Spectroscopy of Early F Stars: γ Doradus Candidates and Possible Metallic Shell Stars

We obtained high-resolution spectroscopic observations of 34 γ Doradus candidates. From the red-wavelength spectra, we determined spectral classes, radial velocities, and projected rotational velocities. The spectra of seven late A or early F stars show metallic lines that have composite profiles consisting of a narrow component near the center of a broad line, indicating that they may be shell stars or binaries. Several stars, including HD 152896, HD 173977, HD 175337, and HD 195068/9, show large line profile asymmetries. Two stars, HD 11443 (=α Trianguli) and HD 149420, are ellipsoidal variables and not γ Doradus stars. The percentage of binary systems in our sample may be as high as 74%

Impact of Personalization on Acquisition and Generalization of Script Training: A Preliminary Analysis

Eight individuals with chronic aphasia underwent intensive computer-based script training. Trained and untrained generalization scripts, matched for length and complexity, were developed. The two scripts shared personalized and non-personalized words/phrases. Training lasted three weeks. Script performance was probed periodically. For acquisition, the gain from baseline to post-treatment for both personalized and non-personalized words/phrases on the trained script was significant; the effect size of personalization over non-personalization was moderate. For generalization, the gain for both personalized and non-personalized items was also significant, but the effect size of personalization over non-personalization was small. Limitations of the study are discussed

Severe Lumbar Disability Is Associated With Decreased Psoas Cross-Sectional Area in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Objectives: Alterations in lumbar paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) may correlate with lumbar pathology. The purpose of this study was to compare paraspinal CSA in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and severe lumbar disability to those with mild or moderate lumbar disability, as determined by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 patients undergoing lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis. Patients were divided into ODI score ≤40 (mild/moderate disability, MMD) and ODI score \u3e40 (severe disability, SD) groups. The total CSA of the psoas and paraspinal muscles were measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: There were 37 patients in the SD group and 64 in the MMD group. Average age and body mass index were similar between groups. For the paraspinal muscles, we were unable to demonstrate any significant differences in total CSA between the groups. Psoas muscle CSA was significantly decreased in the SD group compared with the MMD group (1010.08 vs 1178.6 mm2, P =.041). Multivariate analysis found that psoas CSA in the upper quartile was significantly protective against severe disability (P =.013). Conclusions: We found that patients with severe lumbar disability had no significant differences in posterior lumbar paraspinal CSA when compared with those with mild/moderate disability. However, severely disabled patients had significantly decreased psoas CSA, and larger psoas CSA was strongly protective against severe disability, suggestive of a potential association with psoas atrophy and worsening severity of lumbar pathology. © The Author(s) 2018

10 New γ Doradus and δ Scuti Stars

We present high-resolution spectroscopy and precision photometry of five new γ Doradus and five new δ Scuti variables. The five new γ Doradus variables substantially increase the number of confirmed stars of this class. All 10 stars fall in the spectral class range F0–F2, but they are cleanly separated into two groups by their luminosity and photometric periods. However, the period gap between the γ Doradus and δ Scuti stars is becoming very narrow since we confirm that HD 155154 is a γ Doradus star with the shortest periods reported to date (the shortest of its four periods is ∼0.312 days). We do not find any evidence in our sample for stars exhibiting both δ Scuti– and γ Doradus–type pulsations

Acquisition, Maintenance and Generalization of Script Training: A Comparison of Errorful and Error-Reducing Conditions

Relatively few studies have investigated errorless versus errorful learning in aphasia, and most have focused on the single word level. In a review of a series of anomia studies, Fillingham et al. (2003) found that rate of success was equivalent for errorless and errorful conditions; the number of therapies using errorful techniques outweighed those based on errorless learning; errorless approaches were likely to achieve positive immediate effects, but many of the errorless studies did not report long term effects and generalization; and there was a lack of studies reporting a direct comparison of errorful and errorless learning. More recent work has continued to support the findings that there is no essential difference between error-free and errorless learning approaches (Middleton & Schwartz, 2012). However, none have investigated and contrasted the errorless/errorful learning paradigm in the production of phrases and sentences. This pilot study directly measures and compare the acquisition, maintenance and generalization of script-training under both error-reducing and errorful conditions. We hypothesized that error-reducing training would improve acquisition of a trained script while errorful learning would improve maintenance of the trained script and generalization to untrained scripts

Simultaneous photometry and spectroscopy of the newly discovered γ Doradus variable HR 8330=HD 207223

We present BV photometry and simultaneous high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopy of the newly-discovered γ Doradus variable HR 8330 taken during the 1997 and 1998 observing seasons. We calculate power spectra for the B- and V-band data sets and for the time series defined throughout the observing season at each point across the Fe iiλ4508.289 and the Ti iiλ4501.278 line profiles to search for periodic variability. Period analysis reveals a single, 2.6-d period in both the photometric and the spectroscopic data, with a 237° phase lag between them. Based on the location of HR 8330 in the HR diagram and the characteristics of its photometric and spectroscopic variations, we conclude that HR 8330 is a bona fide γ Doradus-type pulsating variable

Risdiplam for the Use of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the leading causes of death in infants related to the degeneration of neurons. Currently, there are no curative treatment options for SMA, and many options available may not be feasible. This review presents the background, clinical studies, and indications for the use of Risdiplam in treating SMA. SMA causes a decrease in the production of survival motor neuron proteins (SMN) and current treatments target to increase the expression of SMN. Risdiplam is the first and only oral medication to be approved to treat SMA. As an SMN2 splicing modifier, it has provided stronger systemic therapies than previous intrathecal and gene replacement therapies. There have been many efforts to treat SMA with multidisciplinary approaches. These include intrathecal injections to gene replacement therapies. However, these have been faced with limitations such as reaching a good therapeutic dose in systemic tissues, route of administration, and price. Risdiplam is currently the only orally administered drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of SMA. It not only provides a good therapeutic window to systemic tissues but allows for a non-invasive approach in infants. Further investigation and comparison on the safety profile of Risdiplam due to its broader systemic effect should be considered with other available therapies