Dynamic specification of vowels in Hijazi Arabic

\ua9 2024 De Gruyter Mouton. All rights reserved.Research on various languages shows that dynamic approaches to vowel acoustics – in particular Vowel-Inherent Spectral Change (VISC) – can play a vital role in characterising and classifying monophthongal vowels compared with a static model. This study’s aim was to investigate whether dynamic cues also allow for better description and classification of the Hijazi Arabic (HA) vowel system, a phonological system based on both temporal and spectral distinctions. Along with static and dynamic F1 and F2 patterns, we evaluated the extent to which vowel duration, F0, and F3 contribute to increased/decreased discriminability among vowels. Data were collected from 20 native HA speakers (10 females and 10 males) producing eight HA monophthongal vowels in a word list with varied consonantal contexts. Results showed that dynamic cues provide further insights regarding HA vowels that are not normally gleaned from static measures alone. Using discriminant analysis, the dynamic cues (particularly the seven-point model) had relatively higher classification rates, and vowel duration was found to play a significant role as an additional cue. Our results are in line with dynamic approaches and highlight the importance of looking beyond static cues and beyond the first two formants for further insights into the description and classification of vowel systems

Pengaruh Citra Merek dan Kualitas Produk terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Laptop Merek Dell di Kota Semarang (Studi Kasus pada Konsumen Laptop Merek Dell di Kecamatan Banyumanik Kota Semarang)

Current condition of the laptop competition is very tight, so the company should make a strategy to achieve a higher market share. Laptops are one of the tool to meeting the needs of consumers in the field of technology and information. Dell is a company engaged in the information technology industry. The purpose of this study was to know the effect of brand image and product quality to the brand laptop Dell purchase decision. This type of research is explanatory research, the number of respondents are 100 peoples with purposive sampling technique. Data collection techniques in this study using questionnaires, interviews, and literature. The analytical method used is the validity, reliability, correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, simple linear regression, t test, regression multiple linear, and F testBased on the analysis of the study variables of brand image and product quality has a positive influence on purchasing decisions. Quality variable of the products have the most impact which 56.3%. While the brand image variables have an effect of 46.7%. Taken together (simultaneously) variables brand image and product quality has a contribution of 59% of the purchase decision. In conclusion there is positive between the brand image and product quality to the Dell brand laptop purchase decision. Suggestions for improvement of purchasing decisions by improving product quality and pay more attention to deficiencies which can be obtained through consumer complaints. Besides maintaining a good brand image that is by keep in constant communication with consumers and provide a clearer information to attract the attention of consumers better

Temperature Stress on Physiological and Morphological Traits in Rhizophora apiculata

