Resilience and stuttering: factors that protect people from the adversity of chronic stuttering.

Purpose: Chronic disorder can impose a significant negative mental health burden. This research was conducted to explore factors that may protect people from the adversity of chronic stuttering.

Method: The study employed a population group cohort design.

Phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] annulations of 2-alkylallenoates and olefins: synthesis of multisubstituted cyclohexenes.

From our investigations on phosphine-catalyzed [4+2] annulations between α-alkyl allenoates and activated olefins for the synthesis of cyclohexenes, we discovered a hexamethylphosphorous triamide (HMPT)-catalyzed [4+2] reaction between α-alkyl allenoates 1 and arylidene malonates or arylidene cyanoacetates 2 that provides highly functionalized cyclohexenes 3 and 4 in synthetically useful yields (30-89%), with moderate to exclusive regioselectivity, and reasonable diastereoselectivity. Interestingly, the [4+2] annulations between the α-alkyl allenoates 1 and the olefins 2 manifested a polarity inversion of the 1,4-dipole synthon 1, depending on the structure of the olefin, thus providing cyclohexenes 3 exclusively when using arylidene cyanoacetates. The polarity inversion of α-alkyl allenoates from a 1,4-dipole A to B under phosphine catalysis can be explained by an equilibrium between the phosphonium dienolate C and the phosphorous ylide D.

Phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung addition of nucleophiles to activated α-alkyl allenes.

Highly functionalized alkenes can be prepared through phosphine-catalyzed β'-umpolung additions of nucleophiles (carbon-, oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-centered) to activated α-disubstituted allenes, providing many potentially useful synthetic intermediates in good to excellent yields, often with high levels of stereoselectivity for the product olefin geometry. Various substitution patterns around the allene are compatible with the process, showcasing the synthetic utility of allenes under the conditions of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis.

Subjective distress associated with chronic stuttering.

Unlabelled: Stuttering is a chronic condition involving involuntary disruption to speech fluency. While elevated social anxiety has been found to be a risk factor for adults who have stuttered all their lives, it is unclear how stuttering influences other negative mood states such as interpersonal sensitivity and depressive mood. Consequently, controlled research was conducted that investigated negative affectivity across a number of domains in adults who stutter.

Lead breakage and vocal cord paralysis following blunt neck trauma in a patient with vagal nerve stimulator.

Patients with medically intractable seizures who are not candidates for epilepsy surgery are left with few options. Vagal nerve stimulation therapy is often a viable alternative for these patients and can have a positive impact on quality of life. Rarely complications may occur.

Benzophenone absorption and diffusion in poly(dimethylsiloxane) and its role in graft photo-polymerization for surface modification.

Following the great success of traditional microfluidic devices across many disciplines, a new class of microfluidic systems emerged in recent years, which features finely tuned, localized surface modifications within the microstructures in order to keep up with the demand for devices of ever increasing complexity (lab on chip, assay on chip, etc.). Graft photopolymerization has become a powerful tool for such localized surface modifications particularly in combination with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices, as it is compatible with many functional monomers and allows for high spatial resolution.

Improving classification rates for use in fatigue countermeasure devices using brain activity.

Fatigue can be defined as a state that involves psychological and physical tiredness with a range of symptoms such as tired eyes, yawning and increased blink rate. It has major implications for work place and road safety as well as a negative symptom of many acute and chronic illnesses. As such there has been considerable research dedicated to systems or algorithms that can be used to detect and monitor the onset of fatigue.

Wettability patterning by UV-initiated graft polymerization of poly(acrylic acid) in closed microfluidic systems of complex geometry.

Many microfluidic applications require modified surface wettability of the microchannels. Patterning of wettability within enclosed microfluidic structures at high spatial resolution has been challenging in the past. In this paper, we report an improved method for altering the surface wettability in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels by UV-induced graft polymerization of poly(acrylic acid).

An investigation into the personal financial costs associated with stuttering.

Unlabelled: Stuttering has been found to deteriorate quality of life in psychological, emotional and social functioning domains. It is reasonable to assume then that stuttering would also be associated with economic consequences that may also challenge quality of life. Remarkably, the personal financial costs associated with stuttering in adults has rarely if ever been explored or investigated in the fluency disorders field.

Neuro magnetic resonance spectroscopy using wavelet decomposition and statistical testing identifies biochemical changes in people with spinal cord injury and pain.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can be accompanied by chronic pain, the mechanisms for which are poorly understood. Here we report that magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements from the brain, collected at 3T, and processed using wavelet-based feature extraction and classification algorithms, can identify biochemical changes that distinguish control subjects from subjects with SCI as well as subdividing the SCI group into those with and without chronic pain. The results from control subjects (n=10) were compared to those with SCI (n=10).

The effect of music on brain wave functioning during an acute psychotic episode: a pilot study.

This pilot study compared the differences in the quantified electroencephalogram (qEEG) between two conditions; eyes closed resting and eyes closed listening to music of 15 subjects currently experiencing an acute psychotic episode. The results showed a significant decrease in delta, alpha and beta waves when listening to music compared to resting condition.

