Speech audiometry test with picture-related sentence lists in Modern Greek for partially hearing children

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop Greek Sentence Based Speech Audiometry Test in quiet test for Hearing Impaired (HI) children (G-SEBSAT). Methods: Seventy-six children were recruited following approval by the local ethics committee and after obtaining informed consent from their parents. The collection of vocabulary was based on showing pictures selected from popular reading materials in Greek to hearing impaired HI children. A grammatical content analysis was carried out to determine the average syntactic and morphological structures of the sentences used by the HI children. Ten picture related sentence lists were developed based on the vocabulary and the grammatical analysis, and recorded by a male native speaker of standard Modern Greek. These were presented to both normal hearing (NH) and HI children, and the average speech response threshold (SRT) as well as the slope of the SRT curve at the SRT level of 50% correct responses (S50) were recorded in both groups. Sentence lists were validated with respect to the variability of their difficulty within each group, as well the test-retest variability of the respective SRT scores. Results: The average speech response threshold (SRT) across all lists for HI children was 65.27 dB and the slope of the SRT curve at the SRT level of 50% correct responses was 3.11%/dB. The corresponding results across all lists for NH children were 17.66 dB and 9.7%/dB, respectively. The SRT of HI children were strongly positively correlated, in a statistically significant manner with the PTA in both the test and the retest sessions (test: r=0.750, P < 0.0005; retest: r=0.753, P < 0.0005). The Spearman correlation of the rankings of SRT values and the slope values was 0.998 and 0.997 respectively for the HI and 0.939 and 0.88, for the NH group, indicating very low variability across the test and retest sessions. In addition, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the average SRT in NH children and the SRT residuals in the HI group indicated that the different sentences were of the same difficulty within each group. ((F(9,81)=0.401, p=0.930 and (F(9,93)=2.241, p=0.025 respectively). Conclusions: A validated sentence based speech audiometry test was created in Greek for the first time. SRT and S50 values for both NH and HI children are comparable to similar tests developed in other languages

The Persistence of Cool Galactic Winds in High Stellar Mass Galaxies Between z~1.4 and ~1

We present an analysis of the MgII 2796, 2803 and FeII 2586, 2600 absorption line profiles in coadded spectra of 468 galaxies at 0.7 < z < 1.5. The galaxy sample, drawn from the Team Keck Treasury Redshift Survey of the GOODS-N field, has a range in stellar mass (M_*) comparable to that of the sample at z~1.4 analyzed in a similar manner by Weiner et al. (2009; W09), but extends to lower redshifts and has specific star formation rates which are lower by ~0.6 dex. We identify outflows of cool gas from the Doppler shift of the MgII absorption lines and find that the equivalent width (EW) of absorption due to outflowing gas increases on average with M_* and star formation rate (SFR). We attribute the large EWs measured in spectra of the more massive, higher-SFR galaxies to optically thick absorbing clouds having large velocity widths. The outflows have hydrogen column densities N(H) > 10^19.3 cm^-2, and extend to velocities of ~500 km/s. While galaxies with SFR > 10 Msun/yr host strong outflows in both this and the W09 sample, we do not detect outflows in lower-SFR (i.e., log M_*/Msun < 10.5) galaxies at lower redshifts. Using a simple galaxy evolution model which assumes exponentially declining SFRs, we infer that strong outflows persist in galaxies with log M_*/Msun > 10.5 as they age between z=1.4 and z~1, presumably because of their high absolute SFRs. Finally, using high resolution HST/ACS imaging in tandem with our spectral analysis, we find evidence for a weak trend (at 1 sigma significance) of increasing outflow absorption strength with increasing galaxy SFR surface density.Comment: Submitted to ApJ. 25 pages, 19 figures, Figure 2 reduced in resolution. Uses emulateapj forma

Substantiating a political public sphere in the Scottish press : a comparative analysis

This article uses content analysis to characterize the performance of the media in a national public sphere, by setting apart those qualities that typify internal press coverage of a political event. The article looks at the coverage of the 1999 devolved Scottish election from the day before the election until the day after. It uses a word count to measure the election material in Scottish newspapers the Herald, the Press and Journal and the Scotsman, and United Kingdom newspapers the Guardian, the Independent and The Times, and categorizes that material according to discourse type, day and page selection. The article finds a number of qualities that typify the Scottish sample in particular, and might be broadly indicative of a political public sphere in action. Firstly, and not unexpectedly, it finds that the Scottish newspapers carry significantly more election coverage. Just as tellingly, though, the article finds that the Scottish papers offer a greater proportion of advice and background information, in the form of opinion columns and feature articles. It also finds that the Scottish papers place a greater concentration of both informative and evaluative material in the period before the vote, consistent with their making a contribution to informed political action. Lastly, the article finds that the Scottish sample situates coverage nearer the front of the paper and places a greater proportion on recto pages. The article therefore argues that the Scottish papers display features that distinguish them from the UK papers, and are broadly consistent with their forming part of a deliberative public sphere, and suggests that these qualities might be explored as a means of judging future media performance

