What children on the autism spectrum have to ‘say’ about using high-tech voice output communication aids (VOCAs) in an educational setting

This paper focuses on accessing the experiences of three boys who are on the autism spectrum to identify what using a voice output communication aid (VOCA), within a classroom setting, means to them. The methods used to identify the boys' perspectives are described and evaluated. Establishing these through direct methods of engagement proved problematic but working with parents and school staff as ‘expert guides’ provided a rich insight into what using a VOCA appeared to mean to the boys. The findings suggest that using a computer-based VOCA can be viewed by children with autism as a pleasurable and motivating activity. This technology also seems to offer the potential for a much broader developmental impact for these children than that currently recognised within the research literature

The Modified McGoon Index does not Predict Mortality in Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Background: Infants diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continue to have a high mortality despite medical advances such as inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), high frequency ventilation (HFV) and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The mortality in some studies exceeds 80%. The modified McGoon index (MMI), a ratio of pulmonary artery size to aortic size has been reported to predict survivability in these infants: infants with a MMI ≤ 1.3 have an 85% mortality: (Pediatr 2000;105:1106). Objective: To evaluate the utility of MMI in predicting mortality in our population. Design/Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all infants with CDH admitted to the University of New Mexico NICU between January 2000 and November 2002. All available echocardiograms were reviewed by a single pediatric cardiologist blinded to the outcome of the infants, and the MMI was calculated (LPA + RPA/ Ao). The following information was also recorded from each infants record: gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores, need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the delivery room, length of hospital stay, days of ventilation, use of high frequency ventilation, use of iNO, use of ECMO and survival to discharge. Results: Eighteen infants with CDH were admitted; echocardiograms were available for 15. MMI ranged from .06 to 2.37 in the 15 infants. Seven infants died and 8 survived to discharge. There was no significant difference in birth weight between groups (lived (L): 3151 ± 203; died (D): 2735 ± 186 grams, mean ± SE), gestational age (L: 38.3 ± .4; D: 38.3 ± 1.1), CPR in delivery room (L: 1/8; D: 3/7). Infants who died had lower 5-minute Apgar scores (L: 7.1± .5; D: 4.8 ± .7, p\u3c 0.05). A greater number of infants who died received ECMO. There were no differences between groups in the number of infants on HFV or iNO. An MMI of ≤ 1.3 did not predict death in our patient population: mortality in patients with an MMI ≤ 1.3 was 46% (6 of 13 infants), while mortality in patients with MMI 65 1.3 was 50% (1 of 2 infants). Conclusion: MMI ≤ 1.3 did not predict mortality in our population.\u2

Pacific Hake, Merluccius productus, Autecology: A Timely Review

Pacific hake, Merluccius productus, the most abundant groundfish in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), is a species of both commercial significance, supporting a large international fishery, and ecological importance, connecting other species as both predator and prey. Coastal Pacific hake migrations are characterized by movements between northern summer feeding areas and southern winter spawning areas, with variations in annual abundance, distribution, and the extent of these movements associated with varying climate-ocean conditions. In general, warm (cool) years with enhanced (reduced) stratification and poleward (equatorward) transport are often related to good (poor) recruitment, increased (decreased) northward distribution, and reduced (enhanced) growth. However, the classic periodic pattern of annual migration and distribution may no longer be fully representative. Based on recent advances in the understanding of climate-ocean variability off the U.S. west coast, we hypothesize that the annual movements of Pacific hake are more responsive to climate-ocean variability than previously thought, and further, that changes observed in Pacific hake distributions may reflect long-term changes in climate-ocean conditions in the CCLME. Therefore, an updated model of these relations is key to effective monitoring and management of this stock, as well as to devising scenarios of future change in the CCLME as a result of climate variations. The current state of knowledge of the relationship between the Pacific hake and its environment is reviewed, highlighting emerging ideas compared to those of the past, and priorities for future research are suggested

Living at the Friendship House: Findings from the Transition Planning Inventory

A residential initiative, named the Friendship House, was created through advocates focused on helping people with intellectual disabilities live independently in affordable and safe housing on a university campus. The Friendship House is a small residence hall where individuals with intellectual disabilities live side-by-side with similarly aged and same gendered university students. Qualitative finding as in resident reports and observational data provides support that the Friendship House experience has been successful. However, to better equip these residents with intellectual disabilities, it is important to assess the program in terms of post school transition acquisition skills. This study focuses on whether the residents with intellectual disabilities are mastering the skills necessary to live successful lives after high school. Hence, the purpose of this quantitative study is to determine the effect of living in the Friendship House on the acquired transition skills (as measured by the nine Transition Planning Inventory skill sets) on individuals with intellectual disabilities

Living at the Friendship House: Findings from the Transition Planning Inventory

A residential initiative, named the Friendship House, was created through advocates focused on helping people with intellectual disabilities live independently in affordable and safe housing on a university campus. The Friendship House is a small residence hall where individuals with intellectual disabilities live side-by-side with similarly aged and same gendered university students. Qualitative finding as in resident reports and observational data provides support that the Friendship House experience has been successful. However, to better equip these residents with intellectual disabilities, it is important to assess the program in terms of post school transition acquisition skills. This study focuses on whether the residents with intellectual disabilities are mastering the skills necessary to live successful lives after high school. Hence, the purpose of this quantitative study is to determine the effect of living in the Friendship House on the acquired transition skills (as measured by the nine Transition Planning Inventory skill sets) on individuals with intellectual disabilities

A methodological proposal to investigate the long term storage of pollutants in freshwater sediment biofilms and their response to environmental disturbances.

This research will review novel methodologies for understanding the behaviour of microbial communities and their role in pollution storage. Freshwater sediments are inhabited by attached microbial communities (biofilms) which are responsible for the majority of a river's metabolic activity. Biofilms thus provide valuable information on the environmental quality of the river and its surrounding areas. Despite remediation of freshwater sediments, biofilms can still store large quantities of pollutants. Biofilms have the exceptional capacity to adjust to new conditions including natural and anthropogenic environmental disturbances. Gaining a more comprehensive understanding of biofilm behaviour is therefore fundamental to developing improved management strategies. The initial focus of this research will be in the River Doe Lea in North East Derbyshire. The River Doe Lea extends 18km from the South at its source near Tibshelf, to the North at its discharge at the River Rother. In the 1990s the River was famed for having the highest level of dioxins in the world, 27 times higher than the second most polluted. The acute cause of this was a single pollutant event, however the river has also been subjected to long term anthropogenic pollution through industry, agriculture, transport (railways, M1) and wastewater pollution. While previous studies by the Environment Agency have focused on the flow, chemical, biological and ecological quality of the river, no research has been conducted into the role and behaviour of biofilms