Discrimination of left and right leg motor imagery for brain-computer interfaces.

This article reports on a study to identify electroencephalography (EEG) signals with potential to provide new BCI channels through mental motor imagery (MMI). Leg motion was assessed to see if left and right leg MMI could be discriminated in the EEG. The study also explored simultaneous observation of leg movement as a means to enhance MMI evoked EEG signals.

Social anxiety disorder in adults who stutter.

Background: The nature and prevalence of social anxiety disorder (social phobia (SP)) in people who stutter is uncertain, and DSM-IV differential diagnosis guidelines make it difficult to classify an adult who stutters (AWS) with SP as it is assumed any social anxiety symptoms will be a consequence of their stuttering. The aim of this study was to determine the spot prevalence of SP in AWS and to investigate differences in social anxiety between AWS and controls who do not stutter.

Methods: The study involved a comprehensive assessment of 200 AWS and 200 adults who do not stutter similar in age and sex ratio.

Evaluating the efficacy of an automated procedure for EEG artifact removal.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals are often contaminated with artifacts arising from many sources such as those with ocular and muscular origins. Artifact removal techniques often rely on the experience of the EEG technician to detect these artifact components for removal. This paper presents the results comparing an automated procedure (AT) against visually (VT) choosing artifactual components for removal, using second order blind identification (SOBI) and canonical correlation analyses.

Using microstate intensity for the analysis of spontaneous EEG: tracking changes from alert to the fatigue state.

Fatigue is a negative symptom of many illnesses and also has major implications for road safety. This paper presents results using a method called microstate segmentation (MSS). It was used to distinguish changes from an alert to a fatigue state.

The impact of stuttering on the quality of life in adults who stutter.

Unlabelled: Stuttering is an involuntary fluency disorder that is not uncommon in society. However, the impact of stuttering on a composite measure such as quality of life has rarely been estimated. Quality of life (QOL) assesses the well-being of a person from a multidimensional perspective, and valid and reliable general QOL measures are available that can be used to estimate the impact of stuttering on QOL.

Anxiety as a factor influencing physiological effects of acupuncture.

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of manual acupuncture on heart rate variability and the role which anxiety can play in modifying physiological outcomes.

Method: Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was used as a sensitive and a reliable indicator of the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation of the heartbeat. Two groups of healthy female subjects were recruited into the study.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic investigation of counterions exchange in polyelectrolyte brushes.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is employed to characterize the transport of redox-active probe ions through quenched polyelectrolyte brushes. The counterion exchange through polyelectrolyte brushes is also investigated by infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), X-ray photolectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The synthesis of poly(methacryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride (PMETAC) brushes is performed using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization followed by in situ quaternization reaction.

Effects of mental fatigue on 8-13Hz brain activity in people with spinal cord injury.

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) can be implemented into assistive technologies to provide 'hands-free' control for the severely disabled. BCIs utilise voluntary changes in one's brain activity as a control mechanism to control devices in the person's immediate environment. Performance of BCIs could be adversely affected by negative physiological conditions such as fatigue and altered electrophysiology commonly seen in spinal cord injury (SCI).

Increase in regularity and decrease in variability seen in electroencephalography (EEG) signals from alert to fatigue during a driving simulated task.

Driver fatigue is a prevalent problem and a major risk for road safety accounting for approximately 20-40% of all motor vehicle accidents. One strategy to prevent fatigue related accidents is through the use of countermeasure devices. Research on countermeasure devices has focused on methods that detect physiological changes from fatigue, with the fast temporal resolution from brain signals, using the electroencephalogram (EEG) held as a promising technique.

Psychological morbidity and spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Study Design: A systematic review of the literature concerning the nature of the psychological morbidity in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objectives: SCI is believed to place the individual at a high risk of psychological morbidity. The objective of this paper was to examine systematically the prevalence of negative psychological states in people with SCI, as well as to explore mediating and contextual factors.

Electrodermal activity as a possible physiological marker for acupuncture.

Change in amplitude of skin potential is one of the physiological indicators of electrodermal activity (EDA) and has been associated with the onset of a variety of sensory, cognitive and emotional stimuli. This study investigated the EDA physiological response to manual acupuncture. A group of 60 healthy female volunteers were recruited into the study of which 30 were randomly assigned to a control group (no acupuncture) and 30 to the experimental group (received acupuncture).

Relationship between quality of life and self-efficacy in persons with spinal cord injuries.

Objective: To study the interaction between quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and expectations of daily living (self-efficacy) and pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study with multiple independent measures.

Setting: Home survey.

Altered brain wave activity in persons with chronic spinal cord injury.

This study investigated brain wave activity associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). Electroencephalograms (EEG) were compared between 10 individuals with SCI and 10 age and sex matched able-bodied controls using a 64-channel EEG montage. SCI participants had chronic (>12 months) paraplegic clinically complete injuries.