Research Proposal for Study: Can Artifical Emulation of Synesthesia Aid Visual Word Recognition?

The field of synesthesia has largely been unexplored beyond mere analysis of the condition and only a few papers on the topic of new applications have been published within the last decade. The condition can potentially provide great benefits to the study of the psychology of language along with its role in language use itself. As understanding of this condition continues to grow, one can draw links between it and its effect on language use, thereby enabling a greater understanding of the language process itself. Synesthesia involves the stimulation of one sense along with involuntary activation of another sensory pathway. For those with synesthesia, ninety-two percent of cases are triggered via linguistic inducers, showing deep ties between the pathways used by the condition and those involved with language faculties. This paper will first cover synesthesia along with some of the many permutations the condition takes, then review previous research into the role of synesthesia in psycholinguistics including the subject of improved recall. After providing background, this paper will provide a framework for carrying out artificial simulation of the condition to improve participant’s word recognition. Finally, it will attempt to answer the question of what could be done with the results gleaned. The linking of sensory activation, or “cross talk” as it is commonly known, points to new understandings of how humans process information, especially language. Research can also be applied to further investigation of how those without the condition could apply similar techniques to facilitate visual word recognition. The role of synesthesia has not been adequately researched in light of its relation to lexical decision tasks. It has been previously shown how cognitive research can be effectively 3 informed by synesthesia research, yet there are virtually no extant studies on the application of synesthesia along with the possibility of artificial simulation. This study attempts to address this issue by simulating synesthesia through a period of training; subsequently, the results of the study will provide a baseline for the work involved in future application of synesthesia to other areas

The systemic environment: at the interface of aging and adult neurogenesis.

Aging results in impaired neurogenesis in the two neurogenic niches of the adult mammalian brain, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle. While significant work has characterized intrinsic cellular changes that contribute to this decline, it is increasingly apparent that the systemic environment also represents a critical driver of brain aging. Indeed, emerging studies utilizing the model of heterochronic parabiosis have revealed that immune-related molecular and cellular changes in the aging systemic environment negatively regulate adult neurogenesis. Interestingly, these studies have also demonstrated that age-related decline in neurogenesis can be ameliorated by exposure to the young systemic environment. While this burgeoning field of research is increasingly garnering interest, as yet, the precise mechanisms driving either the pro-aging effects of aged blood or the rejuvenating effects of young blood remain to be thoroughly defined. Here, we review how age-related changes in blood, blood-borne factors, and peripheral immune cells contribute to the age-related decline in adult neurogenesis in the mammalian brain, and posit both direct neural stem cell and indirect neurogenic niche-mediated mechanisms

The Origin of Atomic Structure

Historically the theory of evolution has always been an appendage of the theory of matter and specifically the theory of the atom. The current quantum mechanical theories of the atom represent the matter of the universe as being governed by random statistical processes. Thus they provide the necessary theoretical foundations for the theory of evolution. The theory of evolution of living things requires random processes to occur to produce mutations or changes that can be directed by certain selection principles, such as survival of the fittest. This work identifies the false assumptions of the quantum models of the atom. It shows that these theories violate the logical principles that undergird the development of scientific theories and do not qualify as science. A new rudimentary theory of the atom based on combinatorial geometry is presented that can satisfactorily predict all the properties of the periodic table of the elements as well as explain the basis of chemical valence and bonding. This new theory of the atom is based on classical electrodynamics and represents an orderly universe governed by the laws of cause and effect. It satisfies the logical prinCiples undergirding science, and it does not support theories of evolution

Part I: Mechanistic Insight in Alkyl-Alkyl and Aryl-Aryl Negishi Cross-Coupling Part II: Large Scale Synthesis of NHC Precursors: 2,6-DI(3-Pentyl) Aniline and 2,6-DI (4-Heptyl) Aniline

