Progression of Contralateral Hearing Loss in Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

Background and Introduction:Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are the most common tumors of the cerebellopontine angle, typically presenting unilaterally with ipsilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The mechanism of tumor-induced hearing loss has recently been shown to be related to secreted tumor factors, in addition to mechanical compression of the adjacent auditory nerve, and these factors may percolate through CSF or blood to affect contralateral hearing as well. Methods:This is a retrospective study of medical records for patients treated for VS at Mass Eye and Ear from January 1994 through October 2018. Included patients had unilateral VS and sequential audiometry allowing for longitudinal assessment of hearing over time. Mass Eye and Ear's audiology database was used to select age- and sex-matched case controls, also with sequential audiometry, from the non-VS population. Subgroup analysis was performed by age, sex, baseline hearing, and tumor size at initial diagnosis. Hearing loss progression was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis to account for variable follow-up times. Results:A total of 661 patients were identified with VS and sequential audiometry. The population was predominantly female vs. male (368 vs. 293,p= 0.0035), driven primarily by younger patients with Koos 4 tumors (76 female vs. 49 male,p= 0.016). Patients with normal baseline hearing bilaterally (N= 241) demonstrated no significant difference in hearing loss progression in VS-contralateral vs. control ears. Patients with abnormal baseline VS-ipsilateral hearing (N= 190), however, demonstrated significantly higher likelihood of reaching moderate SNHL in VS-contralateral ears. Subgroup analysis by age, sex, and baseline tumor size did not yield any subgroup-specific trends for hearing loss progression. Discussion and Conclusion:This is the largest study to date tracking long-term bilateral hearing outcomes in patients with VS, and demonstrates that, in patients with abnormal hearing in the VS-ipsilateral ear, there exists a long-term risk of progression to moderate hearing loss in the contralateral ear as well. Combined with the absence of significant changes in word understanding in the affected ears, these findings may provide clues to the nature of tumor-secreted factors involved in VS-associated hearing loss. Female predominance within the VS patient population is confirmed, driven mostly by younger female patients with Koos 4 tumors

Emoto - visualising the online response to London 2012.

In recent years we have moved from data scarcity to data abundance. As a response, a variety of methods have been adopted in art, design, business, science and government to understand and communicate meaning in data through visual form. emoto (emoto2012.org) is one such project, it visualised the online audience response to a major global event, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. emoto set out to both give expression to and augment online social phenomena, that are emergent and only recently made possible by access to huge real-time data streams. This report charts the development and release of the project, and positions it in relation to current debates on data and visualisation, for example, around the bias and accessibility of the data, and how knowledge practices are changing in an era of so-called 'big data.

SoftVoice improves speech recognition and reduces listening effort in cochlear implant users

Objectives:The ability to perceive soft speech by cochlear implant (CI) users is restricted in part by the inherent system noise produced by the speech processor, and in particular by the microphone(s). The algorithm "SoftVoice" (SV) was developed by Advanced Bionics to enhance the perception of soft speech by reducing the system noise in speech processors. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SV on speech recognition and listening effort.Design:Seventeen adult Advanced Bionics CI recipients were recruited and tested in two sessions. The effect of SV on speech recognition was tested by determining the SRT in quiet using the Matrix test. Based on the individual subjects' SRTs, we investigated speech-recognition scores at fixed speech levels, namely SRT -5 dB, SRT +0 dB, SRT +5 dB, and SRT +10 dB, again in quiet and using the Matrix test. Listening effort was measured at each of these speech levels subjectively by using a rating scale, and objectively by determining pupil dilation with pupillometry. To verify whether SoftVoice had any negative effects on speech perception in noise, we determined the SRT in steady state, speech-weighted noise of 60 dBA.Results:Our results revealed a significant improvement of 2.0 dB on the SRT in quiet with SoftVoice. The average SRT in quiet without SoftVoice was 38 dBA. SoftVoice did not affect the SRT in steady state, speech-weighted noise of 60 dB. At an average speech level of 33 dBA (SRT -5 dB) and 38 dBA (SRT +0 dB) in quiet, significant improvements of 17% and 9% on speech-recognition scores were found with SoftVoice, respectively. At higher speech levels, SoftVoice did not significantly affect speech recognition. Pupillometry did not show significant effects of SoftVoice at any speech level. However, subjective ratings of listening effort indicated a decrease of listening effort with SoftVoice at a speech level of 33 dBA.Conclusions:We conclude that SoftVoice substantially improves recognition of soft speech and lowers subjective listening effort at low speech levels in quiet. However, no significant effect of SoftVoice was found on pupil dilation. As SRTs in noise were not statistically significantly affected by SoftVoice, we conclude that SoftVoice can be used in noisy listening conditions with little negative impact on speech recognition, if any. The increased power demands of the algorithm are considered to be negligible. It is expected that SoftVoice will reduce power consumption at low ambient sound levels. These results support the use of SoftVoice as a standard feature of Advanced Bionics CI fittings for everyday use.Disorders of the head and nec

Use of the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Adolescents

No assessment tools are available to measure shame and guilt in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), while these self-conscious emotions might play a role in the frequently noted social and behavioral problems in this group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire (BSGQ) in DHH children. In addition, we examined associations of shame and guilt with social anxiety, self-esteem, delinquency, and psychopathic behaviors. A sum of 225 hearing (Mage= 11.62 years) and 108 DHH (Mage= 11.82 years) participants completed the self-report BSGQ. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure (i.e., shame and guilt) of the BSGQ in the DHH group. Measurement invariance was established across both groups. However, the DHH group reported lower levels of self-conscious emotions in comparison with the hearing group. The BSGQ showed good concurrent validity, where shame was associated with higher levels of social anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem, and guilt was associated with lower levels of delinquency and psychopathic behavior in both groups. Future research should investigate the potential behavioral consequences of lower reported levels of self-conscious emotions in DHH youth

