Moxonidine into the lateral parabrachial nucleus modifies postingestive signals involved in sodium intake control

The activation of a2-adrenoceptors with bilateral injections of moxonidine (a2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor agonist) into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) increases 1.8% NaCl intake induced by treatment with furosemide (FURO) + captopril (CAP) subcutaneously. In the present study, we analyzed licking microstructure during water and 1.8% NaCl intake to investigate the changes in orosensory and postingestive signals produced by moxonidine injected into the LPBN. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with FURO + CAP combined with bilateral injections of vehicle or moxonidine (0.5 nmol/0.2 ll) into the LPBN. Bilateral injections of moxonidine into the LPBN increased FURO + CAP-induced 1.8% NaCl intake, without changing water intake. Microstructural analysis of licking behavior found that this increase in NaCl intake was a function of increased number of licking bursts from 15 to 75 min of the test (maximum of 49 ± 9 bursts/bin, vs. vehicle: 2 ± 2 bursts/bin). Analysis of the first 15 min of the test, when most of the licking behavior occurred, found no effect of moxonidine on the number of licks/burst for sodium intake (24 ± 5 licks/burst, vs. vehicle: 27 ± 8 licks/burst). This finding suggests that activation of a2-adrenoceptors in the LPBN affects postingestive signals that are important to inhibit and limit sodium intake by FURO + CAP-treated rats.

New physics from warped compact extra dimensions: from model building to colliders signals

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Narrow-band search of continuous gravitational-wave signals from Crab and Vela pulsars in Virgo VSR4 data

In this paper we present the results of a coherent narrow-band search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from the Crab and Vela pulsars conducted on Virgo VSR4 data. In order to take into account a possible small mismatch between the gravitational-wave frequency and two times the star rotation frequency, inferred from measurement of the electromagnetic pulse rate, a range of 0.02 Hz around two times the star rotational frequency has been searched for both the pulsars. No evidence for a signal has been found and 95% confidence level upper limits have been computed assuming both that polarization parameters are completely unknown and that they are known with some uncertainty, as derived from x-ray observations of the pulsar wind torii. For Vela the upper limits are comparable to the spin-down limit, computed assuming that all the observed spin-down is due to the emission of gravitational waves. For Crab the upper limits are about a factor of 2 below the spin-down limit, and represent a significant improvement with respect to past analysis. This is the first time the spin-down limit is significantly overcome in a narrow-band search.

Trajectory and outcomes of speech language therapy in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS): case report

The aim of this study was to describe the trajectory and the outcomes of speech-language therapy in Prader-Willi syndrome through a longitudinal study of the case of an 8 year-old boy, along four years of speech-language therapy follow-up. The therapy sessions were filmed and documental analysis of information from the child's records regarding anamnesis, evaluation and speech-language therapy reports and multidisciplinary evaluations were carried out. The child presented typical characteristics of Prader-Willi syndrome, such as obesity, hyperfagia, anxiety, behavioral problems and self aggression episodes. Speech-language pathology evaluation showed orofacial hypotony, sialorrhea, hypernasal voice, cognitive deficits, oral comprehension difficulties, communication using gestures and unintelligible isolated words. Initially, speech-language therapy had the aim to promote the language development emphasizing social interaction through recreational activities. With the evolution of the case, the main focus became the development of conversation and narrative abilities. It were observed improvements in attention, symbolic play, social contact and behavior. Moreover, there was an increase in vocabulary, and evolution in oral comprehension and the development of narrative abilities. Hence, speech-language pathology intervention in the case described was effective in different linguistic levels, regarding phonological, syntactic, lexical and pragmatic abilities.

Ultrasonic sensor signals and optimum path forest classifier for the microstructural characterization of thermally-aged inconel 625 alloy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Speech-language therapy for treatment of dysphagia and dysphonia in systemic granulomatous diseases: granulomatous diseases: dysphagia and dysphonia treatments

The granulomatous lesions are frequently founded in infectious diseases and can involve the larynx and pharynx and can cause varying degrees of dysphonia and dysphagia. There is still no systematic review that analyzes effectiveness of speech therapy in systemic granulomatous diseases. Research strategy: A systematic review was performed according to Cochrane guideline considering the inclusion of RCTs and quasi-RCTs about the effectiveness of speech-language therapy to treat dysphagia and dysphonia symptoms in systemic granulomatous diseases of the larynx and pharynx. Selection criteria: The outcome planned to be measured in this review were: swallowing impairment, frequency of chest infections and voice and swallowing symptoms. Data analysis: We identified 1,140 citations from all electronic databases. After an initial shift we only selected 9 titles to be retrieved in full-text. After full reading, there was no RCT found in this review and therefore, we only described the existing 2 case series studies. Results: There were no randomized controlled trials found in the literature. Therefore, two studies were selected to be included only for narratively analysis as they were case series. Conclusion: There is no evidence from high quality studies about the effectiveness of speech-language therapy in patients with granulomatous diseases of the larynx and pharynx. The investigators could rely in the outcomes suggested in this review to design their own clinical trials.

