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Outer space offers great potential, in terms of technological developments, access to natural resources and possibilities of exploration of and beyond the Moon. However, the exponential growth in the number of satellites, actors and types of space activities creates challenges for the continued Safety, Sustainability and Security (S3) of space activities. These challenges can be summarized as Congestion, Competition and Contestation in space, with all these trends converging (C4). This article explores how the European Union (EU) has over the past two decades been developing a space policy and how it can contribute to an effective, equitable and sustainable global governance of outer space. It argues that the EU is building a solid backbone to become a relevant power in global space governance across its different policies, but also that there is more potential to be realized, especially concerning the shaping future space law and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop an open-set word recognition task in speech-weighted noise and in quiet for young children and examine age effects for open versus closed response formats. Dutch monosyllabic words were presented in quiet and in stationary speech-weighted noise to 4- and 5-year-old children as well as to young adults in an open-set response format. Additionally, performance in open and closed context was assessed, as well as in a picture-pointing paradigm More than 200 children and 50 adults with normal hearing participated in the various validation phases. Average fitted speech reception thresholds (50%) yielded an age effect between 4-year and 5-year olds (and adults), both in speech-weighted noise and in quiet. The closed-set format yielded lower (better) SNRs than the open-set format, and children benefitted to the same extent as adults from phonetically similar words in speech-weighted noise. Additionally, the 4 AFC picture-pointing paradigm can be used to assess word recognition in quiet from 3 years of age. The same materials reveal performance differences between 4 and 5 years of age (and adults), both in quiet and speech-weighted noise using an open-set response format. This relatively small yet significant difference in SRT for a gap of only 1 year shows a developmental change for word recognition in speech-weighted noise and in quiet in the first decade of life. The study is part of the protocol registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID = NCT04063748). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) faces an existential crisis. Nominations to the Appellate Body (AB) are deadlocked; tariffs are being raised and retaliated against; and substantive negotiations are stalled. A number of Members, including European Union (EU or the Union) and its Member States, are convinced that the WTO is in need of profound reform, inter alia, with a view to integrating developing countries further, addressing unfair subsidies and state-owned enterprises (SoEs), and optimizing the dispute settlement mechanism (DSM). The EU has recently presented several reform proposals. It has also tightened its domestic tools for enforcing trade obligations and is cooperating with like-minded partners outside the institutional framework of the WTO. The present article looks into the WTO's challenges from a European perspective, with a critical analysis of the EU's proposals for reform, while also highlighting its approach on tackling issues that affect the international economic order outside the WTO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the digit triplet test (DTT) as a self-test in normal-hearing children at school-entry age (5–6 years) compared to an administrator-controlled test. Thirty-seven first grade elementary school children took part in this study. Next to a pure-tone screening, the test battery consisted of a DTT speech-in-noise screening (self-test and administrator-controlled assessment), and cognitive tests related to auditory/working memory and attention skills. The reference-SRT ± 2SD, obtained with the administrator-controlled DTT, was −9.8 ± 1.6 dB SNR, and could be estimated with a precision of 0.7 dB. The test duration for one ear was about 4.5 min. Self-tests resulted in higher (poorer) SRTs. Only a small proportion of children performed stably across repeated self-test administrations. With about 6 min for one ear, the test duration was rather long. The influence of auditory/working memory and attentional abilities appeared to be limited. Our data suggest that a self-administered DTT is not suitable for a large proportion of children at school-entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article presents an overview of all Digit Triplet Tests (DTT) and digits-in-noise tests (DIN) and their variations in language, speech material, masking noise, test procedures, and targeted population. The effects on aspects of validity, reliability, and feasibility are investigated. Scoping review. All studies referring to the DTT and DIN were collected from Pubmed and Embase. Search terms "digit triplet test" and "digits in noise" were used. Citations of selected articles were scanned backwards in time (the bibliography of the already selected research article) and forward in time (articles that cited the already selected research article). The search terms yielded 95 results in total. Eventually, 39 papers were selected. Analyses showed psychometric reference-curves with steep slopes and speech reception thresholds with high measurement precision which are strongly associated with pure tone audiometry. High sensitivity and specificity to detect elevated pure tone thresholds were noted for test variants. Certain procedural modifications of the DTT and DIN can further improve the test. Additionally, large-scale application of the DTT and DIN is feasible. The DTT and DIN are a very valuable tool for screening and diagnostics for a wide variety of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Subjects implanted with a Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant (DACI) show improvements in their bone conduction (BC) thresholds after surgery. We hypothesised that a new pathway for BC sound is created via the DACI. