Hearing Hebrew Pharyngeals: Experimental evidence for a covert phonemic distinction

We report a lexical decision task experiment, in which words were manipulated such that two different sounds had been switched with each other: the voiceless pharyngeal and uvular fricatives. The former is a marked sound of some dialects of Modern Hebrew, the latter is a merged category corresponding to both the historical pharyngeal and the uvular in the production of most speakers. The two categories are represented by different letters in the orthographic system and each is associated with unique phonological processes. Socially, the pharyngeal is stereotyped; merging the categories is both more common and more prestigious in most social contexts. Speakers of Modern Hebrew with varied linguistic backgrounds, including Merged speakers who have not been exposed to non-merged dialects during most of their lives, are very good at acoustically distinguishing between these sounds (only slightly underperforming compared with Non-merged speakers). Nevertheless, we found that manipulated stimuli - which were not part of the input for language learners of either dialect - provoke different acceptance rates and reaction times, depending on the listener\u27s home dialect, in certain cases regardless of their production grammar. In particular, Non-merged speakers and Merged speakers who are 2nd generation listeners to non-merged dialects rejected switched category items at much higher rates and took longer to process them compared with Merged speakers who did not have early experience with the categorical distinction. We discuss these findings in the context of models of phonological representation and auditory word recognition

Towards the development of sustainable concrete incorporating waste tyre rubbers:A long-term study of physical, mechanical & durability properties and environmental impact

The dramatic increase in the demand for vehicle tyres and consequently the rapid rise in associated waste rubber has been a concern for several decades. Rubber disposal has adverse effects on the environment, human health and a detrimental effect on sustainable development across the world. This paper investigates the effectiveness of a sodium hydroxide treatment method for waste rubber in addition to the utilisation of silica fume to improve the interfacial transition zone between the rubber and cement matrix. This has been shown to have important implication for the long-term development of physical and mechanical properties of concrete aged for 2 years. This study emphasises that while satisfactory improvements are attained through the rubber treatment alone, the actual performance of rubberized concrete containing silica fume could only be investigated over the long term owing to the slow pozzolanic reaction and its dependency on the formation of calcium hydroxide. The pre-treatment of rubber and more specifically the utilisation of silica fume improved the durability of concrete over rubber replacement levels from ∼20% to 40%. Long-term thermal conductivity and sound permeability of concrete containing tyre rubber were shown to have important consequences in energy conservation and social sustainability in construction practice. Results reported on the cost efficiency and consequently the CO2 emissions of concrete containing rubber do not only enhance awareness of the development of sustainable construction materials but also lead a cleaner alternative waste management route for tyre rubber

Improving transit service connectivity : the application of operations planning and operations control strategies

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 131-133).(cont.) showed that the benefits accrued from coordinating schedules on Route 53 were not significant mainly due to the headway compatibility requirement which reduces the number of transfers amenable for improvement. Greater benefits were encountered when the schedules on the connecting routes were allowed to change as well. For Route 63, schedule coordination is not worth attempting due to the combination of the short six-minute headway on that route and the high variability in vehicle arrival times. On the control side, the practice currently adopted at CTA is to hold a "ready" vehicle at a transfer stop if the connecting vehicle has already arrived and this is likely to be an effective as well as easy-to-implement control policy.Providing direct public transportation service for every origin-destination pair is very expensive if not infeasible for a transit agency, so it relies on the willingness of passengers to transfer. However, transfers usually reduce the attractiveness of transit because they add uncertainty, discomfort, waiting time and cost to most trips. This research focuses on examining different transfer coordination strategies that can reduce the disutility of transfers by minimizing the expected waiting times of transferring passengers. Two models are developed to assess scheduling and real-time holding decision rules for vehicles on a transit corridor. The operations planning model involves the simultaneous application of two planning strategies: changing the terminal departure time and inserting slack time. The operations control model has the capability to utilize any available current network information and to determine optimal dispatch times for vehicles at transfer stops. The two models were tested on a hypothetical corridor to illustrate their applicability in coordinating transfers. On the planning side, results showed that there is a high threshold for introducing slack time to the schedule and that the greatest benefits from schedule coordination are attained when the variance of vehicle arrival times is small and the headway on the analysis corridor is long. On the control side, it was shown that transfer demand is a major driving factor behind any holding recommendation. Moreover, the greatest benefits from real-time coordination occur when the required holding time and the preceding headway of the vehicle on the destination line are short and its following headway is long. The application of the models to two CTA bus routes: 53 and 63,by Bassel J. Younan.S.M

