Impacts of using a social robot to teach music to children with low-functioning autism

This article endeavors to present the impact of conducting robot-assisted music-based intervention sessions for children with low-functioning (LF) autism. To this end, a drum/xylophone playing robot is used to teach basic concepts of how to play the instruments to four participants with LF autism during nine educational sessions. The main findings of this study are compared to similar studies conducted with children with high-functioning autism. Our main findings indicated that the stereotyped behaviors of all the subjects decreased during the course of the program with an approximate large Cohen’s d effect size. Moreover, the children showed some improvement in imitation, joint attention, and social skills from the Pre-Test to Post-Test. In addition, regarding music education, we indicated that while the children could not pass a test on the music notes or reading music phrases items because of their cognitive deficits, they showed acceptable improvements (with a large Cohen’s d effect size) in the Stambak Rhythm Reproduction Test, which means that some rhythm learning occurred for the LF participants. In addition, we indicated that parenting stress levels decreased during the program. This study presents some potential possibilities of performing robot-assisted interventions for children with LF autism

The Social Gradient in Tobacco Use Does Not Generalize to Low-Income Urban Communities in India: Findings From a Census Survey.

INTRODUCTION: The existence of a social gradient in tobacco use has been clearly established in a number of countries with people with lower socioeconomic status being more likely to use tobacco. It is not clear how far this gradient is evident within severely deprived communities. This study assessed the association between occupation as a marker of socioeconomic status and use of smoked and smokeless tobacco within "slum" areas of Delhi, India. METHODS: A census survey of 11 888 households, comprising 30 655 adults from 28 low-income communities (14 government-authorized and 14 unauthorized settlements called "Jhuggi-Jhopri/JJ" clusters) was conducted in 2012. The survey assessed age, sex, household size, occupational group, and current tobacco use. Independent associations with tobacco use were conducted using complex samples regression analysis, stratified by gender. RESULTS: A quarter of participants (24.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 21.5-27.5) used any tobacco. Slightly more people used smoked (14.6%, 95% CI 12.9-16.3) than smokeless (12.6%, 95% CI 10.7-14.8) tobacco, with a small minority being dual users (2.7%, 95% CI 2.1-3.5). Prevalence of any tobacco use was highest in unskilled (45.13%, 95% CI 42.4-47.9) and skilled (46.2%, 95% CI 41.1-51.4) manual occupations and lower in nonmanual (30.3%, 95% CI 26.2-34.7) occupations and those who were unemployed (29.0%, 95% CI 25.3-33.0). This was confirmed in adjusted analysis in men but associations were more complex in women. CONCLUSIONS: Use of smoked and smokeless tobacco in low-income urban communities in India has a complex association with occupational status with both nonmanual occupation and unemployment being associated with lower prevalence of smoked and smokeless tobacco in men. IMPLICATIONS: Tobacco use in high-income countries shows a strong inverse relationship with social grade, income, and deprivation such that use is much more common among those who can least afford it. This study is the first to look at this social gradient in the context of low-income communities in India, finding that both unemployment and nonmanual occupation were associated with lower rates of tobacco use in men. The data present a challenge to existing explanations of the social gradient, requiring further consideration of the conditions under which affordability may work to reduce health inequalities arising from tobacco use

Effectiveness of a brief community outreach tobacco cessation intervention in India: a cluster-randomised controlled trial (the BABEX Trial)

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use kills half a million people every month, most in low-middle income countries (LMICs). There is an urgent need to identify potentially low-cost, scalable tobacco cessation interventions for these countries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a brief community outreach intervention delivered by health workers to promote tobacco cessation in India. DESIGN: Cluster-randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 32 low-income administrative blocks in Delhi, half government authorised ('resettlement colony') and half unauthorised ('J.J. cluster') communities. PARTICIPANTS: 1213 adult tobacco users. INTERVENTIONS: Administrative blocks were computer randomised in a 1:1 ratio, to the intervention (16 clusters; n=611) or control treatment (16 clusters; n=602), delivered and assessed at individual level between 07/2012 and 11/2013. The intervention was single session quit advice (15 min) plus a single training session in yogic breathing exercises; the control condition comprised very brief quit advice (1 min) alone. Both were delivered via outreach, with contact made though household visits. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was 6-month sustained abstinence from all tobacco, assessed 7 months post intervention delivery, biochemically verified with salivary cotinine. RESULTS: The smoking cessation rate was higher in the intervention group (2.6% (16/611)) than in the control group (0.5% (3/602)) (relative risk=5.32, 95% CI 1.43 to 19.74, p=0.013). There was no interaction with type of tobacco use (smoked vs smokeless). Results did not change materially in adjusted analyses, controlling for participant characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A single session community outreach intervention can increase tobacco cessation in LMIC. The effect size, while small, could impact public health if scaled up with high coverage. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTCN23362894

Performance of the new seedless grape "BRS Isis" grown in subtropical area.

