A Note on Vowel Centralization in Stuttering and Nonstuttering Individuals

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1042-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Blomgren ◽  
Michael Robb ◽  
Yang Chen

Inferences were made regarding vocal tract vowel space during fluently produced utterances through examination of the first two formant frequencies. Fifteen adult males served as subjects, representing separate groups of untreated and treated individuals who stutter and nonstuttering controls. The steady-state portion of formant one (F1) and formant two (F2) was examined in the production of various CVC tokens containing the vowels /i/, /u/, and /α/. Vocal tract vowel space was estimated three ways. The first analysis scheme involved measurement of formant frequency spacing. The second measure involved calculating the area of the vowel space triangle. The third measure was based on calculating the average Euclidean distance from each subject's midpoint "centroid" vocal tract position to the corresponding /i/, /u/, and /α/ points on the vowel triangle. The formant frequency spacing measures proved to be most revealing of group differences, with the untreated stutterers showing significantly greater vowel centralization than the treated group and control group. Discussion focuses on the vocal tract articulation characterizing fluent speech productions and possible treatment implications for persons who stutter.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 466-469
Author(s):  
Luiza Korytova ◽  
Aleksey Meshechkin ◽  
Oleg Korytov ◽  
V. Krasnikova

Objective was to establish efficiency of sodium nucleospermat in correcting thrombocytopenia after chemoradiotherapy in oncological patients. Methods and materials. The study included data on 32 patients that had undergone combined treatment from January till May 2016. After detecting thrombocytopenia patients were randomized into two groups (16 patients in each): treated group, where patients received sodium nucleospermat, and control group, where sodium nucleospermat was not used. Thrombocyte level control was done on 5th, 10th and 15th day after treatment was over. Results and discussion. All 16 patients showed positive dynamics in increasing thrombocyte level after Sodium nucleospermat injection course was finished. This was proven by first (5th day) blood analysis. On average thrombocyte level after sodium nucleospermat treatment has risen to normal, at 161х109/1. Only 3 patients from this group had to pause radiotherapy for 5 days. Control group patients, which did not receive sodium nucleospermat, showed evidence of thrombocyte level recovery by 10th day only. On average thrombocyte level increase was insignificant, and median number was 111*109/l. Low thrombocyte level was main reason to pause radiotherapy for 11 (69%) patients in control group. Conclusion. Sodium nucleospermat allowed raising thrombocyte level to the lower normal range, which surpassed by 40%-50% in control group patients. Use of sodium nucleospermat did not show any cases of allergic reactions, toxicity or complications in oncological patients.


1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1057-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Saletsky Kamen ◽  
Ben C. Watson

This study investigated the effects of long-term tracheostomy on the development of speech. Eight children who underwent tracheotomy during the prelingual period were compared to matched controls on selected spectral parameters of the speech acoustic signal and standard measures of oral-motor, phonologic, and articulatory proficiency. Analysis of formant frequency values revealed significant between-group differences. Children with histories of long-term tracheostomy showed reduced acoustic vowel space, as defined by group formant frequency values. This suggests that these children were limited in their ability to produce extreme vocal tract configurations for vowels /a,i,u/ postdecannulation. Oral motor patterns were less mature, and sound substitutions were not only more variable for this group, but also reflected a persistent overlay of maladaptive compensations developed during cannulation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecília Maria de Carvalho Xavier Holanda ◽  
Monique Batista da Costa ◽  
Natália Chilinque Zambão da Silva ◽  
Maurício Ferreira da Silva Júnior ◽  
Vanessa Santos de Arruda Barbosa ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: Aloe vera is a tropical plant popularly known in Brazil as babosa. We have investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Aloe vera on the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 and laboratorial parameters in Wistar rats. METHODS: Twelve animals were divided into treated and control groups. In the treated group, Aloe vera was given by gavage (5mg/mL/day) during 10 days. The control group received sorbitol by the same way and period. One hour after the last dose, we injected 0.1mL of Na99mTcO4 by orbital plexus. After 60 min, all the animals were killed. Samples were harvested from the brain, liver, heart, muscle, pancreas, stomach, femur, kidneys, blood, testis and thyroid and the percentage of radioactivity (%ATI/g) was determined. Biochemical dosages were performed. RESULTS: There was a significant increase of %ATI/g in blood, femur, kidneys, liver, stomach, testis and thyroid and also in blood levels of AST and ALT. A significant decrease in levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea occurred. The statistical analyses were performed by Mann-Whitney test and T-Student test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of Aloe vera facilitated the uptake of Na99mTcO4 in organs of rats and it was responsible to a high increase of levels of AST and ALT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (07) ◽  
pp. 16984-16996
Author(s):  
MMC Anyakudo ◽  
◽  
DO Adeniji ◽  