Gene editing restores dystrophin expression in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a protein that maintains muscle integrity and function, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The deltaE50-MD dog model of DMD harbors a mutation corresponding to a mutational “hotspot” in the human DMD gene. We used adeno-associated viruses to deliver CRISPR gene editing components to four dogs and examined dystrophin protein expression 6 weeks after intramuscular delivery (n = 2) or 8 weeks after systemic delivery (n = 2). After systemic delivery in skeletal muscle, dystrophin was restored to levels ranging from 3 to 90% of normal, depending on muscle type. In cardiac muscle, dystrophin levels in the dog receiving the highest dose reached 92% of normal. The treated dogs also showed improved muscle histology. These large-animal data support the concept that, with further development, gene editing approaches may prove clinically useful for the treatment of DMD

Low-dose stereotactic radiosurgery is inadequate for medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: a case report

AbstractThe successful surgical treatment of medically refractory epilepsy is based on one of three different principles: (1) elimination of the epileptic focus, (2) interruption of the pathways of neural propagation, and (3) increasing the seizure threshold through cerebral lesions or electrical stimulation. Temporal lobe epilepsy, being the most common focal epilepsy, may ultimately require temporal lobectomy. This is a case report of a 36-year-old male with drug-resistant right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy who failed to obtain seizure control after stereotactic radiosurgery to the seizure focus. Complex-partial seizures occurred 6–7 times monthly, and consisted of a loss of awareness followed by involuntary movements of the right arm. EEG/CC TV monitoring indicated a right mesial temporal lobe focus, which was corroborated by decreased uptake in the right temporal lobe by FDG-PET and by MRI findings of right hippocampal sclerosis. Stereotactic radiosurgery was performed with a 4MV linac, utilizing three isocenters with collimator sizes of 10, 10, and 7 mm respectively. A dose of 1500 cGy (max dose 2535 cGy) was delivered in a single fraction to the patient’s right amygdala and hippocampus. There were no acute complications. Following radiosurgery the patient’s seizures were improved in both frequency and intensity for approximately 3 months. Antiepileptic medications were continued. Thereafter, seizures increased in both frequency and intensity, occurring 10–20 times monthly. At 1 year post radiosurgery, standard right temporal lobectomy including amygdalohippocampectomy was performed with subsequent resolution of complex-partial seizures. Histopathology of the resected temporal lobe revealed hippocampal cell loss and fibrillary astrocytosis, consistent with hippocampal sclerosis. No radiation-induced histopathologic changes were seen. We conclude that low-dose radiosurgery doses temporarily changed the intensity and character of seizure activity, but actually increased seizure activity long-term. If radiosurgery is to be an effective alternative to temporal lobectomy for medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy, higher radiosurgery doses will be required. The toxicity and efficacy of higher-dose radiosurgery is currently under investigation

Prospects and challenges of concentrated solar photovoltaics and enhanced geothermal energy technologies

Reducing the total emissions of energy generation systems is a pragmatic approach for limiting the environmental pollution and associated climate change problems. Socio economic activities in the 21st century is highly determined by the energy generation mediums, particularly the renewable resources, across the world. Therefore, a thorough investigation into the technologies used in harnessing these energy generation mediums should contribute to their further advancement. Concentrated Solar Photovoltaics (CSP) and Enhanced Geothermal Energy (EGE) are considered as emerging renewable energy technologies with high potential to be used as suitable replacements for fossil products (petroleum, coal, natural gas etc.). Despite the accelerated developments in these technologies, they are still facing many challenges in terms of cost. This review paper presents a detailed background about these renewable energy technologies and their main types such as solar tower, parabolic trough, and so on. Also, the principle challenges impeding the advancement of these energy technologies into commercialisation are discussed. Possible solutions for the main challenges are presented and the future prospects for such energy generation mediums are reported

