Communication Ability Research Articles

Artificial intelligent based control strategy for reach and grasp of multi-objects using brain-controlled robotic arm system

ABSTRACT Brain-controlled robotic arm systems are designed to provide a method of communication and control for individuals with limited mobility or communication abilities. These systems can be beneficial for people who have suffered from a spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurological disease that affects their motor abilities. The ability of a person to control a robotic arm to reach and grasp multiple objects using their brain signals. This technology involves the use of an electroencephalogram (EEG) cap that captures the electrical activity in the user’s brain, which is then processed by an artificial intelligent to translate it into commands that control the movements of the robotic arm. With this technology, individuals who are unable to move their limbs due to paralysis or other conditions can still perform daily activities such as feeding themselves, drinking from a glass, or grasping objects. In this paper, we propose an artificial intelligent–based control strategy for reach and grasp of multi-objects using brain-controlled robotic arm system. The proposed control strategy consists of threefold process: feature extraction, feature optimization, and control strategy classification. Initially, we design an improved ResNet pre-trained architecture for deep feature extraction from the given EEG signal.

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Primary Progressive Aphasia with and Without Concomitant Speech and Language Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Primary progressive aphasias (PPA) represent a group of neurodegenerative conditions affecting verbal communication abilities for which no effective medication is currently available. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NiBS) has been mainly explored as adjunctive therapy to conventional speech and language therapy (SLT) with promising results. The present meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) aims to evaluate the efficacy of NiBS in PPA patients on a range of linguistic tasks (naming, phonemic fluency, semantic fluency). A literature search was carried out using EMBASE and PUBMED, searching for multi-session RCTs administering NiBS on PPA patients as stand-alone or with SLT. The results were not significant overall, indicating a null difference between the active and the sham condition on language functions; pooled effects tended to be higher in parallel than in crossover studies and for follow-ups than post-treatment. In the naming analyses, the combined effects for the studies that coupled NiBS with SLT were slightly higher than the overall effect at each time point, although not significant. These results need to be considered with caution given the low number of included studies and small sample sizes, but offer relevant indications for future research in terms of optimal treatment protocols and personalization of therapies.

Evaluating the effect of a non-linguistic cognitive intervention on functional communication in global aphasia: A case series study.

Global aphasia is a severe communication disorder affecting all language modalities, commonly caused by stroke. Evidence as to whether the functional communication of people with global aphasia (PwGA) can improve after speech and language therapy (SLT) is limited and conflicting. This is partly because cognition, which is relevant to participation in therapy and implicated in successful functional communication, can be severely impaired in global aphasia. Cognitive treatments that aim to improve functional communication for people with aphasia do exist, but few have been trialled with PwGA and no studies have robustly demonstrated gains. This study aimed to explore the effect of a novel non-linguistic cognitive intervention on the functional communication skills of PwGA. A non-linguistic intervention, developed to target cognitive skills underpinning functional communication, was delivered to six participants three times weekly for up to 6 weeks (depending on the rate of progression through the intervention programme). All participants met the criteria for global aphasia following screening with the Western Aphasia Battery Bedside Record Form. A multiple baseline case series design was employed to investigate changes in functional communication using the American Speech and Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication (ASHA-FACS). Secondary outcome measures were auditory comprehension and informal tests of non-verbal cognition. Statistical analyses of change after intervention were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and weighted statistics. Participants completed the intervention programme in an average of nine sessions. Four out of six participants made statistically significant gains in functional communication as measured by communication independence (amount of assistance or prompting required) on the ASHA-FACS. Five of six participants made statistically significant gains in non-verbal semantics, two in non-verbal reasoning and two in auditory comprehension. The findings provide preliminary evidence that a non-linguistic cognitive intervention delivered with a dose replicable in clinical practice can improve functional communication and non-verbal cognition in some PwGA. This finding contrasts with much existing evidence suggesting that improvements in global aphasia can be achieved only after intensive or prolonged input over many years. What is already known on the subject People with global aphasia (PwGA) have the potential to make impairment level gains after intensive or prolonged speech and language therapy (SLT). However, evidence of functional communication gains is limited. Cognition plays an important role in functional communication, particularly the ability to switch to alternative means of communication and switch modalities. What this study adds Contrary to many previous studies, the findings indicate that PwGA can benefit from SLT and make functional communication gains with a relatively low dose of intervention. The findings highlight cognitive skills that appear relevant to basic functional communication abilities in PwGA. These are: attention, visual perception, semantics and non-verbal problem solving. What are the clinical implications of this work? This work suggests that clinicians should offer cognitive, non-linguistic interventions to PwGA and consider delivering intervention using little to no verbal language.