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of this pathway to the cochlear response via measurements of the promontory and round window membrane (RWM) velocities while stimulating with a conventional bone conductor. Design: This study was a cadaver head study with a repeated measures study design. Study Sample: Eight ears of five fresh-frozen cadaveric whole heads were investigated in this trial. Results: After DACI implantation the promontory and RWM velocities did not change significantly in the frequency range 0.5–2 kHz when the DACI was switched off. Conclusions: No significant changes in the relative vibration magnitude of the RWM after DACI implantation were observed. The improvements in BC thresholds seen in patients implanted with a DACI very likely have their origin in the changed impedance at the oval window after DACI surgery leading to a more efficient contribution from the inner ear components to BC sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some research suggests that legal, well-regulated trophy hunting programmes can positively contribute to wildlife conservation efforts, surprisingly little legal scholarship has focused on the regulatory framework that governs trophy hunting, and remarkably little guidance exists for the development and improvement of regulation in this area. With this article, we aim to start bridging that gap. We dive into the regulatory web in an attempt to start disentangling it. In so doing, we provide an overview of the different legal issues that converge in trophy hunting, and of how international regulation addresses those issues. We successively outline the legal instruments that govern the following questions: (i) whether trophy hunting is allowed under international law, (ii) when and where trophy hunting is allowed, (iii) what animals may be hunted, (iv) how the transport of trophies across international borders is organised, and (v) what weapons and ammunition may be used. We find that at present, trophy hunting is governed by an intricate, multi-layered web of regulation in which a variety of actors (e.g., international bodies, national governments, wildlife agencies, local communities, private landowners) are enmeshed. We demonstrate that, because there are so many different actors and governance levels that intersect in the regulation of trophy hunting, it is by no means easy to regulate trophy hunting "well." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate modifications of the Flemish Digit Triplet Test (DTT) to improve its efficiency, i.e. the use of a low-pass filtered noise and variable adaptive step sizes according to a digit scoring procedure, targeting different recognition probabilities. Design and study sample: Speech reception thresholds (SRT) were evaluated in terms of their test-retest reliability and correlation with pure tone averages (PTA) in a group of 68 adult participants with different degrees of hearing impairment. Results: The use of a low-pass filtered noise did not result in better test-retest reliability or an improved SRT-PTA correlation. Using digit scoring with adaptive step sizes parametrised to target a recognition probability of 79% (D79), corresponding to the recognition probability of the currently used DTT with triplet scoring and fixed adaptive step sizes of 2 dB, increased test-retest reliability. Lower recognition probabilities of 57 and 35% demonstrated worse reliability and worse SRT-PTA correlations. Conclusions: Given the increased test-retest reliability of D79, a similar reliability as for the currently used DTT could be obtained after considerably fewer trials, leading to a profit in test duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The recent integration of automated real-ear measurements (REM) in the fitting software facilitates the hearing aid fitting process. Such a fitting strategy, TargetMatch (TM), was evaluated. Test-retest reliability and matching accuracy were quantified, and compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment. Also, it was investigated whether TM leads to better perceptual outcomes compared to a FirstFit (FF) approach, using software predictions only. Design and study sample: Ten hearing impaired participants were enrolled in a counterbalanced single-blinded cross-over study comparing TM and FF. Aided audibility, speech intelligibility and real-life benefits were assessed. Repeated measurements of both TM and REMs with manual adjustment were performed. Results: Compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment, TM had higher test-retest reliability. Also, TM outperformed the other fitting strategies in terms of matching accuracy. Compared to a FF, improved aided audibility and real-life benefits were found. Speech intelligibility did not improve. Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that automated REMs increase the likelihood of meeting amplification targets compared with a FF. REMs integrated in the fitting software provide additional reliability and accuracy compared to traditional REMs. Findings need to be verified in a larger and more varied sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical learning has been proposed to underlie the developmental transition during infancy from allophonic to phonemic speech sound perception. Based on this, it can be hypothesized that in dyslexic individuals, core phonemic representation deficits arise from reduced sensitivity to the statistical distribution of sounds. This study aims to investigate (a) whether statistical learning contributes to the construction of phonemic representations in typical readers, and (b) whether deficits in statistical learning underlie dyslexia. Fifty-eight children performed an identification task of a non-native phonetic contrast, before and after exposure to the sounds of the continuum. Our results suggest that the statistical distribution of the presented sounds implicitly enhanced the formation of phonemic representations and that dyslexic readers make less use of the statistical cues embedded in oral language, resulting in less distinct phonemic categories and thus a higher risk for failing to establish robust connections between these and written language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The speech intelligibility benefit of visual speech cues during oral communication is well-established. Therefore, an ecologically valid approach of auditory assessment should include the processing of both auditory and visual speech cues. This study describes the development and evaluation of a virtual human speaker designed to present speech auditory-visually. A male and female virtual human speaker were created and evaluated in two experiments: a visual-only speech reading test of words and sentences and an auditory-visual speech intelligibility sentence test. A group of five hearing, skilled speech reading adults participated in the speech reading test whereas a group of young normal-hearing participants (N = 35) was recruited for the intelligibility test. Skilled speech readers correctly identified 57 to 67% of the words and sentences uttered by the virtual speakers. The presence of the virtual speaker improved the speech intelligibility of sentences in noise by 1.5 to 2 dB. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of virtual humans in future auditory-visual speech assessment paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Binaural processing can be measured objectively as a desynchronisation of phase-locked neural activity to changes in interaural phase differences (IPDs). This was reported in a magnetoencephalography study for 40 Hz amplitude modulated tones. The goal of this study was to measure this desynchronisation using electroencephalography and explore the outcomes for different modulation frequencies.Design: Auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) were recorded to pure tones, amplitude modulated at 20, 40 or 80 Hz. IPDs switched between 0 and 180° at fixed time intervals.Study sample: Sixteen young listeners with bilateral normal hearing thresholds (≤25 dB HL at 125–8000 Hz) participated in this study.Results: Significant ASSR phase desynchronisations to IPD changes were detected in 14 out of 16 participants for 40 Hz and in 8, respectively 9, out of 13 participants for 20 and 80 Hz modulators. Desynchronisation and restoration of ASSR phase took place significantly faster for 80 Hz than for 40 and 20 Hz.Conclusions: ASSR desynchronisation to IPD changes was successfully recorded using electroencephalography. It was feasible for 20, 40 and 80 Hz modulators and could be an objective tool to assess processing of changes in binaural information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to investigate memory task performance in different age groups, irrespective of hearing status. Data are collected on a short-term memory task (WAIS-III Digit Span forward) and two working memory tasks (WAIS-III Digit Span backward and the Reading Span Test). The tasks are administered to young (20–30 years,n = 56), middle-aged (50–60 years,n = 47), and older participants (70–80 years,n = 16) with normal hearing thresholds. All participants have passed a cognitive screening task (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)). Young participants perform significantly better than middle-aged participants, while middle-aged and older participants perform similarly on the three memory tasks. Our data show that older clinically normal hearing persons perform equally well on the memory tasks as middle-aged persons. However, even under optimal conditions of preserved sensory processing, changes in memory performance occur. Based on our data, these changes set in before middle age. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Measuring speech intelligibility in quiet and noise is important in clinical practice and research. An easy-to-use free software platform for conducting speech tests is presented, called APEX/SPIN. Design: The APEX/SPIN platform allows the use of any speech material in combination with any noise. A graphical user interface provides control over a large range of parameters, such as number of loudspeakers, signal-to-noise ratio and parameters of the procedure. An easy-to-use graphical interface is provided for calibration and storage of calibration values. To validate the platform, perception of words in quiet and sentences in noise were measured both with APEX/SPIN and with an audiometer and CD player, which is a conventional setup in current clinical practice. Study sample: Five normalhearing listeners participated in the experimental evaluation. Results: Speech perception results were similar for the APEX/SPIN platform and conventional procedures. Conclusions: APEX/SPIN is a freely available and open source platform that allows the administration of all kinds of custom speech perception tests and procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology (ICRA) recommendations for the construction of multilingual speech tests" published on April 29, 2015, along with the response from the authors.