The risk of miscarriage following COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis

STUDY QUESTION: What is the risk of miscarriage among pregnant women who received any of the COVID-19 vaccines? SUMMARY ANSWER: There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mass roll-out of vaccines helped to boost herd immunity and reduced hospital admissions, morbidity and mortality. Still, many were concerned about the safety of vaccinesfor pregnancy, which may have limited their uptake among pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception until June 2022 using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: We included observational and interventional studies that enrolled pregnant women and evaluated any of the available COVID-19 vaccines compared to placebo or no vaccination. We primarily reported on miscarriage in addition to ongoing pregnancy and/or live birth. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: We included data from 21 studies (5 randomised trials and 16 observational studies) reporting on 149,685 women. The pooled rate of miscarriage among women who received a COVID-19 vaccine was 9% (n = 147,49/123,185, 95%CI 0.05-0.14). Compared to those who received a placebo or no vaccination, women who received a COVID-19 vaccine did not have a higher risk of miscarriage (RR 1.07, 95%CI 0.89-1.28, I2 35.8%) and had comparable rates for ongoing pregnancy or live birth (RR 1.00, 95%CI 0.97-1.03, I2 10.72%). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Our analysis was limited to observational evidence with varied reporting, high heterogeneity and risk of bias across included studies, which may limit the generalisability and confidence in our findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with an increase in the risk of miscarriage or reduced rates of ongoing pregnancy or live birth among women of reproductive age. The current evidence remains limited and larger population studies are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 in pregnancy. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST: No direct funding was provided to support this work. MPR is funded by the Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Heath Grant No: MR/N022556/1. BHA hold a personal development award from the National Institute of Health Research in the UK. All authors declare no conflict of interest. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021289098

