Exploring a P300 Brain-Computer Interface Based on Three Different RSVP Paradigms

A BCI Speller is a typical Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) system for communication purpose. This technology can provide users with severe motor disability with an assistive device controlled by brain activity. In the present preliminary study we investigated, in five subjects, the performance and the Information Transfer Rate (ITR) based on three different Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) paradigms to control a BCI speller. The variants of the three paradigms were the stimuli presented: letters, images and famous faces. These preliminary results showed that performance can increase when using an RSVP paradigm based on images, and ITR can improves when using the images and the famous faces paradigms.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Severity of Retrognathia and Glossoptosis Does Not Predict Respiratory and Feeding Disorders in Pierre Robin Sequence

Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) may lead to life-threatening respiratory and feeding disorders. With the aim to analyse the association of the severities of retrognathia and glossoptosis with those of respiratory and feeding disorders, we retrospectively studied a series of 50 infants with retrognathia, glossoptosis, cleft palate, and airway obstruction. The patients were managed from birth to at least 6 years of age by a single pediatric team at the Armand Trousseau Hospital in Paris within a 12 years period (2000–2012). Retrognathia and glossoptosis were graded in the neonatal period according to a specific clinical examination. Ventilation assistance was required for 32/50 (64%) patients, and enteral feeding for 41/50 (82%). The grades of retrognathia and glossoptosis and the severity of respiratory disorders did not differ between patients with isolated PRS and syndromic PRS. Severe respiratory disorders were more common and long-lasting feeding (>12 months) was more frequently required in patients with syndromic PRS compared with isolated PRS (42 vs. 13%, p = 0.04 and 42 vs. 4%, p < 0.01 respectively). Using univariate analysis, neurological impairments and laryngomalacia were associated with severe respiratory disorders [Odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% CI 1.3–19.6; and OR 14.6, 95% CI 1.3–161.4; p < 0.05] as well as with long-lasting feeding (>12 months) disorders (OR 18.6, 95% CI 3.9–89.2 and OR 20.4, 95% CI 3,4–122.8; p < 10−2). Syndromic SPR status was also associated with severe respiratory disorders (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1–32.5; p < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, only syndromic PRS status was predictive for severe respiratory disorders (adjusted OR 8, 95% CI 1.47–44.57; p < 0.05); and only neurological impairments remained a significant risk for long lasting feeding disorders (>12 months) (adjusted OR 21.72, 95% CI 3.4–138.63; p < 10−2). The grades of retrognathia and glossoptosis were not predictive factors for the severity of respiratory and feeding disorders.Conclusion: In children with PRS, the severity of clinical conditions may not correlate with anatomic variables but rather with laryngeal abnormalities, neurological impairement and syndromic PRS status

Caractériser les troubles du comportement alimentaire de l’enfant atteint de dysoralité

