An Investigation of Language Environment Analysis Measures for Spanish–English Bilingual Preschoolers From Migrant Low-Socioeconomic-Status Backgrounds

Purpose

The current study was designed to (a) describe average hourly Language Environment Analysis (LENA) data for preschool-age Spanish–English bilinguals (SEBs) and typically developing monolingual peers and (b) compare LENA data with mean length of utterance in words (MLUw) and total number of words (TNW) calculated on a selected sample of consecutive excerpts of audio files (CEAFs).

Method

Investigators examined average hourly child vocalizations from daylong LENA samples for 42 SEBs and 39 monolingual English-speaking preschoolers. The relationship between average hourly child vocalizations, conversational turns, and adult words from the daylong samples and MLUw from a 50-utterance CEAF was examined and compared between groups.

Results

MLUw, TNW, average hourly child vocalizations, and conversational turns were lower for young SEBs than monolingual English-speaking peers. Average hourly child vocalizations were not strongly related to MLUw performance for monolingual or SEB participants (r = .29, r = .25, respectively). In a similar manner, average hourly conversational turns were not strongly related to MLUw for either group (r = .22, r = .21, respectively).

Conclusions

Young SEBs from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds showed lower average performance on LENA measures, MLUw, and TNW than monolingual English-speaking peers. MLUw from monolinguals were also lower than typical expectations when derived from CEAFs. LENA technology may be a promising tool for communication sampling with SEBs; however, more research is needed to establish norms for interpreting MLUw and TNW from selected CEAF samples.

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An Investigation of Language Environment Analysis Measures for Spanish–English Bilingual Preschoolers From Migrant Low-Socioeconomic-Status Backgrounds

Purpose

The current study was designed to (a) describe average hourly Language Environment Analysis (LENA) data for preschool-age Spanish–English bilinguals (SEBs) and typically developing monolingual peers and (b) compare LENA data with mean length of utterance in words (MLUw) and total number of words (TNW) calculated on a selected sample of consecutive excerpts of audio files (CEAFs).

Method

Investigators examined average hourly child vocalizations from daylong LENA samples for 42 SEBs and 39 monolingual English-speaking preschoolers. The relationship between average hourly child vocalizations, conversational turns, and adult words from the daylong samples and MLUw from a 50-utterance CEAF was examined and compared between groups.

Results

MLUw, TNW, average hourly child vocalizations, and conversational turns were lower for young SEBs than monolingual English-speaking peers. Average hourly child vocalizations were not strongly related to MLUw performance for monolingual or SEB participants (r = .29, r = .25, respectively). In a similar manner, average hourly conversational turns were not strongly related to MLUw for either group (r = .22, r = .21, respectively).

Conclusions

Young SEBs from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds showed lower average performance on LENA measures, MLUw, and TNW than monolingual English-speaking peers. MLUw from monolinguals were also lower than typical expectations when derived from CEAFs. LENA technology may be a promising tool for communication sampling with SEBs; however, more research is needed to establish norms for interpreting MLUw and TNW from selected CEAF samples.

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An Investigation of Language Environment Analysis Measures for Spanish–English Bilingual Preschoolers From Migrant Low-Socioeconomic-Status Backgrounds

Purpose

The current study was designed to (a) describe average hourly Language Environment Analysis (LENA) data for preschool-age Spanish–English bilinguals (SEBs) and typically developing monolingual peers and (b) compare LENA data with mean length of utterance in words (MLUw) and total number of words (TNW) calculated on a selected sample of consecutive excerpts of audio files (CEAFs).

Method

Investigators examined average hourly child vocalizations from daylong LENA samples for 42 SEBs and 39 monolingual English-speaking preschoolers. The relationship between average hourly child vocalizations, conversational turns, and adult words from the daylong samples and MLUw from a 50-utterance CEAF was examined and compared between groups.

Results

MLUw, TNW, average hourly child vocalizations, and conversational turns were lower for young SEBs than monolingual English-speaking peers. Average hourly child vocalizations were not strongly related to MLUw performance for monolingual or SEB participants (r = .29, r = .25, respectively). In a similar manner, average hourly conversational turns were not strongly related to MLUw for either group (r = .22, r = .21, respectively).