Zonisamide (CI-912) and Cognition: Results from Preliminary Study

Nine patients with refractory partial seizures were evaluated in a pilot study of a new anticonvulsant compound, zonisamide (l,2-benzisoxazole-3-methane-sulfonamide; CI-912). Cognitive functioning was evaluated prior to treatment with zonisamide and repeated after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment with zonisamide. At minimum steady-state plasma concentrations >30 jjug/ml, zonisamide appeared to affect specific cognitive functions such as acquisition and consolidation of new information. Previously learned material, such as vocabulary, and psychomotor performance were not affected. Verbal learning was affected, while visual-perceptual learning was unimpaired. These cognitive effects were observed in the absence of the usual clinical signs and symptoms of toxicity. A linear relationship was found between impairment of cognitive abilities and the minimum plasma concentration (r = -0.73; p < 0.05). Findings also suggest the development of tolerance to the adverse cognitive effects. RESUMEN En un estudio piloto realizado para valorar la eficacia de la zonisamida (1,2-Bencisoxazol-melanosulfonamida [CI-912]), un nuevo compuesto anticonvulsive se han evaluado unos 9 pa-cientes con ataques parciales refractarios al tratamiento. Se de-terminÓ la capacidad cognitiva anterior al tratamiento y se re-pitio 12 y 24 semanas despuÉs del tratamiento con zonisamida. Con concentraciones plasmÁticas mÍnimas estables per encima de 30 mcg/ml, la zonisamida afectÓ las funciones cognitives especÍficas tales como la adquisiciÓn y consolidaciÓn de nueva informaciÓn. El material aprendido previamente, tal como el vo-cabulario, y las funciones psicomotoras no se afectaron. El aprendizaje verbal se modificÓ mientras que el aprendizaje visuo-perfectivo no se modificÓ. Estos efectos cognitivos se ob-servaron en ausencia de los habituales signos y sÍntomas clÍnicos de toxicidad. Se encontrÓ una relaciÓn lineal entre la alteraciÓn de las posibilidades cognitivas y la concentraciÓn plasmÁtica mÍnima (r = -0.73, p < 0.05). Estos hallazgos tambiÉn sugieren el desarrollo de una tolerancia a los efectos cognitivos adversos. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 9 Patienten mit rezidivierenden Partial-AnfÄllen wurden in einer Pilotstudie mit einer neuen antiepileptischen Substanz: Zonisamide untersucht. Die kognitiven Funktionen wurden vor der Behandlung mit Zonisamide geprtÜft und nach 12 und 24 Therapiewochen mit Zonisamide wiederholt. Bei einem Min-destplasmaspiegel von 30 mcg/ml schien Zonisamide spezifische kognitive FÄhigkeiten wie Aufnahme und Speicherung neuer In-formationen zu beeintrÄchtigen. Vorher gelernte Inhalte wie sprachliche und psychomotorische Fertigkeiten wurden nicht beeinflußt. Verbales Lernen war ebenfalls betroffen, wÄhrend visuell, perzeptives Lernen nicht verschlechtert war. Diese BeeintrÄchtigung kognitiver Funktionen wurde bei fehlenden klinischen Intoxikationszeichen beobachtet. Eine lineare Bezie-hung zwischen Verschlechterung kognitiver FÄhigkeiten und Mindest-Plasmaspiegel konnte hergestellt werden (r = -0,73; p < 0,05). Allerdings lassen die Ergebnisse auch auf eine GewÖhnung an diese unerwÜnschten Nebenwirkungen schließen.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65995/1/j.1528-1157.1987.tb03624.x.pd

AI solutions for human problems

Abstract Background Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition. Persistent bacterial colonisation in the stable state with increased and sometimes altered bacterial burden during exacerbations are accepted as key features in the pathophysiology. The extent to which respiratory viruses are present during stable periods and in exacerbations is less well understood. Methods This study aimed to determine the incidence of respiratory viruses within a cohort of bronchiectasis patients with acute exacerbations at a teaching hospital and, separately, in a group of patients with stable bronchiectasis. In the group of stable patients, a panel of respiratory viruses were assayed for using real time quantitative PCR in respiratory secretions and exhaled breath. The Impact of virus detection on exacerbation rates and development of symptomatic infection was evaluated. Results Routine hospital-based viral PCR testing was only requested in 28% of admissions for an exacerbation. In our cohort of stable bronchiectasis patients, viruses were detected in 92% of patients during the winter season, and 33% of patients during the summer season. In the 2-month follow up period, 2 of 27 patients presented with an exacerbation. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated that respiratory viruses are commonly detected in patients with stable bronchiectasis. They are frequently detected during asymptomatic viral periods, and multiple viruses are often present concurrently

Ethylene-mediated nitric oxide depletion pre-adapts plants to hypoxia stress

Timely perception of adverse environmental changes is critical for survival. Dynamic changes in gases are important cues for plants to sense environmental perturbations, such as submergence. In Arabidopsis thaliana, changes in oxygen and nitric oxide (NO) control the stability of ERFVII transcription factors. ERFVII proteolysis is regulated by the N-degron pathway and mediates adaptation to flooding-induced hypoxia. However, how plants detect and transduce early submergence signals remains elusive. Here we show that plants can rapidly detect submergence through passive ethylene entrapment and use this signal to pre-adapt to impending hypoxia. Ethylene can enhance ERFVII stability prior to hypoxia by increasing the NO-scavenger PHYTOGLOBIN1. This ethylene-mediated NO depletion and consequent ERFVII accumulation pre-adapts plants to survive subsequent hypoxia. Our results reveal the biological link between three gaseous signals for the regulation of flooding survival and identifies key regulatory targets for early stress perception that could be pivotal for developing flood-tolerant crops