Previous research found repetitive and restricted behaviors (RRBs) were less predictive of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in females, indicating the diagnostic construct may not adequately describe ...RRB presentations in females. This mixed-methods study investigated the female presentation of RRBs, namely restricted interests, in a clinic sample of 125 participants (n = 40 female; ages 2–83 years; 75 ASD). RRB severity did not differ between sexes, t = 1.69,
p
= 0.094, though male participants scored higher on the Restricted Behavior subscale. Qualitatively, females demonstrated a narrower range of restricted interests and expressed them in a socially oriented manner compared to males. The results suggest unique quantitative and qualitative sex differences in RRB profiles that could shed light on the female ASD phenotype.
The main goal was to investigate changes in muscle activity and joint moments related to step length (SL) symmetry improvements in individuals poststroke following repeated split-belt treadmill (SBT) ...walking. Twelve individuals with a first unilateral cerebral stroke presenting initial SL asymmetry (ratio = 1.10-2.05), and mean time post stroke 23 (SD 24.7 months) were included. Participants were trained during six sessions of SBT walking using an error-augmentation protocol. The training resulted in a reduction in SL asymmetry during walking over ground retained over 1-month post-training (
= 0.002). Significant increases in SL and joint moments (plantarflexors: 20-60%, knee flexors: 20-60% and hip extensors: 0-20% of the gait cycle) were observed on the side trained on the fast belt (effect size from 0.41 to 0.60). The improvement in SL symmetry was observed with an increase in plantarflexion joint moment symmetry. Changes in muscle activity varied among participants. In contrast to previous findings with a single exposure to SBT-training, our results showed no negative effects on paretic plantarflexors when walking over ground after repeated exposure to SBT walking. These findings justify larger trials to gain more solid information on the current protocol which appears as an efficient training for long-term recovery on SL asymmetry and on affected plantarflexors.
Measurement-based care (MBC), an evidence-based approach that has demonstrated efficacy for improving treatment outcomes, has yet to be investigated in clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ...current paper investigates the use of MBC in autistic (
n
= 20) and non-autistic (
n
= 20) clients matched on age, sex, and presenting problem. Results of change score analysis indicated that utilizing routine symptom monitoring can enhance treatment evaluation. Autistic clients participated in significantly more sessions, made significantly less progress, and were less compliant with MBC than non-autistic clients. Though hierarchical linear modeling demonstrated no significant differences in treatment slope, results indicated moderate effect size. These results inform the use of MBC in community clinics, highlighting policy implications and need for targeted measurement.
In 2019 the Canadian Space Agency initiated development of a dedicated wildfire monitoring satellite (WildFireSat) mission. The intent of this mission is to support operational wildfire management, ...smoke and air quality forecasting, and wildfire carbon emissions reporting. In order to deliver the mission objectives, it was necessary to identify the technical and operational challenges which have prevented broad exploitation of Earth Observation (EO) in Canadian wildfire management and to address these challenges in the mission design. In this study we emphasize the first objective by documenting the results of wildfire management end-user engagement activities which were used to identify the key Fire Management Functionalities (FMFs) required for an Earth Observation wildfire monitoring system. These FMFs are then used to define the User Requirements for the Canadian Wildland Fire Monitoring System (CWFMS) which are refined here for the WildFireSat mission. The User Requirements are divided into Observational, Measurement, and Precision requirements and form the foundation for the design of the WildFireSat mission (currently in Phase-A, summer 2020).
This study aimed to (1) characterize temporal response properties of the auditory nerve in implanted children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD), and (2) compare results recorded in ...implanted children with ANSD with those measured in implanted children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
Participants included 28 children with ANSD and 29 children with SNHL. All subjects used cochlear nucleus devices in their test ears. Both ears were tested in 6 children with ANSD and 3 children with SNHL. For all other subjects, only one ear was tested. The electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) was measured in response to each of the 33 pulses in a pulse train (excluding the second pulse) for one apical, one middle-array, and one basal electrode. The pulse train was presented in a monopolar-coupled stimulation mode at 4 pulse rates: 500, 900, 1800, and 2400 pulses per second. Response metrics included the averaged amplitude, latencies of response components and response width, the alternating depth and the amount of neural adaptation. These dependent variables were quantified based on the last six ECAPs or the six ECAPs occurring within a time window centered around 11 to 12 msec. A generalized linear mixed model was used to compare these dependent variables between the 2 subject groups. The slope of the linear fit of the normalized ECAP amplitudes (re. amplitude of the first ECAP response) over the duration of the pulse train was used to quantify the amount of ECAP increment over time for a subgroup of 9 subjects.