The metabolic response to nutrient ingestion and the rate of digestion and absorption of nutrient molecules in bowel physiology plays an important role in the metabolic control of some human chronic non-infectious diseases. This experimentally-controlled designed nutritional study which lasted eight weeks aimed to determine the effects of proportional high-protein/low-carbohydrate (HP/LC) formulated diet on glycemic tolerance, glycemic control, body weight, organ weight and organ morphometry in healthy and diabetic adult male Wistar rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats purchased from a disease-free stock were randomly categorized into four groups (n = 6, each) after two weeks acclimatization period in raised stainless steel cages with 6 mm2mesh floor and replaceable numbered blotters papers placed under each cage in a well-ventilated animal house. Animal groups include: Healthy control group (HC), Healthy treated group (HT), Diabetic control group (DC) and Diabetic treated group (DT. The animals were fed according to the experimental design with water ad libitumfor eight weeks. Diabetes was inducted with freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate solution (150 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally). Body weights and fasting blood sugar concentrations were measured twice weekly, while oral glucose tolerance test was conducted on the last day of the eighth-week study and subsequently followed by organs extraction after anesthesia for weight and gross assessment. Proportional high-protein/low-carbohydrate formulated diet caused significant reduction in mean body weight of treated diabetic (DT: 22.6%; P= .001) and healthy (HT: 5.8%; P= .007) rats while the control animals on control diet recorded significant (P< .05) increase in body weight gain (DC: 12.4%; HC: 11.2%). Glycemic tolerance and control improved significantly in diabetic treated rats over that of the healthy treated rats. Gross morphometry of the extracted organs (kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, spleen and testes) revealed sustained normal morphological features without any visible lesion. In conclusion, consumption of proportional high-protein/low-carbohydrate formulated diet enhanced body weight reduction and sustained normal organ morphological features with good glycemic tolerance and control in experimental rats, suggesting its dietary potentiality, safety and suitability to ameliorate obesity-related diabetes.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (4) ◽  
pp. H717-H721
Author(s):  
H. M. McGowan ◽  
R. Vandongen ◽  
B. Smith

This study examines the effect of dexamethasone (Dex), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, on the reversal of 1-kidney, 1-clip (1K,1C) hypertension and the synthesis of phospholipase A2-dependent products. Male Sprague-Dawley 1K,1C hypertensive rats [blood pressure (BP) greater than 190 mmHg] were allocated to three groups: two groups were given daily oral doses of Dex (0.142 mg/kg in water) for 72 h, whereas the third group was given water only (controls). One of the Dex-treated groups was then sham unclipped (n = 9), while the other Dex-treated group (n = 8) and the control group (n = 8) were unclipped. Dex attenuated the BP fall in the unclipped (223 +/- 8-148 +/- 9 mmHg) compared with the control unclipped (226 +/- 9-114 +/- 5 mmHg) animals (P less than 0.005). Aortic 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) was reduced in unclipped Dex-treated rats (13.4 +/- 1.2 ng/mg) compared with unclipped control rats (16.3 +/- 1.4 ng/mg; P less than 0.05) but was higher than in the sham-unclipped Dex group (11.5 +/- 1.2 ng/mg; P less than 0.05). Serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2) in the unclipped Dex-treated group was lower than in the unclipped control rats (P less than 0.05) but higher than in sham-unclipped rats (P less than 0.05). Dex significantly increased urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) excretion, whereas urinary 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was unaltered. After unclipping, both urinary PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased significantly, although there was no obvious difference between Dex-treated and control animals. These findings demonstrate opposite effects of Dex on renal compared with extrarenal prostanoid synthesis and support the hypothesis that attenuation of aortic 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis may be responsible for the smaller fall in BP after unclipping in Dex-treated rats.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azam Mahjubian ◽  
Nasrin Bahraminejad ◽  
Koorosh Kamali