TINJAUAN PUSTAKA TENTANG KOMPETENSI BAHASA YANG PALING ESENSIAL DALAM KOMUNIKASI BISNIS GLOBAL

This research addresses obstacles to effective English communication, focusing on essential language competencies—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—that are critical in global business. It explores which language skills are most important for international business communication and examines the impact of language proficiency on professional success. The goal of the study is to identify these key competencies for successful global business interactions and to provide insight into which skills professionals should focus on developing. To achieve this, a systematic literature review is conducted, establishing a structured theoretical framework by drawing on findings from previous research. The study concludes that essential language competencies for global business success include verbal communication, writing skills, cross-cultural understanding, listening, and negotiation abilities. Among these, verbal skills in English, as an international language, are especially crucial in settings such as presentations, meetings, and negotiations. Effective verbal communication requires not only mastery of grammar but also the ability to use non-verbal cues, like intonation and body language, to reinforce and clarify messages. These competencies are emphasized as crucial for professionals who wish to excel in the global business landscape, where effective communication can significantly influence outcomes. The findings suggest that developing both language and cultural understanding equips professionals to engage more effectively across linguistic and cultural boundaries, enhancing their ability to negotiate, collaborate, and succeed in diverse business environments.

Doctrinal symbolization and the political vernacular of narratives. What is changing in the public field?

The discursive diversity of public policy is constantly supported by a variety of symbolic structures used by the state, its partners and opponents, which formalize their political will in the form of various strategies, projects or individual actions. In modern conditions, with their characteristic uncertainty of the future and the volatility of their plans, political players, in an effort to increase the mobilization of the population, pay increasing attention to the communicative abilities of narratives that appeal to the mental characteristics of people, the ordinary level of their cultural orientations and everyday identification models. Compared with the doctrinal ways of symbolizing political goals and values, these narrative constructions retain significant advantages in interpreting and culturally decoding the meanings of political messages by people. Being a flexible and more accessible tool for the layman to purposefully influence a person’s awareness of the goals and values of the ruling regime, narratives extend not only to the public field, but are also actively used to convey meanings in intra-elite contacts, in which both status and informal coalitions of the ruling class participate. The widespread use of narratives inevitably leads to changes in the configuration of public discourse. At the same time, the methods of mass consciousness management are being updated both in countries of democratic deliberation and in states demonstrating various forms of authoritarian domination. The popular “concept of political narratives” (NPF), offering an essentialist interpretation of political narratives, introduces into the analysis a number of tools that allow to specify their place and role in the space of discourse, as well as to show the features of their application in the management of public communications of the state and society, emerging at all levels of the political system. Moreover, these cognitive constructions help to see certain trends in the evolution of the field of politics as a whole. Thus, modern realities clearly demonstrate that narrative politicians consistently strengthen the advantages of ruling regimes and lead to the solidification of manipulative forms of government, consistently expanding the mechanisms of political dominance hidden from society and shielding citizens from the levers of distribution of key public resources.

Rehabilitation using virtual gaming for Hospital and hOMe-Based training for the Upper limb in acute and subacute Stroke (RHOMBUS II): results of a feasibility randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of the Neurofenix platform for upper-limb rehabilitation in acute and subacute stroke.DesignA feasibility randomised controlled trial with a parallel process evaluation.SettingAcute Stroke Unit...

Enhancing cognitive accessibility in assessments for children with neurodisability: development and implementation of an adaptation tracking questionnaire

Purpose The range of impairments in children with neurodisability (ND) complicates data collection, yet individualising materials and procedures could enable more children to self-report. This study introduces the Cognitive Accessibility Tracking Questionnaire (CATQ), designed to monitor changes enhancing accessibility (“adaptations”) in interview-administered patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The CATQ is used in a longitudinal study of mental health and participation in children with ND investigating adaptation use and its utility in assessing the risk of bias introduced by these adaptations. Materials and methods The 13-item CATQ was developed with experts in ND and augmentative and alternative communication. Predictors of PROM adaptations were analysed using linear regression; the overall change was tested with a t-test and item-specific agreement with Cohen’s weighted kappa and proportion of agreement. Results Six interviewers conducted 69 interviews, interviewing 43 children once or twice. Common adaptations included explaining/replacing concepts (56.5% of interviews), exemplifying (60.9%), or repeating questions/instructions (50.7%). Child age, seizure history, verbal communication abilities, adaptive behaviour, and interviewer identity predicted adaptation use. Adaptation use did not differ between the two data collection points, 13 months apart. Conclusion The CATQ enhances methodological rigor by tracking adaptations and facilitating risk-of-bias-assessment by analysing adaptation changes and factors affecting their use.

Characteristics of adult children with autism and caregiver burden

AbstractObjectiveThis study's purpose was to determine if parental perceptions of their adult children's communication, behavior, and socialization skills were significantly associated with caregiver burden after controlling for income and age of the child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).BackgroundMost parents provide support to their children with ASD across the lifespan. This study focused on informing knowledge gaps in caregiving literature in determining which ASD characteristics contribute to caregiver burden.MethodData gathered from 320 parents of adult children with ASD were used to conduct regression analysis to understand how caregiver burden was influenced by three core characteristics of ASD while controlling for age and income.ResultsBehavior of the adult child predicted caregiver burden and its four types, whereas communication predicted time dependence burden. Caregivers with higher income reported less total and developmental burden and those with older children reported less time dependence burden.ConclusionFindings demonstrate that behavioral challenges of an adult child with ASD contribute significantly to the parental perceptions of caregiver burden, warranting support for aging parents.ImplicationsProfessionals should be encouraged and supported to provide services to parents who support their adult children with decreased communication abilities, behavioral, and/or socialization challenges daily.

Common and distinct ERP responses to violations of two different types of politeness maxims during sentence comprehension.

An ERP experiment was conducted to investigate the common and distinct neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the on-line processing of two types of politeness maxims (self-depreciation and other-elevation) and the individual differences during sentence reading. Electroencephalograms were recorded while participants read sentences containing pragmatically appropriate or inappropriate honorific or humble terms. When collapsing all participants' data, inappropriate humble and honorific terms elicited N400 and P600 effects, respectively, which could reflect semantic processing costs and rechecking processes, respectively. More importantly, communication abilities modulated N400 and late negativity effects for appropriateness for humble but not honorific terms. In contrast, perspective-taking and emphatic concern modulated N400 and late positivity effects, respectively, for honorific but not humble terms. Moreover, some commonness of the appropriateness effect modulation by individual variables was also observed. These results are discussed in terms of the commonness and individuality of neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the processing of different politeness maxims during sentence comprehension.

From Connection to Isolation: The Role of TikTok Algorithmic Personalization in Computational Media and Cross-cultural Communication

With the popularity of social media platforms, recommendation algorithms play an important role in user content exposure. However, while the personalized recommendation mechanism of the algorithm may promote cross-cultural communication and understanding, it could also strengthen information barriers and affect users' cultural cognition and cross-cultural communication ability. This paper focuses on TikTok's recommendation algorithm and uses a related studies analysis method to explore its impact on multicultural content exposure and cross-cultural communication. According to the findings of numerous related studies, TikTok's algorithm enhances the probability of users being exposed to specific cultural content through strengthening interest - based matching. Moreover, TikTok's algorithm restricts the extensive dissemination of cross - cultural content on account of its "loneliness effect", thus diminishing the depth and quality of cross - cultural understanding. This paper has revealed the two-sided nature of recommendation algorithms in cross-cultural communication and provides inspiration for improving algorithm design and promoting cross-cultural communication.

Evaluation of the Application Effect of Streaming Media Technology in College English Teaching

With the development of science and technology and the popularity of the Internet, streaming media technology has gradually become an important tool in college English teaching. Streaming media technology is a technology to transmit audio, video and other multimedia content through the network. With the rapid development of Internet, streaming media technology has been widely used in the field of education. The goal of college English teaching is to cultivate students' English communication ability and cross-cultural communication ability, and streaming media technology can provide diverse and interactive learning resources and learning environment for English teaching. Therefore, this paper aims to study the application and combination of streaming media technology in college English teaching, so as to carry out college English teaching research based on streaming media technology.

Research on the Innovation of Maritime English Teaching Mode in the Big Data Environment

With the rapid development of the global shipping industry, maritime English teaching faces new challenges. This paper focuses on the innovation of the college maritime English teaching mode in the big data environment, and explores innovative strategies such as flipped classrooms, VR/AR technology-driven situational simulations, personalized learning path design, and multi -dimensional evaluation systems. The research shows that these big-data-based teaching modes can effectively improve students' language application ability, situational response ability, and cross-cultural communication ability, providing a new path for cultivating high-quality maritime talents.

STEM application in education: Implication of STEM computational paradigm on employment prospects

The rapidly advancing fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have contributed to the largely automated diversities in educational technologies. This has impacted several industries and fundamentally changed how academic businesses are conducted. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have completely changed how services are distributed across the digital ecosystem. Base on the STEM-related technologies, the global digital economy and the educational sector are becoming increasingly computerized. Computers are extensively used as educational pedagogy tools to improve learning quality and student participation. Teachers can use computer-based audio, video, and visual aids to build lesson plans. Using Microsoft Power Point to produce and deliver electronic presentations to audiences is a great example of interactive education. These electronic presentations will be displayed on the screen with multimedia projectors in the classrooms where all students will be engaged in the modern teaching methodology. Video effects make lectures more impactful, and multimedia presentations are entertaining to watch and listen to. The use of computers in classrooms will also have an impact on teaching and learning methodologies and technological breakthroughs. Since computer technology now integrates all forms of media for interactive interaction, it has seen advances in all aspects of human managing responsibility. By employing ChatGPT as a writing coach, students can improve their written communication abilities. With ChatGPT, students can write essays, reports, or creative works by creating outlines, receiving feedback on their drafts, and refining their language and style. For example, when composing a persuasive essay, a student may consult ChatGPT for guidance on how to strengthen their argument or clarify their understandings. This paper provided STEM computational view on the academic business in the ongoing educational technology extreme automation.

A Biopsychosocial Overview of Speech Disorders: Neuroanatomical, Genetic, and Environmental Insights.

