Avoidance as a strategy of (not) coping: qualitative interviews with carers of Huntington's Disease patients

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Simple tunable phase-locked lasers for quantum technologies

In a wide range of quantum technology applications, ranging from atomic clocks to the creation of ultracold or quantum degenerate samples for atom interferometry, optimal laser sources are critical. In particular, two phase-locked laser sources with a precise difference frequency are needed for efficient coherent population trapping (CPT) clocks, gray molasses laser cooling, or driving Raman transitions. Here we show how a simple cost-effective laser diode can selectively amplify only one sideband of a fiber-electrooptically-modulated seed laser to produce moderate-power phase-locked light with sub-Hz relative linewidth and tunable difference frequencies up to $\approx 15\,$GHz. The architecture is readily scalable to multiple phase-locked lasers and could conceivably be used for future on-chip compact phase-locked laser systems for quantum technologies.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Enhancing dysphonia clinic consultations through a focus on patients' expectations : streamlining and validation of a new tool (ACaPELa-R questionnaire)

ObjectiveThe Assessing and Caring for Patients' Expectations in Laryngology ('ACaPELa') questionnaire was developed to guide laryngology clinic consultations. This study aimed to audit its use, revise it depending on outcomes and validate it.MethodsThe questionnaire was completed by all new patients attending a laryngology clinic over one year. The questionnaire was refined and validated in a new cohort of patients over a six-month period.ResultsThirty-seven of 242 patients (15.3 per cent) incorrectly gave the same ranking to more than one question. Questions with similar content were collapsed to cover broader themes, and an outcome question was added, resulting in the five-item Assessing and Caring for Patients' Expectations in Laryngology - Revised ('ACaPELa-R') questionnaire. Using this revised questionnaire, there was a significant reduction in the number of same-ranked questions (4.4 vs 15.3 per cent; p = 0.003) and high patient satisfaction post-consultation (95.7 per cent).ConclusionThe Assessing and Caring for Patients' Expectations in Laryngology - Revised questionnaire makes patients' rank ordering of questions easier. It can be used to inform how different topics should be approached during the consultation and utilised for clinician self-audit

Simple tunable phase-locked lasers for quantum technologies

In a wide range of quantum technology applications, ranging from atomic clocks to the creation of ultracold or quantum degenerate samples for atom interferometry, optimal laser sources are critical. In particular, two phase-locked laser sources with a precise difference frequency are needed for efficient coherent population trapping (CPT) clocks, gray molasses laser cooling, or driving Raman transitions. Here we show how a simple cost-effective laser diode can selectively amplify only one sideband of a fiber-electrooptically-modulated seed laser to produce moderate-power phase-locked light with sub-Hz relative linewidth and tunable difference frequencies up to ≈15GHz. The architecture is readily scalable to multiple phase-locked lasers and could conceivably be used for future on-chip compact phase-locked laser systems for quantum technologies

Clinical applicability and revision of the ACaPELa questionnaire

The Assessing and Caring for Patients’ Expectations in Laryngology (ACaPELa) questionnaire was created to understand patients’ thoughts and concerns and guide clinical consultation. As part of our standard clinical practice, all patients attending the laryngology clinic in our department complete the ACaPELa, rank ordering their expectations prior to the clinical consultation. Feedback received from the patients during the 2-year run of the voice clinic using the above set-up has indicated that the questionnaire was proven difficult to rank order, with patients’ finding some of the options very similar in content

Speech treatment for people with cerebellar multiple system atrophy (MSA-C): a pilot randomised controlled trial of two approaches

