Effects of Aging and Spectral Shaping on the Sub-cortical (Brainstem) Differentiation of Contrastive Stop Consonants

Purpose: The objectives of this dissertation are to: (1) evaluate the influence of aging on the sub-cortical (brainstem) differentiation of voiced stop consonants (i.e. /b-d-g/); (2) determine whether potential aging deficits at the brainstem level influence behavioral identification of the /b-d-g/ stimuli, (3) investigate whether spectral shaping diminishes any aging impairments at the brainstem level; and (4) if so, whether minimizing these deficits improves the behavioral identification of the speech stimuli. Subjects: Behavioral and electrophysiological responses were collected from 11 older adults (\u3e 50 years old) with near-normal to normal hearing and were compared to those of 16 normal-hearing younger adults (control group). Stimuli and Methods: Speech- evoked auditory brainstem responses (Speech-ABRs) were recorded for three 100-ms long /b-d-g/ consonant-vowel exemplars in unshaped and shaped conditions, for a total of six stimuli. Frequency-dependent spectral-shaping enhanced the second formant (F2) transition relative to the rest of the stimulus, such that it reduced gain for low frequencies; and increased gain for mid and high frequencies, the frequency region of the F2 transition in the /b-d-g/ syllables. Behavioral identification of 15-step perceptual unshaped and shaped /b-d-g/ continua was assessed by generating psychometric functions in order to quantify stimuli perception. Speech ABR peak amplitudes and latencies and stop consonant differentiation scores were measured for 6 stimuli (3 unshaped stimuli and 3 shaped stimuli). Summary of Findings: Older adults exhibited more robust categorical perception, and subtle sub-cortical deficits when compared to younger adults. Individual data showed fewer expected latency patterns for the /b-d-g/ speech-ABRs in older adults as opposed to younger adults, especially for major peaks. Spectral shaping improved the stop consonant differentiation score for major peaks in older adults, such that it moved older adults in the direction of the younger adults’ responses. Conclusion: Sub-cortical impairments at least those measured in this study do not seem to influence the behavioral differentiation of stop consonants in older adults. On the other hand, cue enhancement by spectral shaping seems to overcome some of the deficits noted at the electrophysiological level. However, due to a possible ceiling effect, improvements to the originally robust perception of older adults, at the behavioral level were not found. Significance: Aging seems to reduce the sub-cortical responsiveness to dynamic spectral cues without distorting the spectral coding as evident by the “reparable” age-related changes seen at the electrophysiological level. Cue enhancement appears to increase the neural responsiveness of aged but intact neurons, yielding a better sub-cortical differentiation of stop consonants

An investigation into the prospects of green building practice in Nigeria

Green Building (GB) is a concept that gains currency as an important mitigating measure against the negative side effects of developmental activities. This is a report on investigation carried out on the prospects of GB practice in Nigeria. This research work entails review of related literature to establish the concept of GB, problems militating against the practice of GB and method of constructing GB. A total of 50 structured questionnaires were distributed, out of which 40 were received. Practice of GB in Nigeria, factors hindering the practice and benefits of GB were investigated. Based on Likert scale ranking, results show that GB is currently not practiced and the need for it exist. Also, lack of awareness is the most prominent factor hindering the construction of GB, followed by 'Lack of enabling environment in the form of policy or legislation that will encourage prospective clients to use GB and 'Economic situation of the country'. Health and productivity gain is identified as the most important benefit of green building, followed by 'preservation of natural resources while taking care of their health' and 'attraction and retention of employee'. It was recommended that public enlightenment should be done by Non Governmental Organizations, government and professional bodies, the practice of Green building should be encouraged by the government, request for construction environmental management plan from contractors as part of tender documents and the government should liaise with the industry's stakeholders to establish a construction bank that will empower the people

Gambaran Penyakit dan Vektor Demam Berdarah Dengue (Dbd)

Penulisan ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran penyakit dan vektor Demam Berdarah (DBD) dengan mengguna-kan metode tinjauan literatur (library research). Dari pembahasan dapat disimpulkan bahwa sejauh ini dikenal dua jenis vektor DBD yaitu nyamuk Aedes aegypti dan Ae. albopictus. Siklus normal infeksi DBD terjadi antara manusia – nyamuk Aedes – manusia. Dari darah penderita yang dihisap, nyamuk betina dapat menularkan virus DBD setelah melewati masa inkubasi 8-10 hari yang membuat virus mengalami replikasi (perbanyakan) dan penyebaran yang berakhir pada infeksi saluran kelenjar ludah sehingga nyamuk menjadi tertular selama hidupnya.Sejauh ini karena DBD merupakan penyakit virus, maka tidak ada pengobatan untuk menghentikan atau memperlambat per-kembangan virus ini. Pengobatan hanya dapat dilakukan dengan cara simptomatis yaitu menghilangkan gejala-gejala yang terlihat setiap penderita. Cairan bisa diberikan untuk mengurangi dehidrasi dan obat-obatan diberikan untuk mengurangi demam, serta mengatasi perdarahan

Validation of Diabetes Mellitus Patient Behavior Questionnaire in Primary Health Care Service

