Developing the Persian Version of Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale

Objectives: Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) is a useful tool for the quantitative evaluation of auditory behaviors in different situations. The present study aimed to develop the Persian version of IT-MAIS. Methods: There was 4 main steps in the translation and validation of the scale, as follows: forward translation, synthesis, backward translation, and expert committee discussion. Then, the final Persian version of the scale was analyzed in terms of reliability and validity. The scale was studied on the parents of 17 hearing impaired and 17 normal hearing children. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean score of scale between hearing impaired and normal hearing children (P≤0.001). The internal consistency of the items was satisfactory. The Cronbach’s alpha for the overall score was 0.93. Discussion: This study suggested that IT-MAIS-F can be a reliable and valid tool for the evaluation of the auditory function of children. However, the sample size of the study was small. Thus, studies with larger sample sizes are recommended. In addition, test-retest reliability of the scale was not studied

Comparison of Different Hearing Aid Prescriptions for Children.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether there are significant differences between speech scores for different hearing aid prescription methods, specifically DSL i/o, DSL V, and NAL-NL1, using age-appropriate closed- and open-set speech tests with young children, designed to avoid floor and ceiling effects. DESIGN: Participants were 44 children with moderate or severe bilateral hearing loss, 8 aged 2 to 3 years, 15 aged 4 to 5 years, and 21 aged 6 to 9 years. Children wore bilateral hearing aids fitted with each prescription method in turn in a balanced double-blind design. The speech tests used with each child (and for some tests the levels) were chosen so as to avoid floor and ceiling effects. For the closed-set tests, the level used was selected for each child based on their hearing loss. The tests used were: (1) The closed-set Consonant Confusion Test of word identification; (2) The closed-set Chear Auditory Perception Test (CAPT) of word identification. This has separate sections assessing discrimination of consonants and vowels and detection of consonants; (3) The open-set Cambridge Auditory Word Lists for testing word identification at levels of 50 and 65 dBA, utilizing 10 consonant-vowel-consonant real words that are likely to be familiar to children aged 3 years or older; (4) The open-set Common Phrases Test to measure the speech reception threshold in quiet; (5) Measurement of the levels required for identification of the Ling 5 sounds, using a recording of the sounds made at the University of Western Ontario. RESULTS: Scores for the Consonant Confusion Test and CAPT consonant discrimination and consonant detection were lower for the NAL-NL1 prescription than for the DSL prescriptions. Scores for the CAPT vowel-in-noise discrimination test were higher for DSL V than for either of the other prescriptions. Scores for the Cambridge Auditory Word Lists did not differ across prescriptions for the level of 65 dBA, but were lower for the NAL-NL1 prescription than for either of the DSL prescriptions for the level of 50 dBA. The speech reception threshold measured using the Common Phrases Test and the levels required for identification of the Ling 5 sounds were higher (worse) for the NAL-NL1 prescription than for the DSL prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: The higher gains prescribed by the DSL i/o and DSL V prescription methods relative to NAL-NL1 led to significantly better detection and discrimination of low-level speech sounds.We thank Deafness Research UK (now part of Action on Hearing Loss) for funding, Phonak and Oticon for the study hearing aids, PC Werth and Audioscan for the Verifit system, John Deeks for help with calibration, the children and their families, and the audiology host centers

Closed-Set Speech Discrimination Tests for Assessing Young Children

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to obtain data assessing normative scores, test-retest reliability, critical differences, and the effect of age for two closed-set consonant-discrimination tests. DESIGN: The two tests are intended for use with children aged 2 to 8 years. The tests were evaluated using normal-hearing children within the appropriate age range. The tests were (1) the closed-set consonant confusion test (CCT) and (2) the consonant-discrimination subtest of the closed-set Chear Auditory Perception Test (CAPT). Both were word-identification tests using stimuli presented at a low fixed level, chosen to avoid ceiling effects while avoiding the use of background noise. Each test was administered twice. RESULTS: All children in the age range 3 years 2 months to 8 years 11 months gave meaningful scores and were able to respond reliably using a computer mouse or a touch screen to select one of four response options displayed on a screen for each trial. Assessment of test-retest reliability showed strong agreement between the two test runs (interclass correlation ≥ 0.8 for both tests). The critical differences were similar to those for other monosyllabic speech tests. Tables of these differences for the CCT and CAPT are provided for clinical use of the measures. Performance tended to improve with increasing age, especially for the CCT. Regression equations relating mean performance to age are given. CONCLUSIONS: The CCT is appropriate for children with developmental age in the range 2 to 4.5 years and the CAPT is appropriate as a follow-on test from the CCT. If a child scores 80% or more on the CCT, they can be further tested using the CAPT, which contains more advanced vocabulary and more difficult contrasts. This allows the assessment of consonant perception ability and of changes over time or after an intervention

Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Strategies for the Use of Fallback Foods in Apes

Researchers have suggested that fallback foods (FBFs) shape primate food processing adaptations, whereas preferred foods drive harvesting adaptations, and that the dietary importance of FBFs is central in determining the expression of a variety of traits. We examine these hypotheses in extant apes. First, we compare the nature and dietary importance of FBFs used by each taxon. FBF importance appears greatest in gorillas, followed by chimpanzees and siamangs, and least in orangutans and gibbons (bonobos are difficult to place). Next, we compare 20 traits among taxa to assess whether the relative expression of traits expected for consumption of FBFs matches their observed dietary importance. Trait manifestation generally conforms to predictions based on dietary importance of FBFs. However, some departures from predictions exist, particularly for orang-utans, which express relatively more food harvesting and processing traits predicted for consuming large amounts of FBFs than expected based on observed dietary importance. This is probably due to the chemical, mechanical, and phenological properties of the apes’ main FBFs, in particular high importance of figs for chimpanzees and hylobatids, compared to use of bark and leaves—plus figs in at least some Sumatran populations—by orang-utans. This may have permitted more specialized harvesting adaptations in chimpanzees and hylobatids, and required enhanced processing adaptations in orang-utans. Possible intercontinental differences in the availability and quality of preferred and FBFs may also be important. Our analysis supports previous hypotheses suggesting a critical influence of the dietary importance and quality of FBFs on ape ecology and, consequently, evolution

Extracellular vesicles generated by placental tissues ex vivo: A transport system for immune mediators and growth factors

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144634/1/aji12860_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144634/2/aji12860.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144634/3/aji12860-sup-0001-Supinfo.pd

Systematic review of tools to measure outcomes for young children with autism spectrum disorder

Background: The needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex and this is reflected in the number and diversity of outcomes assessed and measurement tools used to collect evidence about children's progress. Relevant outcomes include improvement in core ASD impairments, such as communication, social awareness, sensory sensitivities and repetitiveness, skills such as social functioning and play, participation outcomes such as social inclusion, and parent and family impact. Objectives: To examine the measurement properties of tools used to measure progress and outcomes in children with ASD up to the age of 6 years. To identify outcome areas regarded as important by people with ASD and parents. Methods: The MeASURe (Measurement in Autism Spectrum disorder Under Review) research collaboration included ASD experts and review methodologists. We undertook systematic review of tools used in ASD early intervention and observational studies from 1992 to 2013, systematic review, using the COSMIN checklist (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) of papers addressing the measurement properties of identified tools in children with ASD, and synthesis of evidence and gaps. The review design and process was informed throughout by consultation with stakeholders including parents, young people with ASD, clinicians and researchers. Results: The conceptual framework developed for the review was drawn from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, including the domains 'Impairments', 'Activity Level Indicators', 'Participation', and 'Family Measures'. In review 1, 10,154 papers were sifted - 3091 by full text - and data extracted from 184, in total, 131 tools were identified, excluding observational coding, study-specific measures and those not in English. In review 2, 2665 papers were sifted and data concerning measurement properties of 57 (43%) tools were extracted from 128 papers. Evidence for the measurement properties of the reviewed tools was combined with information about their accessibility and presentation. Twelve tools were identified as having the strongest supporting evidence, the majority measuring autism characteristics and problem behaviour. The patchy evidence and limited scope of outcomes measured mean these tools do not constitute a 'recommended battery' for use. In particular,there is little evidence that the identified tools would be good at detecting change in intervention studies. The obvious gaps in available outcome measurement include well-being and participation outcomes for children, and family quality-of-life outcomes, domains particularly valued by our informants (young people with ASD and parents). Conclusions: This is the first systematic review of the quality and appropriateness of tools designed to monitor progress and outcomes of young children with ASD. Although it was not possible to recommend fully robust tools at this stage, the review consolidates what is known about the field and will act as a benchmark for future developments. With input from parents and other stakeholders, recommendations are made about priority targets for research. Future work: Priorities include development of a tool to measure child quality of life in ASD, and validation of a potential primary outcome tool for trials of early social communication intervention. Study registration: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42012002223. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme