A goal of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) research is to develop fast and reliable means of communication for individuals with paralysis and anarthria. We evaluated the ability of an individual with incomplete locked-in syndrome enrolled in the BrainGate Neural Interface System pilot clinical trial (IDE) to communicate using neural point-and-click control. A general-purpose interface was developed to provide control of a computer cursor in tandem with one of two on-screen virtual keyboards. The novel BrainGate Radial Keyboard was compared to a standard QWERTY keyboard in a balanced copy-spelling task. The Radial Keyboard yielded a significant improvement in typing accuracy and speed – enabling typing rates over 10 correct characters per minute. The participant used this interface to communicate face-to-face with research staff by using text-to-speech conversion, and remotely using an internet chat application. This study demonstrates the first use of an intracortical BCI for neural point-and-click communication by an individual with incomplete locked-in syndrome.

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OBJECTIVE-The impact of chronic hypoxia on the nitric oxide synthase isoenzymes (NOSs) in specific brain structures is unknown. STUDY DESIGN-Time-mated pregnant guinea pigs were exposed to 10.5% O 2 for 14d (HPX) or room air (NMX); L-NIL (an iNOS inhibitor, 1mg/kg/day) was administered to HPX animals for 14d (L-NIL+HPX). Fetal brains were harvested at term. Multi-labeled immunofluorescence was used to generate a brain injury map. Laser capture microdissection and quantitative PCR were applied and cell injury markers, apoptosis activation, neuron loss, total NO, and the levels of individual NOSs quantified. RESULTS-Chronic hypoxia causes selective fetal brain injury rather than globally. Injury is associated with differentially affected NO synthases in both neurons and glial cells, with iNOS up regulated at all injury sites. L-NIL attenuated the injury despite continued hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS-These studies demonstrate chronic hypoxia selectively injures the fetal brain in part by the differential regulation of NOSs in an anatomic and cell specific manner.

Key Points: A new well provide the opportunity of a reappraisal of a persistent regional H 2 production in intracontiental settings, in Kansas. Two different origins are suggested for H 2 production in intra-cratonic context: a crustal origin, a surficial origin. Hypotheses of two H 2 are supported by geochemical properties of associated gases, by water associated and completion story of the well.2 AbstractA geochemical study of gas coming from three wells in northeastern Kansas supplements previous studies from the 1980s and points to a persistent regional phenomenon of H 2 production. In 2008, a new well showed, just after drilling, a dry gas phase with more than 80 mole % of H 2 , followed by a water production associated with gas. This gas is mainly composed of N 2 , He, H 2 and occasionally CH 4 , with changing proportions through time. A drastic decrease in H 2 at the well was observed since the aquifer is produced, along with occasional recharges in H 2 evidenced notably in the early phases of gas sampling. We demonstrate that this evolution of gas composition is closely associated to the well completion story. Accordingly, two distinct origins of H 2 are proposed: (1) water reduction associated to iron oxidation in the Precambrian basement (deep crustal H 2 ); (2) reactions occurring in the tubing, primarily attributed to a high Fe 2+ content and organic carbon (DOC=4.1 mg.L -1 ) dissolved in the water. The low δD values averaging -760 ‰ are attributed to low temperature processes, in agreement with both the hypothesis. Furthermore, the suggested origins are supported by the observed gas associations: (a) deep crustal H 2 with radiogenic gases ( 4 He and 40 Ar) and metamorphic N 2 ( 15 N averaging +2.5‰); (b) surficial H 2 with methane produced in the sedimentary aquifer and the tubing by methanogenic organisms.