Emergent Intraverbal and Reverse Intraverbal Behavior Following Listener Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

We evaluated whether intraverbal and reverse intraverbal behavior emerged following listener training in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Six participants were each taught three sets of three “when?” questions in listener training. A multiple baseline design across behaviors (stimulus sets) was used to assess the effects of listener training. Results showed that intraverbal behavior emerged following listener training for five out of six participants. One participant received additional listener training and intraverbal training before intraverbal behavior emerged. Furthermore, reverse intraverbal responding occurred across all three sets of questions for three of the six participants. Establishing listener behavior may be a pathway for emergent intraverbal and reverse intraverbal responding in children with ASD. Future research could examine what skill repertoire may facilitate such transfer.

A functional communication training for developing verbal behavior and treatment of challenging behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorders

Communication problems are one of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Challenging behaviors may be a form of communication with the environment, and when other forms of communication are not available, they may be the only way to meet their needs. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the potential use of functional communication training in reducing problem behaviors of individuals with ASD, as well as developing acceptable ways of communication. In a research process based on behavior analysis, the method of single-subject experiment with multiple-baseline design was used. The results of the study show that the research participants developed communication skills on the basic level, and the frequency of their challenging behaviors has significantly decreased.

Design optimization of hopper cars employing functionally graded honeycomb sandwich panels

In this paper, a novel multiscale and multi-stage structural design optimization procedure is developed for the weight minimization of hopper cars. The procedure is tested under various loading conditions according to guidelines established by regulatory bodies, as well as a novel load case that considers fluid-structure interaction by means of explicit finite elements employing Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. The first stage in the design procedure involves topology optimization whereby optimal beam locations are determined within the design space of the hopper car wall structure. This is followed by cross-sectional sizing of the frame to concentrate mass in critical regions of the hopper car. In the second stage, hexagonal honeycomb sandwich panels are considered in lower load regions, and are optimized by means of Multiscale Design Optimization (MSDO). The MSDO drew upon the Kreisselmeier–Steinhausser equations to calculate a penalized cost function for the mass and compliance of a hopper car Finite Element Model (FEM) at the mesoscale. For each iteration in the MSDO, the FEM was updated with homogenized sandwich composite properties according to four design variables of interest at the microscale. A cost penalty is summed with the base cost by comparing results of the FEM with the imposed constraints. Efficacy of the novel design methodology is compared according to a baseline design employing conventional materials. By invoking the proposed methodology in a case study, it is demonstrated that a mass savings as high as 16.36% can be yielded for a single hopper car, which translates into a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 13.09% per car based on available literature.

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF ANGLE, LENGTH AND BRIM HEIGHT OF THE DIFFUSER FOR THE SMALL DIFFUSER AUGMENTED WIND TURBIN

This paper presents the performance of the diffuser augmented wind turbine (DAWT) with the various diffuser shapes using the numerical investigations. DAWT is also a type of wind turbine and the diffuser shapes, the nozzle shapes and the cylindrical shapes are commonly inserted around the horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) to become the more efficient wind turbine. The aim of this study is to find the more efficient design of the diffuser for the horizontal axis wind turbine using the numerical investigations. In this research, the converging and diverging diffuser shape is inserted and the airfoil design is calculated by using the Blade Elementary Momentum Theory. The airfoil type NACA 4412 is chosen because it is suitable for the low wind speed area and easy to produce. The turbulent model k-ω is combined with the Navier Stoke equation to solve the 3-dimensional steady flow simulation of the diffuser augmented wind turbine using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The numerical investigation is used to compare and predict the power coefficient of the DAWT with various shapes. The baseline design of the diffuser (L = 170 mm, H = 57 mm and α = 11̊) is firstly investigated. To predict the power coefficient of the various diffuser shapes, the range of the length of the diffuser is (L/D = 0.5 to 1.5), the range of the brim height of the diffuser (H/D = 0.1 to 0.35) and the range of the angle of the diffuser (α = 5̊ to 15̊ ) are also investigated. The parameters of the diffuser shapes are assigned by using the Central Composite Design Face Centered Method. The response surface method is also used to predict the most efficient diffuser design. The performance of the horizontal axis wind turbine, that of the diffuser augmented wind turbine and that of the diffuser augmented wind turbine with various shapes of diffuser are compared. The performance of new diffuser augmented wind turbine (IND_009) is 50% and 55% higher than the baseline diffuser augmented wind turbine and the horizontal axis wind turbine at rated velocity. The flow visualization of the HAWT, DAWTs are also discussed.

Design Considerations for Over-Water Microwave Radio Links - A Case Study

Arabian Gulf region with its hot, humid and prolonged summer is known to be one of the most challenging environments for radio-wave propagation. Over-the-sea microwave radio links here face degradation and unpredictability in performance due to anomalous propagation, ducting and reflective effects of large water bodies. This paper presents microwave radio link design challenges in an offshore environment and the methods implemented to overcome these challenges in the context of specific project experience in offshore field areas. A baseline design for the links was established initially which was optimized during the course of the project and during on-site implementation. Several design changes to achieve the desired performance were evaluated and implemented in the field. Required microwave link availability and performance objectives were achieved as a result of collaborative efforts between the operating company, contractor and radio manufacturer over a multi-year period. Use of quadruple diversity, optimal selection of frequencies, judicious use of ATPC (Automatic Transmit Power Control) and use of optimal signal polarisation were some of the methods used to achieve the desired link availability and performance. While these are well-known methods in radio engineering, the particular combination(s) employed to realize the desired performance objectives are identified in the paper as a lessons-learnt exercise which can be of wider application in the petroleum industry in the Gulf region. Over-water wideband microwave links are generally considered unreliable in terms of performance for utilization in process control applications involving remote shutdown and other critical operations. However, the links referred to in this paper continue to serve the field control system applications till date.

Multi-objective Optimisation of Torsion Beam Structure of Driverless Vehicle Chassis for Improved Fatigue Resistance

The fatigue resistance of the torsion beam is the keyway to prolong the service life of the chassis of the driverless vehicle. The rigid-flexible coupling finite element model of the chassis is constructed using anti-fatigue algorithm. In this model, the stress time history of the torsion beam is obtained by modal stress recovery. The nominal stress method is used to analyze the fatigue life of the structure. It is known that the structure weight affects the fatigue life, so the algorithm aims at lightening the structure to realize the improved fatigue resistance of the torsional beam structure. The parametric model of torsion beam is constructed with mass and fatigue life as optimization objectives, first-order torsion mode frequency and torsion stiffness as constraints. Multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MPSO) based on the Kriging model is used to achieve improved fatigue life of the torsion beam. After optimization, the structural weight of the torsion beam is reduced by 19.20%, and the light-weight and anti-fatigue effect are better than the baseline design.

Special Needs Student Developing Automaticity With Multiplication Facts Six to Nine

In previous studies, the student used skip counting and her hands to recall [1] all the multiplication facts for the ones to fives and also gained automaticity [2] for the ones to fives facts. In the current study the ninth-grade student was able to memorize the multiplication facts (0 to 10) for the sixes to nines and gained automaticity with 80% accuracy. The overall goal of the current study was to improve the student’s automaticity of multiplication facts (0-10) for the sixes through nines, such as 6 x 7 = 42. The student had been taught multiplication concepts in her elementary years and she has a basic understanding of the meaning of multiplication facts as shown in the previous studies. She understood that 6 x 7 is a representation of six sets of seven or 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 42. The student had previously used skip counting and flash cards with illustrations of the multiplication facts to memorize the facts. In the current study a multiple baseline design was used to measure the acquisition of fluency of multiplication facts over time. The student was able to develop automaticity with 80% accuracy by giving the solution within 3 seconds for all of the facts (0-10) for the sixes through nines.

Teaching Advanced Manding Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Systematic Instruction, Speech-Generating Devices, and Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behaviour

<p>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by marked impairments in social and communication skills, as well as restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviour or interests. Approximately 25-30% of children with ASD do not develop speech. As a result they may require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions. However, most interventions discussed in our present body of research focuses on basic communication skills like requesting. As such, it is important to investigate systematic teaching strategies for more complex requesting (i.e., manding) skills like requesting actions or requesting information. This research aims to extend previous manding literature by investigating effective methods for teaching advanced manding skills to children with ASD who communicate using an SGD. Three empirical intervention studies that a presented in this thesis evaluated the use of behaviour chain interruption strategy (BCIS) and systematic teaching procedures based on the principals of applied behaviour analysis (ABA), to teach advanced manding skills (i.e., manding for actions, manding for “where” questions, and persistence of “where questions”) for individuals with ASD who use speech-generating devices (SGD). Single-case research methodology was used via variations of the multiple baseline design (i.e., multiple probe multiple baseline design across participants and multiple probe multiple baseline across participants and behaviour chains) to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. A total of three participants (2 boys and 1 girl, ages 13, 10, and 5) participated in the interventions that were designed to teach the targeted mand. Results of each study yielded positive results, in that each participant acquired the targeted skill. Generalisation (i.e., across stimuli, over time, and across communication partners) results were mixed, however with additional teaching with the use of systematic instruction they were also acquired. Although these results are preliminary, they indicated that advanced manding skills should be taught to children with ASD who communicate using SGDs and can be acquired with the use of systematic instruction.</p>

Teaching Advanced Manding Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Systematic Instruction, Speech-Generating Devices, and Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behaviour

<p>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by marked impairments in social and communication skills, as well as restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviour or interests. Approximately 25-30% of children with ASD do not develop speech. As a result they may require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions. However, most interventions discussed in our present body of research focuses on basic communication skills like requesting. As such, it is important to investigate systematic teaching strategies for more complex requesting (i.e., manding) skills like requesting actions or requesting information. This research aims to extend previous manding literature by investigating effective methods for teaching advanced manding skills to children with ASD who communicate using an SGD. Three empirical intervention studies that a presented in this thesis evaluated the use of behaviour chain interruption strategy (BCIS) and systematic teaching procedures based on the principals of applied behaviour analysis (ABA), to teach advanced manding skills (i.e., manding for actions, manding for “where” questions, and persistence of “where questions”) for individuals with ASD who use speech-generating devices (SGD). Single-case research methodology was used via variations of the multiple baseline design (i.e., multiple probe multiple baseline design across participants and multiple probe multiple baseline across participants and behaviour chains) to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. A total of three participants (2 boys and 1 girl, ages 13, 10, and 5) participated in the interventions that were designed to teach the targeted mand. Results of each study yielded positive results, in that each participant acquired the targeted skill. Generalisation (i.e., across stimuli, over time, and across communication partners) results were mixed, however with additional teaching with the use of systematic instruction they were also acquired. Although these results are preliminary, they indicated that advanced manding skills should be taught to children with ASD who communicate using SGDs and can be acquired with the use of systematic instruction.</p>

Game-based training of selective voluntary motor control in children and youth with upper motor neuron lesions: protocol for a multiple baseline design study

Background Impairments of selective control of joint movements can have consequences for many activities of daily life, but there are only a few interventions to improve selective voluntary motor control (SVMC). We have developed a treatment option to specifically enhance SVMC exploiting the advantages of interactive computer play technology. It targets SVMC by training selective activation of a muscle or a selective joint movement while it provides immediate feedback about involuntary muscle activations/movements at an (unwanted) joint. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of this game-based intervention to enhance SVMC in children and youth with upper motor neuron lesions. Methods We will conduct a randomized, non-concurrent, multiple baseline design study. Patients aged between 6 and 20 years with reduced SVMC due to an upper motor neuron lesion will be included. During the baseline phase of random length, participants will attend their regular intensive rehabilitation program, and in the intervention phase, they will additionally complete 10 therapy sessions (à 40 min) of the game-based SVMC training. The primary outcome will be a short SVMC assessment conducted repeatedly throughout both phases, which quantifies movement accuracy and involuntary movements. Changes in clinical SVMC measures, muscle strength, cortical excitability, motor control of the inhibited/unwanted movement, and functional independence will be assessed as secondary outcomes. We will use a mixed-effect model to determine the change in the course of the primary outcome when the intervention is introduced, and we will compare changes between phases for secondary outcomes with paired tests. Discussion This study will provide first evidence whether SVMC can be improved with our game-based training. The single-case design takes into account the individualization required for this intervention, and it can help to address the challenges of intervention trials in our setting. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00025184, registered on 28.04.2021.