Speech intelligibility and prosody production in children with cochlear implants

Objectives—The purpose of the current study was to examine the relation between speech intelligibility and prosody production in children who use cochlear implants. Methods—The Beginner\u27s Intelligibility Test (BIT) and Prosodic Utterance Production (PUP) task were administered to 15 children who use cochlear implants and 10 children with normal hearing. Adult listeners with normal hearing judged the intelligibility of the words in the BIT sentences, identified the PUP sentences as one of four grammatical or emotional moods (i.e., declarative, interrogative, happy, or sad), and rated the PUP sentences according to how well they thought the child conveyed the designated mood. Results—Percent correct scores were higher for intelligibility than for prosody and higher for children with normal hearing than for children with cochlear implants. Declarative sentences were most readily identified and received the highest ratings by adult listeners; interrogative sentences were least readily identified and received the lowest ratings. Correlations between intelligibility and all mood identification and rating scores except declarative were not significant. Discussion—The findings suggest that the development of speech intelligibility progresses ahead of prosody in both children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing; however, children with normal hearing still perform better than children with cochlear implants on measures of intelligibility and prosody even after accounting for hearing age. Problems with interrogative intonation may be related to more general restrictions on rising intonation, and th

Heavy Ion Test Report for the LTC6268-10 Operational Amplifier

The purpose of this test is to determine the heavy ion-induced single-event effect (SEE) susceptibility of the LTC6268-10 from Linear Technology Corp

Utility of 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Cholesterol Guidelines in HIV-Infected Adults With Carotid Atherosclerosis.

BackgroundAlthough HIV is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, it is unknown whether guidelines can identify HIV-infected adults who may benefit from statins. We compared the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and 2004 Adult Treatment Panel III recommendations in HIV-infected adults and evaluated associations with carotid artery intima-media thickness and plaque.Methods and resultsCarotid artery intima-media thickness was measured at baseline and 3 years later in 352 HIV-infected adults without clinical atherosclerotic CVD and not on statins. Plaque was defined as IMT >1.5 mm in any segment. At baseline, the median age was 43 (interquartile range, 39-49), 85% were men, 74% were on antiretroviral medication, and 50% had plaque. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines were more likely to recommend statins compared with the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, both overall (26% versus 14%; P<0.001), in those with plaque (32% versus 17%; P=0.0002), and in those without plaque (16% versus 7%; P=0.025). In multivariable analysis, older age, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, pack per year of smoking, and history of opportunistic infection were associated with baseline plaque. Baseline IMT (hazard ratio, 1.18 per 10% increment; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.33; P=0.005) and plaque (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.08; P=0.037) were each associated with all-cause mortality, independent of traditional CVD risk factors.ConclusionsAlthough the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommended statins to a greater number of HIV-infected adults compared with the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, both failed to recommend therapy in the majority of HIV-affected adults with carotid plaque. Baseline carotid atherosclerosis but not atherosclerotic CVD risk scores was an independent predictor of mortality. HIV-specific guidelines that include detection of subclinical atherosclerosis may help to identify HIV-infected adults who are at increased atherosclerotic CVD risk and may be considered for statins

Midair Refueling for Sensation Seeking? Pilot CEOs and Corporate Debt Contracting

We examine the relation between chief executive officer (CEO) sensation seeking, which captures the desire for varied, novel, and complex personal sensations and experiences, and corporate debt contracting. Using pilot certificates as a proxy for the personality trait of sensation seeking, we find that firms with pilot CEOs use longer maturity debt financing even when long-term debt is more costly than short-term debt. Our findings are robust to controlling for the endogenous matching between firms and CEOs. Our evidence indicates that CEOs with sensation-seeking personality traits prefer long-term debt financing to avoid the liquidity risk associated with short-term debt financing that may hamper other corporate activities motivated by their sensation seeking

Natural quinone dyes : a review on structure, extraction techniques, analysis and application potential

Synthetic dyes are by far the most widely applied colourants in industry. However, environmental and sustainability considerations have led to an increasing efforts to substitute them with safer and more sustainable equivalents. One promising class of alternatives is the natural quinones; these are class of cyclic organic compounds characterized by a saturated (C6) ring that contains two oxygen atoms that are bonded to carbonyls and have sufficient conjugation to show color. Therefore, this study looks at the potential of isolating and applying quinone dye molecules from a sustainable source as a possible replacement for synthetic dyes. It presents an in-depth description of the three main classes of quinoid compounds in terms of their structure, occurrence biogenesis and toxicology. Extraction and purification strategies, as well as analytical methods, are then discussed. Finally, current dyeing applications are summarised. The literature review shows that natural quinone dye compounds are ubiquitous, albeit in moderate quantities, but all have a possibility of enhanced production. They also display better dyeability, stability, brightness and fastness compared to other alternative natural dyes, such as anthocyanins and carotenoids. Furthermore, they are safer for the environment than are many synthetic counterparts. Their extraction, purification and analysis are simple and fast, making them potential substitutes for their synthetic equivalents

Regulation of Macrophage‐Derived Fibroblast Growth Factor Release by Arachidonate Metabolites

The macrophage is a source of many mediators with direct and indirect fibrogenic potential. In this study, release of macrophage‐derived fibroblast growth factor (MDGF) activity by murine peritoneal macrophages is examined with regard to its regulation by arachidonate metabolites. Upon stimulation with 10 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS), resident peritoneal macrophages from CBA/J mice released MDGF activity into media rapidly, reaching maximal levels in approximately 1 h. Lysates of these stimulated cells also revealed significantly increased cell‐associated MDGF activity, composing 45% of the total assayable activity. This activity, as assayed by radioactive thymidine incorporation by primary cultures of rat lung fibroblasts, was separable from interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) activity by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, purified murine IL‐1 had no MDGF activity in this assay system. This stimulated MDGF release was enhanced by the cylooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin, Ibuprofen, and aspirin at micromolar concentrations, but inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). On the other hand, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase inhibitor was inhibitory at 0.1 and 0.4 μM but not at 2.5 μM. Zymosan‐stimulated macrophages also markedly increased MDGF release, albeit with a different time course which was characterized by a delay of approximately 7 h before peak levels were attained. Such stimulation, which is known to cause increased lipoxygenase activity, was also inhibited by 0.5 μM NDGA. In contrast, the lipoxygenase pathway products leukotrienes B4 (LTB4) and C4 (LTC4) stimulated MDGF release in a dose‐dependent (10‐10‐10‐8 M) manner, with LTC4 being more potent on a per unit dose basis. Stimulation by LTC4 was inhibited by the putative leukotriene receptor antagonist, FPL55712, while LTD4 and LTE4 did not stimulate MDGF release, thus suggesting the mediation of this effect by specific LTC4 receptors. These data suggest also that products of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways are potentially important both as exogenous (ie, derived from cells other than the macrophage itself) and auto‐ or self‐regulators of macrophage MDGF release. This, in turn, implies that cyclooxygenase products are antifibrogenic and important in maintaining or returning to the quiescent or normal state, whereas the lipoxygenase products are profibrogenic and important in induction of fibrosis or wound‐healing and tissue repair. Any alteration in the balance between these two pathways may result in either a desirable or a harmful outcome.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141690/1/jlb0106.pd

Physiotherapy is Associated with Improvements in Gait and Balance in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) exhibit significant motor impairments; however, these motor impairments receive little treatment attention compared to more prominent CI. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence about physiotherapy (PT) in individuals with CI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if PT was effective at improving gait and balance in individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Retrospective data of 173 individuals with CI conditions and an initial evaluation for PT were extracted from electronic records from January 2016 to December 2017 at a neuro-rehabilitation clinic. The individuals were grouped according to diagnosis (67 with AD, 34 with VaD, 35 with DLB, and 37 with MCI). The following outcomes before and after a month of PT were extracted from records: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), MiniBESTest, 5 Times Sit-To-Stand, Timed Up and Go (TUG), TUG cognitive, preferred gait speed, fast gait speed, 6 Minute Walk Test, and the modified Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean number of PT sessions over a month was 3.4 (±1.8). All groups showed improvements in balance and at least two gait outcome measures. Those with MCI improved in every gait and balance outcome measure. Lastly, MoCA scores improved in individuals in the AD, VaD, and MCI groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study offer preliminary evidence that one month of PT may produce benefits to gait and balance in individuals with CI. Moreover, it may afford cognitive benefit

TNF and IL‐6 mediate MIP‐1α expression in bleomycin‐induced lung injury

Previously, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α (MIP‐1α), a member of the C‐C chemokine family, has been implicated in bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis, a model of the human disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Neutralization of MIP‐1α protein with anti‐MIP‐1α antibodies significantly attenuated both mononuclear phagocyte recruitment and pulmonary fibrosis in bleomycin‐challenged CBA/J mice. However, the specific stimuli for MIP‐1α expression in the bleomycin‐induced lesion have not been characterized. In this report, two mediators of the inflammatory response to bleomycin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), were evaluated as putative stimuli for MIP‐1α expression after bleomycin challenge in CBA/J mice. Elevated levels of bioactive TNF and IL‐6 were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung homogenates from bleomycin‐treated CBA/J mice at time points post‐bleomycin challenge, which precede MIP‐1α protein expression. Treatment of bleomycin‐challenged mice with soluble TNF receptor (sTNFr) or anti‐IL‐6 antibodies significantly decreased MIP‐1α protein expression in the lungs. Furthermore, normal alveolar macrophages secreted elevated levels of MIP‐1α protein in response to treatment with TNF plus IL‐6 or bleomycin plus IL‐6, but not TNF, bleomycin, or IL‐6 alone. Finally, leukocytes recovered from the BAL fluid of bleomycin‐challenged mice secreted higher levels of MIP‐1α protein, compared to controls, when treated with TNF alone. Based on the data presented here, we propose that TNF and IL‐6 are part of a cytokine network that modulates MIP‐1α protein expression in the profibrotic inflammatory lesion during the response to intratracheal bleomycin challenge. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 528–536; 1998.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141711/1/jlb0528.pd

ISS Mini AERCam Radio Frequency (RF) Coverage Analysis Using iCAT Development Tool

The long-term goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) enterprise may require the development of autonomous free-flier (FF) robotic devices to operate within the vicinity of low-Earth orbiting spacecraft to supplement human extravehicular activities (EVAs) in space. Future missions could require external visual inspection of the spacecraft that would be difficult, or dangerous, for humans to perform. Under some circumstance, it may be necessary to employ an un-tethered communications link between the FF and the users. The interactive coverage analysis tool (ICAT) is a software tool that has been developed to perform critical analysis of the communications link performance for a FF operating in the vicinity of the International Space Station (ISS) external environment. The tool allows users to interactively change multiple parameters of the communications link parameters to efficiently perform systems engineering trades on network performance. These trades can be directly translated into design and requirements specifications. This tool significantly reduces the development time in determining a communications network topology by allowing multiple parameters to be changed, and the results of link coverage to be statistically characterized and plotted interactively