Objective:To provide guidelines for the development of two types of closed-set speech-perception tests that can be applied and interpreted in the same way across languages. The guidelines cover the digit triplet and the matrix sentence tests that are most commonly used to test speech recognition in noise. They were developed by a working group on Multilingual Speech Tests of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology (ICRA).Design:The recommendations are based on reviews of existing evaluations of the digit triplet and matrix tests as well as on the research experience of members of the ICRA Working Group. They represent the results of a consensus process.Results:The resulting recommendations deal with: Test design and word selection; Talker characteristics; Audio recording and stimulus preparation; Masking noise; Test administration; and Test validation.Conclusions:By following these guidelines for the development of any new test of this kind, clinicians and researchers working in any language will be able to perform tests whose results can be compared and combined in cross-language studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Currently, there is no up-to-date speech perception test available in the Estonian language that may be used to diagnose hearing loss and quantify speech intelligibility. Therefore, based on the example of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Audiologie (NVA)-lists (Bosman, 1989; Wouters et al, 1994) an Estonian words in noise (EWIN) test has been developed. Design: Two experimental steps were carried out: (1) selection and perceptual optimization of the monosyllables, and (2) construction of 14 lists and an evaluation in normal hearing (NH) subjects both in noise and in quiet. Study sample: Thirty-six normal-hearing (NH) native speakers of Estonia (age range from 17 to 46 years). Results: The reference psychometric curve for NH subjects was determined, with the slope and speech reception threshold being well in accordance with the respective values of the NVA lists. The 14 lists in noise yielded equivalent scores with high precision. Conclusion: The EWIN test is a reliable and valid speech intelligibility test, and is the first of its kind in the Estonian language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The fundamental frequency modulation (F0mod) sound processing strategy was developed to improve pitch perception with cochlear implants. In previous work it has been shown to improve performance in a number of pitch-related tasks such as pitch ranking, familiar melody identification, and Mandarin Chinese tone identification. The objective of the current study was to compare speech perception with F0mod and the standard clinical advanced combination encoder (ACE) strategy. Study sample: Seven cochlear-implant listeners were recruited from the clinical population of the University Hospital Leuven. Design: F0mod was implemented on a real-time system. Speech recognition in quiet and noise was measured for seven cochlear-implant listeners, comparing F0mod with ACE, using three different Dutch-language speech materials. Additionally the F0 estimator used was evaluated physically, and pitch ranking performance was compared between F0mod and ACE. Results: Immediately after switch-on of the F0mod strategy, speech recognition in quiet and noise were similar for ACE and F0mod, for four out of seven listeners. The remaining three listeners were subjected to a short training protocol with F0mod, after which their performance was reassessed, and a significant improvement was found. Conclusions: As F0mod improves pitch perception, for the seven subjects tested it did not interfere with speech recognition in quiet and noise, and has a low computational complexity, it seems promising for implementation in a clinical sound processor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Music perception and appraisal are generally poor in cochlear implant recipients. Simple musical structures, lyrics that are easy to follow, and clear rhythm/beat have been reported among the top factors to enhance music enjoyment. The present study investigated the preference for modified relative instrument levels in music with normal-hearing and cochlear implant subjects. Design: In experiment 1, test subjects were given a mixing console and multi-track recordings to determine their most enjoyable audio mix. In experiment 2, a preference rating experiment based on the preferred relative level settings in experiment 1 was performed. Study sample: Experiment 1 was performed with four postlingually deafened cochlear implant subjects, experiment 2 with ten normal-hearing and ten cochlear implant subjects. Results: A significant difference in preference rating was found between normal-hearing and cochlear implant subjects. The latter preferred an audio mix with larger vocals-to-instruments ratio. In addition, given an audio mix with clear vocals and attenuated instruments, cochlear implant subjects preferred the bass/drum track to be louder than the other instrument tracks. Conclusions: The original audio mix in real-world music might not be suitable for cochlear implant recipients. Modifying the relative instrument level settings potentially improves music enjoyment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, the digit triplet test was shown to be a sensitive speech-in-noise test for early high-frequency hearing loss in noise-exposed workers. This study investigates if a further improvement is achieved when using a closed set of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) speech items with the same vowel, and/or a low-pass (LP) filtered version of the standard