Late phonological development in Spanish children with bilateral hearing loss / Desarrollo fonologico tardio en ninos espanoles con perdidas auditivas bilaterales

This study has a twofold objective: to analyse and compare the phonological processes in a sample of Spanish children with hearing loss, both with a cochlear implant and with a hearing aid, with a group with normal hearing; and to determine whether there are differences between the participants with a cochlear implant and with a hearing aid in the frequency and nature of the phonological processes. The sample is made up of 168 participants, eight with hearing loss (four with an implant and four with a hearing aid) and 160 with normal hearing. Samples of spontaneous speech were collected and transcribed using the tools from the CHILDES project. For the analysis, the phonological processes paradigm was adopted, evaluating phonological development based on normative error rates. The participants with a hearing loss show slower phonological development in terms of phonological processes, along with atypical processes. Furthermore, the participants with cochlear implants committed more phonological errors than those that wear a hearing aid. The implications of the results are discussed, and it is recommended that auditory stimulation should be done early in children with hearing loss regardless of their technical aid

Education, sense of mastery and mental health: results from a nation wide health monitoring study in Norway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Earlier studies have shown that people with low level of education have increased rates of mental health problems. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between level of education and psychological distress, and to explore to which extent the association is mediated by sense of mastery, and social variables like social support, negative life events, household income, employment and marital status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data for the study were obtained from the Level of Living Survey conducted by Statistics Norway in 2002. Data on psychological distress and psychosocial variables were gathered by a self-administered questionnaire, whereas socio-demographic data were based on register statistics. Psychological distress was measured by Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 items.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a significant association between low level of education and psychological distress in both genders, the association being strongest in women aged 55–67 years. Low level of education was also significantly associated with low sense of mastery, low social support, many negative life events (only in men), low household income and unemployment,. Sense of mastery emerged as a strong mediating variable between level of education and psychological distress, whereas the other variables played a minor role when adjusting for sense of mastery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low sense of mastery seems to account for much of the association between low educational level and psychological distress, and should be an important target in mental health promotion for groups with low level of education.</p

Antioxidant Protects against Increases in Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronan and Inflammation in Asphyxiated Newborn Pigs Resuscitated with 100% Oxygen

BACKGROUND: Newborn resuscitation with 100% oxygen is associated with oxidative-nitrative stresses and inflammation. The mechanisms are unclear. Hyaluronan (HA) is fragmented to low molecular weight (LMW) by oxidative-nitrative stresses and can promote inflammation. We examined the effects of 100% oxygen resuscitation and treatment with the antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on lung 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), LMW HA, inflammation, TNFα and IL1ß in a newborn pig model of resuscitation. METHODS & PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Newborn pigs (n = 40) were subjected to severe asphyxia, followed by 30 min ventilation with either 21% or 100% oxygen, and were observed for the subsequent 150 minutes in 21% oxygen. One 100% oxygen group was treated with NAC. Serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), lung sections, and lung tissue were obtained. Asphyxia resulted in profound hypoxia, hypercarbia and metabolic acidosis. In controls, HA staining was in airway subepithelial matrix and no 3-NT staining was seen. At the end of asphyxia, lavage HA decreased, whereas serum HA increased. At 150 minutes after resuscitation, exposure to 100% oxygen was associated with significantly higher BAL HA, increased 3NT staining, and increased fragmentation of lung HA. Lung neutrophil and macrophage contents, and serum TNFα and IL1ß were higher in animals with LMW than those with HMW HA in the lung. Treatment of 100% oxygen animals with NAC blocked nitrative stress, preserved HMW HA, and decreased inflammation. In vitro, peroxynitrite was able to fragment HA, and macrophages stimulated with LMW HA increased TNFα and IL1ß expression. CONCLUSIONS & SIGNIFICANCE: Compared to 21%, resuscitation with 100% oxygen resulted in increased peroxynitrite, fragmentation of HA, inflammation, as well as TNFα and IL1ß expression. Antioxidant treatment prevented the expression of peroxynitrite, the degradation of HA, and also blocked increases in inflammation and inflammatory cytokines. These findings provide insight into potential mechanisms by which exposure to hyperoxia results in systemic inflammation

One consensual depression diagnosis tool to serve many countries: a challenge! A RAND/UCLA methodology

Objective From a systematic literature review (SLR), it became clear that a consensually validated tool was needed by European General Practitioner (GP) researchers in order to allow multi-centred collaborative research, in daily practice, throughout Europe. Which diagnostic tool for depression, validated against psychiatric examination according to the DSM, would GPs select as the best for use in clinical research, taking into account the combination of effectiveness, reliability and ergonomics? A RAND/UCLA, which combines the qualities of the Delphi process and of the nominal group, was used. GP researchers from different European countries were selected. The SLR extracted tools were validated against the DSM. The Youden index was used as an effectiveness criterion and Cronbach’s alpha as a reliability criterion. Ergonomics data were extracted from the literature. Ergonomics were tested face-to-face. Results The SLR extracted 7 tools. Two instruments were considered sufficiently effective and reliable for use: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). After testing face-to-face, HSCL-25 was selected. A multicultural consensus on one diagnostic tool for depression was obtained for the HSCL-25. This tool will provide the opportunity to select homogeneous populations for European collaborative research in daily practice