Speech disorders encompass a complex interplay of neuroanatomical, genetic, and environmental factors affecting individuals' communication ability. This review synthesizes current insights into the neuroanatomy, genetic underpinnings, and environmental influences contributing to speech disorders. Neuroanatomical structures, such as Broca's area, Wernicke's area, the arcuate fasciculus, and basal ganglia, along with their connectivity, play critical roles in speech production, comprehension, and motor coordination. Advances in the understanding of intricate brain networks involved in language offer insights into typical speech development and the pathophysiology of speech disorders. Genetic studies have identified key genes involved in neural migration and synaptic connectivity, further elucidating the role of genetic mutations in speech disorders, such as stuttering and speech sound disorders. Beyond the biological mechanisms, this review explores the profound impact of psychological factors, including anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental conditions, on individuals with speech disorders. Psychosocial comorbidities often exacerbate speech disorders, complicating diagnosis and treatment and underscoring the need for a holistic approach to managing these conditions. Future directions point toward leveraging genetic testing, digital technologies, and personalized therapies, alongside addressing the psychosocial dimensions, to improve outcomes for individuals with speech disorders. This comprehensive overview aims to inform future research and therapeutic advancements, particularly in treating fluency disorders like stuttering.

Exploration of parental perspectives and involvement in therapeutic communication approaches for deaf and/or hard-of-hearing children at special schools in South Africa

Family-centred intervention optimises the development of communication abilities and academic outcomes in children with hearing loss. Cognisance of family values, respect for family differences and adaptations to cultural and linguistic...

Updating Vocational English Textbooks to Meet Industrial Demands in Indonesia

The pressing demand for work-relevant vocational English textbooks is essential for delivering effective learning materials that align with students' requirements. Appropriate textbooks can boost English language competence by enhancing students' abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Listening skills form the cornerstone for developing proficiency in other language areas. However, survey revealed that 92.3% of the 52 vocational schools in Batam City had not updated their English textbooks, and 96.2% lacked listening materials tailored to industrial demands. As a result, only 11.87% of the 4,035 Batam City vocational school students who passed the test showed competence in the listening component of the English assessment. This research aims to create a valid and effective vocational English textbook that improves students' English communication abilities based on workplace requirements. To accomplish this goal, the study employed a developmental research approach (Borg and Gall). The research was conducted in Batam City, encompassing 52 vocational schools, 95 English teachers, and 4,070 vocational school students in Batam City, Indonesia. The study's outcomes indicate that: 1) the vocational English listening textbook developed was empirically validated with an average score of 3.6, placing it in the highly valid category. 2) This textbook has also been empirically shown to be effective in enhancing students' listening competence, with a sig. value of 0.000, which was below 0.05. Consequently, this textbook benefits the government and stakeholders, particularly vocational English instructors in Batam City, by improving their English communication competence through the provision of textbooks relevant to industrial contexts.

Cosy development: sensory-motor interventions to improve verbal and expressiveness abilities for Down Syndrome children

Background: Existing interventions to improve verbal expression for children with Down Syndrome (DS) often neglect sensory and motor development. However, these abilities are essential for receiving input from the environment and responding through gestures during intervention. This study aimed to develop interventions through sensory and motor development that enhance the expressive verbal capabilities of DS children in articulating sounds, syllables, and words. Methods: This study used quantitative methods with an experimental design. Clinician-rated questionnaires measured the pre-test and post-test verbal expressive abilities of DS children who received the Cosy Development (CD) intervention for 12 months. Participants consisted of 8 DS children, ages ranged 4-15 years. This study was conducted at Tridiva Learning House, Bandung, Indonesia. Families of the DS children were trained by researchers regarding the intervention guidelines, and they performed the CD intervention on their children at home. Results: The Wilcoxon rank test showed a statistically significant improvement in verbal expressiveness among the eight DS children who received the CD intervention for 12 months, with p-values ranging from 0.016 to 0.008. Conclusion: The CD intervention, which integrated sensory and motor developments, effectively improved the verbal expressiveness of DS children. The CD intervention was practical and comfortable for DS children, making it a promising approach for improving their communication abilities.