الاحتباس الحراري له تأثيرات كبيرة على النظم البيئية الحيوية، والتي تسببت أيضًا في ارتفاع درجات الحرارة وثاني أكسيد الكربون الذي يتبعه تغيرات في العوامل اللاأحيائية المختلفة، والتي تشكل تهديدات لبيئة غابات المنغروف. تم إجراء هذا البحث لفحص الخصائص الفسيولوجية والمورفولوجية لأشجار القرم Rhizophora apiculata فيما يتعلق بارتفاع درجة حرارة الهواء لأنواع الأشجار المتنوعة التي تستجيب لتغير المناخ. حيث تم زراعة الشتلات لمدة ثلاثة أشهر في غرف نمو منظمة بثلاث درجات حرارة متفاوتة 38 درجة مئوية، 21 درجة مئوية تحت ثاني أكسيد الكربون عند 450 جزء في المليون، والمنطقة المحيط بتركيز ثاني أكسيد الكربون 450 ± 20 جزء في المليون تحت متوسط درجة الحرارة عند 28 درجة مئوية كشرط تحكم. تمت معالجة النباتات كل 48 ساعة بـ 3 لترات من الماء المالح بتركيز 28 جزء من المليون. بعد أسبوعين عند درجة حرارة عالية، أظهرت أشجار المانغروف نتائج إيجابية لجميع المعلمات. أدت التغيرات في درجات الحرارة إلى اختلافات كبيرة، مثلاً سلبية لزيادة درجة الحرارة مما أدى إلى تلف شديد للعديد من العينات بينما كانت إيجابية لانخفاض درجة الحرارة مما أدى إلى نمو بطيء. أظهرت النتائج الفسيولوجية انخفاضًا في معدلات التمثيل الضوئي مقارنةً بالعينات الخاضعة للرقابة. تشير هذه النتائج إلى أن مستويات القدرة على التمثيل الضوئي المنخفضة يمكن أن تكون قد حدثت بسبب انخفاض آلية تفاعل تثبيت ثاني أكسيد الكربون، ومواد أصباغ التمثيل الضوئي، والتباين بين معدل التنفس والتمثيل الضوئي.Global warming has had considerable effects on vital ecosystems, which has also been caused by increased temperatures and CO2 that follow changes in different abiotic factors, which poses threats to mangrove forests environment. This research was conducted to examine the physiological and morphological characteristics of the Rhizophora apiculata mangrove regarding higher air temperature for the variety of tree species that respond to climate change. Seedlings were cultivated for three months in regulated growth chambers with three varying temperatures of 38°C, 21°C under CO2 at 450 ppm, and ambient CO2 concentration i.e., 450 ± 20 ppm under average temperature at 28°C as the control condition. The plants were treated every 48 hours with 3 L of saline water of 28 ppt. After two weeks at high temperature, the mangrove showed positive results for all parameters. The temperature variations resulted in major variations, such as negative for increased temperature resulting in extreme damage to many samples while positive for decreased temperature resulting in slow development. The physiological results show decreased photosynthesis rates compared to controlled samples. These findings indicate that low photosynthetic capability levels could have occurred due to reduced CO2 fixative reaction mechanism, photosynthetic pigment material, and the discrepancy between respiratory and photosynthesis rate

Very low prevalence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancers which demonstrate EGFR protein expression, gene amplification and/or gene mutations may benefit therapeutically from tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In Western studies, EGFR protein expression has been demonstrated in 7-36% of breast cancer patients, while gene amplification has been found in around 6% of cases and mutations were either absent or extremely rare. Studies addressing EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients are extremely scanty and the results reported have been mostly non-conclusive. Herein we report the prevalence of EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in a cohort of Saudi breast cancer patients.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We noticed a remarkably low incidence of EGFR protein expression (1.3%) while analyzing the spectrum of molecular subtypes of breast cancer in a Saudi population by immunohistochemistry. Also, <it>EGFR </it>gene amplification could not be demonstrated in any of 231 cases studied using silver enhanced <it>in situ </it>hybridization.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The extremely low incidence of EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients as compared to Western populations is most probably ethnically related as supported by our previous finding in the same cohort of a spectrum of molecular breast cancer types that is unique to the Saudi population and in stark contrast with Western and other regionally based studies. Further support to this view is provided by earlier studies from Saudi Arabia that have similarly shown variability in molecular breast cancer subtype distribution between Saudi and Caucasian populations as well as a predominance of the high-grade pathway in breast cancer development in Middle East women. More studies on EGFR in breast cancer are needed from different regions of Saudi Arabia before our assumption can be confirmed, however.</p

Estrogen receptor negative/progesterone receptor positive breast cancer is not a reproducible subtype

