Processing of acoustic cues for voicing in English: a MMN study

Speech perception normally utilizes multiple acoustic cues in perception of specific speech sound contrast. This study investigates which acoustic cues are responsible for syllable final stop consonant voicing in English using speech and non-speech stimuli. Specifically we study vocalic duration and F1 offset frequency cues using three experimental paradigms. Two paradigms used behavioural methods and explored identification (Exp1) and discrimination (Exp2) and one an electrophysiological method to investigate the neural correlates of processing in a mismatch negativity (MMN) experiment (Exp3). In Exp1 we presented the [bot]-[bod] continuum varying either in duration or F1 cues. Exps 2 and 3 employed a 2 (Frequency: high low) x 2 (Duration (long, short) design resulting in four different versions of English non-words [bot] and [bod] and their corresponding non-speech analogues. Nine subjects participated in Exp 1 and eight in Exps 2 & 3. The findings from Exp 1 revealed that the duration cue plays an important role in British English syllable final stop voicing. Further support for this finding was revealed in Exp 3 with larger MMN amplitude for the duration cue compared with the frequency cue

Vaikean aivovamman saaneen asiakkaan interaktiivinen neuropsykologinen etäohjaus

Tutkimuksessa käsiteltävän Invalidiliiton avomuotoisen etäkuntoutus-projektin tarkoituksena oli kehittää aivovamman saaneiden asiakkaiden avomuotoista kuntoutusta etäterapiana ja etäkuntoutuksena. Interaktiivisen neuropsykologisen etäohjauksen tavoitteena oli hankkeen pilottivaiheesta saatujen havaintojen jälkeen simuloida neuropsykologinen face-fo-face-yksilökuntoutustilanne etäohjausjärjestelmää hyödyntäen ja toteuttaa asiakkaan neuropsykologiset yksilökäynnit etälaitteen kautta. Tässä tutkimuksessa käsitellään yhtä asiakastapausta. Kuntoutuksen menetelminä käytettiin neuropsykologisella kuntoutusohjelmalla tapahtunutta tietokoneavusteista kuntoutusta, supportiivista ohjausta ja aivovamman neuropsykologisia jälkioireita ja niiden ilmenemistä koskevaa psykoedukaatiota. Interaktiivinen neuropsykologinen etäohjaus osoittautui hyödylliseksi toimintatavaksi myös vaikea-asteisesta aivovammasta kärsivällä asiakkaalla, kun neuropsykologisen oirekuvan erityispiirteet huomioitiin ohjaustilanteissa ja kun asiakkaan kanssa samassa fyysisessä tilassa oli käytettävissä ohjaava avustaja. Asiakkaan neuropsykologisessa oirekuvassa todettiin edistymisestä huolimatta edelleen merkittävät häiriöt. Tämä tutkimus on tiettävästi ensimmäinen, jossa on simuloitu face-to-face-neuropsykologinen yksilöohjausjakso vaikeavammaisella asiakkaalla etäohjausjärjestelmän kautta ja saatu havaintoja tieteellisesti tutkittuun neuropsykologiseen tietoon perustuvan kognitiivisen, tietokoneavusteisen kuntoutusmenetelmän toimivuudesta interaktiivisessa neuropsykologisessa etäohjauksessa. Abstract Interactive neuropsychological telerehabilitation of a client with severe TBI The aim of a telerehabilitation project of Finnish Association of people with physical disabilities (FPD) was to develop telerehabilitation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) clients in the area of teletherapy and telerehabilitation. In the present study the objective was to simulate face-to-face neuropsychological rehabilitation sessions via an Internet-based videoconferencing telerehabilitation system on the ground of the experiences observed during the pilot phase of the project. The client was a 35-year-old male with severe TBI as a result of a high energy accident occurred in May 2012. He participated in 12 neuropsychological telerehabilitation sessions at a frequency of a 60 minute session weekly including 5 sessions during the pilot phase of the project and 7 sessions during the face-to-face simulation sessions. The procedures included computer-based rehabilitation of cognitive functions, supportive guidance and psychoeducation of neuropsychological consequences of TBI. Interactive neuropsychological telerehabilitation of the client with severe TBI proved to be a useful procedure when the specific features of the client`s neuropsychological outcome after TBI were taken into account and there was an assistant worker in the same physical environment of the client. Nevertheless, in spite of the progress the degree of neuropsychological disorders was still severe. This is presumably the first study to report the observations of simulated face-to-face neuropsychological sessions via an Internet-based videoconferencing telerehabilitation system with evidence-based computer-assisted training of cognitive functions for the client with severe TBI. Keywords: interactive neuropsychological telerehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, computer-based rehabilitation of cognitive functions, single-case stud

