Hadassah Academic College

About: Hadassah Academic College is a education organization based out in Jerusalem, Israel. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Scalar field & Black hole. The organization has 177 authors who have published 361 publications receiving 3649 citations.

The genetic and environmental factors for keratoconus.

Abstract: Keratoconus (KC) is the most common cornea ectatic disorder. It is characterized by a cone-shaped thin cornea leading to myopia, irregular astigmatism, and vision impairment. It affects all ethnic groups and both genders. Both environmental and genetic factors may contribute to its pathogenesis. This review is to summarize the current research development in KC epidemiology and genetic etiology. Environmental factors include but are not limited to eye rubbing, atopy, sun exposure, and geography. Genetic discoveries have been reviewed with evidence from family-based linkage analysis and fine mapping in linkage region, genome-wide association studies, and candidate genes analyses. A number of genes have been discovered at a relatively rapid pace. The detailed molecular mechanism underlying KC pathogenesis will significantly advance our understanding of KC and promote the development of potential therapies.

The possible effect of undercorrection on myopic progression in children

Abstract: Background: Undercorrection has recently been found to enhance the rate of progression of myopia. This result was thought to be controversial as it contrasted with expectations based on animal studies, as well as the results found wearing progressive addition lenses. The aim of the present study was to again determine the effect of undercorrection on the progression of myopia in a random population of children who are known to be very susceptible to myopia. Methods: A cohort of 48 myopic children, aged six to15 years was randomly assigned to either a fully corrected group (n = 23) or to an undercorrected group (n = 25). The subjects in the latter group were blurred by +0.50 D. The prospective study extended over a period of 18 months. Optometric examinations were carried out at the beginning of the study, then at six-month, 12-month and 18-month follow-up. Results: Undercorrection produced a slight but not statistically significant increase in myopic progression over the 18-month period equal to 0.17 D, compared to full correction. A similar trend towards an increase in progression was noted in females and in children with near esophoria. Conclusion: This study supports the evidence that undercorrection does not represent an effective therapy to slow the rate of early-onset myopic progression, regardless of near heterophoria.

Adaptability to a sudden transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Understanding the challenges for students

Abstract: This cross-sectional study investigated the associations among adaptability to the pandemic, personality, and levels of learning experiences (affective, cognitive, and behavioral) among higher education students required to adapt to an abrupt transition to synchronous online learning due to the global COVID-19 pandemic A sample of 1,217 college students from Israel completed an online questionnaire after transitioning to synchronous online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic Comparisons of reactions to the online condition versus more typical face-to-face learning conditions confirmed that students had pervasive negative reactions to the online condition that became necessary due to the pandemic Moreover, adaptability to the pandemic was associated broadly with more positive reactions across multiple indicators Support was also found for an indirect associations model such that personality traits were associated with specific reactions to online learning via their associations with adaptability Supplemental analyses highlighted the more positive reactions and learning adaptability of students who reported greater feelings of belonging and mattering The current findings attest to the role of adaptability and the significant challenges experienced by college students who experienced changes in their learning and life conditions due to the need to rapidly adjust to the changes and uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Abnormal speech spectrum and increased pitch variability in young autistic children.

Abstract: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who can speak often exhibit abnormal voice quality and speech prosody, but the exact nature and underlying mechanisms of these abnormalities, as well as their diagnostic power are currently unknown. Here we quantified speech abnormalities in terms of the properties of the long-term average spectrum (LTAS) and pitch variability in speech samples of 83 children (41 with ASD, 42 controls) ages 4-6.5 years, recorded while they named a sequence of daily-life pictures for 60 sec. We found a significant difference in the group’s average spectra, with ASD spectra being shallower and exhibiting less harmonic structure. Contrary to the common impression of monotonic speech in autism, the ASD children had a significantly larger pitch range and variability across time. A measure of this variability, optimally tuned for the sample, yielded 86% success (90% specificity, 80% sensitivity) in classifying ASD in the sample. These results indicate that speech abnormalities in ASD are reflected in its spectral content and pitch variability. This variability could imply abnormal processing of auditory feedback or elevated noise and instability in the mechanisms that control pitch. The current results are a first step towards developing speech-spectrum-based bio-markers for early diagnosis of ASD.