Communication skills in blind children: a preliminary investigation

Background: There are anecdotal reports that blind children sometimes use language inappropriately, but there has been no recent systematic investigation of the communication skills of children with congenital blindness. The aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary investigation of the communication skills of a group of children with congenital blindness. Methods: The parents of eight congenitally blind children completed the Children's Communication Checklist-2. Results: The checklist ratings showed that the communication profiles of a large proportion of the group warranted clinical investigation or were indicative of a communication disorder. Conclusions: The results from this preliminary investigation support the need for a larger study on the communication skills of children with congenital blindness.

A new strategy for the blind MMSE equalization

This paper describes a new strategy for the blind equalization so that the blind Constant Module Algorithm (CMA) can be smoothly switched to the decision- directed (DD) equalization. First, we propose a combination approach by running the CMA and DD equalization simultaneously to obtain a smooth switch between them. We then describe an "anchoring process" to eliminate the effect from the CMA at the steady state to achieve low residual noise. The overall equalization can be regarded as the DD equalization being anchored by the combination approach. Numerical simulations are given to verify the proposed strategy.

A new blind equalization algorithm based on convex combination

The convex combination is a mathematic approach to keep the advantages of its component algorithms for better performance. In this paper, we employ convex combination in the blind equalization to achieve better blind equalization. By combining the blind constant modulus algorithm (CMA) and decision directed algorithm, the combinative blind equalization (CBE) algorithm can retain the advantages from both. Furthermore, the convergence speed of the CBE algorithm is faster than both of its component equalizers. Simulation results are also given to verify the proposed algorithm.

How can a blind engineer access the curriculum?

The arrival of a student who is Blind in the School of Systems Engineering at the University of Reading has made it an interesting and challenging year for all. Visually impaired students have already graduated from other Schools of the University and the School of Systems Engineering has seen three students with visual impairment graduate recently with good degrees. These students could access materials - and do assessments - essentially by means of enlargement and judicious choice of options. The new student had previously been supported by a specialist college. She is a proficient typist and also a user of both Braille and JAWS screen reader, and she is doing a joint course in Cybernetics and Computer Science. The course requires mathematics which itself includes graphs, and also many diagrams including numerous circuit diagrams. The University bought proven equipment such as a scanner to process books into speech or Braille, and screen reading software as well as a specialist machine for producing tactile diagrams for educational use. Clearly it is also important that the student can access assessments and examinations and present answers for marking or feedback (by sighted staff). So the School also used innovative in-house tactile methods to represent diagrams. This paper discusses the success or otherwise of various modifications of course delivery and the way forward for the next three years.

A novel blind channel estimation method for MIMO system

Channel estimation method is a key issue in MIMO system. In recent years, a lot of papers on subspace(SS)-based blind channel estimation have been published, and in this paper, combining SS method with a space-time coding scheme, we proposed a novel blind channel estimation method in MIMO system. Simulation result demonstrates the effectiveness of this method.

A semi-blind reception scheme based on ICA for multiuser MIMO-STBC system

When the orthogonal space-time block code (STBC), or the Alamouti code, is applied on a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications system, the optimum reception can be achieved by a simple signal decoupling at the receiver. The performance, however, deteriorates significantly in presence of co-channel interference (CCI) from other users. In this paper, such CCI problem is overcome by applying the independent component analysis (ICA), a blind source separation algorithm. This is based on the fact that, if the transmission data from every transmit antenna are mutually independent, they can be effectively separated at the receiver with the principle of the blind source separation. Then equivalently, the CCI is suppressed. Although they are not required by the ICA algorithm itself, a small number of training data are necessary to eliminate the phase and order ambiguities at the ICA outputs, leading to a semi-blind approach. Numerical simulation is also shown to verify the proposed ICA approach in the multiuser MIMO system.

A double-blind, placebo controlled human study investigating the effects of coffee derived manno-oligosaccharides on the faecal microbiota of a healthy adult population.