Conclusions

Young SEBs from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds showed lower average performance on LENA measures, MLUw, and TNW than monolingual English-speaking peers. MLUw from monolinguals were also lower than typical expectations when derived from CEAFs. LENA technology may be a promising tool for communication sampling with SEBs; however, more research is needed to establish norms for interpreting MLUw and TNW from selected CEAF samples.

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Application of a New Genetic Deafness Microarray for Detecting Mutations in the Deaf in China

by Hong Wu, Yong Feng, Lu Jiang, Qian Pan, Yalan Liu, Chang Liu, Chufeng He, Hongsheng Chen, Xueming Liu, Chang Hu, Yiqiao Hu, Lingyun Mei

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the GoldenGate microarray as a diagnostic tool and to elucidate the contribution of the genes on this array to the development of both nonsyndromic and syndromic sensorineural hearing loss in China.

Methods

We developed a microarray to detect 240 mutations underlying syndromic and nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss. The microarray was then used for analysis of 382 patients with nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (including 15 patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome), 21 patients with Waardenburg syndrome, and 60 unrelated controls. Subsequently, we analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of this new approach after Sanger sequencing-based verification, and also determined the contribution of the genes on this array to the development of distinct hearing disorders.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of the microarray chip were 98.73% and 98.34%, respectively. Genetic defects were identified in 61.26% of the patients with nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss, and 9 causative genes were identified. The molecular etiology was confirmed in 19.05% and 46.67% of the patients with Waardenburg syndrome and enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, respectively.

Conclusion

Our new mutation-based microarray comprises an accurate and comprehensive genetic tool for the detection of sensorineural hearing loss. This microarray-based detection method could serve as a first-pass screening (before next-generation-sequencing screening) for deafness-causing mutations in China.

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Comparison of Intelligibility Measures for Adults With Parkinson's Disease, Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, and Healthy Controls

Purpose

This study obtained judgments of sentence intelligibility using orthographic transcription for comparison with previously reported intelligibility judgments obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS) for individuals with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis and healthy controls (K. Tjaden, J. E. Sussman, & G. E. Wilding, 2014).

Method

Speakers read Harvard sentences in habitual, clear, loud, and slow conditions. Sentence stimuli were equated for peak intensity and mixed with multitalker babble. A total of 50 listeners orthographically transcribed sentences. Procedures were identical to those for a VAS reported in Tjaden, Sussman, and Wilding (2014).

Results

The percent correct scores from transcription were significantly higher in magnitude than the VAS scores. Multivariate linear modeling indicated that the pattern of findings for transcription and VAS was virtually the same with respect to differences among groups and speaking conditions. Correlation analyses further indicated a moderately strong, positive relationship between the two metrics. The majority of these correlations were significant. Last, intrajudge and interjudge listener reliability metrics for the two intelligibility tasks were comparable.

Conclusion

Results suggest that there may be instances when the less time-consuming VAS task may be a viable substitute for an orthographic transcription task when documenting intelligibility in mild dysarthria.

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Intraoperative assessment of Ossicular Fixation

Publication date: Available online 28 March 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): John Peacock, Joris Dirckx, Magnus von Unge
Determining the degree of ossicular fixation is a difficult task, with the final assessment often being made with manual palpation during exploratory tympanotomy. A more objective method to evaluate ossicular fixation would be valuable.In this paper we describe a new method which makes use of a magnet and coil to measure ossicular motion through the ear canal with an elevated tympanic membrane. We report measurements of the vibration response at the umbo, the tip of the incus long process and the lateral posterior crus of the stapes before and after artificially fixing the stapes footplate and anterior mallear ligament with luting cement. Results were obtained on temporal bones, but the practicality of the method allows easy clinical implementation. Velocity ratios between different measurement points along the ossicular chain may provide a quantitative indication of the degree of stapes fixation. Isolated anterior mallear ligament fixation was not distinguishable from the unfixed condition.