Serum ferritin and incident cardiometabolic diseases in Scottish adults

BACKGROUND: Iron stores, estimated as ferritin levels, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been associated previously, while findings regarding coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CEVD) are still inconclusive. No study has focused on simultaneous evaluation of associations between iron stores and the above cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in the same population. We aim to evaluate the association between serum ferritin and risk of T2D, CHD and CEVD in Scottish population over a wide range of ferritin levels. METHODS: Longitudinal study in 6,497 participants of the 1995 and 1998 Scottish health surveys, who were followed-up until 2011. Cox regression models were conducted adjusting for age, sex/menopausal status, fibrinogen, GGT levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and BMI. Ferritin was used as continuous (sex/menopausal status-specific Z score) and categorical variable (sex/menopausal status-specific quartiles, quintiles and sextiles). RESULTS: During follow-up, 4.9% of the participants developed T2D, 5.3% CHD, and 2.3% CEVD. By using ferritin quartiles, serum ferritin was positively associated with T2D, CHD and CEVD but only the association with T2D remained after adjustment for covariates [Quartile 4 v. 1: adjusted HR 95% CI 1.59 (1.10–2.34); P = 0.006]. When ferritin sextiles were used (6 v. 1), the ferritin-CEVD association became slightly stronger and significant [adjusted HR 95% CI 2.08 (1.09–3.94); P = 0.024]. CONCLUSIONS: Iron stores relate differently to each CMD. Serum ferritin levels were positively and independently associated with incident T2D, and with incident CEVD if higher cut-off points for high ferritin levels were considered. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01450-7

Metallothioneins 2 and 3 contribute to the metal-adapted phenotype but are not directly linked to Zn accumulation in the metal hyperaccumulator, Thlaspi caerulescens

To study the role of metallothioneins (MTs) in Zn accumulation, the expression of TcMT2a, TcMT2b, and TcMT3 was analysed in three accessions and 15 F3 families of two inter-accession crosses of the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens, with different degrees of Zn accumulation. The highest expression levels were found in the shoots of a superior metal-accumulating calamine accession from St Laurent le Minier, with >10-fold TcMT3 expression compared with another calamine accession and a non-metallicolous accession. Moreover, F3 sibling lines from the inter-accession crosses that harboured the MT2a or MT3 allele from St Laurent le Minier had higher expression levels. However, there was no co-segregation of TcMT2a or TcMT3 expression and Zn accumulation. To examine the functions of TcMTs in plants, TcMT2a and TcMT3 were ectopically expressed in Arabidopsis. The transformant lines had reduced root length in control medium but not at high metal concentrations, suggesting that the ectopically expressed proteins interfered with the physiological availability of essential metals under limited supply. The Arabidopsis transformant lines did not show increased tolerance to Cd, Cu, or Zn, nor increased Cd or Zn accumulation. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that in roots, MT2 protein is localized in the epidermis and root hairs of both T. caerulescens and Arabidopsis thaliana. The results suggest that TcMT2a, TcMT2b, and TcMT3 are not primarily involved in Zn accumulation as such. However, the elevated expression levels in the metallicolous accessions suggests that they do contribute to the metal-adapted phenotype, possibly through improving Cu homeostasis at high Zn and Cd body burdens. Alternatively, they might function as hypostatic enhancers of Zn or Cd tolerance

Protocol for the development and validation procedure of the managing the link and strengthening transition from child to adult mental health care (MILESTONE) suite of measures

Background: Mental health disorders in the child and adolescent population are a pressing public health concern. Despite the high prevalence of psychopathology in this vulnerable population, the transition from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) has many obstacles such as deficiencies in planning, organisational readiness and policy gaps. All these factors contribute to an inadequate and suboptimal transition process. A suite of measures is required that would allow young people to be assessed in a structured and standardised way to determine the on-going need for care and to improve communication across clinicians at CAMHS and AMHS. This will have the potential to reduce the overall health economic burden and could also improve the quality of life for patients travelling across the transition boundary. The MILESTONE (Managing the Link and Strengthening Transition from Child to Adult Mental Health Care) project aims to address the significant socioeconomic and societal challenge related to the transition process. This protocol paper describes the development of two MILESTONE transition-related measures: The Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure (TRAM), designed to be a decision-making aide for clinicians, and the Transition Related Outcome Measure (TROM), for examining the outcome of transition. Methods: The TRAM and TROM have been developed and were validated following the US FDA Guidance for Patient-reported Outcome Measures which follows an incremental stepwise framework. The study gathers information from service users, parents, families and mental health care professionals who have experience working with young people undergoing the transition process from eight European countries. Discussion: There is an urgent need for comprehensive measures that can assess transition across the CAMHS/AMHS boundary. This study protocol describes the process of development of two new transition measures: the TRAM and TROM. The TRAM has the potential to nurture better transitions as the findings can be summarised and provided to clinicians as a clinician-decision making support tool for identifying cases who need to transition and the TROM can be used to examine the outcomes of the transition process. Trial registration: MILESTONE study registration: ISRCTN83240263 Registered 23-July-2015 - ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03013595 Registered 6 January 2017