The aims of this study were to assess the impact of coffee derived mannooligosaccharides on the faecal microbiota of a healthy UK based population. Methods and Results: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover human intervention study was conducted. Volunteers were assigned, 3g MOS, 5g MOS and placebo coffee preparations, to consume daily over a 3 wks, followed by a 2 wk washout period. Faecal samples were collected, and microbial population characterised using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Short-chain and branched-chain fatty acid profiles were obtained by gas chromatography. All treatments led to significant lactobacilli increases (placebo, p < 0.001; 3g, p = 0.04; 5g, p=0.04). The 3g treatment led to a significant bifidobacteria increase (p=0.001). Significantly less iso-valerate was found in faeces following 3g MOS daily (p=0.05). Conclusions: The 3g dose of MOS led to a potentially beneficial shift in the faecal microbiota. MOS was therefore confirmed to be a prebiotic at 3g dose. Significance and Impact of Study: This study provides confirmation of a new novel prebiotic, that can be considered for incorporation into a wider variety of food products, to provide different selective and nutritional properties.

Effects of a novel galactooligosaccharide on the faecal microbiota of healthy and inflammatory bowel disease cats during a randomized, double-blind, cross-over feeding study

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder of cats with no known aetiological agent. Previous work has suggested that the faecal microbiota of IBD cats is significantly different from that of healthy cats, including significantly lower bifidobacteria, bacteroides and total counts in IBD cats and significantly lower levels of sulfate-reducing bacteria in healthy cats. Prebiotics, including galactooligosaccharides (GOS), have been shown to elicit a bifidogenic effect in humans and other animals. The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of a novel GOS supplementation on the faecal microbiota of healthy and IBD cats during a randomized, double-blind, cross-over feeding study. Eight oligonucleotide probes targeting specific bacterial populations and DAPI stain (total bacteria) were used to monitor the feline faecal microbiota. Overall, inter-animal variation was high; while a trend of increased bifidobacterial levels was seen with GOS supplementation it was not statistically significant in either healthy or IBD cats. No significant differences were observed in the faecal microbiota of IBD cats and healthy cats fed the same diet. Members of the family Coriobacteriaceae (Atopobium cluster) were found to be the most abundant bacteria in the feline microbiota.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-designed probiotic feeding study in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders

There is growing interest in the role of gastrointestinal (GI) pathology and clinical expression of autism. Recent studies have demonstrated differences in the faecal clostridial populations harboured by autistic and non-autistic children. The potential of Lactobacillus plantarum WCSF1 (a probiotic) to modulate the gut microbiota of autistic subjects was investigated during a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-designed feeding study. The faecal microbiota, gut function and behaviour scores of subjects were examined throughout the 12-week study. Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 feeding significantly increased Lab158 counts (lactobacilli and enterococci group) and significantly reduced Erec482 counts (Clostridium cluster XIVa) compared to placebo. Probiotic feeding also resulted in significant differences in the stool consistency compared to placebo and behaviour scores (total score and scores for some subscales) compared to baseline. The major finding of this work was the importance of study protocol in relation to the specific considerations of this subject population, with an extremely high dropout rate seen (predominantly during the baseline period). Furthermore, the relatively high inter-individual variability observed suggests that subsequent studies should use defined subgroups of autistic spectrum disorders, such as regressive or late-onset autism. In summary, the current study has highlighted the potential benefit of L. plantarum WCFS1 probiotic feeding in autistic individuals.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized human study assessing the capacity of a novel galacto-oligosaccharide mixture in reducing travellers' diarrhoea.

Background/Objectives: Prebiotics have attracted interest for their ability to positively affect the colonic microbiota composition, thus increasing resistance to infection and diarrhoeal disease. This study assessed the effectiveness of a prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS) on the severity and/or incidence of travellers' diarrhoea (TD) in healthy subjects. Subjects/Methods: The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind of parallel design in 159 healthy volunteers, who travelled for minimum of 2 weeks to a country of low or high risk for TD. The investigational product was the B-GOS and the placebo was maltodextrin. Volunteers were randomized into groups with an equal probability of receiving either the prebiotic or placebo. The protocol comprised of a 1 week pre-holiday period recording bowel habit, while receiving intervention and the holiday period. Bowel habit included the number of bowel movements and average consistency of the stools as well as occurrence of abdominal discomfort, flatulence, bloating or vomiting. A clinical report was completed in the case of diarrhoeal incidence. A post-study questionnaire was also completed by all subjects on their return. Results: Results showed significant differences between the B-GOS and the placebo group in the incidence (P<0.05) and duration (P<0.05) of TD. Similar findings occurred on abdominal pain (P<0.05) and the overall quality of life assessment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Consumption of the tested galacto-oligosaccharide mixture showed significant potential in preventing the incidence and symptoms of TD.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study to establish the bifidogenic effect of a very-long-chain inulin extracted from globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) in healthy human subjects

