Monthly Archives: June 2011
Activation in left primary visual cortex representing parafoveal visual field during reading Japanese texts
Conclusions
The activation modulation during reading Japanese texts occurs in the parafoveal V1 of the left hemisphere. The attentional modulation did not change with the distance to the next goal of saccade but was fixed on the area representing about 4.5° of eccentricity.
from Brain Research
Carboxy alkyl esters of Uncaria tomentosa augment recovery of sensorineural functions following noise injury
This study tested the hypothesis that hydrophilic chemotypes of the medicinal vine Uncaria tomentosa (UT) would facilitate recovery of sensorineural functions following exposure to a damaging level of noise. The particular chemotypes investigated were carboxy alkyl esters (CAE) which are known to exhibit multifunctional cytoprotective properties that include: enhanced cellular DNA repair, antioxidation and anti-inflammation. Long-Evans rats were divided into four treatment groups: vehicle-control, noise-only, CAE-only and CAE + noise. The noise exposure was an 8 kHz octave band of noise at 105 dB SPL for 4-hours. Outer hair cell (OHC) function was measured with the cubic 2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) at the start of the study (baseline) and at time-points that corresponded to 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks post-noise exposure to determine within-group effects. Compound action potentials to puretone stimuli were recorded from the VIIIth craniofacial nerve at 4 weeks post-noise exposure to determine between-group effects. Additionally, cytocochleograms were constructed for each row of OHCs from each group. Noise exposure produced significant sensorineural impairments. However, CAE treatment facilitated almost complete recovery of OHC function and limited the magnitude of cell loss. The loss of neural sensitivity to puretone stimuli was inhibited with CAE treatment. Therefore, it appears that the multifunctional cytoprotective capacity of CAE from UT may generalize to otoprotection from acoustic over-exposure.
from Brain Research
A Novel Missense Mutation in the Connexin30 Causes Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss
Dysfunctional gap junctions caused by GJB2 (CX26) and GJB6 (CX30) mutations are implicated in nearly half of nonsyndromic hearing loss cases. A recent study identified a heterozygous mutation, c.119C>T (p.A40V), in the GJB6 gene of patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss. However, the functional role of the mutation in hearing loss remains unclear. In this study, analyses of cell biology indicated that a p.A40V missense mutation of CX30 causes CX30 protein accumulation in the Golgi body rather than in the cytoplasmic membrane. The tet-on protein expression system was used for further study of mutant proteins in CX30 and CX30A40V co-expressions and in CX26 and CX30A40V co-expressions. The p.A40V missense mutation exerted a dominant negative effect on both normal CX30 and CX26, which impaired gap junction formation. Moreover, computer-assisted modeling suggested that this p.A40V mutation affects the intra molecular interaction in the hydrophobic core of Trp44, which significantly alters the efficiency of gap junction formation. These findings suggest that the p.A40V mutation in CX30 causes autosomal-dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. These data provide a novel molecular explanation for the role of GJB6 in hearing loss.
from PLoS ONE
Tongue-tied territories: Languages and publics in stateless nations
This brief essay introduces a collection of papers that examine the constitution of languages and publics within indigenous contexts. In the cases addressed in these papers, linguistic representation mediates the constitution of indigenous, colonized, stateless nations and varied forms of social authority intervening within them: state agencies, legal authority, linguistic science. These cases not only engage the relationship between linguistic representation and indigenous nationhood, but also examine the discourses of language endangerment circulating within, applied to, and generated by these publics.
Reproducibility and Validity of Patient-Rated Assessment of Speech, Swallowing, and Saliva Control in Parkinson’s Disease
Conclusions
The ROMP provides a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate patient-perceived problems with speech, swallowing, and saliva control in patients with PD or AP.
Cue-dependent interference in comprehension
The role of interference as a primary determinant of forgetting in memory has long been accepted, however its role as a contributor to poor comprehension is just beginning to be understood. The current paper reports two studies, in which speed-accuracy tradeoff and eye-tracking methodologies were used with the same materials to provide converging evidence for the role of syntactic and semantic cues as mediators of both proactive (PI) and retroactive interference (RI) during comprehension. Consistent with previous work (e.g., Van Dyke & Lewis, 2003), we found that syntactic constraints at the retrieval site are among the cues that drive retrieval in comprehension, and that these constraints effectively limit interference from potential distractors with semantic/pragmatic properties in common with the target constituent. The data are discussed in terms of a cue-overload account, in which interference both arises from and is mediated through a direct-access retrieval mechanism that utilizes a linear, weighted cue-combinatoric scheme.
