Intelligibility Across a Reading Passage: The Effect of Dysarthria and Cued Speaking Styles

Objective: Reading a passage out loud is a commonly used task in the perceptual assessment of dysarthria. The extent to which perceptual characteristics remain unchanged or stable over the time course of a passage is largely unknown. This study investigated crowdsourced visual analogue scale (VAS) judgments of intelligibility across a reading passage as a function of cued speaking styles commonly used in treatment to maximize intelligibility. Patients and Method: The Hunter passage was read aloud in habitual, slow, loud, and clear speaking styles by 16 speakers with Parkinson's disease (PD), 30 speakers with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 32 control speakers. VAS judgments of intelligibility from three fragments representing the beginning, middle, and end of the reading passage were obtained from 540 crowdsourced online listeners. Results: Overall passage intelligibility was reduced for the two clinical groups relative to the control group. All speaker groups exhibited intelligibility variation across the reading passage, with trends of increased intelligibility toward the end of the reading passage. For control speakers and speakers with PD, patterns of intelligibility variation across passage reading did not differ with speaking style. For the MS group, intelligibility variation across the passage was dependent on speaking style. Conclusions: The presence of intelligibility variation within a reading passage warrants careful selection of speech materials in research and clinical practice. Results further indicate that the crowdsourced VAS rating paradigm is useful to document intelligibility in a reading passage for different cued speaking styles commonly used in treatment for dysarthria.

Total Synthesis of Cochlearol B via a Catellani- and Visible Light-Enabled [2+2]-Cycloaddition Approach

A new, twelve-step approach towards the meroterpenoid cochlearol B is reported. This strategy takes advantage of a palladium-catalyzed Catellani reaction of a complex chromenyl triflate and a subsequent visible light-mediated [2+2]-cycloaddition to form the central bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane core of cochlearol B. Notably, careful selection and tuning of the photocycloaddition precursor proved crucial to differentiate between cyclopropanation reactions, [4+2] cycloadditions, and selective [2+2]-photocycloadditions.

IMMEDIATELY SEQUENTIAL BILATERAL CATARACT SURGERY - «FOR» AND «CONS»

This review presents the main pros and cons of Immediately Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS) versus Delayed Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (DSBCS). The main arguments against ISBCS versus DSBCS are the likelihood of postoperative bilateral endophthalmitis and refractive errors. At the same time, careful selection of patients, the implementation of safety recommendations and the use of intracameral antibiotics, combined with the improvement of formulas for calculating intraocular lenses, provide the advantages of ISBCS associated with the rapid rehabilitation of patients after surgery and economic reasons.

Genetic Improvement of Local Red Peanut With Using Nuclear Technique (Multigamma Irradiation) for Obtaining Superior Variety

The main problem examined in this study concerns the breeding of local red peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) to use standard multigamma irradiation methods to obtain superior variety that can be adapted to drought conditions, pests-diseases, extreme climate, and high production. The research objective was to develop local red peanut variety to use multigamma irradiation and careful selection for obtaining superior variety that can be adapted to drought conditions, pests-diseases, extreme climate, and high production. Research methods include multigamma irradiation, observation, sampling, carefully selection, comparative, and interpretation. The results of the study are as follows: The development of local red peanut variety through breeding to use multigamma irradiation and careful selection resulted in superior variety that could adapt to drought conditions, pests-diseases, extreme climate, and increased production significantly. The range of production of selected superior variety resulting from multigamma irradiation was (3.68-4.10) t ha-1 with an average production of 3.92 t ha-1. The percentage increase in the production of selected superior variety was 49.23% with an average water content of dry seeds of 11.3%.

Contextual Theology as Heritage Formation: Moluccan Culture, Christianity, and Identity

This article uses the case of Moluccan Protestantism to argue that contextual theology is not merely a postcolonial theological movement, but in some cases also can be understood as part of a larger post-independence political nation-building project of heritage formation. I show how in two key political periods the interests of the Moluccan Protestant church (GPM) and the Indonesian government coalesced. The word ‘heritage’ is central to the Moluccan contextual discourse, and the development of contextual theology resembles practices of heritage formation, being a controlled political process of careful selection of cultural forms, aimed at a sense of ‘authentic’ local identity. The development of a Moluccan contextual theology partakes in the socio-political effort of preservation of Moluccan cultural heritage. At the same time, and paradoxically, the heritage frame in which Moluccan contextual theology is embedded, also hinders the theological goal of contextualization. This article is based on anthropological research into Moluccan theology. Its innovative contribution and relevance lies in the interdisciplinary postcolonial perspective, that understands Moluccan contextual theology as both a theological exercise of inculturation and as a religious expression of Indonesia’s heritage politics.

