Subtyping somatic tinnitus: a cross-sectional UK cohort study of demographic, clinical and audiological characteristics

Somatic tinnitus is the ability to modulate the psychoacoustic features of tinnitus by somatic manoeuvres. The condition is still not fully understood and further identification of this subtype is essential, particularly for the purpose of establishing protocols for both its diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of somatic tinnitus within a large UK cohort using a largely unselected sample. We believe this to be relatively unique in comparison to current literature on the topic. This was investigated by using a total of 608 participant assessments from a set of recognised tinnitus and audiology measures. Results from a set of chi-square tests of association found that amongst the individuals with somatic tinnitus, a higher proportion had pulsatile tinnitus (different from heartbeat), were under the age of 40, reported variation in the loudness of their tinnitus and reported temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The same pattern of results was confirmed using a multivariate analysis of the data based on logistic regression. These findings have strong implications towards the profiling of somatic tinnitus as a distinct subtype of general tinnitus

¹³CO and C¹⁸O observations of S140: delineation of the outflow structure, a study of fractionation effects and comparison with CI observations

The outflow and photon-dominated region (PDR) associated with the S140 complex have been observed at high resolution (~14 arcsec) in the 13CO and C18O J=3→2 lines. The C18O map confirms earlier C17O J=3→2line observations (Minchin et al. 1994) that show an `arc' of emission observed to the south of the peak, and also reveals a similar (and more prominent) arc feature to the east, a region not covered by the C17O map. This is a particularly fine example of the classic `tuning fork' morphology, where emission at the ambient cloud velocity is tracing the outflow cavity wall of the blueshifted lobe. The N(13CO)/N(C18O) ratio has been plotted against extinction and fits the power law relation N(13CO)/N(C18O)=21Av-0.35. The highest values, as expected, occur for observed positions towards the PDR, with N(13CO)/N(C18O) exceeding the terrestrial value (5.5) for Av ≤40 magnitudes. In the outermost parts of the cloud (Av ≤10 magnitudes) the N(13CO)/N(C18O) ratio is largest, up to 20. The increased fractionation may be due to higher photoionization of the optically thinner isotope, C18O. There is a close correlation between N(CI)/N(CO) and visual extinction over a wide extinction range (Av=3-100 mags.). The best fit power law is N(CI)/N(CO)=4.2Av0.9. For positions toward the outflow (Av~50-100) N(CI)/N(CO) ~0.1(0.07-0.12). N(CI)/N(CO) increases with decreasing extinction to ~1 for Av≤5 mags., corresponding to positions near the edge of the cloud. A detailed comparison of antenna temperatures and linewidths for the 13CO, C18O and CI lines is presented. The 13CO and C18O antenna temperatures and linewidths are closely correlated, and imply the emission, for both isotopes, emanates from gas that is in LTE and is well mixed. The CI emission from the PDR implies that here the atomic carbon is in LTE, but occupies a different volume of gas than the isotopic CO. Towards the outflow the CI linewidths are systematically broadened relative to those for the isotopic CO lines. This is interpreted as evidence that atomic carbon is produced by the effect of shocks on the chemical and physical processes at the interface between a stellar wind and the outflow cavity wall

A submillimetre continuum study of S 140/L 1204: the detection of three new submillimetre sources and a self-consistent model for the region

We present submillimetre continuum observations of the L 1204/S 140 complex in broad bands centred at 450, 800 and 1100μm. The morphology of the region is similar at all three wavelengths, with the emitting region compact, about 90 arcsec in diameter, and centrally peaked around the cloud core. Three new submillimetre continuum sources are observed which are not coincident with any previously known near or mid-infrared sources. We designate the sources S 140-SMM1-3. SMM1 is roughly coincident with a previously known NH3 clump and 2.7mm source, and near-IR reflection nebulosity from the surface of SMM2 has previously been seen. The three submillimetre continuum sources may be protostellar in nature, although it is not possible to determine whether they are gravitationally bound, since virial mass estimates are disrupted by the presence of an energetic bipolar outflow. For this reason, earlier claims that the 2.7mm source in SMM1 is collapsing appear somewhat premature. The observation that SMM1 and SMM2 lie either side of the infrared sources, in a line roughly perpendicular to the direction of the bipolar outflow, imply they may be the remnants of a large-scale disk. Comparison of the continuum emission with previous high resolution CS, NH3 and CI observations provides evidence that, for the first time, demonstrates the photon-dominated region and outflow are intimately linked. The only scenario that is able to explain all of the available molecular and atomic emission line data and our submillimetre continuum data, is one in which the outflow has expanded towards the edge of the molecular cloud and the edge of the blueshifted outflow lobe is now bounded by the expanding HII region. The NH3 and continuum emission emanate from the inner edge of the outflow lobe, shielded from the external UV field. A plot of the 800μm flux against N(C18O) implies that the dust/gas mass ratio is close to the canonical value (~1%) at the lower end of the observed extinction range (Av≤70), but for the highest observed extinctions (Av=70-100) the continuum flux density increases rapidly, implying a higher dust/gas mass ratio is appropriate (~2-5%), possibly indicating freeze-out of gas onto dust grains

