Atypical cortical tracking of the speech envelope in children who stutter: a potential contributor towards phonological processing differences

A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals with developmental stuttering exhibit phonological processing differences when compared to fluent peers. However, it has yet to be unveiled which factors may contribute towards this atypical processing. It has been argued that the speech mechanisms which process these phonological units are monitored within a hierarchical system, whose foundation is controlled by low-frequency neural oscillating networks (Giraud & Poeppel, 2015). Thus, phonological processing differences may arise due to impairments in fundamental mechanisms associated with low-frequency neural oscillating networks, such as temporal speech encoding. For this reason, this study sought to investigate cortical temporal response functions in 14 children who stutter (3-7 years of age) compared to 13 normally fluent peers. EEG data were recorded as participants encoded natural speech during a dichotic listening task. When comparing between groups, the results provide evidence that children who stutter experience significantly weaker cortical tracking for unattended speech and more efficient cortical tracking for attended speech, suggesting that phonological processing is atypical at the level of speech envelope encoding. Considering these findings, we propose that children who stutter may be increasing cognitive effort during speech and language processing, in order to compensate for an atypical phonological processing mechanism

The Effects of Natural Disasters on Donations to Non-profits

This study analyzes the relationship between natural disasters and donations to non-profit organizations in disaster-affected regions. Using regression analysis, this study seeks to determine the relationship based on various factors including the number of deaths, total number of people affected, the economic damage costs, and media coverage of a given disaster. The purpose of this study is to examine whether disaster-affected regions truly receive increased donations following a natural disaster, the sources of these donations (government grants versus private donations), the question of whether donations are diverted away from other non-profits in industries not related to relief efforts, the longevity of donation increases following a natural disaster, and disaster-related factors that have a significant and material effect on donations to non-profits. Data sources utilized in this study include the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), EM-DAT: The International Disaster Database, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Google News, all analyzed from 2000 through 2006. Findings from this study indicate that the occurrence of a natural disaster in a given state generates an increase in donations to non-profit organizations, and hurricanes specifically, cause a greater increase in donations than other types of natural disasters. The increased levels of donations seen by non-profits were found to be sustained for two years following the occurrence of a disaster. Government grants actually decrease following the occurrence of a natural disaster, while public donations increase, indicating an inverse relationship. When considering specific factors that measure the destruction of a natural disaster, media coverage relative to state population elicits the greatest increase in donations among all factors measured. The study finds no evidence that donations to non-profit organizations operating in humanitarian-related industries experience increased donations following the occurrence of a natural disaster

Care in Early Learning and Childcare Transitions

There has been a global trend in the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision meaning more children of younger ages accessing ELC and experiencing the associated transitions than was previously the case. This has occurred within an increasingly Neoliberal context, with a greater focus on measurable educational outcomes, which are often placed as juxta positioned to care, which may prove challenging to define and quantify. These challenges are compounded when considering the often taken for granted nature of care in ELC, rendering it often unspoken and therefore at greater risk of being undermined or deemed a dispensable aspect of the increasingly multifaceted role. Given the above context, it was deemed essential that the concept of care was explicitly and critically explored in relation to the many multiple and multidimensional transitions which occur in ELC. This paper considers the criticality of care as part of ELC transitions by reviewing literature from 2010-present day. Findings suggested the role of ELC has shifted over time, leading to ambiguities and sometimes tensions in expectations between and within stakeholders. This in turn has influenced how care is defined, enacted and valued within ELC, with the overwhelming literature suggesting care is viewed less highly than education, for reasons such as difficulties in quantifying quality of care and the perception that care is innate rather than skilful. Transition practices were considered in relation to previously discussed definitions of care, which led to the identification of how care is enacted during ELC transitions

Attachment, defense mechanisms and emotion usage in children in institutions during middle childhood within a South African context.