Possibilities for evaluation to foster the soft skills of critical thinking, creativity, and communication in higher education

Soft skills are the foundation of a solid and consistent lifelong education in a changing world. Students’ self-reported achievement motivation is a good indicator of their level of self-awareness. A rigorous assessment of the process’ results is necessary for an effective soft skill education program. There are significant flaws in the way the university’s curriculum handles soft skill assessments. Therefore, the question is: given the resources at hand, how can one properly ascertain which soft skills requirements change the most over a university education? To identify changes at the start and finish of studies and prepare instruction for soft skill suggestions during university studies, this study intends to measure the differences in self-assessment indicators of students’ creativity, critical thinking, and communicative abilities in university settings. The purpose of this study is to verify a variety of tools for assessing students’ soft skills and figure out how effectively they can recognize variations throughout multiple university study stages. This could aid in the preparation of recommendations for soft skill instruction in courses, which could be beneficial for university graduates’ future employment. Among first- and last-year university students, a self-assessment study on soft skills was conducted. The results show that students’ soft skills are not equally impacted by their university education. The critical thinking abilities of first- and fourth-year students only tend to improve but do not differ reliably.

Effectiveness of pulmonary function test as elective module among undergraduate medical students

Objectives: We selected pulmonary function test (PFT), a widely used investigation for diagnosis and monitoring of patients having respiratory complaints in Block I (preclinical) Physiology as an elective module since exposure of undergraduate medical students to PFT is inadequate in formal medical training. The elective module in medical curriculum was introduced by national medical commission (NMC) to provide ample opportunity to the students to opt for any course of their choice not covered by traditional syllabus. This will help them to enhance their knowledge, skill, lateral thinking, creativity, experiential learning, communication ability, team-based collaborative learning thus developing their personal and professional confidence in dealing with resource-limited unfavorable circumstances. Hence we introduced this elective to sensitize the future physicians about the importance of PFT, attract their interest in the subject of Physiology and motivate them to choose Physiology as a career preference. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Physiology to create a time-bound activity schedule on the implementation of PFT as an elective module on 32 Phase III part I M.B.B.S students. We assessed the improvement in knowledge and skill by comparing pre-test and post-test results. We have used the Kirkpatrick evaluation model Level 1 to record the reaction of the students and Level 2 to evaluate their confidence regarding PFT after the course. Thematic analysis was performed on the perception and feedback of students and faculties. Results: We observed that all 32 participating students showed statistically significant (P < 0.0001) improvement in both knowledge gain and skill development. This course helped them increase their confidence to perform PFT independently on patients, interpreting reports, diagnosing various respiratory diseases and enabling them to apply this knowledge to manage the clinical cases in the hospital wards and in the emergency department. Thematic analysis of responses of students pointed out the strengths, weaknesses and suggestions for betterment of the module. The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities,Threats) analysis of the perception of faculties guided us to devise a modified framework for the implementation of the PFT module in the future. Conclusion: The elective module on PFT was implemented successfully in our institution with a positive impact on students, assisting them to progress from basic comprehension of the physiology of lung mechanics to independent interpretation of PFT reports to utilising PFT in clinical reasoning and decision-making.

Gambaran Praktik Public Speaking Santri Madrasah Aliyah Ma’had Al-Zaytun Tahun 2024

Public speaking is an essential skill that every individual, especially Madrasah Aliyah students, must master to prepare for societal challenges. This skill not only supports the ability to convey information effectively but also plays a crucial role in building self-confidence, enhancing communication competencies, and preparing students to contribute to community life. At MA Ma'had Al-Zaytun, public speaking is an integral part of the curriculum aimed at equipping students with skills relevant to real-world demands. This study aims to identify effective strategies to improve the public speaking skills of students at MA Ma’had Al-Zaytun by analyzing the factors influencing these skills within the context of pesantren education. The research adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. The findings indicate that the public speaking program, through activities such as muhadhorah, significantly contributes to enhancing students' confidence and communication abilities. However, challenges such as nervousness and lack of preparation remain issues to be addressed. These findings provide important implications for the development of more effective and adaptive public speaking training programs in pesantren and other educational institutions.