Diagnostic Infant ABR Testing Via Telehealth: A Survey of Professional Opinions and Current Barriers

Purpose: To examine the barriers to Washington State audiologists adopting telehealth as a means of improving accessibility to diagnostic audiology for infants. Methods: A Qualtrics survey was distributed via e-mail and social media. Survey participants were required to be audiologists practicing in Washington State. The sixteen-question survey consisted of topics related to participant demographics, previous telehealth experience, and barriers to the use of telehealth for diagnostic infant auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing. A total of 17 participants completed the survey. Results: Survey responses indicated that Washington State audiologists are largely neutral or disagree with telehealth being an effective means of performing remote diagnostic ABRs. Participants primarily identified equipment cost as a barrier, and had varying opinions regarding insurance reimbursement, internet connection, privacy, and ability to counsel. Conclusions: This study identified several barriers to the implementation of remote diagnostic ABR testing in Washington State. The neutral and negative view of telehealth for diagnostic infant ABR points to the need for education among Washington State audiologists. Disseminating information on the efficacy of telehealth to audiologists is a likely next step in reframing the current attitude toward remote diagnostic ABR and working toward reducing loss to follow-up rates for rural families

Proximity to Sports Facilities and Sports Participation for Adolescents in Germany

Objectives - To assess the relationship between proximity to specific sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities for adolescents in Germany. Methods - A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11–17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. Community-level socio-demographics as covariates were selected from the INKAR database, in particular from indicators and maps on land development. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between proximity to the nearest sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities. Results - The logisitic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively. Conclusions - Improved proximity to gyms is likely to be more important for female adolescents living in rural areas

X-ray time variability across the atoll source states of 4U 1636--53

We have studied the rapid X-ray time variability in 149 pointed observations with the \textit{Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer} (RXTE)'s Proportional Counter Array of the atoll source 4U~1636--53 in the banana state and, for the first time with RXTE, in the island state. We compare the frequencies of the variability components of 4U~1636--53 with those in other atoll and Z-sources and find that 4U~1636--53 follows the universal scheme of correlations previously found for other atoll sources at (sometimes much) lower luminosities. Our results on the hectohertz QPO suggest that the mechanism that sets its frequency differs from that for the other components, while the amplitude setting mechanism is common. A previously proposed interpretation of the narrow low-frequency QPO frequencies in different sources in terms of harmonic mode switching is not supported by our data, nor by some previous data on other sources and the frequency range that this QPO covers is found not to be related to spin, angular momentum or luminosity.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Excellent results with the cemented Lubinus SP II 130-mm femoral stem at 10 years of follow-up

Background and purpose - The Lubinus SP II stem is well documented in both orthopedic registries and clinical studies. Worldwide, the most commonly used stem lengths are 150 mm and 170 mm. In 1995, the 130-mm stem was introduced, but no outcome data have been published. We assessed the long-term survival of the Lubinus SP II 130-mm stem in primary total hip arthroplasty.Patients and methods - In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 829 patients with a Lubinus SP II primary total hip arthroplasty (932 hips). The hips were implanted between 1996 and 2001. The primary endpoint was revision for any reason. The mean follow-up period was 10 (5-15) years.Results - Survival analysis showed an all-cause 10-year survival rate of the stem of 98.7% (95% CI: 99.7-97.7), and all-cause 10-year survival of the total hip arthroplasty was 98.3% (95% CI: 99.3-97.3).Interpretation - Excellent long-term results can be achieved with the cemented Lubinus SP II with the relatively short 130-mm stem. This stem has potential advantages over its 150-mm and 170-mm siblings such as bone preservation distal to the stem, better proximal filling around the prosthesis, and easier removal.</p

Mass ratio from Doppler beaming and R{\o}mer delay versus ellipsoidal modulation in the Kepler data of KOI-74

We present a light curve analysis and radial velocity study of KOI-74, an eclipsing A star + white dwarf binary with a 5.2 day orbit. Aside from new spectroscopy covering the orbit of the system, we used 212 days of publicly available Kepler observations and present the first complete light curve fitting to these data, modelling the eclipses and transits, ellipsoidal modulation, reflection, and Doppler beaming. Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine the system parameters and uncertainty estimates. Our results are in agreement with earlier studies, except that we find an inclination of 87.0 \pm 0.4\degree, which is significantly lower than the previously published value. We find that the mass ratio derived from the radial velocity amplitude (q=0.104 \pm 0.004) disagrees with that derived from the ellipsoidal modulation (q=0.052 \pm 0.004} assuming corotation). This was found before, but with our smaller inclination, the discrepancy is even larger than previously reported. Accounting for the rapid rotation of the A-star is found to increase the discrepancy even further by lowering the mass ratio to q=0.047 \pm 0.004. These results indicate that one has to be extremely careful in using the amplitude of an ellipsoidal modulation signal in a close binary to determine the mass ratio, when a proof of corotation is not firmly established. The radial velocities that can be inferred from the detected Doppler beaming in the light curve are found to be in agreement with our spectroscopic radial velocity determination. We also report the first measurement of R{\o}mer delay in a light curve of a compact binary. This delay amounts to -56 \pm 17 s and is consistent with the mass ratio derived from the radial velocity amplitude. The firm establishment of this mass ratio at q=0.104 \pm 0.004 leaves little doubt that the companion of KOI-74 is a low mass white dwarf.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in MNRA

Observation of Sommerfeld precursors on a fluid surface

We report the observation of two types of Sommerfeld precursors (or forerunners) on the surface of a layer of mercury. When the fluid depth increases, we observe a transition between these two precursor surface waves in good agreement with the predictions of asymptotic analysis. At depths thin enough compared to the capillary length, high frequency precursors propagate ahead of the ''main signal'' and their period and amplitude, measured at a fixed point, increase in time. For larger depths, low frequency ''precursors'' follow the main signal with decreasing period and amplitude. These behaviors are understood in the framework of the analysis first introduced for linear transient electromagnetic waves in a dielectric medium by Sommerfeld and Brillouin [1].Comment: to be published in Physical Review Letter

Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Executive Cognitive Function

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Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Executive Cognitive Function

Please download pdf version here