ ASL Skill Level on the English Literacy of Their Deaf Children

Previous studies demonstrated a positive relationship between deaf children\u27s ASL acquisition and their English literacy skills and the importance of parental language input. This study examined the role of mothers\u27 ASL skill in the English literacy skills of their deaf children. Mothers and their deaf children in grades six through nine took the TGJASL-R. Correlations were performed to determine if a relationship exists between the mothers\u27 ASL skill level, and the children\u27s English literacy measured by the STAR test. No significant relationship was found; marginal significance was found between the students\u27 ASL skill and their English literacy score