from the Journal of Memory and Language
Non-Language Thinking in Mathematics
After a brief outline of the topic of non-language thinking in mathematics the central phenomenological tool in this concern is established, i.e. the eidetic method. The special form of eidetic method in mathematical proving is implicit variation and this procedure entails three rules that are established in a simple geometrical example. Then the difficulties and the merits of analogical thinking in mathematics are discussed in different aspects. On the background of a new phenomenological understanding of the performance of non-language thinking in mathematics the well-known theses of B. L. van der Waerden that mathematical thinking to a great extent proceeds without the use of language is discussed in a new light.
from Axiomathes
Universal newborn hearing screening, a revolutionary diagnosis of deafness: real benefits and limitations
The finding that early detection of permanent congenital childhood hearing loss produces worthwhile benefit in terms of improved speech and language provides the rationale for the universal screening of newborns. The aim of the present study is to collect the current evidence with regard to the efficacy, the results and outcomes of universal hearing screening programs. An extensive search of the literature was performed in Medline and other available database sources. Study selection was based on the evaluation of the protocols used and the assessment of their efficacy in the early diagnosis of congenital hearing impairment. The initial referral rate and the rate of false positives were also evaluated. A total of 676,043 screened children have been identified in 20 studies. The average initial referral rate in these studies was 3.89%. The initial referral rate varied from 0.6 to 16.7%. The lost-to-follow-up rates varied from 3.7 to 65%. Although universal hearing screening is now widely adopted, there are still some serious drawbacks and limitations. False positives rates remain considerably high when newborns are screened with TEOAE’s. The combination of TEOAE’s and a-ABR provides a significantly reduced referral rate. Close cooperation between audiological centres and maternity units and a dedicated secretariat team are of paramount importance with regard to the reliability and efficacy of universal hearing screening.
Applying Technology to Visually Support Language and Communication in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
The burgeoning role of technology in society has provided opportunities for the development of new means of communication for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This paper offers an organizational framework for describing traditional and emerging augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology, and highlights how tools within this framework can support a visual approach to everyday communication and improve language instruction. The growing adoption of handheld media devices along with applications acquired via a consumer-oriented delivery model suggests a potential paradigm shift in AAC for people with ASD.
Can Child Care Workers Contribute to the Early Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders? A Comparison Between Screening Instruments with Child Care Workers Versus Parents as Informants
Several screening instruments for ASD in young children were developed during the last decades. Only few studies compare the discriminative power of these instruments in the same sample. In particular comparisons of instruments that use different informants are scarce in young children. The current study compared the discriminant ability of the Checklist for Early Signs of Developmental Disorders (CESDD) filled out by child care workers with that of frequently used parent questionnaires in a sample of 357 children between 5.57 and 48.13 months old who showed signs of ASD or language delay. The discriminant power of the CESDD was as good as that of parent questionnaires. Therefore, inclusion of child care workers in the early detection of ASD seems promising.
The Interplay Between Attentional Strategies and Language Processing in High-functioning Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
This study examined the hypothesis of an atypical interaction between attention and language in ASD. A dual-task experiment with three conditions was designed, in which sentences were presented that contained errors requiring attentional focus either at (a) low level, or (b) high level, or (c) both levels of language. Speed and accuracy for error detection were measured from 16 high-functioning adults with ASD, and 16 matched controls. For controls, there was an attentional cost of dual level processing for low level performance but not for high level performance. For participants with ASD, there was an attentional cost both for low level and for high level performance. These results suggest a compensatory strategic use of attention during language processing in ASD.
Ponto Pro Power, Oticon’s New Powerful, Fully Digital Bone Anchor Hearing System
Oticon Medical has released what they claim is “the world’s first fully digital, programmable bone anchored power processor.” The system has received FDA clearance and will benefit most people with serious hearing loss from ear canal and middle ear issues, as well as for those with single sided deafness.
from MedGadget.com
Google Health Shutting Down
Over time, Google did manage to bring in an impressive number of partners. Nevertheless, adoption mostly stayed limited to a group of tech-savvy patients and caregivers. At the same time a new look was introduced last September, several fitness and wellness features were added, however to no avail. In the end, it didn’t make the cut, and the service is retired just like any other unsuccessful Google product.
from MedGadget.com
Canadian Hearing Society unveils new logo, colour scheme and website at 71st Annual General Meeting
The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) has taken on a distinct new look with the launch of its new logo, colour scheme and website. The unveiling will take place at CHS’s 71st Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be held in North York Civic Centre on Saturday June 25, 2011.
from News-Medical.net
Hope for endangered language in Spain
The endangered language Caló is spoken by Romani people in Spain. Yet the future holds promise for the language since there is a great deal of interest in preserving it, for example among young Romanies. This is one conclusion reached in a new doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg.
from EurekAlert.org
