ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Miniature linguistic systems (also known as matrix training) is a method of organizing learning targets to achieve generative learning or recombinative generalization. This systematic review is aimed at determining whether matrix training is effective for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of improving recombinative generalization for instruction-following, expressive language, play skills, and literacy skills. METHOD: A systematic review methodology was employed to limit bias in the various review stages. A multifaceted search was conducted. Potential primary studies were imported into Covidence, a systematic review software, and inclusion criteria were applied. Data were extracted regarding (a) participant characteristics, (b) matrix designs, (c) intervention methods, and (d) dependent variable. A quality appraisal using the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Single-Case Design Standards (Version 1.0, Pilot) was carried out. In addition to the visual analysis of the data, an effect size estimate, non-overlap of all pairs (NAP), was generated for each participant. Independent t tests and between-subjects analyses of variance were conducted to identify moderators of effectiveness. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies including 65 participants met criteria for inclusion. All included studies were single-case experimental designs. Eighteen studies received a rating of Meets Standards Without Reservations or Meets Standards With Reservations. The aggregated combined NAP scores for acquisition, recombinative generalization, and maintenance of a range of outcomes were in the high range. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that matrix training is an effective teaching method for individuals with ASD for acquisition, recombinative generalization, and maintenance of a range of outcomes. Statistical analyses to identify moderators of effectiveness were insignificant. Based on the WWC Single-Case Design Standards matrix training meets criteria to be considered an evidence-based practice for individuals with ASD.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Linguistics , Language , Learning , Generalization, PsychologicalABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Rapid, high throughput diagnostics are a valuable tool, allowing the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in populations so as to identify and isolate people with asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. Reagent shortages and restricted access to high throughput testing solutions have limited the effectiveness of conventional assays such as quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), particularly throughout the first months of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We investigated the use of LamPORE, where loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is coupled to nanopore sequencing technology, for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic and asymptomatic populations. METHODS: In an asymptomatic prospective cohort, for 3 weeks in September 2020, health-care workers across four sites (Birmingham, Southampton, Basingstoke and Manchester) self-swabbed with nasopharyngeal swabs weekly and supplied a saliva specimen daily. These samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using the Oxford Nanopore LamPORE system and a reference RT-qPCR assay on extracted sample RNA. A second retrospective cohort of 848 patients with influenza-like illness from March 2020 to June 2020 were similarly tested from nasopharyngeal swabs. RESULTS: In the asymptomatic cohort a total of 1200 participants supplied 23 427 samples (3966 swab, 19 461 saliva) over a 3-week period. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 detection using LamPORE was 0.95%. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of LamPORE was >99.5% (decreasing to approximately 98% when clustered estimation was used) in both swab and saliva asymptomatic samples when compared with the reference RT-qPCR test. In the retrospective symptomatic cohort, the incidence was 13.4% and the sensitivity and specificity were 100%. CONCLUSIONS: LamPORE is a highly accurate methodology for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic population settings and can be used as an alternative to RT-qPCR.