Zero Traffic Conflict (ZTC) Road Networks with Concentric Traffic Paths

U-turns and left turns are sometimes forbidden even though it increases travel distances. The greater travel distances are sometimes outweighed by the improved movement through intersections due to there being fewer conflicting lanes of traffic. One can, further, forbid straight-throughs. Restricting a sufficient number of turns can make intersections free from crossing lanes of traffic (``zero traffic conflict,'' ``ZTC"), though there may still be merging lanes of traffic. It's possible to make \begin{it}all\end{it} intersections in a road \begin{it}network\end{it} ZTC. However, keeping all destinations accessible and travel distances moderate requires careful selection of allowed driving directions and turning directions. We demonstrate through numerical microscopic and macroscopic simulations that there are road networks and ranges of traffic loads for which, in comparison with conventional schemes, ZTC road network can carry approximately $50$\% more vehicular traffic without incurring gridlock.

Circularity concepts for offsite prefabricated energy renovation of apartment buildings

Deep energy renovation includes the realisation of the full potential of energy performance. A circular deep renovation, which contributes to a circular built environment, is based on 100% life cycle renewable energy, and all materials used within the system boundaries are part of infinite technical or biological cycles with the lowest quality loss as possible. In the current study, the circularity potential was assessed for deep energy renovation from different aspects: circularity of materials, building component and building structure. Careful selection of materials as well as connection, position and disassembly possibilities are needed to increase the degree of circularity. This shows a good possibility to increase energy performance by using circularity principles. The window glass circularity analyse showed that, at best, the thermal transmittance of a new circular product can be more than three times lower than the original. The circular use of materials, components, and structures pose new challenges for the building physic design of building envelope structures.

A numerical study of plasmon-induced enhancement of dipole emission by arrays of silver nanospheres and nanoprisms

Plasmon-induced enhancement of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of quantum emitters by plasmon nanoparticles (PNPs) is a promising approach for the design and fabrication of PL hybrid materials with improved properties for biosensing and optoelectronics applications. This enhancement can be achieved through careful selection of such parameters as the PNP’s shape, material, size, the type of the medium around them, as well as the excitation and emission wavelengths of the emitter. Here, we simulated the nano-hybrid materials based on arrays of silver nanospheres, nanoprisms, and their combinations, located on polymer films with embedded dipole emitters. For these systems, the Purcell effect, as well as the excitation enhancement, transmittance, and absorption were evaluated. The results show the way to improve the PL properties of thin hybrid films by careful design of their composition using developed models.

A review on polymer nanocomposite hydrogel preparation, characterization, and applications

Nanocomposite hydrogels, made by incorporating nanoparticles into a hydrogel matrix, have been developed to fulfill the need for materials with enhanced and predictable mechanical properties and functionality. This review breaks down the process of preparing and characterizing nanocomposite hydrogels and looks at the various applications they can be used for. Through careful selection of the nanoparticle and hydrogel types, as well as the preparation method, the degree of crosslinking and the strength of the intermolecular interactions between the nanoparticles and the hydrogel matrix can be controlled. Once the nanomaterial is prepared, the morphology, gel content, thermal stability, and mechanical properties are investigated. By varying the concentrations of nanoparticles within the hydrogel matrix, nanocomposite hydrogels with optimal functionality and mechanical properties are produced. The optimized nanomaterial can then be used for its intended application(s); here the focus is on applications in the biomedical and dye adsorption fields. With further research, it is predicted that nanocomposite hydrogels will fulfill their potential to be used in practical, everyday applications.

Cultivar Repair of Local Vigna Radiata L to Use Multigamma Irradiation Technique (Nuclear) That Tolerant to Dry Condition, Rainy Season, Germ, and High Production

Vigna Radiata L is grouped as the third important legume in Indonesia after soybean and peanut with high nutrition. The research aims to develop local Vigna Radiata L from Timor Island Indonesia with multi-gamma irradiation technique and carefully selection for obtaining several variations of superior varieties. The main research method comprised of observation, irradiation, purifying, careful selection, comparative, analysis, and interpretation. The results of research on final purifying are obtained three variations of mutant varieties with several superior chemical and physical characteristics. The production of Vigna Radiata L as a result of Multigamma irradiation significantly increased, and on final purifying obtained especial superior of selected mutant varieties namely, two varieties can be fruited for the second time with harvest age are relatively short