Introduction et objectif : Différentes pathologies (métaboliques, neurologiques, prématurité) peuvent nécessiter le recours à une alimentation artificielle dans les premiers mois de vie. L’absence d’alimentation par voie orale lors de cette période essentielle de la formation du comportement alimentaire, surtout lorsqu’elle est associée à un traitement invasif (i.e. sonde naso-gastrique), peut s’accompagner de conséquences à long terme sur le comportement alimentaire. L’objectif est de développer un questionnaire évaluant le comportement, les préférences et les habitudes alimentaires d’enfants atteints de dysoralité (TO), en comparaison avec des enfants sains (STO). Méthode : L’inclusion des TO s’est déroulée dans différents hôpitaux (Lyon, Paris et Lille) selon les critères suivants : âge de 2 à 8 ans, recours à une alimentation artificielle pendant les 2 premières années de vie pendant au moins 2 mois, alimentation artificielle actuelle >50% des apports caloriques accompagnée d’une alimentation orale, Des STO de même âge, sans pathologie et n’ayant jamais eu recours à une alimentation artificielle ont été recrutés à Paris et à Lyon. Des entretiens ont été réalisés avec les parents (N=8) de TO et avec des psychologues et des orthophonistes pour spécifier les thèmes d’intérêt. Ils ont permis d’élaborer 2 questionnaires : un comportant 97 questions portant sur le comportement alimentaire (échelle à 5 points) et un questionnaire de fréquence de consommation (6 catégories) et de préférence (échelle en 4 points), appliqué à 148 aliments regroupés en 13 catégories. Ces questionnaires ont été approuvés par le CCTIRS. Les réponses des TO et STO ont été comparées par des t-tests (P<0,05) et une analyse en composante principale (ACP) a permis d’évaluer la structure du questionnaire Résultats : Pour les 2 groupes (TO, N=59, 4,9±2,4 ans ; STO, N=101, 5,2±1,8 ans) des différences significatives ont été montrées pour 67 questions sur 97. Une ACP a porté sur 78 questions : l’axe 1 oppose clairement TO et STO. Les questions ont ensuite été regroupées en différentes dimensions : difficulté pour manger, sensibilité tactile orale, appétit, intérêt pour la nourriture, autonomie, sélectivité, sensibilité à la texture, appréciation du goût sucré, sensibilité à la température. Pour toutes ces dimensions les différences entre TO et STO étaient importantes (P<0,0001). Pour toutes les catégories d’aliments, les fréquences de consommation et le nombre d’aliments consommés sont inférieurs pour les TO que pour les STO. Les TO apprécient moins toutes les catégories d’aliments à l’exception des légumes, des œufs-abats-charcuterie, des fromages, des condiments-épices-sauces et des boissons. Conclusion : Ces questionnaires sont utiles à la caractérisation des troubles de l’oralité des enfants TO. Leur utilisation pourrait permettre de mieux comprendre les conséquences des différents modes d’alimentation artificielle et guider la rééducation alimentaire en fonction des préférences. Financé par l’ANR projet ALIA-ORALISENS

Practical guidelines for early screening and field evaluation of banana against Fusarium wilt, Pseudocercospora leaf spots and drought

Practical guidelines for the early screening and field evaluation of banana (Musa spp.) for resistance to three major traits: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense), leaf spot diseases (Pseudocercospora spp.) and drought. The guidelines have been produced by experts from the Evaluation Thematic Group of MusaNet, the global network for Musa genetic resources (www.musanet.org) coordinated by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

Practical guidelines for early screening and field evaluation of banana against Fusarium wilt, Pseudocercospora leaf spots and drought

Practical guidelines for the early screening and field evaluation of banana (Musa spp.) for resistance to three major traits: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense), leaf spot diseases (Pseudocercospora spp.) and drought. The guidelines have been produced by experts from the Evaluation Thematic Group of MusaNet, the global network for Musa genetic resources (www.musanet.org) coordinated by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

Effectiveness of Chest Physiotherapy in Infants Hospitalized with Acute Bronchiolitis: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Vincent Gajdos and colleagues report results of a randomized trial conducted among hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis. They show that a physiotherapy technique (increased exhalation and assisted cough) commonly used in France does not reduce time to recovery in this population

Functional Assessment of Disease-Associated Regulatory Variants <i>In Vivo</i> Using a Versatile Dual Colour Transgenesis Strategy in Zebrafish

Disruption of gene regulation by sequence variation in non-coding regions of the genome is now recognised as a significant cause of human disease and disease susceptibility. Sequence variants in cis-regulatory elements (CREs), the primary determinants of spatio-temporal gene regulation, can alter transcription factor binding sites. While technological advances have led to easy identification of disease-associated CRE variants, robust methods for discerning functional CRE variants from background variation are lacking. Here we describe an efficient dual-colour reporter transgenesis approach in zebrafish, simultaneously allowing detailed in vivo comparison of spatio-temporal differences in regulatory activity between putative CRE variants and assessment of altered transcription factor binding potential of the variant. We validate the method on known disease-associated elements regulating SHH, PAX6 and IRF6 and subsequently characterise novel, ultra-long-range SOX9 enhancers implicated in the craniofacial abnormality Pierre Robin Sequence. The method provides a highly cost-effective, fast and robust approach for simultaneously unravelling in a single assay whether, where and when in embryonic development a disease-associated CRE-variant is affecting its regulatory function