Speech disfluencies in Parkinson's disease Zaburzenia płynności mówienia w chorobie Parkinsona

Abstract Introduction: Even though speech disfluency is listed in the clinical description of Parkinson's disease (PD), its nature, intensity, symptomatology, and the effect on verbal communication have not hitherto been defined. Aim of the research: The research paper presents the results of studies aimed at the description of speech disfluencies in PD and the influence on verbal communication. Material and methods: The tests involved 10 patients from 54 to 72 years of age with documented PD, responsive to L-dopa preparations. The principal method of the study was based on the linguistic analysis of the utterances produced by the people with PD. Results: The intensity of the speech disfluency observed in the utterances of persons with PD ranged from 6.6% to 23.0%, so it was significantly higher than that which is assumed as acceptable (3-5%); the speaking rate of the examined persons ranged from 0.7 syllabes (syl.)/s to 4.0 syl./s, and only 2 examined persons spoke with a rate considered to be correct (4-6 syl./s). This demonstrates that speech disfluency is a communication barrier in PD. Conclusions: The absence of differentiation in the speech disfluency (SD) severity between different types of verbal utterances (difference not statistically significant) and a specified hierarchy of SD symptoms indicate that the speech disfluency in PD has an essentially organic background and is generated by cognitive, linguistic, and motor deficits resulting from the damage to the central nervous system. This is also confirmed by the established hierarchy of utterances with respect to the SD intensity, not excluding the simultaneous participation of the emotional factor

The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and precision of shower reconstructions

Astrophysical Sources of Cosmic Rays and Related Measurements with the Pierre Auger Observatory

Studies of the correlations of ultra-high energy cosmic ray directions with extra-Galactic objects, of general anisotropy, of photons and neutrinos, and of other astrophysical effects, with the Pierre Auger Observatory. Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 2009

Operations of and Future Plans for the Pierre Auger Observatory

Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 2009International audienceTechnical reports on operations and features of the Pierre Auger Observatory, including ongoing and planned enhancements and the status of the future northern hemisphere portion of the Observatory. Contributions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009