Part I: An efficient method for alkyl-alkyl Negishi cross-coupling reaction of unactivated primary alkyl halides with higher-order zincate species (synthesized from dialkylzinc and a non-coordinating halide salt in situ) using Pd-PEPPSI-IPent (Pyridine-Enhanced Pre-catalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) pre-catalyst has been developed. The method requires no additive (such as LiX) or use of a polar co-solvent (such as THF/DMI) and reactions proceed in THF solvent alone. The transmetalating species in alkyl-alkyl Negishi cross-coupling has been identified and the catalytic cycle has been amended to include the formation of the higher-order zincate species. Subsequent investigation into diarylzinc as reagents in Negishi cross-coupling have shown they transmetalate directly without the use of halide additive in THF alone producing arylzinc halide as a resting state. Once the dielectric of the solvent becomes sufficiently polar, coupling resumes, and the aryl moiety transmetalates to palladium. The optimized protocol using Pd-PEPPSI-IPent allowed for the coupling of a variety of alkyl- and aryl- organozinc reagents providing the corresponding products in good to quantitative yields. Moreover, the developed protocol is generally applicable and tolerant of a variety of functional groups including esters, and nitriles. Part II: An improved and efficient method for the preparation of sterically demanding Pd PEPPSI-IPent, IPentCl, IHept, and IHeptCl pre-catalysts are presented and the results of optimization for the multi-gram synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted anilines is discussed

A New Foundation for Modern Science

This research is a continuation of recent efforts to expand classical electrodynamics to embrace elastic finite-size elementary particles with internal structure in an effort to satisfy the logical criteria that undergird the scientific method and point scientific theories in the direction of truth. Earlier work reported the logical inconsistencies, false assumptions, and defects of the relativistic quantum electrodynamic theory of the atom, including relativity theory and quantum mechanics.[14] This was followed by derivations of Maxwell\u27s equations of electrodynamics showing where the point particle approximation is used and the field transformation information between moving frames is removed causing them to fail for relativistic phenomena.[15) Then the principal results of special relativity theory were derived from classical electrodynamics for finite size elementary particles using the Galilean transformation .[16] More recent research has shown from combinatorial geometry for arbitrary-shaped finite size electrons and protons obeying classical electrodynamics under the assumption of spherical packing symmetry that the details of the periodic table of the elements as well as the structure of the nucleus could be predicted more completely and accurately than previously possible with the relativistic quantum theories.[16,17,18) This work derives expressions for the blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect, and the emission spectra of atoms from classical electrodynamics for finite size electrons in the shape of a toroidal ring. The results are logically superior to the relativistic quantum electrodynamic theory as developed by Planck, Einstein, and Dirac and describe experimental data previously unexplained by quantum electrodynamics

A Physical Scientific Mechanism by which God Created According to the Scriptures and Science

A new translation of Genesis 1:1-5 is presented in which some of the processes used by God to create the earth and universe appear to be detailed. The resulting scientific model for creation is shown to be compatible with the polonium-210 halo data reported by Dr. Robert Gentry(30-38). Citing many scripture passages, the case is made for God using electromagnetic emanations to create the earth and universe, to daily sustain the universe, and to accomplish his will. A universe controlled by electromagnetic emanations from God is compatible with the new physics being developed by Barredo(l-ll), Barnes(12-18), and Lucas(19-29)

A case study on redesigning a business: ReturnToWorkSA’s “Designing our Future”

This item is only available electronically.This project presents ReturnToWorkSA’s redesign of their organisation. Specifically it outlines (a) the reasons for the redesign; (b) organisational design literature and the theoretical models ReturnToWorkSA used (e.g., functional analysis and lean six sigma methodology); (c) feedback from employees to gauge their thoughts and feelings about the change management approach (d); employee engagement and productivity levels before the redesign and afterwards (2016 and 2018 results); and (e) ReturnToWorkSA’s performance as a business (i.e., ReturnToWorkSA Scheme’s key performance measures before the redesign and afterwards – 2016 and 2018 results). There were 267 ReturnToWorkSA employees impacted by the redesign with 101 employees completing a change readiness survey across three different time points to assess what stage of change they may have been experiencing (i.e., denial, resistance, exploration, commitment). A significant difference was found in employee endorsement of the denial stage of change in comparison to commitment, exploration or resistance between the first survey (when the redesign was announced) and the last survey (when the structure had been finalised). Furthermore, whilst this study did not analyse the relationship between the redesign and other key measures, there were improvements from 2016 (before the redesign) to 2018 (after the redesign) in ReturnToWorkSA’s employee engagement (Utrecht engagement scale), productivity levels (Work Ability Index) and overall business results (Net Promoter Score, return to work/remain at work rates, average premium rate and funding ratio).Thesis (M.Psych(Organisational & Human Factors)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 201