Introduction: Improving self-management of the patients undergoing hemodialysis is an effective way to reduce complications and to improve the quality of life of them. The current study aims to assess the effects of group discussion on the promotion of self-management behaviors in hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this quasi -experimental clinical trial study (with experimental and control groups) 60 patients were arranged in two experimental and control groups through using convenience sampling with random allocation. Self-management interventions were conducted on the experimental group during 3 to 4 sessions of group discussion. The control group received routine interventions. The data were collected through Li and colleagues' self-management standard questionnaire before and 3 months after the intervention. The data were analyzed via SPSS software version 13 and chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon test. Results: The results showed that the mean scores of four dimension of self-management including participation with the medical team, problem solving, self-care and emotional management after the implementation of group were significantly different between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Based on the findings, group discussion was an effective educational method to promote self-management of chronic hemodialysis patients. Therefore, holding group discussion to reinforce the self- management behaviors in patients undergoing hemodialysis is recommended.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4226-4226
Author(s):  
Mohsen Saleh Elalfy ◽  
Iman Ahmed Ragab ◽  
Enas Ahmed Azab ◽  
Shaimaa Nasr ◽  
Marwa Abdel Maguid

Abstract Abstract 4226 Patients with childhood ALL achieve long-term disease-free survival, making reducing complications of therapy of major concerns. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and degree of neurocognitive dysfunction in survivors of childhood ALL treated with different protocols and the effect of time since end of chemotherapy. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study including 60 ALL survivors aged 5–16 years at enrollment; 2–9 years at diagnosis, CNS1, treated through 1998–2008 and regularly followed up in childhood cancer survivors clinic;. They were compared to 20 healthy age and sex matched controls. Grade of school, scholastic achievement in the previous year were reported followed by revision of hospital records including type and risk of ALL, protocol of treatment, number, type and dose of intrathecal chemotherapy, number and doses of high dose I.V methotrexate, data of cranial radiotherapy. Three different protocols were applied to these patients according to the time of diagnosis, patients diagnosed between January 1998 to December 2000 were treated with Modified BFM 83. Those diagnosed between January 2001 to June2004 were treated with BFM 90 protocol, and those diagnosed From July 2004 to June 2008 were treated with CCG 1991 for standard risk and CCG 1961 for high risk patients.Neurocognitive functions were tested using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children,Benton visual retention (BVR) test and Trail making test (part A and B were done. MRI Brain was performed to the patients and control group using diffusion weighed images and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI). Results: Survivors treated with CCG protocol showed a significant decrease in all cognitive tests results compared to control (p<0.05). Survivors treated with BFM 90 protocol had a significant lower total IQ, verbal IQ, TMT-partA, compared to both control and survivors treated with Modified BFM 83, and a significant decrease in performance IQ, BVRT and TMT-partB compared to control only. No significant difference between results of cognitive tests in survivors treated with Modified BFM 83 and control group. Both left and right frontal cortex apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was significantly higher in CCG(.88±.060.91±.028) treated group compared to control(.695±.0018.684±.0018), BFM 90(.79±.071.76±.048) and modified BFM 83(.76±.030.83±.023×10&minus;3mm2/s) groups (p<0.05) yet a significant decrease in FA of right frontal cortex only in CCG (.250±.039)treated group compared to control(.684±.0018), BFM 90(.450±.042) and Modified BFM 83(.41±.028) groups(p<0.05). FA of right frontal, was significantly lower in BFM 90 and Modified BFM 83 treated group compared to control group. No significant correlation was found between cognitive tests results with age at diagnosis, time since the end of therapy, total number of intrathecal injections, age at radiotherapy treatment, dose and time of radiotherapy. Cognitive tests didn’t differ between survivors treated with triple intrathecal therapy(ITTT) compared to those treated with intrathecal methotrexate, yet significant decrease in FA of right hippocampus in survivors who received ITTT compared to survivors treated with intrathecal monotherapy, Conclusion: Neurocognitive dysfunction was a common sequelae of childhood ALL treatment. It was more related to protocol of therapy rather than the duration of follow-up since end of chemotherapy. Frontal lobe FA may be a clinically useful biomarker for the assessment of neurotoxicity in post-treatment childhood ALL survivors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Mahibur Rahman ◽  
Anita Rani Dey ◽  
Saiful Islam ◽  
Md Shahadat Hossain ◽  
Md Hasanuzzaman Talukder ◽  
...  