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Comparison of Intelligibility Measures for Adults With Parkinson's Disease, Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, and Healthy Controls

Purpose

This study obtained judgments of sentence intelligibility using orthographic transcription for comparison with previously reported intelligibility judgments obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS) for individuals with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis and healthy controls (K. Tjaden, J. E. Sussman, & G. E. Wilding, 2014).

Method

Speakers read Harvard sentences in habitual, clear, loud, and slow conditions. Sentence stimuli were equated for peak intensity and mixed with multitalker babble. A total of 50 listeners orthographically transcribed sentences. Procedures were identical to those for a VAS reported in Tjaden, Sussman, and Wilding (2014).

Results

The percent correct scores from transcription were significantly higher in magnitude than the VAS scores. Multivariate linear modeling indicated that the pattern of findings for transcription and VAS was virtually the same with respect to differences among groups and speaking conditions. Correlation analyses further indicated a moderately strong, positive relationship between the two metrics. The majority of these correlations were significant. Last, intrajudge and interjudge listener reliability metrics for the two intelligibility tasks were comparable.

Conclusion

Results suggest that there may be instances when the less time-consuming VAS task may be a viable substitute for an orthographic transcription task when documenting intelligibility in mild dysarthria.

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Intraoperative assessment of Ossicular Fixation

Publication date: Available online 28 March 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): John Peacock, Joris Dirckx, Magnus von Unge
Determining the degree of ossicular fixation is a difficult task, with the final assessment often being made with manual palpation during exploratory tympanotomy. A more objective method to evaluate ossicular fixation would be valuable.In this paper we describe a new method which makes use of a magnet and coil to measure ossicular motion through the ear canal with an elevated tympanic membrane. We report measurements of the vibration response at the umbo, the tip of the incus long process and the lateral posterior crus of the stapes before and after artificially fixing the stapes footplate and anterior mallear ligament with luting cement. Results were obtained on temporal bones, but the practicality of the method allows easy clinical implementation. Velocity ratios between different measurement points along the ossicular chain may provide a quantitative indication of the degree of stapes fixation. Isolated anterior mallear ligament fixation was not distinguishable from the unfixed condition.



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Comparison of Intelligibility Measures for Adults With Parkinson's Disease, Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, and Healthy Controls

Purpose

This study obtained judgments of sentence intelligibility using orthographic transcription for comparison with previously reported intelligibility judgments obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS) for individuals with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis and healthy controls (K. Tjaden, J. E. Sussman, & G. E. Wilding, 2014).

Method

Speakers read Harvard sentences in habitual, clear, loud, and slow conditions. Sentence stimuli were equated for peak intensity and mixed with multitalker babble. A total of 50 listeners orthographically transcribed sentences. Procedures were identical to those for a VAS reported in Tjaden, Sussman, and Wilding (2014).

Results

The percent correct scores from transcription were significantly higher in magnitude than the VAS scores. Multivariate linear modeling indicated that the pattern of findings for transcription and VAS was virtually the same with respect to differences among groups and speaking conditions. Correlation analyses further indicated a moderately strong, positive relationship between the two metrics. The majority of these correlations were significant. Last, intrajudge and interjudge listener reliability metrics for the two intelligibility tasks were comparable.

Conclusion

Results suggest that there may be instances when the less time-consuming VAS task may be a viable substitute for an orthographic transcription task when documenting intelligibility in mild dysarthria.

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Intraoperative assessment of Ossicular Fixation

Publication date: Available online 28 March 2016
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): John Peacock, Joris Dirckx, Magnus von Unge
Determining the degree of ossicular fixation is a difficult task, with the final assessment often being made with manual palpation during exploratory tympanotomy. A more objective method to evaluate ossicular fixation would be valuable.In this paper we describe a new method which makes use of a magnet and coil to measure ossicular motion through the ear canal with an elevated tympanic membrane. We report measurements of the vibration response at the umbo, the tip of the incus long process and the lateral posterior crus of the stapes before and after artificially fixing the stapes footplate and anterior mallear ligament with luting cement. Results were obtained on temporal bones, but the practicality of the method allows easy clinical implementation. Velocity ratios between different measurement points along the ossicular chain may provide a quantitative indication of the degree of stapes fixation. Isolated anterior mallear ligament fixation was not distinguishable from the unfixed condition.