speech-shaped noise. Design: Speech reception thresholds in noise were gathered for the digit triplet, CVC, and CVC_LP test and compared to the high-frequency pure-tone average (PTA). Study sample: 118 noise-exposed workers showing a wide range of high-frequency hearing losses. Results: For the 84 Dutch-speaking participants, the CVC test showed an increased measurement error and a decreased between-subject variation, leading to a weaker correlation with the PTA2,3,4,6 (R = 0.64) and thus a lower sensitivity compared to the digit triplet test (R = 0.86). However, the use of LP-filtered noise resulted in a sensitivity improvement (R = 0.79 versus R = 0.64) due to the large increase in between-subject spread. Similar trends were found for the 34 French-speaking workers. Conclusions: Using CVC words with the same vowel could not increase the sensitivity to detect isolated high-frequency hearing loss. With LP-filtered noise, test sensitivity improved, but it did not surpass the original digit triplet test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented which discusses various reports published within the issue, including "Hand in Hand? UN--Business Partnering for Health and Development," "Participation and Inclusiveness in Private Rule-Setting Organizations: Does It Matter for Effectiveness?," and "Business and Human Rights Governance and Democratic Legitimacy: The UN Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework."

The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) requires parliamentary accountability. At present, as CSDP-related decisions are increasingly taken in the framework of the UN or the EU, neither the European Parliament (EP) nor national parliaments are able to hold decision-makers accountable. Interparliamentary cooperation can provide added value in bringing about parliamentary scrutiny of CSDP. Nevertheless, despite an official agreement, the EP and national parliaments have different views on what such interparliamentary cooperation entails. There are five conditions – cooperation and complementarity among parliaments, conferential dialogues, coordinated agendas, and comprehensive and comparative scrutiny – that have to be fulfilled to create added value for interparliamentary cooperation on CSDP matters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To compare results on the everyday sentence test 'FIST', the new closed-set sentence test 'FrMatrix', and the digit triplet screening test 'FrDigit3'. Design: First, the FrMatrix was developed and normative values were obtained. Subsequently, speech reception thresholds (SRTs) for the three types of tests were gathered at four study centers representing different geographic regions in Belgium and France. Study sample: Fifty-seven normal-hearing listeners took part in the normative study of the FrMatrix, and 118 subjects, with a wide range of hearing thresholds, participated in the comparative study. Results: Homogenizing the individual words of the FrMatrix with regard to their intelligibility resulted in a reference SRT of −6.0 (±0.6) dB SNR and slope at the SRT of 14.0 %/dB. The within-subject variability was only 0.4 dB. Comparison of the three tests showed high correlations between the SRTs mutually (>0.81). The FrMatrix had the highest discriminative power, both in stationary and in fluctuating noise. For all three tests, differences across the participating study centers were small and not significant. Conclusions: The FIST, the FrMatrix, and the FrDigit3 provide similar results and reliably evaluate speech recognition performance in noise both in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Neonatal hearing screening programs in Flanders and the Netherlands use Natus ALGO screening devices. Since 2006 in Flanders and 2009 in the Netherlands, both programs have replaced the older ALGO Portable devices with the newer ALGO 3i devices. However, in both countries, ALGO 3i devices have a significantly higher rate of referrals than ALGO Portable devices. In Flanders, the refer rate has more than doubled with the switch to ALGO 3i devices. In the Netherlands, screening centers which used ALGO 3i devices also showed a significant increase in referrals. In both countries, the percentage of children diagnosed with permanent hearing loss remained approximately the same. Design: A technical comparison of both device types was carried out to identify possible causes for the increase in referrals. The stimulus output of two ALGO Portable and three ALGO 3i devices was recorded and analysed for stimulus level, spectral properties, and stimulus irregularities. Results: ALGO 3i devices stimulate at a peak level 4.6 dB lower than ALGO Portable devices, have a different stimulus spectrum and show unexplained stimulus irregularities during 4% of the stimulation time. Conclusions: A number of technical differences were found between both device types which could explain the increase in referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative investigation of recovery procedures for the analysis of natural organic colorants, encompassing ten major natural organic dye chemical classes, several sample types (silk, wool, cotton, pigment, paint), prepared from the extracts of twelve biological sources, and nine different recovery protocols. These protocols are based on the traditional harsh hydrochloric acid method; on mild hydrolysis methods involving formic, oxalic or hydrofluoric acid; and on methods consecutively employing mild and harsh hydrolysis on the same sample. An evaluation system was developed by classifying analytical results in an upper, middle or lower grade with reference to the best result obtained. This classification was used to calculate scores for each hydrolysis method and for either