Effects of Ultrasound as Visual Feedback of the Tongue on Generalization, Retention, and Acquisition in Speech Therapy for Rhotics

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide an initial comparison of exposure to ultrasound visual feedback of the tongue and no exposure to ultrasound in speech therapy for postvocalic rhotics (the /r/ family of sounds). Effects of the two treatments on acquisition, retention, and generalization were explored in participants ages 7-9. Methods: A single-subject randomized block design replicated across four participants was used. Each week for seven weeks, one session containing high frequency ultrasound use and one session containing no ultrasound use were randomly ordered. A Training Probe List and Generalization Probe List consisting of monosyllabic words, multisyllabic words, phrases, and short sentences were used to measure acquisition within each session as well as retention and generalization between two consecutive sessions. Data analyses included: (a) descriptive statistics to complement visual inspections of single-subject graphs, (b) effect size calculation, and (c) statistical results from a randomization test. Results: One participant showed a significant advantage for ultrasound sessions over no ultrasound sessions in acquisition scores; however, there were no differences between treatment conditions for any participants in generalization or retention. Conclusion: For some children, acquisition may be facilitated by ultrasound visual feedback. No evidence suggested that ultrasound visual feedback inhibited retention or generalization in speech tasks. As a whole, treatment was effective for 2 of the 4 participants when comparing pre/post generalization data. Future studies should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of ultrasound visual feedback therapy given a larger dose (i.e., treatment duration) and differing age groups

INVESTIGATING POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE WHEAT STEM SAWFLY (CEPHUS CINCTUS) (HYMENOTERA: CEPHIDAE) IN CANADIAN AGROECOSYSTEMS

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), has been a serious economic threat to wheat production in the northwest Great Plains region of North America for over 100 years. Despite immense research efforts on C. cinctus population dynamics, there remain knowledge gaps. The objectives of this research were to determine how winter and early spring abiotic factors influence: 1) C. cinctus larval mortality and the spatiotemporal variation in the efficacy of larval mortality factors, and 2) adult life history traits of C. cinctus and one of its natural enemies, Bracon cephi Gahan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Post-harvest samples were collected from fields in southern Alberta to set baselines for the occurrence of live C. cinctus and larval mortality due to parasitism, fungal infection, and unknown reasons. Fields were re-visited the following spring (once in 2020 and twice in 2021) to measure changes in C. cinctus larval populations. We observed that the number of viable (i.e., living) C. cinctus larvae changed significantly between geographic sites but not over time. This conclusion highlights that overwintering and early season abiotic conditions are unlikely to affect C. cinctus population dynamics. The field-level variation underscores the importance of scouting individual fields if high C. cinctus population densities are expected in a given area. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test the effects of cold temperatures in early spring, that are known to prolong post-diapause development, on adult life history traits (e.g., longevity, body size, lipid content, and egg capacity) of C. cinctus and B. cephi. For C. cinctus, adult longevity and male lipid content significantly decreased when post-diapause development was extended. In contrast, neither B. cephi adult longevity nor body size were affected by the prolonged post-diapause development periods. These results provide novel information on how the post-diapause biology of two important native hymenopterans differ in response to temperature. Altogether, this research shows that while post-diapause abiotic conditions may not increase C. cinctus mortality, cold temperatures that delay C. cinctus adult emergence can greatly impact several adult life history traits that could impact population dynamics. This information will be useful for the development of C. cinctus phenology and population forecasting models

Comparing forest sector modelling and qualitative foresight analysis : Cases on wood products industry

