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Materials Horizons May 2024Hydrogel strain sensors have received increasing attention due to their potential applications in human-machine interfaces and flexible electronics. However, they...
Hydrogel strain sensors have received increasing attention due to their potential applications in human-machine interfaces and flexible electronics. However, they usually suffer from both mechanical and electrical hysteresis and poor water retention, which limit their practical applications. To address this challenge, a poly(acrylic acid--acrylamide) hydrogel crosslinked by silica nanoparticles is fabricated photo polymerization and salting-out of hydrophilic ions for the strain sensor. The resulting hydrogel strain sensor possessed low electrical hysteresis (1.6%), low mechanical hysteresis (<7%), high cycle stability (>10 000 cycles), high durability, water retention and anti-freezing ability. Moreover, this strain sensor can be used as a wearable sensor for real-time control of robotic hands and hand gesture recognition. Finally, a sign language translation system has been demonstrated with the aid of machine learning, achieving recognition rates of over 98% for 15 different sign languages. This work offers a promising prospect for human-machine interfaces, smart wearable devices, and the Internet of Things.
PubMed: 38776065
DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00126e -
Transdiagnostic considerations are critical to understanding childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024Growing dissatisfaction with the current categorical diagnostic systems has led to a movement toward transdiagnostic dimensional approaches to assessment of childhood...
Growing dissatisfaction with the current categorical diagnostic systems has led to a movement toward transdiagnostic dimensional approaches to assessment of childhood mental health disorders. We argue that a transdiagnostic approach is especially important and appropriate when screening for neurodevelopmental disorders during early childhood. In the early childhood years, symptoms often appear in the form of developmental delays that could portend a variety of different disorders. Early intervention at this point is critical, even though a final endpoint disorder is not yet apparent. Intervening early has the potential to grow the area of weakness, possibly correcting or at least ameliorating these delays. Early intervention requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating efforts across settings and providers that monitor the development of young children. We argue here that young children's language ability is central to the development of social cognition, and a prerequisite for adequate social functioning. Social deficits are defining features of a subset of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and social (pragmatic) communication disorder. Critically, impairment in social functioning is common in additional neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, and even motor disorders. For this reason, we argue that, at the earliest sign of a possible neurodevelopmental disorder, children should be screened for language deficits prior to initiating a focused assessment for a specific type of neurodevelopmental disorder such as ADHD. Any detected language deficits should be considered in the design and implementation of the assessment, as well as the ultimate intervention plan.
PubMed: 38774129
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1385873 -
American Annals of the Deaf 2024This article describes the current landscape of teaching literacy to Filipino Deaf students in a multilingual, multi-cultural classroom amid the pandemic. The article...
This article describes the current landscape of teaching literacy to Filipino Deaf students in a multilingual, multi-cultural classroom amid the pandemic. The article highlights the uniqueness of Filipino Deaf students as multilingual learners in a multi-cultural classroom and the lack of literature and research on Deaf multilingualism both locally and globally. Moreover, the article focuses on the role of Deaf teachers in teaching Filipino Deaf students, especially in their literacy development. The steps being done to ensure that the curriculum is inclusive of Deaf learners who use Filipino Sign Language (FSL), teacher preparation and materials development, and the challenges in the shift to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. Future directions and recommendations include review of curriculum and adaptation, enhancement of teacher preparation, promotion of collaborative teaching and research efforts, and the production of more appropriate and accessible instructional materials for Deaf students.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Philippines; Education of Hearing Disabled; Sign Language; Multilingualism; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Curriculum; Literacy; Deafness; SARS-CoV-2; Child; Education, Distance; Pandemics; Students
PubMed: 38766940
DOI: 10.1353/aad.2024.a927615 -
American Annals of the Deaf 2024Extant research on learners who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing with disabilities who come from Asian immigrant families is extremely sparse. The authors conducted an...
