Tapping to a slow tempo in the presence of simple and complex musical meters reveals experience-specific biases for processing music

Musical meters vary considerably across cultures, yet relatively little is known about how culture-specific experience influences metrical processing. In Experiment 1, we compared American and Indian listeners\u27 synchronous tapping to slow sequences. Inter-tone intervals contained silence or to-be-ignored rhythms that were designed to induce a simple meter (familiar to Americans and Indians) or a complex meter (familiar only to Indians). A subset of trials contained an abrupt switch from one rhythm to another to assess the disruptive effects of contradicting the initially implied meter. In the unfilled condition, both groups tapped earlier than the target and showed large tap-tone asynchronies (measured in relative phase). When inter-tone intervals were filled with simple-meter rhythms, American listeners tapped later than targets, but their asynchronies were smaller and declined more rapidly. Likewise, asynchronies rose sharply following a switch away from simple-meter but not from complex-meter rhythm. By contrast, Indian listeners performed similarly across all rhythm types, with asynchronies rapidly declining over the course of complex- and simple-meter trials. For these listeners, a switch from either simple or complex meter increased asynchronies. Experiment 2 tested American listeners but doubled the duration of the synchronization phase prior to (and after) the switch. Here, compared with simple meters, complex-meter rhythms elicited larger asynchronies that declined at a slower rate, however, asynchronies increased after the switch for all conditions. Our results provide evidence that ease of meter processing depends to a great extent on the amount of experience with specific meters

An evaluation of planned exercises in meaningful writing situations as an aid to transfer of spelling ability

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Feasibility of Implementing Community Partnerships to Provide Diabetes Prevention Services to Youth

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth has increased as a result of the obesity epidemic. Diabetes prevention programming is needed for youth, at risk for T2D, and their families. However, there is a lack of diabetes prevention services for this population. There is evidence for the benefit of lifestyle modification for decreasing diabetes risk, however there are barriers for youth to access these services in a traditional clinical setting. Our Youth Diabetes Prevention Clinic (YDPC) created partnerships within the community to increase access to diabetes prevention services for at risk youth. YDPC personnel approached community organizations who had the expertise and capacity to partner in needed areas. These partnerships allowed for the development and facilitation of a community-based diabetes prevention group. Youth and their families participated in a 12 week diabetes prevention group. We measured attendance and participant satisfaction with the program. Families attended an average of 5.1 sessions from January to October 2016. Participant satisfaction was collected five times. Physical activity was rated as “awesome” or “good” by 88% of the respondents. The nutrition activities were rated as “awesome” or “good” by 97% of respondents. Physicians and families express a desire for diabetes prevention services, however barriers make it difficult for families to fully participate. Creating partnerships within the community allows for increased access to diabetes prevention services for high-risk, underserved families

Photic effects on sustained performance

Research is described which evaluates manipulating environmental light intensity as a means to attenuate fatigue. A counter balanced, within-subjects design was used to compare nine male subjects exposed to dim (100 lux) and bright (3000 lux) light conditions. Oral temperature values were greater for the bright light group over the dim light condition. Melatonin levels were suppressed by bright light treatment. Also, the frequency of eye blink rate was less for subjects during bright over dim light exposure. Light exposure was without effect on subjective fatigue. However, irrespective of light condition, significant effects on confusion, fatigue, and vigor mood dimensions were found as a result of 30 hour sleep deprivation. The findings suggest that bright lights may be used to help sustain nocturnal activity otherwise susceptible to fatigue. Such findings may have implications for the lighting arrangements on space flights during the subjective night for astronauts

Sensitivity and Specificity of the Hemoglobin A1c Test in Predicting Type 2 Diabetes in Youth

poster abstractAlthough the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test serves as a useful predictor of diabetes in adults, the sensitivity and specificity of the test for predicting type 2 diabetes in youth is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether HbA1c maintains sensitivity and specificity when compared to the gold standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pediatric cases. Based on comparison of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and OGTT two hour plasma glucose (2-hr PG) levels to the recorded HbA1c test results, the sensitivity and specificity of the HbA1c test in children was calculated using standard methods.. The study group consisted of 48 individuals considered to be at risk for diabetes based on weight status (body mass index ≥85th %ile), preliminary glucose tests, or family history of type 2 diabetes. Of the 48 patients evaluated, 6 patients were diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes based on FPG levels alone, 3 were diagnosed based on OGTT 2-hr PG levels alone, and 7 were diagnosed based on both FPG and 2-hr PG levels. Sensitivity of the HbA1c test was found to be 54% in reference to FPG levels and 90% in reference to 2-hr PG levels. Specificity of the HbA1c test was found to be 80% and 86% in reference to fasting plasma glucose levels and two hour plasma glucose levels, respectively. The HbA1c test was found to relate more closely to two hour plasma glucose levels both linearly and in terms of positive and negative test results, as can be seen in the percentages reported for sensitivity and specificity of the Hemoglobin A1c test. In conclusion, HbA1c is not a sensitive or specific screening tool for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in youth

