Horizontal sound localisation and speech perception in Bonebridge-implanted single-sided deafness patients

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the benefit of Bonebridge devices in patients with single-sided deafness.MethodFive patients with single-sided deafness who were implanted with Bonebridge devices were recruited in a single-centre study. Participants’ speech perception and horizontal sound localisation abilities were assessed at 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Speech intelligibility in noisy environments was measured in three different testing conditions (speech and noise presented from the front, speech and noise presented from the front and contralateral (normal ear) side separately, and speech presented from the ipsilateral (implanted Bonebridge) side and noise from the contralateral side). Sound localisation was evaluated in Bonebridge-aided and Bonebridge-unaided conditions at different stimuli levels (65, 70 and 75 dB SPL).ResultsAll participants showed a better capacity for speech intelligibility in quiet environments with the Bonebridge device. The speech recognition threshold with the Bonebridge device was significantly decreased at both short- and long-term follow up in the speech presented from the ipsilateral (implanted Bonebridge) side and noise from the contralateral side condition (p < 0.05). Additionally, participants maintained similar levels of sound localisation between the Bonebridge-aided and unaided conditions (p > 0.05). However, the accuracy of localisation showed some improvement at 70 dB SPL and 75 dB SPL post-operatively.ConclusionThe Bonebridge device provides the benefit of improved speech perception performance in patients with single-sided deafness. Sound localisation abilities were neither improved nor worsened with Bonebridge implantation at the follow-up assessments.

Computing Hitting Probabilities of Markov Chains: Structural Results with regard to the Solution Space of the Corresponding System of Equations

In a previous paper, we have shown that forward use of the steady-state difference equations arising from homogeneous discrete-state space Markov chains may be subject to inherent numerical instability. More precisely, we have proven that, under some appropriate assumptions on the transition probability matrix P, the solution space S of the difference equation may be partitioned into two subspaces S=S1⊕S2, where the stationary measure of P is an element of S1, and all solutions in S1 are asymptotically dominated by the solutions corresponding to S2. In this paper, we discuss the analogous problem of computing hitting probabilities of Markov chains, which is affected by the same numerical phenomenon. In addition, we have to fulfill a somewhat complicated side condition which essentially differs from those conditions one is usually confronted with when solving initial and boundary value problems. To extract the desired solution, an efficient and numerically stable generalized-continued-fraction-based algorithm is developed.

Schemas

Relativism about quantifiers maintains that we never quantify over an absolutely comprehensive domain. Some philosophers are quick to reject this view on the grounds that it cannot be coherently formulated. But not every coherent theory can be captured in a single thesis. Sooner or later, everyone needs to make sense of theories that are infinitely axiomatized using schemas. This chapter offers a schematic regimentation of relativism. It then goes on to investigate the use of schemas to provide a relativist-friendly means to simulate absolutely general quantification. The chapter closes by discussing whether the relativist is able to frame an appropriate side-condition on the schema intended to capture her view.

Running Mechanics and Metabolic Responses With Water Bottles and Bottle Belt Holders

Purpose: To determine whether differential kinematics, kinetics, rates of energy use, and cardiopulmonary responses occur during running with water bottles and bottle belt holders compared with running only. Methods: Trained runners (N = 42; age 27.2 [6.4] y) ran on an instrumented treadmill for 4 conditions in a randomized order: control run (CON), handheld full water bottle (FULL; 16.9 fluid oz; 454 g), handheld half-full water bottle (HALF; 8.4 fluid oz; 227 g), and waist-worn bottle belt holder (BELT; hydration belt; 676 g). Gas exchange was measured using a portable gas analyzer. Kinetic and kinematic responses were determined by standard 3-dimensional videographic techniques. Interactions of limb side (right and left) by study condition (CON, FULL, HALF, and BELT) were tested for rates of oxygen use and energy expenditure and kinematic and kinetic parameters. Results: No significant limb-side × condition interactions existed for rates of oxygen use or energy expenditure. A significant interaction occurred with sagittal elbow flexion (P < .001). Transverse pelvic-rotation excursions differed on average 3.8° across conditions. The minimum sagittal hip-flexion moment was higher in the right leg in the HALF and BELT conditions compared with CON (P < .001). Conclusions: Carrying water by hand or on the waist does not significantly change the kinematics of running motion, rates of oxygen use and energy expenditure, or cardiopulmonary measures over short durations. Runners likely make adjustments to joint moments and powers that preserve balance and protect the lower-extremity joints while maintaining rates of oxygen use and energy expenditure.

Assumed Lighting Direction in the Interpretation of Cast Shadows

Assumed lighting direction in cast-shadow interpretation was investigated. Experiment 1 used an ambiguous object–shadow-matching task to measure bias in shadow-matching direction. The shadow-matching bias was largest when the lighting direction was on average 38.3° left from above (a median of 25.1°). Experiment 2 tested the effect of body posture (head orientation) on cast-shadow interpretation using stimuli aligned in a head-centrically vertical or horizontal orientation. The below-shadow (light-from-above) bias in the head-centric frame was robust across the sitting upright, reclining-on-the-left-side, reclining-on-the-right-side, and supine conditions. A right-shadow (light-from-left) bias in the head-centric frame was found for the sitting upright and reclining-on-the-right-side conditions. In the reclining-on-the-left-side condition, shadow biases to the gravitational below direction and head-centric right direction may have cancelled each other out. These results are consistent with findings from previous shape-from-shading studies, suggesting that the same light-source assumption is applied to shading and shadow interpretations.

The Role of Items Quantity Constraint to Control the Optimal Economic Order Quantity

The obligation or the traditional question in inventory models is how much or how many of inventory items to order. In inventory control, the economic order quantity, EOQ is varies from model to another based on the variables and assumptions. This paper develops the EOQ using two deterministic inventory models (Purchases model and production model with shortage) of multi-items when the objective function is subjected to a constrained number of items quantities. The constraints are supposed to be active if the left-hand side does not satisfy the right-hand side condition. Thus, to achieve the new formula of multi-item EOQ in each of the two models with the constraint, Lagrange method have been used. Finally, to provide the proposed model a numerical example has been used.

Optimizing Multi-Item EOQ when the Constraint of Annual Number of Orders is Active

The responsibility in inventory models decides of how much or how many of inventory items to order. An economic order quantity (EOQ) differs from a model to another according to the assumptions and the variables. This paper has developed the EOQ in two deterministic inventory model (Purchases with shortage and production with shortage) of multi-item when the objective function is subjected to annual number of orders. The constraints are assumed to be active if the left hand side does not satisfy the right hand side condition. Thus, Lagrange method is used to find the new multi-item EOQ in each two models with the constraint to achieve the new formula of EOQ. Finally, a numerical example is provided to justify the proposed model.

Relaxation of the Non-Convex, Incremental Energy-Minimization Problem in Single-Slip Strain-Gradient Plasticity

We consider a variational formulation of gradient elasto-plasticity, as they arise in the incremental formulation of the plastic evolution problem, subject to a class of single-slip side conditions. Such side conditions typically render the associated boundary-value problems non-convex. We first show that, for a large class of plastic deformations, a given single-slip condition (specification of Burgers' vectors and slip planes) can be relaxed by introducing a lamination microstructure. This yields a relaxed side condition which allows for arbitrary slip in a prescribed family of slip planes. This relaxed model can be thought of as an aid to simulating macroscopic plastic behavior without the need to resolve arbitrarily fine spatial scales. We also discuss issues of existence of solutions for the relaxed model.