ABN Noon Speech (Short version)

Folks, because we find ourselves in a time crunch, I'm going to forego the terrific speech I planned to give today and quickly make five key points. Please know I will be happy to provide additional information on any of them at any time.

The Perception of Natural, Cell Phone, and Computer-Synthesized Speech During The Performance Of Simultaneous Visual-Motor Tasks

This study investigated the influence of top-down and bottom-up information on speech perception in complex listening environments. Specifically, the effects of listening to different types of processed speech were examined on intelligibility and on simultaneous visual-motor performance. The goal was to extend the generalizability of results in speech perception to environments outside of the laboratory. The effect of bottom-up information was evaluated with natural, cell phone and synthetic speech. The effect of simultaneous tasks was evaluated with concurrent visual-motor and memory tasks. Earlier works on the perception of speech during simultaneous visual-motor tasks have shown inconsistent results (Choi, 2004; Strayer & Johnston, 2001). In the present experiments, two dual-task paradigms were constructed in order to mimic non-laboratory listening environments. In the first two experiments, an auditory word repetition task was the primary task and a visual-motor task was the secondary task. Participants were presented with different kinds of speech in a background of multi-speaker babble and were asked to repeat the last word of every sentence while doing the simultaneous tracking task. Word accuracy and visual-motor task performance were measured. Taken together, the results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the intelligibility of natural speech was better than synthetic speech and that synthetic speech was better perceived than cell phone speech. The visual-motor methodology was found to demonstrate independent and supplemental information and provided a better understanding of the entire speech perception process. Experiment 3 was conducted to determine whether the automaticity of the tasks (Schneider & Shiffrin, 1977) helped to explain the results of the first two experiments. It was found that cell phone speech allowed better simultaneous pursuit rotor performance only at low intelligibility levels when participants ignored the listening task. Also, simultaneous task performance improved dramatically for natural speech when intelligibility was good. Overall, it could be concluded that knowledge of intelligibility alone is insufficient to characterize processing of different speech sources. Additional measures such as attentional demands and performance of simultaneous tasks were also important in characterizing the perception of different kinds of speech in complex listening environments.

Absence of ocular interaction in flicker ERG responses reflecting cone opponent and luminance signals

The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is an ocular interaction in the flicker ERG responses reflecting luminance and cone opponency in normal human subjects. Flicker ERGs were recorded from one dilated eye of 10 healthy volunteers. Each subject was tested twice: once with and once without occluding the opposite eye. Red and green LEDs were modulated in counterphase in a Ganzfeld stimulator. ERG responses were recorded for different ratios of the modulation in the red and green LEDs and at 12 and 36 Hz. The amplitudes and phases of the fundamental components were compared between the conditions with and without occlusion. The 12-Hz flicker ERGs reflected activity of the cone opponent channel, whereas the 36-Hz data reflected luminance activity. There were no significant differences between the conditions with and without occluding the opposite eye for any of the stimulus protocols. Ocular interaction is absent in flicker ERGs reflecting cone opponent and luminance activity.

Decision-directed feedback equalisation for QAM signals

Proposed is a symbol-based decision-directed algorithm for blind equalisation of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signals using a decision feedback scheme. Independently of QAM order, it presents: (i) an error equal to zero when the equaliser output coincides with the transmitted signal; (ii) simultaneous recovery of the modulus and phase of the signal; (iii) a misadjustment close to that of the normalised least-mean squares algorithm; (iv) fast convergence; and (v) the avoidance of degenerative solutions. Additionally, its stability is ensured when the step-size is properly chosen.