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Evolution of the derivative skewness for nonlinearly propagating waves

The skewness of the first time derivative of a pressure waveform, or derivative skewness, has been used previously to describe the presence of shock-like content in jet and rocket noise. Despite its use, a quantitative understanding of derivative skewness values has been lacking. In this paper, the derivative skewness for nonlinearly propagating waves is investigated using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. Analytical expressions for the derivative skewness of an initially sinusoidal plane wave are developed and, along with numerical data, are used to describe its behavior in the preshock, sawtooth, and old-age regions. Analyses of common measurement issues show that the derivative skewness is relatively sensitive to the effects of a smaller sampling rate, but less sensitive to the presence of additive noise. In addition, the derivative skewness of nonlinearly propagating noise is found to reach greater values over a shorter length scale relative to sinusoidal signals. A minimum sampling rate is recommended for sinusoidal signals to accurately estimate derivative skewness values up to five, which serves as an approximate threshold indicating significant shock formation.

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Dynamics of biosonar signals in free-swimming and stationary dolphins: The role of source levels on the characteristics of the signals

The biosonar signals of two free-swimming Atlantic bottlenose dolphins performing a complex sonar search for a bottom target in San Diego Bay were compared with the biosonar signals of a dolphin performing a target discrimination task in a net pen in the same bay. A bite-plate device carried by the free-swimming dolphins supported a hydrophone that extended directly in front of the dolphin. A biosonarmeasuring tool attached to the bite plate measured the outgoing biosonar signals while the dolphins conducted sonar searches. Each of the free-swimming dolphins used different biosonar search strategy in solving the problem and the dolphins' biosonar signals reflect the difference in strategy. The dolphin in the pen stationed in a hoop while echolocating on a target 6 m away and reported if the indentation on a spherical target was directed toward it. The signals were parameterized by determining the peak-to-peak source levels, source energy flux density, peak frequency, center frequency, root-mean-square (rms) bandwidth, rms duration, and the Q of the signals. Some parameters were similar for the free-swimming and stationary dolphins while some were significantly different, suggesting biosonar signals used by free-swimming animals may be different than signals used by dolphins in a pen.

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Acoustic centering of a baffled piston in the circular harmonics domain

The acoustic center of radiating sources is relevant to the modeling of radiation patterns and to their effective implementation in acoustical applications and computer models. However, the acoustic center of the sources may not be unique and therefore should be defined. Previously studied source centering algorithms used analytic methods for specific acoustic models, or applied post processing methods on a recorded sound from an acoustic source that was surrounded by a spherical microphone array. This work performs an acoustic centering of a radiating circular baffled piston that is formed by an open termination of a circular pipe. A signal processing based acoustic centering algorithm is redefined for this case and is shown to be correlated with the effective length of the pipe.

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Autophonic loudness perception in Parkinson's disease

The relationship between the intensity and loudness of self-generated (autophonic) speech remains invariant despite changes in auditory feedback, indicating that non-auditory processes contribute to this form of perception. The aim of the current study was to determine if the speech perception deficit associated with Parkinson's disease may be linked to deficits in such processes. Loudness magnitude estimates were obtained from parkinsonian and non-parkinsonian subjects across four separate conditions: self-produced speech under normal, perturbed, and masked auditory feedback, as well as auditory presentation of pre-recorded speech (passive listening). Slopes and intercepts of loudness curves were compared across groups and conditions. A significant difference in slope was found between autophonic and passive-listening conditions for both groups. Unlike control subjects, parkinsonian subjects' magnitude estimates under auditory masking increased in variability and did not show as strong a shift in intercept values. These results suggest that individuals with Parkinson's disease rely on auditory feedback to compensate for underlying deficits in sensorimotor integration important in establishing and regulating autophonic loudness.