"BRS Isis" is a new colored seedless table grape tolerant to downy mildew, the main vine disease in subtropical humid areas. This new seedless cultivar is an interspecific hybrid from the crossing of CNPUV 681?29 [Arkansas 1976 X CNPUV 147?3 ("Niagara Branca" x "Venus")] x "BRS Linda", and was recently released by Embrapa Grape and Wine, Brazil. The performance of ?BRS Isis? seedless grape was evaluated in an experimental vineyard in 2016 located in a subtropical area at Marialva city, state of Parana, Brazil. The vines were grafted onto "IAC 766 Campinas" rootstock and trained in an overhead trellising system spaced at 2 × 5 m. Vines were cane-pruning in late winter of July 2016, and for assessments, 20 representative vines were selected in the area. As ?BRS Isis? is a very fruitful grape, presenting 4 bunches per shoot, a load adjustment was performed after fruitset removing 50% of bunches per shoot, leaving 2 bunches per shoot, equivalent to a density of 10 bunches.m − 2 . The duration in days of the main phenological stages from pruning to harvest, and the physicochemical and yield characteristics of ?BRS Isis? seedless grape were subjected to evaluation. It was determined that the cycle is 144 days. The means of berry and bunch weight was 6 . 7 ± 1 . 0 g and 500 . 0 ± 0 . 04 g, respectively, and the color index of berries (CIRG) was 4.3 ± 1.3. The means of total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and maturity index (TSS/TA) observed were 14.2 ± 0.3 ◦ Brix, 0.6 ± 0.04% of tartaric acid and 24 . 1 ± 1 . 5, espectively, while the yield was 49.0 ± 5.7 tons.ha − 1 . The yield observed is considered high to keep a sustainable crop over time, thus, in order to obtain grapes of ?BRS Isis? with regular yield, and possibly, with a higher content of soluble solids, it is desirable to keep only 1 bunch per shoot (5 bunches.m − 2 ) after fruitset.Também publicado em: WORLD VINE AND WINE CONGRESS, 40

Tinea capitis in adults: not so rare

Background: Tinea capitis is the dermatophyte infection of the scalp with varied clinical presentation. Tinea capitis is predominantly seen in preadolescent adults and is rare in adults. Growing number of authors have reported increase in incidence among adults. Clinical presentation in such case is often atypical leading to delay in diagnosis.Methods: The study included all patients older than 18 years. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Clinical material was microscopically examined with the use of 20% KOH for hyphae and arthroconidia. The Samples were also inoculated on Sabourauds Agar and Mycosel Agar for 15 days. For each patient we collected information about sex, menstrual status, predisposing factor, symptoms and etiological agent.Results: Out of 457 cases of tinea capitis 14 patients were adults and represented 3.06% of all cases. All patients were females. The most common etiological agent was T. violaceum (35%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (21.43%), T. tonsurans (14.29%), T. rubrum (14.29%) and T. schoenleinii (14.29%).Conclusions: Tinea capitis in adults is not so rare, particularly in post-menopausal women. The presentation is often atypical mimicking other inflammatory conditions of scalp and should be included as a differential diagnosis of inflammatory conditions not responding to conventional treatment

Relationship between anthocyanins and skin color of table grapes treatedwith abscisic acid at different stages of berry ripening.

Grapes grown under warm climate conditions tend to show less color development, and this phenomenon isattributed to low anthocyanin accumulation in berry skin in response to high temperature during ripening. 'Benitaka'(VitisviniferaL.)is a table grape that shows poor color development when grown under a subtropical condition, and the exogenous application of(S)-cis-abscisicacid(S-ABA)is a recently developed technique used to over come this difficulty

Anthocyanin accumulation and color development of 'Benitaka' table grape subjected to exogenous abscisic acid application at different timings of ripening.

In colored table grapes, the anthocyanin contents are inhibited by the high temperature during ripening and berries suffer a lack of skin color, thus affecting their market value. In order to overcome this issue, a research study was planned to evaluate the influence of (S)-cis-abscisic acid (S-ABA) on rates of anthocyanin accumulation in table grapes when applied at different timings of ripening, and to quantify the gradual increase of berry color. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard of ?Benitaka? table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.), grown under double annual cropping system in a subtropical area. The trials were carried out during two consecutive seasons (i.e., summer season of 2015 and off-season of 2016). The treatments used for the experiments contained 400 mg L−1 S-ABA applied at different timings of veraison (the onset of ripening), as follows: control (with no application); at pre-veraison (PRV); at veraison (V); and at post-veraison (POV). For all S-ABA treatments, a second application was performed 10 days after the first application. Berries were analyzed for weekly and daily anthocyanin accumulations, weekly and daily color index development (CIRG), total soluble solids (TSS) content, titratable acidity (TA), and maturation index (TSS/TA). Grapes subjected to exogenous application of S-ABA at any time of veraison, especially at PRV or at V, significantly increased the anthocyanin accumulation as well as berry color index development. Other chemical properties of grapes (i.e., TSS, TA, and TSS/TA evolution) were not affected by the use of S-ABA and followed a predictable pattern in relation to days of berries ripening. View Full-Text Keywords: Vitis vinifera L.; production system; S-ABA; rate of anthocyanin accumulation; CIRG; bioactive compound

