Online Aphasia Groups: Navigating Issues of Voice and Identity.

Purpose: Participation in aphasia groups is associated with increased communication, reduced feelings of social isolation, and increased quality of life. Despite the growing popularity of online aphasia groups, little is known about how to manage conversation in this format. We examined online aphasia book club sessions to examine how the facilitator supported group members' participation in conversation.

State of the Art in Development of Heat Exchanger Geometry Optimization and Different Storage Bed Designs of a Metal Hydride Reactor.

The efficient operation of a metal hydride reactor depends on the hydrogen sorption and desorption reaction rate. In this regard, special attention is paid to heat management solutions when designing metal hydride hydrogen storage systems. One of the effective solutions for improving the heat and mass transfer effect in metal hydride beds is the use of heat exchangers.

Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Al-Impurity Effect on the Hydrogenation Behavior of Mg.

In this paper, we study the influence of hydrogen concentration on the binding energies in magnesium hydrides. The impact of aluminum atom addition on the hydrogenation behavior of magnesium was theoretically and experimentally defined. Doping Al into the Mg lattice allows the uniform hydrogen distribution in both the fcc and bcc Mg lattice at a low hydrogen concentration (H:Mg < 0.

Still Searching for Understanding: The Importance of Diverse Research Designs, Methods, and Perspectives.

Background: Evidence-based medicine and evidence hierarchies have been widely adopted and have strongly influenced decision making across many fields, including clinical aphasiology. However, questions remain about the creation, usefulness, and validity of current evidence hierarchies.

Aims: This article builds on ideas about scientific approaches and evidence originally shared by Elman (1995, 1998, 2006).

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy Complex for Structural Defect Analysis in Metal-Hydrogen Systems.

The current work is devoted to developing a system for the complex research of metal-hydrogen systems, including in an in situ mode. The system consists of a controlled gas reactor with a unique reaction chamber, a radioisotope positron source, and a positron annihilation spectroscopy complex. The use of the system enables in situ investigation of the defect structure of solids in hydrogen sorption-desorption processes at temperatures up to 900 °C and pressures up to 50 bar.

Theoretical and Experimental Research of Hydrogen Solid Solution in Mg and Mg-Al System.

The study of hydrogen storage properties of Mg-based thin films is of interest due to their unique composition, interface, crystallinity, and high potential for use in hydrogen-storage systems. Alloying Mg with Al leads to the destabilization of the magnesium hydride reducing the heat of reaction, increases the nucleation rate, and decreases the dehydriding temperature. The purpose of our study is to reveal the role of the aluminum atom addition in hydrogen adsorption and accumulation in the Mg-H solid solution.

Ethical Responsibilities to Adults with Communication Impairments Involved in Group Therapy.

Ethical challenges can arise when providing group therapy to adults living with communication impairments. In addition to the ethical challenges that may be encountered when conducting one-to-one therapy intervention, practitioners must also consider dilemmas that are specific to group therapy. This article considers the principles and rules of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics via a series of clinical vignettes that illustrate four ethical challenges that may be encountered when providing group therapy: acquiring sufficient clinical competency to conduct group therapy; handling issues related to client confidentiality; resisting external pressure to provide groups solely for financial gain and/or other administrative efficiencies; and handling practitioner-client boundaries.

The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management: An Assessment of Current Evidence.

Purpose Of Review: Given the growing challenges in chronic pain management coupled with the ongoing consequences of the opioid epidemic, pain management practitioners are looking into more effective, innovative, and safer alternatives to treat pain. Cannabis-based medicine had been described for hundreds of years but only recently have we seen the more scientific, evidence-based approach to its use, and ongoing investigations continue to explore its potential medical benefits. While historically more attention has been paid to the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), there have been fewer scientific studies on the medical use of the cannabidiol (CBD) - a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant.

Starting an aphasia center?

Starting an aphasia center can be an enormous challenge. This article provides initial issues to review and consider when deciding whether starting a new organization is right for you. Determining the need for the program in your community, the best size and possible affiliation for the organization, and available resources, as well as developing a business plan, marketing the program, and building awareness in the community, are some of the factors that are discussed.

Negotiation of identity in group therapy for aphasia: the Aphasia Café.

Background: There has been increasing interest in ensuring that aphasia intervention includes attention to the negotiation of a robust identity after the life-altering changes that often accompany the onset of aphasia. But how does one go about simultaneously improving communication and positive identity development within aphasia therapy? Socially oriented group therapy for aphasia has been touted as one means of addressing both psychosocial and communicative goals in aphasia.

Aims: This article describes the results of a sociolinguistic analysis of group therapy for aphasia in which positive personal and group identity are skilfully negotiated.

The Burden of Stroke Scale (BOSS) provides valid and reliable score estimates of functioning and well-being in stroke survivors with and without communication disorders.

Background And Objective: This study describes the conceptual foundation and psychometric properties of the Burden of Stroke Scale (BOSS), a patient-reported health status assessment designed to quantify the physical, cognitive, and psychological burden of stroke.

Methods: Qualitative research methods were used to develop a 112-item pilot version of the instrument. The pilot version was administered to healthy controls (n=251) and stroke survivors with (n=135) and without (n=146) communication disorders on a single occasion for the purposes of reducing the global item pool, describing the resulting scale properties, examining the dimensionality of the burden of stroke construct, and examining the known-groups validity of the instrument.

The efficacy of group communication treatment in adults with chronic aphasia.

We examined the effects of group communication treatment on linguistic and communicative performance in adults with chronic aphasia. Participants were randomly assigned to two treatment and two deferred treatment groups. Groups were balanced for age, education level, and initial aphasia severity.

Psychosocial aspects of group communication treatment. Preliminary findings.

This article discusses preliminary psychosocial data from an efficacy study on the effects of group communication treatment in adults with chronic aphasia. Using a qualitative interview approach, participants with aphasia and their relatives/caregivers reported many positive psychosocial changes following treatment. The results suggest that group communication treatment had an impact on participants' home and community lives without direct treatment in those settings.

Triangles and tribulations: the politics of Nazi symbols.

This article explores the politics of "reclamation." Its focus is on pink and black triangles, currently used as symbols for gay and lesbian pride and liberation. Previously, these same identifiers were worn by those destined for annihilation during the Holocaust.