Improving Neurodiverse Relationships: Comparing Relational Quality and Maintenance Channels in Individuals with and Without ADHD

Individuals with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) process information differently than neurotypical individuals and, consequently, experience behavioral, cognitive, and mood-related problems that are associated with low relational quality and insecure attachment orientations. This dissertation draws on minority stress theory (MST) and channel expansion theory (CET) to understand whether adults with ADHD use specific maintenance strategies and communication technologies to improve their relationships. Specifically, this dissertation advances theories surrounding relational maintenance and relational development by comparing how individuals with and without ADHD use different channels to maintain their relationships and how this influences relational quality over time. Individuals with (n = 59) and without (n = 90) ADHD completed longitudinal surveys about their perceptions of channels, richness, and maintenance in face-to-face and texting contexts. Similar to prior research, the findings demonstrate that individuals with ADHD often experience lower relational quality, but the findings also indicate that when individuals with ADHD have low relational quality, they use F2F communication less, perceive it as less rich, and use fewer maintenance strategies. This implies that if individuals with ADHD used F2F communication more, they might be more satisfied with their relationships. The findings also provide evidence that MST and CET are complimentary in that more than one channel for relational maintenance helps improve the relationships of individuals with ADHD. In addition to offering practical implications for individuals navigating neurodiverse relationships, this dissertation contributes to research in communication and related fields (e.g., family studies and psychology) by offering new theoretical implications for extending CET to F2F contexts

A closed loop brain-machine interface for epilepsy control using dorsal column electrical stimulation

Although electrical neurostimulation has been proposed as an alternative treatment for drug-resistant cases of epilepsy, current procedures such as deep brain stimulation, vagus, and trigeminal nerve stimulation are effective only in a fraction of the patients. Here we demonstrate a closed loop brain-machine interface that delivers electrical stimulation to the dorsal column (DCS) of the spinal cord to suppress epileptic seizures. Rats were implanted with cortical recording microelectrodes and spinal cord stimulating electrodes, and then injected with pentylenetetrazole to induce seizures. Seizures were detected in real time from cortical local field potentials, after which DCS was applied. This method decreased seizure episode frequency by 44% and seizure duration by 38%. We argue that the therapeutic effect of DCS is related to modulation of cortical theta waves, and propose that this closed-loop interface has the potential to become an effective and semi-invasive treatment for refractory epilepsy and other neurological disorders.We are grateful for the assistance from Jim Meloy for the design and production of the multielectrode arrays as well as setup development and maintenance, Laura Oliveira, Terry Jones, and Susan Halkiotis for administrative assistance and preparation of the manuscript. This work was funded by a grant from The Hartwell Foundation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ULTRAFAST TRANSIENT SOLVATION OF POLAR DYE MOLECULES IN SIMPLE POLAR SOLVENTS

$^{1}$ M.A. Kahlow. T.J. Kang and P.F. Barbara. J. Chem. Phys. 88. 2372 (1988); M.A. Kahlow. W. Jarzeba. T.P. DuBruil and P.F. Barbara. Rev. Sci. Instrum. (in press). $^{2}$ E.W. Castner. G.R. Fleming and B. Bagchi. Chem. Phys. Lett. (in press). $^{3}$ P.G. Wolynes. J. Chem. Phys. 86. 5133 (1987).Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota,Recently we constructed a time resolved fluorescence apparatus with a resolution of less than 300 femtoseconds1. We have used this instrument to measure the microscopic solvation dynamics of three simple polar solvents (propylene carbonate, propiontrile, and methanol) by observing the time resolved fluorescence from coumarin 152. The solvation rates are non-singly exponential, with components both shorter and longer than the longitudinal relaxation times r1 of the solvents. Results will be discussed in terms of several recent theoretical $models^{2-3}$

Helicobacter pylori associated antigastric autoantibodies: role in Sj\uf6gren's syndrome gastritis.

Background. Previous studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome is comparable with that of the general population. However, the origin of the chronic gastropathy associated with this syndrome and the role of local autoimmunity \u2013 possibly triggered by bacterial infection \u2013 in its pathogenesis remain unclear. Materials and Methods. We initially determined the prevalence of IgG anti H. pylori in dyspeptic subjects with and without Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome. In subsets of both groups we then determined anti CagA and human tissue-tested anticanalicular/antifoveolar autoantibodies. We also compared activity, atrophy and Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) scores, as well as symptoms, before and after bacterial eradication. Results. Prevalence of H. pylori in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients was similar to controls: 31/54 (57%) vs. 93/150 (62%). Anti CagA prevalence was also similar in the two groups. Twenty weeks after H. pylori eradication, histological activity decreased in both groups, however, atrophy and MALT decreased significantly only in controls. Sixteen months after H. pylori eradication, 75% of Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients still complained of dyspepsia compared with 13% of controls. Finally, antigastric autoantibodies were present in 29% of tested Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients vs. 28% of controls. Conclusions. H. pylori infection was equally prevalent among dyspeptic Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients and dyspeptic controls. Likewise, there were no differences regarding anti CagA prevalence or antigastric autoantibodies among the two groups. The persistence of symptoms as well as of the lymphocytic infiltration and atrophy after H. pylori eradication in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome may underlie the \u2018endogenous\u2019 and still unknown nature of the gastropathy in this condition