A survey of UK optometry trainees' smoking cessation training

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a risk factor for a number of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and thyroid eye disease. Smoking cessation interventions have been shown to be highly cost-effective when delivered by a range of healthcare professionals. Optometrists are well placed to deliver smoking cessation advice to a wide population of otherwise healthy smokers. Yet optometrists remain a relatively neglected healthcare professional group in smoking cessation research and policy. Surveys of UK medical/nursing schools and of optometrists' training internationally demonstrate significant deficits in current curricular coverage regarding smoking cessation. This study aimed to identify the extent of smoking cessation training in UK optometry trainees' undergraduate and pre-registration training. METHODS: All undergraduate optometry schools in the UK (n = 9) were invited to participate in a web-based survey of their curricular coverage and assessment related to smoking cessation, and of perceived barriers to delivering smoking cessation training. A content analysis of the College of Optometrists Scheme for Registration Trainee Handbook 2014 was conducted to identify competence indicators related to smoking cessation. RESULTS: Nine undergraduate optometry schools (100%) responded to the survey. The majority reported dedicating limited hours (0-3) to teaching smoking cessation, and predominantly focused on teaching the harmful effects of smoking (89%). Only one school provides practical skills training for delivering evidence-based smoking cessation interventions, including very brief advice. The majority of schools (78%) reported that they did not formally examine students on their knowledge or skills for supporting smoking cessation, and rated confidence in their graduates' abilities to deliver smoking cessation interventions as 'poor' (78%). Lack of knowledge amongst staff was identified as the key barrier to teaching about smoking cessation support. The pre-registration competency framework does not include any competence indicators related to providing support for quitting smoking. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial gaps in the current curricula of UK optometry training, particularly regarding practical skills for supporting smoking cessation. Increased curricular coverage of these issues is essential to ensure trainee optometrists are adequately trained and competent in supporting patients to quit smoking

Berry-cluster thinning to reduce compactness of "Black Star" table grapes.

The berry-cluster thinning technique was evaluated at different phenological times to prevent bunch compactness of ?Black Star? table grape, a new somatic mutation of ?Brasil? grape. The trial was carried out during 2012 and 2013 seaons in a vineyard situated in Marialva, PR, Brazil. Vines were trained in an overhead trellis system and spaced at 3x4m. The randomized block design was used as a statistical model with five replications and five treatments. The following treatments were evaluated: control; brushing prior to anthesis; and berry-cluster thinning at different times, when berries were 3-6, 7-10, or 11-15mm in diameter. The prevalence of bunch compactness was evaluated considering the levels: loose, medium loose, and dense bunches. The main physico-chemical characteristics of grapes and yield were also appraised. The data obtained were submitted to ANOVA, and toTukey?s test at 5% was applied. So, thinning is a mandatory practice to avoid bunch compactness of ?Black Star? grapes. The technique has to be performed, preferably, by means of brushing prior to anthesis, and the failure to accomplish this practice at this time, berry-cluster thinning when berries are 11-15mm in diameter can be used. Key words: Vitis vinifera L., grape thinning, cultural practices. RESUMO: O método de raleio de bagas em diferentes fases fenológicas reduz a compactação de cachos da uva fina de mesa ‘Black Star’, uma nova mutação da uva ‘Brasil’. As videiras foram conduzidas em latada em espaçamento 3x4m, e o experimento foi realizado nas safras 2012 e 2013. O delineamento experimental consistiu em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições e cinco tratamentos: controle sem raleio; raleio com escova plástica realizado no pré-florescimento e; despenca quando as bagas apresentavam 3-6, 7-10 ou 11-15mm de diâmetro. A compacidade predominante dos cachos foi avaliada de acordo com a seguinte classificação: cachos soltos, medianamente soltos e compactos. As características físico-químicas dos cachos e a produtividade também foram avaliadas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. Verificou-se que o raleio de bagas é uma prática obrigatória na uva ‘Black Star’ para diminuir a compacidade dos cachos. A operação deve ser realizada, preferencialmente, com a escova plástica no pré-florescimento, e na impossibilidade de executar ou finalizar essa prática nesta fase, pode-se empregar a despenca quando as bagas apresentarem 11-15mm de diâmetro. Palavras-chave: Vitis vinifera L., raleio de bagas, tratos culturais