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Experimental quantification of the true efficiency of carbon nanotube thin-film thermophones

Carbon nanotube thermophones can create acoustic waves from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The thermoacoustic effect that allows for this non-vibrating sound source is naturally inefficient. Prior efforts have not explored their true efficiency (i.e., the ratio of the total acoustic power to the electrical input power). All previous works have used the ratio of sound pressure to input electrical power. A method for true power efficiency measurement is shown using a fully anechoic technique. True efficiency data are presented for three different drive signal processing techniques: standard alternating current(AC),direct current added to alternating current (DCAC), and amplitude modulation of an alternating current (AMAC) signal. These signal processing techniques are needed to limit the frequency doubling non-linear effects inherent to carbon nanotube thermophones. Each type of processing affects the true efficiency differently. Using a 72 Wrms input signal, the measured efficiency ranges were 4.3 × 10⁻⁶ − 319 × 10⁻⁶, 1.7 × 10⁻⁶ − 308 × 10⁻⁶, and 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ – 228 × 10⁻⁶% for AC, DCAC, and AMAC, respectively. These data were measured in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz. In addition, the effects of these processing techniques relative to sound quality are presented in terms of total harmonic distortion.

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[Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia].

Related Articles

[Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia].

Rev Med Interne. 2016 Mar 23;

Authors: Couturier A, Aumaître O, Mom T, Gilain L, André M

Abstract
Fibrous dysplasia of bone is a benign, uncommon, sporadic, congenital skeletal disorder resulting in deformity. This disease arises from activating somatic mutation in GNAS which encodes the α subunit of the G stimulatory protein associated with proliferation of undifferentiated osteogenic cells resulting in marrow fibrosis, abnormal matrix production, and stimulation of osteoclastic resorption upon overproduction of IL-6 observed in dysplastic cells. Fibrous dysplasia may be monostotic or polyostotic. This mutation affecting many tissues, café au lait skin macules and endocrinopathies (precocious puberty, hyperthyroidism, growth hormone excess, Cushing syndrome) may be associated in McCune-Albright syndrome, but also myxoma in Mazabraud syndrome or phosphate diabetes. Diagnosis of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia should be considered in the presence of headache, neuralgia, sensory disorders (vision, hearing, balance, smelling), functional disorders (nasal obstruction, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, non-matching occlusion), infectious complications (sinusitis, otitis, mastoiditis). Such symptoms should lead to perform craniofacial CT scan completed with MRI. Bone biopsy is not systematic. Surgical treatment is discussed in cases of nervous complication, facial deformity or active lesions. In case of pain resistant to conventional analgesics, intravenous bisphosphonates can be proposed. In non-responder patients, several case reports suggest the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor which requires to be confirmed by randomized studies.

PMID: 27017329 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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[Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia].

Related Articles

[Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia].

Rev Med Interne. 2016 Mar 23;

Authors: Couturier A, Aumaître O, Mom T, Gilain L, André M

Abstract
Fibrous dysplasia of bone is a benign, uncommon, sporadic, congenital skeletal disorder resulting in deformity. This disease arises from activating somatic mutation in GNAS which encodes the α subunit of the G stimulatory protein associated with proliferation of undifferentiated osteogenic cells resulting in marrow fibrosis, abnormal matrix production, and stimulation of osteoclastic resorption upon overproduction of IL-6 observed in dysplastic cells. Fibrous dysplasia may be monostotic or polyostotic. This mutation affecting many tissues, café au lait skin macules and endocrinopathies (precocious puberty, hyperthyroidism, growth hormone excess, Cushing syndrome) may be associated in McCune-Albright syndrome, but also myxoma in Mazabraud syndrome or phosphate diabetes. Diagnosis of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia should be considered in the presence of headache, neuralgia, sensory disorders (vision, hearing, balance, smelling), functional disorders (nasal obstruction, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, non-matching occlusion), infectious complications (sinusitis, otitis, mastoiditis). Such symptoms should lead to perform craniofacial CT scan completed with MRI. Bone biopsy is not systematic. Surgical treatment is discussed in cases of nervous complication, facial deformity or active lesions. In case of pain resistant to conventional analgesics, intravenous bisphosphonates can be proposed. In non-responder patients, several case reports suggest the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor which requires to be confirmed by randomized studies.

PMID: 27017329 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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