Structure-(in)dependent Interpretation of Phrases in Humans and LSTMs

In this study, we compared the performance of a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network to the behavior of human participants on a language task that requires hierarchically structured knowledge. We show that humans interpret ambiguous noun phrases, such as second blue ball, in line with their hierarchical constituent structure. LSTMs, instead, only do so after unambiguous training, and they do not systematically generalize to novel items. Overall, the results of our simulations indicate that a model can behave hierarchically without relying on hierarchical constituent structure

Aplicabilidade de tecidos biofuncionais no tratamento da dermatite atópica

Orientador: Maira Mitsue MukaiMonografia (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Curso de Especialização em DermatologiaInclui referênciasResumo: A dermatite atópica (DA) é uma doença cutânea inflamatória e crônica que geralmente começa durante os primeiros anos de vida e recorre com crises ao longo do tempo. Existem muitos fatores conhecidos por agravar a doença, incluindo alimentos e alérgenos inalantes, fatores climáticos, infecções por Staphylococcus aureus, estresse, irritantes químicos e físicos. No manejo da DA, a abordagem correta requer uma combinação de múltiplos tratamentos para identificar e eliminar os fatores desencadeantes e para melhorar a condição da barreira cutânea. Neste contexto, apresenta-se a correlação do uso de têxteis como adjuvantes no tratamento, ou até mesmo como possíveis fatores irritativos, visto que as roupas estão em contato direto com a pele durante períodos prolongados. De maneira geral, podemos concluir que alguns materiais têxteis já antigos são apropriados para uso em pacientes com DA, como o algodão e a seda. E alguns materiais novos quando aplicados nanotecnologia, conseguem entregar melhorias na qualidade da pele e barreira cutânea. Desta forma, conseguimos reduzir crises da doença, e gerar melhor qualidade de vida aos pacientes

An analytical method to convert between speech recognition thresholds and percentage-correct scores for speech-in-noise tests

Speech-in-noise tests use fixed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) procedures to measure the percentage of correctly recognized speech items at a fixed SNR or use adaptive procedures to measure the SNR corresponding to 50% correct (i.e., the speech recognition threshold, SRT). A direct comparison of these measures is not possible yet. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate that these measures can be converted when the speech-in-noise test meets specific criteria. Formulae to convert between SRT and percentage-correct were derived from basic concepts that underlie standard speech recognition models. Information about the audiogram is not being used in the proposed method. The method was validated by comparing the direct conversion by these formulae with the conversion using the more elaborate Speech Intelligibility Index model and a representative set of 60 audiograms (r¼0.993 and r¼0.994, respectively). Finally, the method was experimentally validated with the Afrikaans sentence-in-noise test (r¼0.866). The proposed formulae can be used when the speech-in-noise test uses steady-state masking noise that matches the spectrum of the speech. Because pure tone thresholds are not required for these calculations, the method is widely applicable.http://asa.scitation.org/journal/jasam2022Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog

Additive technology of obtaining products from ceramics

Created an original design of the device, which lets you create samples of thermoplastic ceramic slurry, which after sintering, are obtained ceramics with high strength and hardness parameters

Evaluating a smartphone digits-in-noise test as part of the audiometric test battery

BACKGROUND : Speech-in-noise tests have become a valuable part of the audiometric test battery providing an indication of a listener’s ability to function in background noise. A simple digitsin- noise (DIN) test could be valuable to support diagnostic hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings and counselling for both paediatric and adult populations. OBJECTIVE : The objective of this study was to evaluate the South African English smartphone DIN test’s performance as part of the audiometric test battery. DESIGN : This descriptive study evaluated 109 adult subjects (43 male and 66 female subjects) with and without sensorineural hearing loss by comparing pure-tone air conduction thresholds, speech recognition monaural performance scores (SRS dB) and the DIN speech reception threshold (SRT). An additional nine adult hearing aid users (four male and five female subjects) were included in a subset to determine aided and unaided DIN SRTs. RESULTS : The DIN SRT is strongly associated with the best ear 4 frequency pure-tone average (4FPTA) (rs = 0.81) and maximum SRS dB (r = 0.72). The DIN test had high sensitivity and specificity to identify abnormal pure-tone (0.88 and 0.88, respectively) and SRS dB (0.76 and 0.88, respectively) results. There was a mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement in the aided condition that demonstrated an overall benefit of 0.84 SNR dB. CONCLUSION : The DIN SRT was significantly correlated with the best ear 4FPTA and maximum SRS dB. The DIN SRT provides a useful measure of speech recognition in noise that can evaluate hearing aid fittings, manage counselling and hearing expectations.The National Research Foundation under grant number 88803.https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcdam2019Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog

OPTIMAL VELOCITY PROFILES FOR VAULT

The aim of this study was to determine which kinematic characteristics may be used as a performance indicator(s) for vault. Over 600 vaults (299 men and 216 Women, see Table 1) were recorded and analyzed using footage of 3 high-speed cameras taken at the 2010 Rotterdam Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. The kinematics were correlated with the judge’s outcome score: type of vault, difficulty and final score. The correlation coefficients between velocity at takeoff and final judges’ scores were r = 0.60 for men and r = 0.52 for women

Infectious endocarditis during pregnancy, problems in the decision-making process: a case report

Infective endocarditis in pregnancy has a low incidence, often being associated with a previous history of rheumatic or congenital heart disease. In most reports the disease tends to run a subacute course and to appear more frequently in the third trimester of pregnancy. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman with large vegetations on the mitral valve due to infective endocarditis detected at the 32nd week of her first pregnancy. The difficulties in selecting the appropriate management strategy, particularly optimal time and mode of delivery, optimal time and type of valve surgery, are emphasized

Towards a Critical Understanding of Music, Emotion and Self-Identity

The article begins by outlining a dominant conception of these relations in sociologically informed analysis of music, which sees music primarily as a positive resource for active self-making. My argument is that this conception rests on a problematic notion of the self and also on an overly optimistic understanding of music, which implicitly sees music as highly independent of negative social and historical processes. I then attempt to construct a) a more adequately critical conception of personal identity in modern societies; and b) a more balanced appraisal of music-society relations. I suggest two ways in which relations between self, music and society may not always be quite so positive or as healthy as the dominant conception suggests: 1) Music is now bound up with the incorporation of authenticity and creativity into capitalism, and with intensified consumption habits. 2) Emotional self-realisation through music is now linked to status competition. Interviews are analysed