Collaboration Is Key for Successful Treatment of Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing in U.S. adolescents, particularly those of ethnic and racial minority groups. Risk factors for youth-onset T2D include obesity, family history of T2D, poor diet, lack of exercise, and poverty. The onset of diabetes-related complications is accelerated in adolescents with T2D compared to adults, and knowledge regarding the optimal way to prevent and slow complications is lacking. Existing treatment options are limited, and research into novel pharmacologic treatments is hindered by lack of sufficient patient population for clinical trials. Health care providers and investigators should collaborate both with each other, and with patients and their communities to build networks that will allow comprehensive evaluation of this disease in order to offer optimal, comprehensive care for these adolescents

The Changing Face of Diabetes in Youth: Lessons Learned from Studies of Type 2 Diabetes

The incidence of youth type 2 diabetes (T2D), linked with obesity and declining physical activity in high-risk populations, is increasing. Recent multicenter studies have led to a number of advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of this disease. As in adult T2D, youth T2D is associated with insulin resistance, together with progressive deterioration in β cell function and relative insulin deficiency in the absence of diabetes-related immune markers. In contrast to adult T2D, the decline in β cell function in youth T2D is three- to fourfold faster, and therapeutic failure rates are significantly higher in youth than in adults. Whether the more aggressive nature of youth T2D is driven by genetic heterogeneity or physiology/metabolic maladaptation is yet unknown. Besides metformin, the lack of approved pharmacotherapeutic agents for youth T2D that target the pathophysiological mechanisms is a major barrier to optimal diabetes management. There is a significant need for effective therapeutic options, in addition to increased prevention, to halt the projected fourfold increase in youth T2D by 2050 and the consequences of heightened diabetes-related morbidity and mortality at younger ages

Blood Sugar, Your Pancreas, and Unicorns: The Development of Health Education Materials for Youth With Prediabetes

Background. The obesity epidemic has led to an increase in prediabetes in youth, causing a serious public health concern. Education on diabetes risk and initiation of lifestyle change are the primary treatment modalities. There are few existing age-appropriate health education tools to address diabetes prevention for high-risk youth. Aim. To develop an age-appropriate health education tool(s) to help youth better understand type 2 diabetes risk factors and the reversibility of risk. Method. Health education tool development took place in five phases: exploration, design, analysis, refinement, and process evaluation. Results. The project resulted in (1) booklet designed to increase knowledge of risk, (2) meme generator that mirrors the booklet graphics and allows youth to create their own meme based on their pancreas’ current mood, (3) environmental posters for clinic, and (4) brief self-assessment that acts as a conversation starter for the health educators. Conclusion. Patients reported high likability and satisfaction with the health education tools, with the majority of patients giving the materials an “A” rating. The process evaluation indicated a high level of fidelity and related measures regarding how the health education tools were intended to be used and how they were actually used in the clinic setting

Methods for Measuring Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Purpose of Review The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is used both in clinical practice and research to assess glucose tolerance. In addition, the OGTT is utilized for surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity and the insulin response to enteral glucose and has been widely applied in the evaluation of β-cell dysfunction in obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Here we review the use of the OGTT and the OGTT-derived indices for measurement of risk markers for type 2 diabetes in youth. Recent Findings Advantages of using the OGTT for measures of diabetes risk include its accessibility and the incorporation of physiological contributions of the gut-pancreas axis in the measures of insulin response to glucose. Mathematical modeling expands the potential gains from the OGTT in physiology and clinical research. Disadvantages include individual differences in the rate of glucose absorption that modify insulin responses, imperfect control of the glycemic stimulus, and poor intraindividual reproducibility. Summary Available research suggests the OGTT provides valuable information about the development of impaired glycemic control and β-cell function in obese youth along the spectrum of glucose tolerance