Extant research on learners who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing with disabilities who come from Asian immigrant families is extremely sparse. The authors conducted an intrinsic case study of a deaf student with autism who comes from a Korean immigrant family. To acquire a comprehensive understanding of language and communication characteristics, they analyzed (a) interview data of three administrators who worked with the student and family and (b) school documents/reports issued to the parents. Themes are reported across the three components of the tri-focus framework (Siegel-Causey & Bashinski, 1997): the learner, partner, and environment. Implications for practitioners who work with these learners and their families are discussed, including (a) compiling an individualized language and communication profile that encompasses the framework; (b) utilizing culturally and linguistically responsive practices with the family; (c) practicing interprofessional collaboration; and (d) modifying physical and social environments to increase accessibility.
Topics: Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Emigrants and Immigrants; Deafness; Male; Communication; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Education of Hearing Disabled; Child; Republic of Korea; Female; Communication Barriers; Sign Language; Social Environment; Language
PubMed: 38766939
DOI: 10.1353/aad.2024.a927614 -
American Annals of the Deaf 2024
Topics: Humans; Education of Hearing Disabled; Taiwan; Republic of Korea; Deafness; Philippines; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Research; Sign Language
PubMed: 38766936
DOI: 10.1353/aad.2024.a927611 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Sign language is an important way to provide expression information to people with hearing and speaking disabilities. Therefore, sign language recognition has always...
Sign language is an important way to provide expression information to people with hearing and speaking disabilities. Therefore, sign language recognition has always been a very important research topic. However, many sign language recognition systems currently require complex deep models and rely on expensive sensors, which limits the application scenarios of sign language recognition. To address this issue, based on computer vision, this study proposed a lightweight, dual-path background erasing deep convolutional neural network (DPCNN) model for sign language recognition. The DPCNN consists of two paths. One path is used to learn the overall features, while the other path learns the background features. The background features are gradually subtracted from the overall features to obtain an effective representation of hand features. Then, these features are flatten into a one-dimensional layer, and pass through a fully connected layer with an output unit of 128. Finally, use a fully connected layer with an output unit of 24 as the output layer. Based on the ASL Finger Spelling dataset, the total accuracy and Macro-F1 scores of the proposed method is 99.52% and 0.997, respectively. More importantly, the proposed method can be applied to small terminals, thereby improving the application scenarios of sign language recognition. Through experimental comparison, the dual path background erasure network model proposed in this paper has better generalization ability.
PubMed: 38762676
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62008-z -
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis May 2024Multiple-baseline-across-word-sets designs were used to determine whether a computer-based intervention would enhance accurate word signing with four participants. Each...
Multiple-baseline-across-word-sets designs were used to determine whether a computer-based intervention would enhance accurate word signing with four participants. Each participant was a hearing college student with reading disorders. Learning trials included 3 s to observe printed words on the screen and a video model performing the sign twice (i.e., simultaneous prompting), 3 s to make the sign, 3 s to observe the same clip, and 3 s to make the sign again. For each participant and word set, no words were accurately signed during baseline. After the intervention, all four participants increased their accurate word signing across all three word sets, providing 12 demonstrations of experimental control. For each participant, accurate word signing was maintained. Application of efficient, technology-based, simultaneous prompting interventions for enhancing American Sign Language learning and future research designed to investigate causal mechanisms and optimize intervention effects are discussed.
PubMed: 38742862
DOI: 10.1002/jaba.1082 -
Journal of the Intensive Care Society May 2024Central venous catheters are increasingly inserted using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) guidance. Following insertion, it is still common to request a confirmatory...
INTRODUCTION
Central venous catheters are increasingly inserted using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) guidance. Following insertion, it is still common to request a confirmatory chest radiograph for subclavian and internal jugular lines, at least outside of the operating theater. This scoping review addresses: (i) the justification for routine post-insertion radiographs, (ii) whether it would better to use post-insertion POCUS instead, and (iii) the perceived barriers to change.
METHODS
We searched the electronic databases, Ovid MEDLINE (1946-) and Ovid EMBASE (1974-), using the MESH terms ("Echography" OR "Ultrasonography" OR "Ultrasound") AND "Central Venous Catheter" up until February 2023. We also searched clinical practice guidelines, and targeted literature, including cited and citing articles. We included adults (⩾18 years) and English and French language publications. We included randomized control trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, systematic reviews, and surveys.