Mixed colonies of two species of congeneric stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apinae, Meliponini) display environmentally-acquired and endogenously-produced recognition signals

Nestmate recognition is fundamental for the maintenance of social organization in insect nests. It is becoming well recognized that cuticle hydrocarbons mediate the recognition process, although the origin of recognition cues in stingless bees remains poorly explored. The present study investigates the effects of endogenously-produced and environmentally-acquired components in cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bees. The tests are conducted using colonies of Plebeia droryana Friese and Plebeia remota Holmberg. Recognition tests are performed with four different groups: conspecific nestmates, conspecific non-nestmates, heterospecifics and conspecific, genetically-related individuals that emerge in a heterospecific nest. This last group is produced by introducing brood cells of P. droryana into a P. remota colony, and the resulting adult bees are tested for acceptance 10 days after emergence. For all groups, 15 individuals are sampled for chemical analysis. The results show the acceptance of all conspecific nestmates, and the rejection of almost every conspecific non-nestmate and every heterospecific bee. Genetically-related individuals emerging from heterospecific nests present intermediate rejection (66.7% rejection). Chemical analysis shows that P. droryana individuals emerging in a P. remota nest have small amounts of alkene and diene isomers found in P. remota cuticle that are not found in workers from the natal nest. The data clearly show that the majority of the compounds present in P. droryana cuticle are endogenously produced, although a few unsaturated compounds are acquired from the environment, increasing the chemical differences and, consequently, the rejection percentages.

Effect of sample storage time on detection of hybridization signals in Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization

Long-term sample storage can affect the intensity of the hybridization signals provided by molecular diagnostic methods that use chemiluminescent detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different storage times on the hybridization signals of 13 bacterial species detected by the Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method using whole-genomic DNA probes. Ninety-six subgingival biofilm samples were collected from 36 healthy subjects, and the intensity of hybridization signals was evaluated at 4 different time periods: (1) immediately after collecting (n = 24) and (2) after storage at -20 degrees C for 6 months (n = 24), (3) for 12 months (n = 24), and (4) for 24 months (n = 24). The intensity of hybridization signals obtained from groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.001). No differences were found between groups 1 and 2 (p > 0.05). The Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method was suitable to detect hybridization signals from all groups evaluated, and the intensity of signals decreased significantly after long periods of sample storage.

First record of chemical signals from the queen during the oviposition process in stingless bees

In stingless bees, the cell provisioning and oviposition process consists of several integrated behavioral sequences and several stereotyped queen-worker interactions. This study aims to demonstrate that chemical signals originating from the queen may contribute as cues for the sequence of the oviposition process in Melipona marginata. For this, we analyzed the cell before and after queen laying, and compared them with the cuticular hydrocarbons of the queen's abdomen, using a gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry system.

Result on speech perception after conversion from Spectra (R) to Freedom (R)

New technology in the Freedom (R) speech processor for cochlear implants was developed to improve how incoming acoustic sound is processed; this applies not only for new users, but also for previous generations of cochlear implants. Aim: To identify the contribution of this technology - the Nucleus 22 (R) - on speech perception tests in silence and in noise, and on audiometric thresholds. Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study was undertaken. Seventeen patients were selected. The last map based on the Spectra (R) was revised and optimized before starting the tests. Troubleshooting was used to identify malfunction. To identify the contribution of the Freedom (R) technology for the Nucleus22 (R), auditory thresholds and speech perception tests were performed in free field in soundproof booths. Recorded monosyllables and sentences in silence and in noise (SNR = 0dB) were presented at 60 dBSPL. The nonparametric Wilcoxon test for paired data was used to compare groups. Results: Freedom (R) applied for the Nucleus22 (R) showed a statistically significant difference in all speech perception tests and audiometric thresholds. Conclusion: The reedom (R) technology improved the performance of speech perception and audiometric thresholds of patients with Nucleus 22 (R).

Biological invasions and the acoustic niche: the effect of bullfrog calls on the acoustic signals of white-banded tree frogs

Invasive species are known to affect native species in a variety of ways, but the effect of acoustic invaders has not been examined previously. We simulated an invasion of the acoustic niche by exposing calling native male white-banded tree frogs (Hypsiboas albomarginatus) to recorded invasive American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) calls. In response, tree frogs immediately shifted calls to significantly higher frequencies. In the post-stimulus period, they continued to use higher frequencies while also decreasing signal duration. Acoustic signals are the primary basis of mate selection in many anurans, suggesting that such changes could negatively affect the reproductive success of native species. The effects of bullfrog vocalizations on acoustic communities are expected to be especially severe due to their broad frequency band, which masks the calls of multiple species simultaneously.