Challenges during the transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services

The transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services for young people with mental health problems is of international concern. Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders during adolescence and their tendency to continue during adulthood, the majority of young people do not experience continuity of care. The aim of this review paper is to unravel the complexity of transitional mental healthcare to clinicians, policy makers and mental health service managers, and to address challenges to a smooth transition process at all levels

Frailty predicts incident atrial fibrillation in women but not in men : The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

INTRODUCTION: Frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common aging problems and increasing globally. The association(s) between frailty and AF have been inconclusive. The purpose of this prospective population-based cohort was to investigate the associations between frailty and incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in older men and women. METHODS: In total 839 participants, women (n=458) and men (n=381), aged 61-74 years from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study were included (March 1, 1998, to December 31, 2001). At the baseline, among frailty prevalence was 49.3% (n=414), and non-frailty 50.7% (n=425) of the total population. Frailty was ascertained with the presence of 3-5 and prefrailty 1-2 of the following criteria: weight loss (highest 20% over 7 years), self-reported tiredness, weakness (measured by handgrip strength), slow walking speed (walking pace), and low physical activity (lowest 20%). AF events were obtained by record linkages from the national computerized hospitalization registry in Finland up to December 31, 2019. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of incident events, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up of 14.2 years, 288 AF cases (169 women; 119 men) occurred. After adjustment for possible confounders, the HRs (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for AF was 1.46 (1.48-1.85) in the frail population, compared to the non-frail group. The association was observed only among older frail women [multivariable-adjusted HR 1.78, 95% CI (1.28-2.48)], (P for interaction=0.04). No statistically significant associations were observed between frailty and future AF incident among men (multivariable-adjusted HRs 1.12, 95% CI (0.77-1.63). CONCLUSIONS: In this population based epidemiological cohort, the risk of developing AF was increased in women affected by frailty at baseline but not in men

Predictors of transitioning to adult mental health services and associated costs: a cross-country comparison

BACKGROUND: Young people are at risk of falling through the care gap after leaving child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) despite an ongoing need for mental health support. Currently, little is known about the predictors of transitioning to adult mental health services (AMHS), and associated healthcare and societal costs as young people cross the transition boundary. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a secondary data analysis exploring predictors of transitioning or falling through the gap and associated costs. METHODS: Data were used from a longitudinal study, which followed young people from seven European countries for 2 years after reaching their CAMHS boundary. Predictors of transitioning (including sociodemographic and clinical variables) and longitudinal resource use were compared for 488 young people who transitioned to AMHS versus those who fell through the gap. FINDINGS: Young people were more likely to transition to AMHS if they were severely ill. Those from Italy, the Netherlands and the UK were more likely to fall through the gap than transition to AMHS. Healthcare costs fell for all young people over the study, with a sharper decrease for those who fell through the gap. CONCLUSIONS: Total healthcare costs fell for all participants, indicating that the intensity of mental health support reduces for all young people as they cross the CAMHS boundary, regardless of clinical need. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: It is important that alternative forms of mental health support are available for young people who do not meet the AMHS care threshold but still have mental health needs after leaving CAMHS

“Notame”: Workflow for non-targeted LC-MS metabolic profiling

Metabolomics analysis generates vast arrays of data, necessitating comprehensive workflows involving expertise in analytics, biochemistry and bioinformatics in order to provide coherent and high-quality data that enable discovery of robust and biologically significant metabolic findings. In this protocol article, we introduce notame, an analytical workflow for non-targeted metabolic profiling approaches, utilizing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. We provide an overview of lab protocols and statistical methods that we commonly practice for the analysis of nutritional metabolomics data. The paper is divided into three main sections: the first and second sections introducing the background and the study designs available for metabolomics research and the third section describing in detail the steps of the main methods and protocols used to produce, preprocess and statistically analyze metabolomics data and, finally, to identify and interpret the compounds that have emerged as interesting