Use of the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire in deaf and hard of hearing children and adolescents

No assessment tools are available to measure shame and guilt in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), while theseself-conscious emotions might play a role in the frequently noted social and behavioral problems in this group. Therefore,the aim of this study was to validate the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire (BSGQ) in DHH children. In addition, weexamined associations of shame and guilt with social anxiety, self-esteem, delinquency, and psychopathic behaviors. Asum of 225 hearing (Mage = 11.62 years) and 108 DHH (Mage = 11.82 years) participants completed the self-report BSGQ.Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure (i.e., shame and guilt) of the BSGQ in the DHHgroup. Measurement invariance was established across both groups. However, the DHH group reported lower levels ofself-conscious emotions in comparison with the hearing group. The BSGQ showed good concurrent validity, where shamewas associated with higher levels of social anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem, and guilt was associated with lowerlevels of delinquency and psychopathic behavior in both groups. Future research should investigate the potential behavioralconsequences of lower reported levels of self-conscious emotions in DHH youth.Pathways through Adolescenc

The school career of children with hearing loss in different primary educational settings: a large longitudinal nationwide study

Pathways through Adolescenc

Low empathy in deaf and hard of hearing (pre)adolescents compared to normal hearing controls

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the level of empathy in deaf and hard of hearing (pre)adolescents compared to normal hearing controls and to define the influence of language and various hearing loss characteristics on the development of empathy. Methods The study group (mean age 11.9 years) consisted of 122 deaf and hard of hearing children (52 children with cochlear implants and 70 children with conventional hearing aids) and 162 normal hearing children. The two groups were compared using self-reports, a parent-report and observation tasks to rate the children’s level of empathy, their attendance to others’ emotions, emotion recognition, and supportive behavior. Results Deaf and hard of hearing children reported lower levels of cognitive empathy and prosocial motivation than normal hearing children, regardless of their type of hearing device. The level of emotion recognition was equal in both groups. During observations, deaf and hard of hearing children showed more attention to the emotion evoking events but less supportive behavior compared to their normal hearing peers. Deaf and hard of hearing children attending mainstream education or using oral language show higher levels of cognitive empathy and prosocial motivation than deaf and hard of hearing children who use sign (supported) language or attend special education. However, they are still outperformed by normal hearing children. Conclusions Deaf and hard of hearing children, especially those in special education, show lower levels of empathy than normal hearing children, which can have consequences for initiating and maintaining relationships.Pathways through Adolescenc

Low empathy in deaf and hard of hearing (pre)adolescents compared to normal hearing controls (vol 10, e0124102, 2015)

Disorders of the head and nec

Environmental Particle Emissions due to Automated Drilling of Polypropylene Composites and Nanocomposites Reinforced with Talc, Montmorillonite and Wollastonite

In this study, the effect on nanoparticle emissions due to drilling on Polypropylene (PP) reinforced with 20% talc, 5% montmorillonite (MMT) and 5% Wollastonite (WO) is investigated. The study is the first to explore the nanoparticle release from WO and talc reinforced composites and compares the results to previously researched MMT. With 5% WO, equivalent tensile properties with a 10 % weight reduction were obtained relative to the reference 20% talc sample. The materials were fabricated through injection moulding. The nanorelease studies were undertaken using the controlled drilling methodology for nanoparticle exposure assessment developed within the European Commission funded SIRENA Life 11 ENV/ES/506 project. Measurements were taken using CPC and DMS50 equipment for real-time characterization and measurements. The particle number concentration (of particles <1000nm) and particle size distribution (4.87nm - 562.34nm) of the particles emitted during drilling were evaluated to investigate the effect of the silicate fillers on the particles released. The nano-filled samples exhibited a 33% decrease (MMT sample) or a 30% increase (WO sample) on the average particle number concentration released in comparison to the neat polypropylene sample. The size distribution data displayed a substantial percentage of the particles released from the PP, PP/WO and PP/MMT samples to be between 5-20nm, whereas the PP/talc sample emitted larger particle diameters.The work is funded by and part of the European Commission Life project named Simulation of the release of nanomaterials from consumer products for environmental exposure assessment (SIRENA, Pr. No. LIFE 11 ENV/ES/596). The access and use of the facilities at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) was funded by QualityNano Project through Transnational Access (TA Application VITO-TAF-382 and VITO-TAF-500) under the European Commission, Grant Agreement No: INFRA-2010-262163. Kristof is also thankful for partial funding by the School of Engineering at Robert Gordon University for his studentship

A molecular dynamics boundary condition for heat exchange between walls and a fluid

In molecular dynamics simulations of heat transfer in micro channels, a lot of computation time is used when the wall molecules are explicitly simulated. To save computation time, implicit boundary conditions, such as the Maxwell conditions, can be used. With these boundary conditions, heat transfer is still a problem. In this work, we derive a new boundary condition based on a vibrating potential wall. The heat-transfer properties of the new boundary condition are shown to be comparable with those of the explicit wall. The computation time needed for the implicit boundary condition is very small compared with that needed for the explicit simulation