This study aimed to develop and validation a questionnaire as measurement instrument for knowledge and adherence behavior of DM patients in primary health care. Cross sectional study design was conducted in diabetes mellitus patient. Inclusion criteria were patients in the age group 18-65 years, diagnosed with DM, receiving at least one oral antidiabetic medication. Questionnaire questions for behavioral item were developed based on Diabetes Mellitus management guidelines and references to previous studies. Evaluation and validation by expert was carried out on diabetes mellitus experts and clinical psychologists. The pilot study was conducted on 10 healthy patients and 10 patients with diabetes who enrolled inclusion criteria. Questionnaire validation test was conducted with 41 DM outpatient at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital in Yogyakarta. Collecting data by interviewing patients based on questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS with Pearson correlation coefficients for validation test and Cronbach alpha coefficients for reliability test of the questionnaire. Adherence behavior questionnaire consists of 12 question items, which are divided into three domains: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. Validation results showed 12 valid items where the pearson correlation value was>0.308 (n=41). Cronbach alpha as reliability test results showed 0.78. This result showed a questionnaire were valid and reliable in Diabetes Mellitus patients. This instrument would be use in primary health care for measuring adherence behavior of DM patients

A Linguistic Study of Shop Signs in Salt, Jordan

Shop signs are seen as a reflection of the socio-cultural background of the place in which the shop is located. This paper studies the shop signs in Salt, Jordan because it is one of the most popular cities in the country and it has not yet been explored adequately. These shop sings are collected from two main streets in two different areas of Salt: Hamzih Prince Street and Al Hamam Street. A digital camera is used to capture the shop signs on these streets. In addition, the study examines the shop signs using both quantitative and qualitative measures. It focuses on the language choice, the arrangement of languages and the linguistic features of these signs, i.e. phonetic, morphological, semantic, and syntactic. In addition, it studies the pragmatic functions of these shop signs. The study concludes that Salt is a conservative and traditional county in Jordan

Culture and Moral Values and Sustainable Development in Bayelsa State: The Role of Social Studies Education

It is a fact that there is growing decadence of culture and moral value in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region. There seems to be an increased rate of disregard of indigenous societal norms, ethical values and culture to the embracing of alien culture and moral values. The current system of our education laden with foreign traits is the means through which alien culture and values are inculcated and these are inimical to the indigenous culture and values of Bayelsa People. The neglect of indigenous culture and values, in preference to alien ones, result in vices and problems in the Niger Delta societies such as sea piracy, armed robbery militancy, violent crime, terrorism, homosexuality and many others that hinder developmental strides. It is against this background that this paper considers the use of social studies education as a means by which Bayelsa State and Niger Delta to obtain the much needed cutlure and values geared towards sustainable development. The paper is an assessment of how social studies can bring back the Izon culture and values as a means of sustainable development. The paper employs secondary sources of data, especially the internet, using a theoretical framework of structural functionalism. To this end, we recommend social studies education for culture values to be part and parcel of our indigenous education curricula to bring about sustainable development.Keywords: Culture, Society, Moral, Values. Developmen

Proposal for a new method for teaching fundamental motor skills

AbstractDuring the period of acquisition and first practice of movement skills, learning becomes more effective when various sensory channels are used. According to the Dual Coding Theory, students as learners code both visually and verbally incoming information into knowledge that can be stored and retrieved for subsequent use. The aim of the present study is the proposal of a new method for the teaching of fundamental motor skills that will be depended on a visual coding of movement information. Particularly, the morphological method for the analysis of dance is the proposed method according to which graphic visual symbols will be used to represent movement skills. It is expected that the use of the proposed teaching method will make teaching more effective, improving in this way the students’ motor skills

Dynamics of a Self-interacting Scalar Field Trapped in the Braneworld for a Wide Variety of Self-interaction Potentials

We apply the dynamical systems tools to study the linear dynamics of a self-interacting scalar field trapped in the braneworld, for a wide variety of self-interaction potentials. We focus on Randall-Sundrum (RS) and on Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP) braneworld models exclusively. These models are complementary to each other: while the RS brane produces ultra-violet (UV) corrections to general relativity, the DGP braneworld modifies Einstein's theory at large scales, i. e., produces infra-red (IR) modifications of general relativity. This study of the asymptotic properties of both braneworld models, shows -- in the phase space -- the way the dynamics of a scalar field trapped in the brane departs from standard general relativity behaviour.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures and 5 table

Strategi Bertahan Hidup Rumah Tangga Terdampak Pembangunan Bandara Internasional Kulon Progo

Pasca pembebasan lahan pembangunan Bandara Internasional Kulon Progo terjadi Perubahan komponen penghidupan pada rumah tangga di kawasan terdampak. Tujuan dari penelitian ini menganalisis karakteristik kehidupan rumah tangga terdampak dan mengeksplorasi strategi bertahan hidup rumah tangga terdampak lahan pembangunan Bandara Internasional Kulon Progo. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologi. Teknik snowball digunakan untuk melakukan pemilihan informan yang dikolaborasikan dengan teknik purposive untuk mendapatkan informasi yang sesuai dengan tujuan penelitian. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa rumah tangga dengan aset yang beragam mampu dengan baik menghadapi kerentanan. Strategi bertahan hidup yang dipilih oleh rumah tangga terdampak pembangunan Bandara Internasional dapat dibedakan menjadi dua yaitu strategi bertahan hidup berdasarkan pola penghidupan sebelum adanya pembebasan lahan (survival, migrasi, intensifikasi, ekstensifikasi dan diversifikasi) dan strategi baru pasca pembebasan lahan (Investasi, substitusi, dan passive Income)