Sociala agenter, stereotyper och spridning

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and robotics has opened up new possibilities for the creation of human-like robots and social virtual agents. As these lifelike robots continue to be developed, it becomes crucial to investigate the potential impact of stereotypes on the interactions between humans and robots. This study aims to explore two main objectives: to find out if a virtual agent's appearance and ethnic representation influence interaction and to explore patterns of adoption of social agents. In the first study, 32 participants interacted with a virtual agent using a videoconferencing platform. The participant was assigned one out of two virtual agent conditions, one with a typical Swedish face and accent and another with a typical Kenyan face and accent. The results showed that the Kenyan agent was rated as having higher English proficiency than the Swedish agent. On the other hand, the Swedish agent was perceived as more authentic than its Kenyan counterpart. In the second study, a short questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 100 participants to investigate their utilization and frequency of engagement with social agents. The results show that adoption of social agents for work or study have entered the “Late Majority” stage. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between age and the adoption of social agents was identified.Framsteg inom artificiell intelligens och robotik har öppnat upp nya möjligheter för skapandet av människoliknande robotar och sociala virtuella agenter. När dessa verklighetstrogna robotar fortsätter att utvecklas blir det väsentligt att undersöka potentiell påverkan av stereotyper på interaktionen mellan människor och robotar. Denna studie syftar till att utforska två huvudsakliga mål: att ta reda på om en virtuell agents utseende och etniska representation påverkar interaktionen och att undersöka användningsmönster för sociala agenter. I den första studien interagerade 32 deltagare med en virtuell agent genom ett videosamtal. Deltagaren fick interagera med en av två utformningar av den virtuella agenten, en med ett typiskt svenskt ansikte och accent och en annan med ett kenyansk ansikte och accent. Resultaten visade att den kenyanska agenten bedömdes ha bättre engelskkunskaper än den svenska agenten. Å andra sidan uppfattades den svenska agenten som mer autentisk än sin kenyanska motsvarighet. I den andra studien gjordes en kort enkät till ett urval av 100 deltagare för att undersöka deras användning av sociala agenter. Resultatet visade att spridningen av sociala agenter för arbete eller studier har nått "Sen majoritet" -stadiet. Dessutom visade det sig att yngre deltagare använde sociala agenter i större utsträckning än andra

Sociala agenter, stereotyper och spridning

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and robotics has opened up new possibilities for the creation of human-like robots and social virtual agents. As these lifelike robots continue to be developed, it becomes crucial to investigate the potential impact of stereotypes on the interactions between humans and robots. This study aims to explore two main objectives: to find out if a virtual agent's appearance and ethnic representation influence interaction and to explore patterns of adoption of social agents. In the first study, 32 participants interacted with a virtual agent using a videoconferencing platform. The participant was assigned one out of two virtual agent conditions, one with a typical Swedish face and accent and another with a typical Kenyan face and accent. The results showed that the Kenyan agent was rated as having higher English proficiency than the Swedish agent. On the other hand, the Swedish agent was perceived as more authentic than its Kenyan counterpart. In the second study, a short questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 100 participants to investigate their utilization and frequency of engagement with social agents. The results show that adoption of social agents for work or study have entered the “Late Majority” stage. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between age and the adoption of social agents was identified.Framsteg inom artificiell intelligens och robotik har öppnat upp nya möjligheter för skapandet av människoliknande robotar och sociala virtuella agenter. När dessa verklighetstrogna robotar fortsätter att utvecklas blir det väsentligt att undersöka potentiell påverkan av stereotyper på interaktionen mellan människor och robotar. Denna studie syftar till att utforska två huvudsakliga mål: att ta reda på om en virtuell agents utseende och etniska representation påverkar interaktionen och att undersöka användningsmönster för sociala agenter. I den första studien interagerade 32 deltagare med en virtuell agent genom ett videosamtal. Deltagaren fick interagera med en av två utformningar av den virtuella agenten, en med ett typiskt svenskt ansikte och accent och en annan med ett kenyansk ansikte och accent. Resultaten visade att den kenyanska agenten bedömdes ha bättre engelskkunskaper än den svenska agenten. Å andra sidan uppfattades den svenska agenten som mer autentisk än sin kenyanska motsvarighet. I den andra studien gjordes en kort enkät till ett urval av 100 deltagare för att undersöka deras användning av sociala agenter. Resultatet visade att spridningen av sociala agenter för arbete eller studier har nått "Sen majoritet" -stadiet. Dessutom visade det sig att yngre deltagare använde sociala agenter i större utsträckning än andra