Correction: Table 1 and Table 2 have were omitted from the PDF in error. They were added to page 89 on 17th May 2018.Anthelmintic resistance (AR) to commonly used dewormers is one of the major world-wide constrain in livestock production. The present study was investigated the status of AR in BAU dairy farm, Mymensingh and Talukder dairy farm, Sirajganj. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was applied to assess AR in cattle of two dairy farms during January to June 2017. The anthelmintics tested were Albendazole (ABZ), a benzimidazole anthelmintic (Almex®, Square Ltd.) and Ivermectin (IVM) (Vermic®, Techno drugs Ltd.), administered at the doses recommended by the manufacturers. In each farm, cattle were divided into treatment and control (not treated) group based on faecal egg counts (FEC), that is at least 200 eggs/g. At 14 days after treatment, faecal samples were collected for post-treatment FEC, which is compared between treatment and control group. Resistance was defined if there was <95% reduction, with lower 95% confidence limit (CL) <90% in the FEC. AR was present in both the dairy farms involved in this study. The FECRT using ABZ revealed 79.7% (95% CL 87.9, 65.8) reduction and 95.8% (95% CL 98.7, 87.1) reduction of FEC in BAU and Talukder dairy farms, respectively. Also, FECRT using IVM revealed 77.9% (95% CL 97.7, 85.5) and 94.2% (95% CL 97.7, 85.5) reduction of FEC in BAU and Talukder dairy farms, respectively. Our study suggest that AR is present in both selected dairy farms and further extensive studies are required to determine the extent of AR in different cattle farms of Bangladesh.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.5(1): 87-92, April 2018


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-Shiou Liao

PurposeThis study investigated the acoustic properties of 6 Taiwan Southern Min vowels produced by 10 laryngeal speakers (LA), 10 speakers with a pneumatic artificial larynx (PA), and 8 esophageal speakers (ES).MethodEach of the 6 monophthongs of Taiwan Southern Min (/i, e, a, ɔ, u, ə/) was represented by a Taiwan Southern Min character and appeared randomly on a list 3 times (6 Taiwan Southern Min characters × 3 repetitions = 18 tokens). Each Taiwan Southern Min character in this study has the same syllable structure, /V/, and all were read with tone 1 (high and level). Acoustic measurements of the 1st formant, 2nd formant, and 3rd formant were taken for each vowel. Then, vowel space areas (VSAs) enclosed by /i, a, u/ were calculated for each group of speakers. The Euclidean distance between vowels in the pairs /i, a/, /i, u/, and /a, u/ was also calculated and compared across the groups.ResultsPA and ES have higher 1st or 2nd formant values than LA for each vowel. The distance is significantly shorter between vowels in the corner vowel pairs /i, a/ and /i, u/. PA and ES have a significantly smaller VSA compared with LA.ConclusionsIn accordance with previous studies, alaryngeal speakers have higher formant frequency values than LA because they have a shortened vocal tract as a result of their total laryngectomy. Furthermore, the resonance frequencies are inversely related to the length of the vocal tract (on the basis of the assumption of the source filter theory). PA and ES have a smaller VSA and shorter distances between corner vowels compared with LA, which may be related to speech intelligibility. This hypothesis needs further support from future study.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya E. Baby ◽  
Pawel M. Bartlewski

Ovarian antral follicles in sheep grow in an orderly succession, producing typically three to four follicular waves per 17-day oestrous cycle. Each wave is preceded by a transient increase in circulating FSH concentrations. The mechanism controlling the number of recurrent FSH peaks and emerging follicular waves remains unknown. During the ewe’s oestrous cycle, the time between the first two FSH peaks and days of wave emergence is longer than the intervals separating the ensuing FSH peaks and follicular waves. The prolonged interpeak and interwave interval occurs early in the luteal phase when low levels of progesterone are secreted by developing, or not fully functional, corpora lutea (CL). The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of varying progesterone (P4) levels on circulating concentrations of FSH and antral follicular development in sheep. Exogenous P4 (15 mg per ewe, i.m.) was administered twice daily to six cycling Rideau Arcott × Dorset ewes from Day 0 (ovulation) to Day 4 (the mean duration of the interwave interval); six animals served as controls. Follicular growth was monitored in all animals by daily transrectal ultrasonography (Days 0–9). Jugular blood samples were drawn twice a day from Day 0 to Day 4 and then daily until Day 9 to measure systemic concentrations of P4, FSH and 17β-oestradiol (E2). The first FSH peak after ovulation was detected on Days 1.5 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.2 in treated and control ewes, respectively (P < 0.05). The next FSH peak(s) occurred on Day 3.9 ± 0.3 in the treated group and on Day 6.4 ± 0.5 in the control group. Consequently, the treated group had, on average, three follicular waves emerging on Days 0, 3 and 6, whereas the control group had two waves emerging on Days 0 and 5. Mean serum E2 concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in control compared with treated ewes on Days 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 4.0 and 4.3 after ovulation. In summary, creation of mid-luteal phase levels of P4 in metoestrus shortened the time to the first post-ovulatory FSH peak in ewes, resulting in the emergence of one more follicular wave compared with control ewes during the same time frame. Therefore, P4 appears to be a key endocrine signal governing the control of periodic increases in serum FSH concentrations and the number of follicular waves in cycling sheep.


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