Pulse train-evoked ECAPs were measured in all but 8 subjects (5 with ANSD and 3 with SNHL). ECAPs measured in children with ANSD had smaller amplitude, longer averaged P2 latency and greater response width than children with SNHL. However, differences in these two groups were only observed for some electrodes. No differences in averaged N1 latency or in the alternating depth were observed between children with ANSD and children with SNHL. Neural adaptation measured in these 2 subject groups was comparable for relatively short durations of stimulation (i.e., 11 to 12 msec). Children with ANSD showed greater neural adaptation than children with SNHL for a longer duration of stimulation. Amplitudes of ECAP responses rapidly declined within the first few milliseconds of stimulation, followed by a gradual decline up to 64 msec after stimulus onset in the majority of subjects. This decline exhibited an alternating pattern at some pulse rates. Further increases in pulse rate diminished this alternating pattern. In contrast, ECAPs recorded from at least one stimulating electrode in six ears with ANSD and three ears with SNHL showed a clear increase in amplitude over the time course of stimulation. The slope of linear regression functions measured in these subjects was significantly greater than zero.
Some but not all aspects of temporal response properties of the auditory nerve measured in this study differ between implanted children with ANSD and implanted children with SNHL. These differences are observed for some but not all electrodes. A new neural response pattern is identified. Further studies investigating its underlying mechanism and clinical relevance are warranted.
Wildfires are worsening in Canada and globally, partly due to climate change. The government of Canada is designing and building WildFireSat, the world’s first purpose-built operational satellite ...system for wildfire monitoring. It will provide new fire intelligence to support decision-making. It takes time for fire management agencies to use new information: to understand it and its implications, change processes, develop training, and modify computer systems. Preparing for the system’s prelaunch will allow agencies to benefit more rapidly from the new information. We present (1) an assessment of the readiness of 12 Canadian fire management agencies to integrate WildFireSat information and (2) guidance for reducing readiness gaps. We used survey and other data to score readiness indicators for three readiness components: understanding, organization, and information technology. We weighted the influence of each indicator score on each component. We modelled scoring and weighting uncertainties and used Monte Carlo simulation to generate distributions of aggregated agency readiness. The results indicated that most agencies have a moderate level of readiness while others have a higher level of readiness. Cluster analysis was used to group agencies by similarity in multiple dimensions. Strategies for increasing readiness are highlighted. This identifies opportunities for agencies and the WildFireSat team to collaborate on enhancing readiness for the forthcoming WildFireSat data products.
Echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective McFayden, Tyler C; Kennison, Shelia M; Bowers, J Michael
Autism & Developmental Language Impairments,
01/2022, Letnik:
7
Book Review, Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background & aims
Echolalia, the repetition of one's or others’ utterances, is a behavior present in typical development, autism spectrum disorder, aphasias, Tourette's, and other clinical groups. ...Despite the broad range of conditions in which echolalia can occur, it is considered primarily through a disorder-specific lens, which limits a full understanding of the behavior.
Method
Empirical and review papers on echolalia across disciplines and etiologies were considered for this narrative review. Literatures were condensed into three primary sections, including echolalia presentations, neural mechanisms, and treatment approaches.
Main contribution
Echolalia, commonly observed in autism and other developmental conditions, is assessed, observed, and treated in a siloed fashion, which reduces our collective knowledge of this communication difference. Echolalia should be considered as a developmental, transdiagnostic, and communicative phenomenon. Echolalia is commonly considered as a communicative behavior, but little is known about its neural etiologies or efficacious treatments.
Conclusions
This review is the first to synthesize echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective, which allows for the direct comparisons across and within clinical groups to inform assessment, treatment, conceptualization, and research recommendations.
Implications
Considering echolalia transdiagnostically highlights the lack of consensus on operationalization and measurement across and within disorders. Clinical and research future directions need to prioritize consistent definitions of echolalia, which can be used to derive accurate prevalence estimates. Echolalia should be considered as a communication strategy, used similarly across developmental and clinical groups, with recommended strategies of shaping to increase its effectiveness.
The growing use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
(REBT) in performance contexts (e.g., business, sport) has highlighted the
absence of a contextually valid and reliable measure of irrational ...beliefs. This
paper reports the development and initial validation of the Irrational
Performance Beliefs Inventory (iPBI). The iPBI was developed to provide a
validated measure of the four core irrational beliefs of REBT theory. Item
development was completed in three stages comprising two expert panels and one
novice panel, reducing and refining 176 items to 133. Then, exploratory and
confirmatory factor analyses were used to refine the measure and reduce the
number of items. A total of 665 business professionals completed the 133-item
scale, alongside an established measure of irrational beliefs and a measure of
negative emotion. A 28-item measure was developed (the iPBI) that showed an
acceptable fit to the four-factor REBT structure. The iPBI correlated well with
the established irrational beliefs measure, and with anxiety, depression, and
anger, demonstrating concurrent and predictive validity. Further validation
efforts are required to assess the validity and reliability of the iPBI in
alternative samples in other performance-related contexts.
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