A narrative review on analysing and reporting research conducted using Talking Mats®, an inclusive communication tool

BACKGROUND: Talking Mats® is a visual communication tool which can support people to express their views. Talking Mats has been used in research as a more inclusive data collection tool, however, analysing the varied data produced by Talking Mats is challenging, and there is a lack of guidance on how to analyse and report these data. OBJECTIVE: We sought to provide an overview of ways in which Talking Mats data have been analysed and reported. METHODS: We conducted a narrative review of studies that reported using Talking Mats to collect empirical data, to examine how these studies analysed and reported these data. RESULTS: Studies used qualitative analysis techniques, such as: thematic, content, conversation, and framework analysis. Studies also reported clinical and research case studies and observations of non-verbal communication. Quantitative analyses were used less often, and involved transforming qualitative data into quantitative data (e.g., observing symbol placements). Many studies did not describe their methods in sufficient depth. CONCLUSIONS: We developed the Talking Mats Reporting Criteria to support researchers and practitioners to describe their Talking Mats protocols. These Reporting Criteria were developed iteratively and collaboratively between Talking Mats experts and members of the Talking Mats Research Network. Researchers and practitioners should describe their analytical approach in further detail and report the Talking Mats Effectiveness Framework of Functional Communication

Transcriptomics and adaptive genomics of the asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli strain 83972

Escherichia coli strains are the major cause of urinary tract infections in humans. Such strains can be divided into virulent, UPEC strains causing symptomatic infections, and asymptomatic, commensal-like strains causing asymptomatic bacteriuria, ABU. The best-characterized ABU strain is strain 83972. Global gene expression profiling of strain 83972 has been carried out under seven different sets of environmental conditions ranging from laboratory minimal medium to human bladders. The data reveal highly specific gene expression responses to different conditions. A number of potential fitness factors for the human urinary tract could be identified. Also, presence/absence data of the gene expression was used as an adaptive genomics tool to model the gene pool of 83972 using primarily UPEC strain CFT073 as a scaffold. In our analysis, 96% of the transcripts filtered present in strain 83972 can be found in CFT073, and genes on six of the seven pathogenicity islands were expressed in 83972. Despite the very different patient symptom profiles, the two strains seem to be very similar. Genes expressed in CFT073 but not in 83972 were identified and can be considered as virulence factor candidates. Strain 83972 is a deconstructed pathogen rather than a commensal strain that has acquired fitness properties

Investigation of Communication Abilities and Quality of Life for people with Aphasia by using Talking Mats as a treatment method in Speech and Language Therapy

Background: Talking Mats (TM) is a tool used in the Augmentative and Alternative communication field. It can support people with complex communication needs, such as people with aphasia. Existing research on TM focus on its use as a communication instrument (Murphy, Cameron & Boa, 2013). Objective: This study explores for the first time the effects of using TM in Speech and Language therapy as a treatment method on communication abilities and Quality of Life (QoL) in a person with aphasia. Methods and Procedures: The study followed an AB design with multiple baselines. The participant is a 35 year old female with mild, anomic aphasia, 6 years post onset. At baseline levels, the Western Aphasia Battery and the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39) was administered to the participant, followed by a 10 days consecutive use of TM in a therapeutic setting. Results: The biggest improvement was captured in word fluency by 25, 58%. The mean of the psychosocial score decreased by 9, 86%. Conclusion: TM might serve as a method to train vocabulary recall and discourse in people with anomic aphasia. It is suggested, that a decrease in QoL is correlated to the Covid-19 restrictions during this study.Complete

Investigation of Communication Abilities and Quality of Life for people with Aphasia by using Talking Mats as a treatment method in Speech and Language Therapy

Background: Talking Mats (TM) is a tool used in the Augmentative and Alternative communication field. It can support people with complex communication needs, such as people with aphasia. Existing research on TM focus on its use as a communication instrument (Murphy, Cameron & Boa, 2013). Objective: This study explores for the first time the effects of using TM in Speech and Language therapy as a treatment method on communication abilities and Quality of Life (QoL) in a person with aphasia. Methods and Procedures: The study followed an AB design with multiple baselines. The participant is a 35 year old female with mild, anomic aphasia, 6 years post onset. At baseline levels, the Western Aphasia Battery and the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39) was administered to the participant, followed by a 10 days consecutive use of TM in a therapeutic setting. Results: The biggest improvement was captured in word fluency by 25, 58%. The mean of the psychosocial score decreased by 9, 86%. Conclusion: TM might serve as a method to train vocabulary recall and discourse in people with anomic aphasia. It is suggested, that a decrease in QoL is correlated to the Covid-19 restrictions during this study.Complete

Asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli strain 83972 carries mutations in the foc locus and is unable to express F1C fimbriae

Escherichia coli is the most common organism associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU). In contrast to uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), which causes symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), very little is known about the mechanisms by which these strains colonize the urinary tract. Bacterial adhesion conferred by specific surface-associated adhesins is normally considered as a prerequisite for colonization of the urinary tract. The prototype ABU E coli strain 83972 was originally isolated from a girl who had carried it asymptomatically for 3 years. This study characterized the molecular status of one of the primary adhesion factors known to be associated with UTI, namely F1C fimbriae, encoded by the foc gene cluster. F1C fimbriae recognize receptors present in the human kidney and bladder. Expression of the foc genes was found to be up-regulated in human urine. It was also shown that although strain 83972 contains a seemingly intact foc gene cluster, F1C fimbriae are not expressed. Sequencing and genetic complementation revealed that the focD gene, encoding a component of the F1C transport and assembly system, was non-functional, explaining the inability of strain 83972 to express this adhesin. The data imply that E. coli 83972 has lost its ability to express this important colonization factor as a result of host-driven evolution. The ancestor of the strain seems to have been a pyelonephritis strain of phylogenetic group B2. Strain 83972 therefore represents an example of bacterial adaptation from pathogenicity to commensalism through virulence factor loss