Introduction: Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) testing are performed in the evaluation of breast cancer. While the clinical utility of ER as a predictive biomarker to identify patients likely to benefit from hormonal therapy is well-established, the added value of PR is less well-defined. The primary goals of our study were to assess the distribution, inter-assay reproducibility, and prognostic significance of breast cancer subtypes defined by patterns of ER and PR expression. Methods: We integrated gene expression microarray (GEM) and clinico-pathologic data from 20 published studies to determine the frequency (n = 4,111) and inter-assay reproducibility (n = 1,752) of ER/PR subtypes (ER+/PR+, ER+/PR-, ER-/PR-, ER-/PR+). To extend our findings, we utilized a cohort of patients from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) with ER/PR data recorded in the medical record and assessed on tissue microarrays (n = 2,011). In both datasets, we assessed the association of ER and PR expression with survival. Results: In a genome-wide analysis, progesterone receptor was among the least variable genes in ER- breast cancer. The ER-/PR+ subtype was rare (approximately 1 to 4%) and showed no significant reproducibility (Kappa = 0.02 and 0.06, in the GEM and NHS datasets, respectively). The vast majority of patients classified as ER-/PR+ in the medical record (97% and 94%, in the GEM and NHS datasets) were re-classified by a second method. In the GEM dataset (n = 2,731), progesterone receptor mRNA expression was associated with prognosis in ER+ breast cancer (adjusted P <0.001), but not in ER- breast cancer (adjusted P = 0.21). PR protein expression did not contribute significant prognostic information to multivariate models considering ER and other standard clinico-pathologic features in the GEM or NHS datasets. Conclusion: ER-/PR+ breast cancer is not a reproducible subtype. PR expression is not associated with prognosis in ER- breast cancer, and PR does not contribute significant independent prognostic information to multivariate models considering ER and other standard clinico-pathologic factors. Given that PR provides no clinically actionable information in ER+ breast cancer, these findings question the utility of routine PR testing in breast cancer

A novel simulated media system for in vitro evaluation of bioequivalent intestinal drug solubility

Orally administered solid drug must dissolve in the gastrointestinal tract before absorption to provide a systemic response. Intestinal solubility is therefore crucial but difficult to measure since human intestinal fluid (HIF) is challenging to obtain, varies between fasted (Fa) and fed (Fe) states and exhibits inter and intra subject variability. A single simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) cannot reflect HIF variability, therefore current approaches are not optimal. In this study we have compared literature Fa/FeHIF drug solubilities to values measured in a novel in vitro simulated nine media system for either the fasted (Fa9SIF) or fed (Fe9SIF) state. The manuscript contains 129 literature sampled human intestinal fluid equilibrium solubility values and 387 simulated intestinal fluid equilibrium solubility values. Statistical comparison does not detect a difference (Fa/Fe9SIF vs Fa/FeHIF), a novel solubility correlation window enclosed 95% of an additional literature Fa/FeHIF data set and solubility behaviour is consistent with previous physicochemical studies. The Fa/Fe9SIF system therefore represents a novel in vitro methodology for bioequivalent intestinal solubility determination. Combined with intestinal permeability this provides an improved, population based, biopharmaceutical assessment that guides formulation development and indicates the presence of food based solubility effects. This transforms predictive ability during drug discovery and development and may represent a methodology applicable to other multicomponent fluids where no single component is responsible for performance

Brain herniation in a patient with apparently normal intracranial pressure: a case report

Introduction Intracranial pressure monitoring is commonly implemented in patients with neurologic injury and at high risk of developing intracranial hypertension, to detect changes in intracranial pressure in a timely manner. This enables early and potentially life-saving treatment of intracranial hypertension. Case presentation An intraparenchymal pressure probe was placed in the hemisphere contralateral to a large basal ganglia hemorrhage in a 75-year-old Caucasian man who was mechanically ventilated and sedated because of depressed consciousness. Intracranial pressures were continuously recorded and never exceeded 17 mmHg. After sedation had been stopped, our patient showed clinical signs of transtentorial brain herniation, despite apparently normal intracranial pressures (less than 10 mmHg). Computed tomography revealed that the size of the intracerebral hematoma had increased together with significant unilateral brain edema and transtentorial herniation. The contralateral hemisphere where the intraparenchymal pressure probe was placed appeared normal. Our patient underwent emergency decompressive craniotomy and was tracheotomized early, but did not completely recover. Conclusions Intraparenchymal pressure probes placed in the hemisphere contralateral to an intracerebral hematoma may dramatically underestimate intracranial pressure despite apparently normal values, even in the case of transtentorial brain herniation