This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Murza, K. A., Nye, C., Schwartz, J. B., Ehren, B. J., & Hahs-Vaughn, D. L. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of an inference generation strategy intervention for adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 23(4), 461–473.

Still, K., Rehfeldt, R. A., Whelan, R., May, R., & Dymond, S. (2014). Facilitating requesting skills using high-tech augmentative and alternative communication devices with individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8, 1184–1199. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2014.06.003

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in communication that limit their opportunities to participate in daily living and educational activities. Augmentative alternative communication is one of the strategies used to strengthen the communication skills of students with limited communication skills. Students with ASD commonly use handheld devices for communication. This article provides guidelines for special education teachers to support the implementation of tablet-based speech-generating devices in their classrooms.

Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or developmental disabilities are unable to meet their daily communication needs with speech alone. These individuals are considered potential candidates for speech-generating devices (SGDs) and mobile technologies with AAC-specific applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of systematic instruction on teaching multistep requesting skills using an iPad loaded with Proloquo2Go to children with ASD and other developmental disabilities.

We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the impact of using tablet-based devices on the communication skills of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. A total of 15 studies were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention on communication skills. The results showed that tablet-based devices, especially iOS devices (i.e., iPad and iPod Touch) were highly effective in increasing the communication skills of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.

Outcrops of the Middle Eocene in northern Egypt represent a Tethyan reef-rimmed carbonate platform with bedded innerplatform facies. The diagenesis of these outcrops was studied in detail. The facies are characterized by a reef core, back reef and outer lagoon, shoal, inner lagoon, and tidal flat carbonate sequences. The diagenetic sequences on the scleractinian corals and foraminifers were thoroughly examined.

A Radiolitidae (rudist, bivalvia), Durania cornupastoris (Des Moulins) is a well-known species defined as an index fossil from the Turonian (mostly middle-upper) deposits in the Mediterranean Tethys and also in the USA. This study includes new rudist materials and well-preserved samples of the species from the Campanian Khanasir Limestone Member of the Aruma Formation outcropping around the Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) region.

An assessment of marine pollution due to heavy metals was made to coastal sediments collected from Al-Khobar coastline, in the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia by analyzing of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Mo, Sr, Se, As, Fe, Co and Ni using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results indicated that the distribution of most metals was largely controlled by inputs of terrigenous material and most strongly associated with distribution of Al in sediments. In general Sr, Cr, Zn, Cu, V, Hg, Mo and Se show severe enrichment factors.