Although the importance of Attachment in the normal development of a child has repeatedly been shown (Bowlby, 1961; 1979) there is a limited amount of research into its relationships with the usage of defense mechanisms and emotions. This research, therefore, investigated the relationships between attachment type, defense mechanisms and emotions during middle childhood (8-12 years) in 64 children from 4 children’s homes and 1 hospital in the Gauteng area. The children completed the Deferential Emotions Scale IV (DES-IV), the Attachment Story Completion Test (ASCT) and the Attachment Security Scale (ASS). The legal guardians of the children completed the Comprehensive Assessment of Defense Scale (CADS). Significant correlations were found to exist between the usage defense mechanisms and emotions. The results obtained from the analyses therefore suggest a complex interplay of relationships between attachment, defense mechanisms and emotion during middle childhood for the children in these institutions. For example, the research found that certain defense mechanisms and emotions were found to be correlated in a complex and interrelated system of interactions. Similarly, although no significant associations were found between attachment, defense mechanisms and emotions were found, the frequency distributions provided detailed information suggesting that attachment does influence the defenses used and emotion during middle childhood. These finding suggest that further research needs to be conducted in this area to further this knowledge base and to inform the caregivers and staff at institutions such as those included in the study

Spaces for play:Listening to children's voices

This paper explores young children’s voices about their play spaces in one Scottish primary school. 45 children (ages 5-7 years) participated, choosing from a range of creative methods (e.g., InPhoTours, drawing, mapping) to share their voices. Using a ‘Playful Research Ethics Framework’, a developmentally appropriate framework which involved the use of visual aids, puppets, songs, Makaton symbols and discussions as well as attention to any cues of disengagement, this research aimed at achieving children’s ongoing informed assent. Four themes were identified: (a) the ‘whole child’ in the space, (b) space and relationships, (c) function of space, and (d) impact (or lack) of children’s voices about space. Children expressed differences in ownership, creativity and imagination in indoor and outdoor spaces. Further, despite perceiving there to be a lack of agency, children were willing to share their voices. There are implications for both practice and research in terms of adults willing to effectively listen to children’s voices and acting on them. This study makes original and significant contributions which have the potential to impact research and practice with young children internationally

Spaces for play:Listening to children's voices

This paper explores young children’s voices about their play spaces in one Scottish primary school. 45 children (ages 5-7 years) participated, choosing from a range of creative methods (e.g., InPhoTours, drawing, mapping) to share their voices. Using a ‘Playful Research Ethics Framework’, a developmentally appropriate framework which involved the use of visual aids, puppets, songs, Makaton symbols and discussions as well as attention to any cues of disengagement, this research aimed at achieving children’s ongoing informed assent. Four themes were identified: (a) the ‘whole child’ in the space, (b) space and relationships, (c) function of space, and (d) impact (or lack) of children’s voices about space. Children expressed differences in ownership, creativity and imagination in indoor and outdoor spaces. Further, despite perceiving there to be a lack of agency, children were willing to share their voices. There are implications for both practice and research in terms of adults willing to effectively listen to children’s voices and acting on them. This study makes original and significant contributions which have the potential to impact research and practice with young children internationally

Socio-demographic factors, behaviour and personality: associations with psychological distress

Background: Anxiety, psychological distress and personality may not be independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease; however they may contribute via their relationship with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. This study aimed to examine the association between psychological distress, risk behaviours and patient demographic characteristics in a sample of general practice patients aged 40–65 years with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Design: Cross-sectional analytic study. Methods: Patients, randomly selected from general practice records, completed a questionnaire about their behavioural risk factors and psychological health as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial of a general practice based intervention to prevent chronic vascular disease. The Kessler Psychological Distress Score (K10) was the main outcome measure for the multilevel, multivariate analysis. Results: Single-level bi-variate analysis demonstrated a significant association between higher K10 and middle age (p = 0.001), high neuroticism (p = 0), current smoking (p = 0), physical inactivity (p = 0.003) and low fruit and vegetable consumption (p = 0.008). Socioeconomic (SES) indicators of deprivation (employment and accommodation status) were also significantly associated with higher K10 (p = 0). No individual behavioural risk factor was associated with K10 on multilevel multivariate analysis; however indicators of low SES remained significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: When all factors were considered, psychological distress was not associated with behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Other underlying factors, such as personality type and socioeconomic status, may be associated with both the behaviours and the distress

War Eagle Shopping Center

This senior design project is for the development of the War Eagle Shopping Center in Elmore county, Idaho. The shopping center is a part of the Elmore County comprehensive growth and development plan. The shopping center will be placed on 1,120 acres of land that is located fifteen miles northwest of Mountain Home, west of Interstate 84 and east of Simco Road. Our team will determine the required environmental and building permits, design the access and egress roadways, perform a nutrient pathogen study, design a wastewater treatment system, water supply systems, and a structure that includes two anchor stores, three retail stores, and a restaurant. The final site layout and a storm water management plan will also be completed