Carbon monoxide and far-infrared observations of the S 155-Cepheus B region

We present maps of the CO J = 3-2 and 13CO J = 2→1 molecular line and mid- to far-infrared continuum emission of the interface between the Cepheus B molecular cloud and the S155 H II region. Far-infrared dust color temperature and optical depth maps show the molecular cloud to be externally heated and that the edge of the cloud is compressed by the expansion of S155. The data are compared with current models, and various dust grain parameters are derived. A hotspot is observed in the CO J = 3→2 emission line, at a position coincident with the radio continuum and infrared emission peaks. The infrared, radio continuum, and molecular line emission from the hotspot are all consistent with it being a compact H II region, ionized by an embedded B1-B0.5 star. The position of the compact H II region, adjacent to the northwestern edge of Cep B, suggests it is the product of a phase of sequential OB star formation, which has already been responsible for the youngest subgroup of the Cepheus OB3 association. The mass of the cloud is estimated to be ~100-200M⊙</sub

Reliability and validity of the Healthy Home Survey: A tool to measure factors within homes hypothesized to relate to overweight in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The contribution of the environment to the obesity epidemic is well recognized. Parents have control over their home environment and can, therefore, support healthy dietary and activity habits in their children by manipulating factors such as access to energy-dense foods, availability of physical activity equipment, and restricting screen time. This paper describes the development of the Healthy Home Survey and its reliability and validity. The Healthy Home Survey was designed to assess characteristics of the home environment that are hypothesized to influence healthy weight behaviors in children including diet and physical activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We recruited 85 families with at least one child between 3–8 years. The Healthy Home Survey was administered to parents via telephone and repeated in a random sample of 45 families after 7 days. In-home observations were performed within 14 days of the first Healthy Home Survey interview. Percent agreement, Kappa statistics, Intra-class correlation coefficients and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate reliability and validity evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reliability and validity estimates for the Healthy Home Survey were varied, but generally high (0.22–1.00 and 0.07–0.96 respectively), with lower scores noted for perishable foods and policy items. Lower scores were likely related to actual change in the perishable foods present and the subjective nature or clarity of policy questions and response categories.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Initial testing demonstrated that the Healthy Home Survey is a feasible, reliable, and valid assessment of the home environment; however, it has also highlighted areas that need improvement. The Healthy Home Survey will be useful in future research exploring the relationship between the home environment and child weight.</p

Mechanisms of Copy Number Variation and Hybrid Gene Formation in the KIR Immune Gene Complex

The fine-scale structure of the majority of copy number variation (CNV) regions remains unknown. The killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) gene complex exhibits significant CNV. The evolutionary plasticity of the KIRs and their broad biomedical relevance makes it important to understand how these immune receptors evolve. In this paper, we describe haplotype re-arrangement creating novel loci at the KIR complex. We completely sequenced, after fosmid cloning, two rare contracted haplotypes. Evidence of frequent hybrid KIR genes in samples from many populations suggested that re-arrangements may be frequent and selectively advantageous. We propose mechanisms for formation of novel hybrid KIR genes, facilitated by protrusive non-B DNA structures at transposon recombination sites. The heightened propensity to generate novel hybrid KIR receptors may provide a proactive evolutionary measure, to militate against pathogen evasion or subversion. We propose that CNV in KIR is an evolutionary strategy, which KIR typing for disease association must take into account