Convergence properties of η→3π\eta\to 3\pi decays in chiral perturbation theory

Theoretical efforts to describe and explain the $\eta\to 3\pi$ decays reach far back in time. Even today, the convergence of the decay widths and some of the Dalitz plot parameters seems problematic in low energy QCD. In the framework of resummed CHPT, we explore the question of compatibility of experimental data with a reasonable convergence of a carefully defined chiral series, where NNLO remainders are assumed to be small. By treating the uncertainties in the higher orders statistically, we numerically generate a large set of theoretical predictions, which are then confronted with experimental information. In the case of the decay widths, the experimental values can be reconstructed for a reasonable range of the free parameters and thus no tension is observed, in spite of what some of the traditional calculations suggest. The Dalitz plot parameters $a$ and $d$ can be described very well too. When the parameters $b$ and $\alpha$ are concerned, we find a mild tension for the whole range of the free parameters, at less than 2$\sigma$ C.L. This can be interpreted in two ways - either some of the higher order corrections are indeed unexpectedly large or there is a specific configuration of the remainders, which is, however, not completely improbable. Also, the distribution of the theoretical uncertainties is found to be significantly non-gaussian, so the consistency cannot be simply judged by the 1$\sigma$ error bars.Comment: 57 pages, 5 figure

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: A double-blind, phase 1/2a, randomized controlled trial

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 is associated with high mortality. Mesenchymal stem cells are known to exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and could yield beneficial effects in COVID-19 ARDS. The objective of this study was to determine safety and explore efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) infusions in subjects with COVID-19 ARDS. A double-blind, phase 1/2a, randomized, controlled trial was performed. Randomization and stratification by ARDS severity was used to foster balance among groups. All subjects were analyzed under intention to treat design. Twenty-four subjects were randomized 1:1 to either UC-MSC treatment (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). Subjects in the UC-MSC treatment group received two intravenous infusions (at day 0 and 3) of 100 ± 20 × 106 UC-MSCs; controls received two infusions of vehicle solution. Both groups received best standard of care. Primary endpoint was safety (adverse events [AEs]) within 6 hours; cardiac arrest or death within 24 hours postinfusion). Secondary endpoints included patient survival at 31 days after the first infusion and time to recovery. No difference was observed between groups in infusion-associated AEs. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed related to UC-MSC infusions. UC-MSC infusions in COVID-19 ARDS were found to be safe. Inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in UC-MSC-treated subjects at day 6. Treatment was associated with significantly improved patient survival (91% vs 42%, P =.015), SAE-free survival (P =.008), and time to recovery (P =.03). UC-MSC infusions are safe and could be beneficial in treating subjects with COVID-19 ARDS

The Grizzly, October 16, 2003

Feeling Drained for a Good Cause: Omega Chi Blood Drive • CAB Laugh-off Left Students Rolling in the Aisles • UC in the City Program Announces Easier Access to Philly • Political Pagemakers: Democratic Candidates for President • California Recall Circus has its Star • Club Spotlight: Forensics • Opinions: UC in the City: An Attempt to Fight the Boredom; California Recall Election Democracy at its Best; Video Games as Government Training Tools; Flu Season is Near; Legal BAC Should Still be Lower; Myrin Library: Use It • On the Verge Review: Memorable • Believe it or Not: A Tree in the End Zone • Meet Dr. Zwerling • Job Fair Success • 2003 Homecoming Court • Women\u27s Rugby: A Tough and Spirited Group of Ladies • Field Hockey Team Remains Undefeated in Conference • Men\u27s Soccer Continues to Face Tough Losses • Volleyball 2-3 in Conference Play • Sue Hadfield Named Head Swimming Coachhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1545/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 2, 2003