Scenario analyses are widely used in forest sector foresight studies, being typically based on either qualitative or quantitative approaches. As scenario analyses are used for informing decision-makers, it is of interest to contrast the similarities and differences between the scenario processes and outcomes using quantitative and qualitative approaches and to explore the underlying causes of differences. This paper uses the output from a qualitative scenario study to design forest sector model (FSM) scenarios and compares the results from the two approaches. We analyse two cases on wood products markets in Norway: i) Wood products suppliers establish a developer firm specializing on wood construction to boost demand, and ii) Levying a carbon tax while reducing CO2 emissions in cement production. Comparing the qualitative studies (innovation diffusion analysis, backcasting and Delphi) and FSM analyses (NorFor model), the results resemble for case ii) but deviate strongly for case i). Notably, the strategy aiming to boost the demand for domestic wood products leads in NorFor mainly to an increase in imports with limited impact on Norwegian sawnwood production. Causes of the discrepancies are discussed. Despite the challenges of combining the two frameworks, we believe that the method where assumptions based on stakeholder input or other qualitative research approaches are elaborated in a FSM and compared, should be more explored. Importantly, applying various methods and frameworks allows for complementing and diversifying the picture, and thus improving the knowledge base. (C) 2017 Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea. Published by Elsevier GmbH.Peer reviewe

Progression and Regression: Distinct Developmental Patterns of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated in the Diabetes Care System West-Friesland, the Netherlands

OBJECTIVE: To identify distinct developmental patterns of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and assess the risk factor levels of patients in these clusters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cohort of 3,343 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) monitored and treated in the Diabetes Care System West-Friesland, the Netherlands, was followed from 2 to 6 years. Risk factors were measured, and two-field fundus photographs were taken annually and graded according to the EURODIAB study group. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify distinct developmental patterns of DR over time. RESULTS: Five clusters of patients with distinct developmental patterns of DR were identified: A, patients without any signs of DR (88.9%); B, patients with a slow regression from minimal background to no DR (4.9%); C, patients with a slow progression from minimal background to moderate nonproliferative DR (4.0%); D, patients with a fast progression from minimal or moderate nonproliferative to (pre)proliferative or treated DR (1.4%); and E, patients with persistent proliferative DR (0.8%). Patients in clusters A and B were characterized by lower risk factor levels, such as diabetes duration, HbA(1c), and systolic blood pressure compared with patients in progressive clusters (C-E). CONCLUSIONS: Clusters of patients with T2DM with markedly different patterns of DR development were identified, including a cluster with regression of DR. These clusters enable a more detailed examination of the influence of various risk factors on DR

The Transforming Growth Factor-β Pathway Is a Common Target of Drugs That Prevent Experimental Diabetic Retinopathy

OBJECTIVE-- Prevention of diabetic retinopathy would benefit from availability of drugs that preempt the effects of hyperglycemia on retinal vessels. We aimed to identify candidate drug targets by investigating the molecular effects of drugs that prevent retinal capillary demise in the diabetic rat. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-- We examined the gene expression profile of retinal vessels isolated from rats with 6 months of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and compared it with that of control rats. We then tested whether the aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil and aspirin, which have different mechanisms of action, prevented common molecular abnormalities induced by diabetes. The Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Genome 230 2.0 array was complemented by real-time RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS-- The retinal vessels of diabetic rats showed differential expression of 20 genes of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β pathway, in addition to genes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, vascular remodeling, and apoptosis. The complete loop of TGF-β signaling, including Smad2 phosphorylation, was enhanced in the retinal vessels, but not in the neural retina. Sorbinil normalized the expression of 71% of the genes related to oxidative stress and 62% of those related to inflammation. Aspirin had minimal or no effect on these two categories. The two drugs were instead concordant in reducing the upregulation of genes of the TGF-β pathway (55% for sorbinil and 40% for aspirin) and apoptosis (74 and 42%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS-- Oxidative and inflammatory stress is the distinct signature that the polyol pathway leaves on retinal vessels. TGF-β and apoptosis are, however, the ultimate targets to prevent the capillary demise in diabetic retinopathy

Rates of Progression in Diabetic Retinopathy During Different Time Periods: A systematic review and meta-analysis

10.2337/dc09-0615Diabetes Care32122307-2313DICA

Candesartan Attenuates Diabetic Retinal Vascular Pathology by Restoring Glyoxalase-I Function

This is an uncopyedited electronic version of an article accepted for publication in Diabetes. The American Diabetes Association, publisher of Diabetes, is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it by third parties. The definitive publisher-authenticated version will be available in a future issue of Diabetes in print and online a