Speech problems are an early feature of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). They can lead to social withdrawal and have significant impact on people’s quality of life. There is a considerable lack of clinical trials and clinicians lack guidance on how best to support this population. This project aimed to establish the feasibility and acceptability of a novel treatment approach, ClearSpeechTogether, in patients with the cerebellar variant of MSA (MSA-C), and to pilot an RCT comparing this treatment to standard speech and language therapy (SLT) treatment (ST). We recruited 24 patients with clinically probable MSA-C and dysarthria who were randomised to either treatment arm. Full data were available for 9 participants for ST, and 11 for ClearSpeechTogether. Both interventions lasted 6 weeks, ST offered 1 h of individual therapy a week, ClearSpeechTogether provided four individual therapy sessions over two weeks, followed by four weeks of daily, patient led group practice. Assessment and intervention were provided online via videoconferencing software. Data collection focused on feasibility, acceptability and signal of efficacy. Recruitment, conversion and attrition rates were within or close to target, and neither participants nor clinicians highlighted any acceptability issues. Communication outcomes were mixed, with biggest gains made in communication confidence and participation across both groups. Rapid decline in overall health status appeared to have impacted results. Results were generally positive and support the implementation of larger follow up trials. The study also demonstrated that people with MSA-C can benefit from speech therapy even at more severe stages of their disease progression

Current ecotoxicity testing needs among selected U.S. federal agencies

U.S. regulatory and research agencies use ecotoxicity test data to assess the hazards associated with substances that may be released into the environment, including but not limited to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, and color additives. These data are used to conduct hazard assessments and evaluate potential risks to aquatic life (e.g., invertebrates, fish), birds, wildlife species, or the environment. To identify opportunities for regulatory uses of non-animal replacements for ecotoxicity tests, the needs and uses for data from tests utilizing animals must first be clarified. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to identify the ecotoxicity test data relied upon by U.S. federal agencies. The standards, test guidelines, guidance documents, and/or endpoints that are used to address each of the agencies’ regulatory and research needs regarding ecotoxicity testing are described in the context of their application to decision-making. Testing and information use, needs, and/or requirements relevant to the regulatory or programmatic mandates of the agencies taking part in the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods Ecotoxicology Workgroup are captured. This information will be useful for coordinating efforts to develop and implement alternative test methods to reduce, refine, or replace animal use in chemical safety evaluations

Quantification of rhythm problems in disordered speech : a re-evaluation

Disordered speech can present with rhythmic problems, impacting on an individual’s ability to communicate. Effective treatment relies on the availability of sensitive methods to characterise the problem. Rhythm metrics based on segmental durations originally designed for crosslinguistic research have the potential to provide such information. However, these measures may be associated with problems that impact on their clinical usefulness. This paper aims to address the perceptual validity of crosslinguistic metrics as indicators of rhythmic disorder. Speakers with dysarthria and matched healthy participants performed a range of tasks, including syllable and sentence repetition tasks and a spontaneous monologue. A range of rhythm metrics as well as clinical measures were applied. Results showed that none of the metrics could differentiate disordered from healthy speakers, despite clear perceptual differences, suggesting that factors beyond segment duration impacted on rhythm perception. The investigation also highlighted a number of areas where caution needs to be exercised in the application of rhythm metrics to disordered speech. The paper concludes that the underlying speech impairment leading to the perceptual and acoustic characterisation of rhythmic problems needs to be established through detailed analysis of speech characteristics in order to construct effective treatment plans for individuals with speech disorders

What makes acquired foreign accent syndrome foreign?

EJC, strongly right handed, presented with acquired neurogenic foreign accent syndrome (FAS) after a right anterior communicating artery aneurysm haemorrhage. We describe perceived and spectrographically viewed changes to her speech and attempt to ascertain why EJC was perceived as foreign, stepping beyond the general path of assuming observed changes automatically explain the perceived foreignness. EJC's speech is compared with local English and foreign accent speakers; correlational and regression statistics are employed to explore which changes in EJC's speech most strongly associate with perceived foreignness. Vowel, consonant cluster and stress pattern changes emerge as significantly salient. It is argued that listener perception plays as important a role in FAS as the underlying speech disturbance. In EJC's case we conclude that she presents with a right hemisphere-based apraxic-ataxic speech disorder