RESULTS
Four thousand seventy-one articles were screened, 117 full-text articles accessed, and 41 retained. Thirteen examined cardiac/vascular methods; 5 examined isolated contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; 7 examined isolated rapid atrial swirl sign; and 13 examined combined/integrated methods. In addition, three systematic reviews/meta-analyses and one survey addressed barriers to POCUS adoption.
DISCUSSION
We believe that the literature supports retiring the routine post-central line chest radiograph. This is not only because POCUS has made line insertion safer, but because POCUS performs at least as well, and is associated with less radiation, lower cost, time savings, and greater accuracy. There has been less written about perceived barriers to change, but the literature shows that these concerns- which include upfront costs, time-to-train, medicolegal concerns and habit- can be challenged and hence overcome.
PubMed: 38737308
DOI: 10.1177/17511437241227739 -
Biomedical Journal May 2024Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is currently recognized as the potential first-line imaging test for patients with suspected acute type A aortic syndrome (AAAS)....
BACKGROUND
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is currently recognized as the potential first-line imaging test for patients with suspected acute type A aortic syndrome (AAAS). Direct TTE sign for detecting AAAS is positive if there is an intimal flap separating two aortic lumens or aortic wall thickening seen in the ascending aorta. Indirect TTE sign indicates high-risk features of AAAS, such as aortic root dilatation, pericardial effusion, and aortic regurgitation. Our aim is to summarize the existing clinical evidence regarding the diagnostic accuracy of TTE and to evaluate its potential role in the management of patients with suspected AAAS.
METHODS
We included prospective or retrospective diagnostic cohort studies, written in any language, that specifically focused on using TTE to diagnose AAAS from databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio [1], and hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic (HSROC) curve were calculated for TTE in diagnosing AAAS. We applied Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS-2) tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) quality assessment criteria.
RESULTS
Ten studies (2886 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of direct TTE signs were 58% (95% CI, 38-76%) and 94% (95% CI, 89-97%). For any TTE signs, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 91% (95% CI, 85-94%) and 74% (95% CI, 61-84%). The diagnostic accuracy of direct TTE signs was significantly higher than that of any TTE signs, as measured by the area under the HSROC curve [0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96) vs. 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.90)] in four studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that TTE could serve as the initial imaging test for patients with suspected AAAS. Given its high specificity, the presence of direct TTE signs may indicate AAAS, whereas the absence of any TTE signs, combined with low clinical suspicion, could suggest a lower likelihood of AAAS.
PubMed: 38735535
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100747 -
MedEdPORTAL : the Journal of Teaching... 2024People with disabilities and those with non-English language preferences have worse health outcomes than their counterparts due to barriers to communication and poor...
INTRODUCTION
People with disabilities and those with non-English language preferences have worse health outcomes than their counterparts due to barriers to communication and poor continuity of care. As members of both groups, people who are Deaf users of American Sign Language have compounded health disparities. Provider discomfort with these specific demographics is a contributing factor, often stemming from insufficient training in medical programs. To help address these health disparities, we created a session on disability, language, and communication for undergraduate medical students.
METHODS
This 2-hour session was developed as a part of a 2020 curriculum shift for a total of 404 second-year medical student participants. We utilized a retrospective postsession survey to analyze learning objective achievement through a comparison of medians using the Wilcoxon signed rank test (α = .05) for the first 2 years of course implementation.
RESULTS
When assessing 158 students' self-perceived abilities to perform each of the learning objectives, students reported significantly higher confidence after the session compared to their retrospective presession confidence for all four learning objectives (s < .001, respectively). Responses signifying learning objective achievement (scores of 4, or 5, ), when averaged across the first 2 years of implementation, increased from 73% before the session to 98% after the session.
DISCUSSION
Our evaluation suggests medical students could benefit from increased educational initiatives on disability culture and health disparities caused by barriers to communication, to strengthen cultural humility, the delivery of health care, and, ultimately, health equity.
Topics: Humans; Students, Medical; Disabled Persons; Retrospective Studies; Curriculum; Decision Making, Shared; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Communication Barriers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Male; Female; Sign Language; Language
PubMed: 38722734
DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11396