There is growing interest in the use of inulins as substrates for the selective growth of beneficial gut bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli because recent studies have established that their prebiotic effect is linked to several health benefits. In the present study, the impact of a very-long-chain inulin (VLCI), derived from globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), on the human intestinal microbiota compared with maltodextrin was determined. A double-blind, cross-over study was carried out in thirty-two healthy adults who were randomised into two groups and consumed 10 g/d of either VLCI or maltodextrin, for two 3-week study periods, separated by a 3-week washout period. Numbers of faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were significantly higher upon VLCI ingestion compared with the placebo. Additionally, levels of Atopobium group significantly increased, while Bacteroides–Prevotella numbers were significantly reduced. No significant changes in faecal SCFA concentrations were observed. There were no adverse gastrointestinal symptoms apart from a significant increase in mild and moderate bloating upon VLCI ingestion. These observations were also confirmed by in vitro gas production measurements. In conclusion, daily consumption of VLCI extracted from globe artichoke exerted a pronounced prebiotic effect on the human faecal microbiota composition and was well tolerated by all volunteers.

Prebiotic evaluation of cocoa-derived flavanols in healthy humans by using a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover intervention study

BACKGROUND: The absorption of cocoa flavanols in the small intestine is limited, and the majority of the flavanols reach the large intestine where they may be metabolized by resident microbiota. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prebiotic potential of cocoa flavanols in a randomized, double-blind, crossover, controlled intervention study. DESIGN: Twenty-two healthy human volunteers were randomly assigned to either a high-cocoa flavanol (HCF) group (494 mg cocoa flavanols/d) or a low-cocoa flavanol (LCF) group (23 mg cocoa flavanols/d) for 4 wk. This was followed by a 4-wk washout period before volunteers crossed to the alternant arm. Fecal samples were recovered before and after each intervention, and bacterial numbers were measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization. A number of other biochemical and physiologic markers were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the consumption of the LCF drink, the daily consumption of the HCF drink for 4 wk significantly increased the bifidobacterial (P < 0.01) and lactobacilli (P < 0.001) populations but significantly decreased clostridia counts (P < 0.001). These microbial changes were paralleled by significant reductions in plasma triacylglycerol (P < 0.05) and C-reactive protein (P < 0.05) concentrations. Furthermore, changes in C-reactive protein concentrations were linked to changes in lactobacilli counts (P < 0.05, R(2) = -0.33 for the model). These in vivo changes were closely paralleled by cocoa flavanol-induced bacterial changes in mixed-batch culture experiments. CONCLUSION: This study shows, for the first time to our knowledge, that consumption of cocoa flavanols can significantly affect the growth of select gut microflora in humans, which suggests the potential prebiotic benefits associated with the dietary inclusion of flavanol-rich foods. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01091922.

Blind channel estimation for multi-rate multicarrier DS/CDMA communications

Multi-rate multicarrier DS/CDMA is a potentially attractive multiple access method for future wireless communications networks that must support multimedia, and thus multi-rate, traffic. Several receiver structures exist for single-rate multicarrier systems, but little has been reported on multi-rate multicarrier systems. Considering that high-performance detection such as coherent demodulation needs the explicit knowledge of the channel, based on the finite-length chip waveform truncation, this paper proposes a subspace-based scheme for timing and channel estimation in multi-rate multicarrier DS/CDMA systems, which is applicable to both multicode and variable spreading factor systems. The performance of the proposed scheme for these two multi-rate systems is validated via numerical simulations. The effects of the finite-length chip waveform truncation on the performance of the proposed scheme is also analyzed theoretically.