Using Voice Recognition Software to improve communicative writing and social participation in an individual with severe acquired dysgraphia: an experimental single case therapy study

Background Two previous single-case studies have reported that voice recognition software (VRS) can be a powerful tool for circumventing impaired writing in aphasia (Bruce et al, 2003; Estes & Bloom, 2011). However, these studies report mixed results regarding transfer of skills to functional tasks, such as emailing. Method A single-case therapy study was conducted with “Stephen”, a 63 -year old man with fluent aphasia and severe acquired dysgraphia and dyslexia limiting his social participation and ability to return to work. Treatment consisted of 16 one-hour sessions. Stephen was trained to use Dragon NaturallySpeakingRTM VRS to assist writing and Read+WriteGoldRTM text-to-speech software to assist reading, and to develop computer skills required to use email. Outcome measures evaluated writing efficiency and communicative effectiveness, the functional impact of the intervention, and changes in participation. Results Training produced significant gains in the efficiency and communicative effectiveness of Stephen’s writing, despite his underlying writing impairment remaining unchanged. Gains generalised to everyday functional communication, leading to increased social participation with Stephen undertaking a wider range of social activities and increasing his social network following treatment. Gains were maintained at follow-up assessment. Discussion Results indicate that a relatively short training period with assistive technologies achieved extensive generalisation to independent, functional communicative writing. Indeed, for this case, VRS training may have exceeded the degree of improvement in functional text writing that could have been achieved through impairment therapy, since gains were not limited to treated vocabulary. Some challenges were encountered in training Stephen to use VRS but, through adaptations to the training process, were largely overcome. Importantly, regaining independent writing skills resulted in profound and life-changing improvements to social participation. This may have resulted in Stephen reconnecting with important aspects of his pre-stroke identity, and improving his self-esteem. Conclusion This case adds to a small evidence base indicating that training in the use of VRS, in combination with text-to-speech software, may be an effective way to address writing impairments in chronic aphasia for individuals with relatively well-preserved spoken output. Not only can these technologies improve the efficiency and communicative effectiveness of writing, they can also lead to significant gains in functional communication and social participation. Further research is needed trialing this approach with a larger group of people with aphasia

Neuroscience Attitudes, Exposure, and Knowledge among Counselors

The purpose of this study was to explore the neuroscience attitudes, exposure, myths, and knowledge among counselors at various stages of their careers. Descriptive statistics were used to highlight the current state of neuroscience attitudes, exposure, myths, and knowledge among a sample of counselors (N = 416). The results showed that participants had positive attitudes towards neuroscience, were exposed to neuroscience information through various methods, believed neuroscience should be integrated in over half of the counselor education curriculum, had high levels of neuroscience knowledge (85%), and had average levels of neuromyths endorsed (56%). The results provide insights that can guide the infusion of neuroscience into the counselor education curriculum

The Expanding Role of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in the Review of Workmen\u27s Compensation Appeals

The November elections of 1976 brought about a major change in the composition of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Three new justices, a majority of the court, were elected. The consequences of the election have been widely felt throughout the State. In no area has its impact been greater, however, than in the area of workmen\u27s compensation law. The court has shown a great willingness to hear workmen\u27s compensation appeals. In reviewing such appeals, the court has chosen to play an active role in the review of evidence, something generally avoided by prior courts. There has been little reluctance to substitute the majority\u27s assessment of the evidence for the factual findings of the Workmen\u27s Compensation Appeal Board. In substantive law the court has likewise had great impact, and in certain areas has taken action which would normally be considered within the purview of the legislature. Most significantly, the statutory immunity to suit granted to employers by the West Virginia Workmen\u27s Compensation Act, except in cases of intentional injury, has been altered to an extent which will only be finally determined by later cases. Other decisions have: liberalized the continuous exposure requirements of the occupational pneumoconiosis provisions of the Act; removed the requirement of demonstrating aggravation of an existing occupational pneumoconiosis condition with a particular employer in order to be entitled to benefits; extended the protection of a legislatively lengthened statute of limitations to claimants whose occupational pneumoconiosis claims were not yet barred when the new limitation period became effective; permitted concurrent recovery of benefits in separate claims even though the total amount of benefits paid exceeded statutory limits; liberalized requirements for reopening claims; and provided protection for innocent victims of horseplay. This article will assess the new court\u27s role in reviewing both substantive and procedural aspects of workmen\u27s compensation law. The discussion is divided into two broad areas: substantive changes in West Virginia workmen\u27s compensation law; and scope of the court\u27s review

An Automatic Medium to High Fidelity Low-Thrust Global Trajectory Toolchain; EMTG-GMAT

Solving the global optimization, low-thrust, multiple-flyby interplanetary trajectory problem with high-fidelity dynamical models requires an unreasonable amount of computational resources. A better approach, and one that is demonstrated in this paper, is a multi-step process whereby the solution of the aforementioned problem is solved at a lower-fidelity and this solution is used as an initial guess for a higher-fidelity solver. The framework presented in this work uses two tools developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: the Evolutionary Mission Trajectory Generator (EMTG) and the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT). EMTG is a medium to medium-high fidelity low-thrust interplanetary global optimization solver, which now has the capability to automatically generate GMAT script files for seeding a high-fidelity solution using GMAT's local optimization capabilities. A discussion of the dynamical models as well as thruster and power modeling for both EMTG and GMAT are given in this paper. Current capabilities are demonstrated with examples that highlight the toolchains ability to efficiently solve the difficult low-thrust global optimization problem with little human intervention

Plasmodium vivax Adherence to Placental Glycosaminoglycans

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax infections seldom kill directly but do cause indirect mortality by reducing birth weight and causing abortion. Cytoadherence and sequestration in the microvasculature are central to the pathogenesis of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but the contribution of cytoadherence to pathology in other human malarias is less clear. METHODOLOGY: The adherence properties of P. vivax infected red blood cells (PvIRBC) were evaluated under static and flow conditions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: P. vivax isolates from 33 patients were studied. None adhered to immobilized CD36, ICAM-1, or thrombospondin, putative ligands for P. falciparum vascular cytoadherence, or umbilical vein endothelial cells, but all adhered to immobilized chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) and hyaluronic acid (HA), the receptors for adhesion of P. falciparum in the placenta. PvIRBC also adhered to fresh placental cells (N = 5). Pre-incubation with chondroitinase prevented PvIRBC adherence to CSA, and reduced binding to HA, whereas preincubation with hyaluronidase prevented adherence to HA, but did not reduce binding to CSA significantly. Pre-incubation of PvIRBC with soluble CSA and HA reduced binding to the immobilized receptors and prevented placental binding. PvIRBC adhesion was prevented by pre-incubation with trypsin, inhibited by heparin, and reduced by EGTA. Under laminar flow conditions the mean (SD) shear stress reducing maximum attachment by 50% was 0.06 (0.02) Pa but, having adhered, the PvIRBC could then resist detachment by stresses up to 5 Pa. At 37 °C adherence began approximately 16 hours after red cell invasion with maximal adherence at 30 hours. At 39 °C adherence began earlier and peaked at 24 hours. SIGNIFICANCE: Adherence of P. vivax-infected erythrocytes to glycosaminoglycans may contribute to the pathogenesis of vivax malaria and lead to intrauterine growth retardation