Sexual Assault Reported on Campus • Water Worries Burst in Reimert • Senior in the Market for Success • Tough Crowd: Bush Speaks to the United Nations • Opinions: Out of the Middle East, Part 4; Pharming: The Scariest New Drug Fad; To Tan or Not to Tan?; Maples-palooza! • Is Collegeville Boring? • Smart Shopping • CAB Events • The Glory of Ursinus: Bomberger Memorial Hall • Bears Obliterate Mt. Ida, 47-0 • Women\u27s Soccer Take Two • Volleyball Ends Losing Streak • Bears Overtake Quakers in Hockey Season Opener • Japanese Women Wrestlers • UC Field Hockey Team Continues Domination in C.C. Play • Ursinus XC Invades Celtic Fest 2003https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1543/thumbnail.jp

Application of Healthcare 'Big Data' in CNS Drug Research: The Example of the Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN)

Neurological and psychiatric (mental health) disorders have a large impact on health burden globally. Cognitive disorders (including dementia) and stroke are leading causes of disability. Mental health disorders, including depression, contribute up to one-third of total years lived with disability. The Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN) is an international multi-database network that harnesses administrative and electronic medical records from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Using these databases NeuroGEN will investigate medication use and health outcomes in neurological and mental health disorders. A key objective of NeuroGEN is to facilitate high-quality observational studies to address evidence-practice gaps where randomized controlled trials do not provide sufficient information on medication benefits and risks that is specific to vulnerable population groups. International multi-database research facilitates comparisons across geographical areas and jurisdictions, increases statistical power to investigate small subpopulations or rare outcomes, permits early post-approval assessment of safety and effectiveness, and increases generalisability of results. Through bringing together international researchers in pharmacoepidemiology, NeuroGEN has the potential to be paradigm-changing for observational research to inform evidence-based prescribing. The first focus of NeuroGEN will be to address evidence-gaps in the treatment of chronic comorbidities in people with dementia

Comparison of four mathematical models to analyze indicator-dilution curves in the coronary circulation

While several models have proven to result in accurate estimations when measuring cardiac output using indicator dilution, the mono-exponential model has primarily been chosen for deriving coronary blood/plasma volume. In this study, we compared four models to derive coronary plasma volume using indicator dilution; the mono-exponential, power-law, gamma-variate, and local density random walk (LDRW) model. In anesthetized goats (N = 14), we determined the distribution volume of high molecular weight (2,000 kDa) dextrans. A bolus injection (1.0 ml, 0.65 mg/ml) was given intracoronary and coronary venous blood samples were taken every 0.5–1.0 s; outflow curves were analyzed using the four aforementioned models. Measurements were done at baseline and during adenosine infusion. Absolute coronary plasma volume estimates varied by ~25% between models, while the relative volume increase during adenosine infusion was similar for all models. The gamma-variate, LDRW, and mono-exponential model resulted in volumes corresponding with literature, whereas the power-model seemed to overestimate the coronary plasma volume. The gamma-variate and LDRW model appear to be suitable alternative models to the mono-exponential model to analyze coronary indicator-dilution curves, particularly since these models are minimally influenced by outliers and do not depend on data of the descending slope of the curve only

Demographics and Physical Properties of Gas Out/Inflows at 0.4 < z < 1.4

We present Keck/LRIS spectra of over 200 galaxies with well-determined redshifts between 0.4 and 1.4. We combine new measurements of near-ultraviolet, low-ionization absorption lines with previously measured masses, luminosities, colors, and star formation rates to describe the demographics and properties of galactic flows. Among star-forming galaxies with blue colors, we find a net blueshift of the FeII absorption greater than 200 km/s (100 km/s) towards 2.5% (20%) of the galaxies. The fraction of blueshifted spectra does not vary significantly with stellar mass, color, or luminosity but does decline at specific star formation rates less than roughly 0.8 Gyr^{-1}. The insensitivity of the blueshifted fraction to galaxy properties requires collimated outflows at these redshifts, while the decline in outflow fraction with increasing blueshift might reflect the angular dependence of the outflow velocity. The low detection rate of infalling gas, 3 to 6% of the spectra, suggests an origin in (enriched) streams favorably aligned with our sightline. We find 4 of these 9 infalling streams have projected velocities commensurate with the kinematics of an extended disk or satellite galaxy. The strength of the MgII absorption increases with stellar mass, B-band luminosity, and U-B color, trends arising from a combination of more interstellar absorption at the systemic velocity and less emission filling in more massive galaxies. Our results provides a new quantitative understanding of gas flows between galaxies and the circumgalactic medium over a critical period in galaxy evolution.Comment: Accepted version in 2-column format with embedded figure