textile (silk and wool or cotton) or pigment/paint. The best overall hydrolysis method for textile samples was a combination of mild oxalic acid with traditional hydrochloric acid hydrolysis. The best overall hydrolysis method for pigment/paint was a combination of a newly modified mild hydrofluoric acid treatment with traditional hydrochloric acid hydrolysis. The application of these methods to historical samples will not necessarily give the optimal result achievable for every biological source, but will definitely reduce the risk of missing essential information for the elucidation of ancient technology in a geographical and historical context. The reduced level of risk will avoid repetitive sampling and reduce the level of invasiveness, hence taking into account good conservation policies. The potential of these selected methods is illustrated with the analysis of some historical Chinese textile and paint samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: The effect of different commercial hearing aids on the ability to resolve front-back confusions and on sound localization in the frontal horizontal and vertical plane was studied. Design: Commercial hearing aids with a microphone placed in-the-ear-canal (ITC), behind-the-ear (BTE), and in-the-pinna (ITP) were evaluated in the frontal and full horizontal plane, and in the frontal vertical plane. Study Sample: A group of 13 hearing-impaired subjects evaluated the hearing aids. Nine normal-hearing listeners were used as a reference group. Results and Conclusions: Differences in sound localization in the front-back dimension were found for different hearing aids. A large inter-subject variability was found during the front-back and elevation experiments. With ITP or ITC microphones, almost all natural spectral information was preserved. One of the BTE hearing aids, which is equipped with a directional microphone configuration, generated a sufficient amount of spectral cues to allow front-back discrimination. No significant effect of hearing aids on elevation performance in the frontal vertical plane was observed. Hearing-impaired subjects reached the same performance with and without the different hearing aids. In the unaided condition, a frequency-specific audibility correction was applied. Some of the hearing-impaired listeners reached normal hearing performance with this correction. Sumario Objetivo: Se estudio el efecto de diferentes auxiliares auditivos sobre la habilidad para resolver confusiones en direccióón antero-posterior y en la localizacióón del sonido en los planos fronto-horizontal y vertical. Diseñño: Se analizaron auxiliares auditivos comerciales que tienen un micróófono localizado dentro del canal auditivo (ITC) y en la oreja (ITP) en el plano frontal, el horizontal y en el plano fronto-vertical. Muestra: Un grupo de 13 sujetos hipoacúúsicos evaluaron los auxiliares auditivos. Nueve sujetos normoacúúsicos sirvieron como grupo de referencia. Resultados y conclusiones: Se encontraron diferencias en la localizacióón del sonido en la dimensióón fronto-posterior con varios auxiliares auditivos. Se encontróó una gran variabilidad inter-sujeto en los experimentos de direccióón antero-posterior y de elevacióón. Uno de los auxiliares auditivos tipo curveta que estáá equipado con un micróófono direccional generóó una cantidad suficiente de claves espectrales para poder discriminar en el plano antero-posterior. No se observóó un efecto significativo de los auxiliares auditivos en el desempeñño por elevacióón en el plano vertical. Los sujetos hipoacúúsicos alcanzaron el mismo desempeñño con y sin los diferentes auxiliares auditivos. Cuando los usaban se aplicóó una correccióón de audibilidad especíífica en frecuencia. Algunos de lo sujetos hipoacúúsicos alcanzaron un desempeñño de audicióón normal con esta correccióón. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Safflower red was prepared by extracting safflower petals (Carthamus tinctorius L.) at alkaline pH, after the preliminary removal of water-soluble safflower yellow. Alkaline extracts were used to prepare dyed silk, wool, cotton and paper, to precipitate the pigment, to prepare paint and to produce the antique Chinese cosmetic rouge. All reference samples were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography—photodiode array—mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-PDA-MS) after colorant was removed from its substrate by both a harsh and mild acid hydrolysis method. In addition to the red colorant carthamin, four colorless components are markers for safflower. These components were characterized by their retention times, ultraviolet—visible (UV-Vis) spectra and mass spectra and were given the codes Ct1, Ct2, Ct3 and Ct4. Experiments on references clearly indicated that these Ct components, unlike carthamin, withstood harsh acid hydrolysis as well as light-induced accelerated ageing, and that they could be found even in a completely faded wool sample. This made them excellent markers to identify safflower red, even in discolored historical samples or in samples that must be treated in a way that destroys carthamin. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the manufacturing technology and to better conservation of objects that have already undergone considerable light-induced ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A French speech intelligibility screening test in noise that applies digit triplets as stimuli has been developed and evaluated for both telephone and broadband headphone use. After optimizing the speech material based on the intelligibility of the individual digits, norms for normal-hearing subjects were established. speech reception thresholds (SRTs) of −6.4 ± 0.4 and −10.5 ± 0.3 dB SNR, and slopes of 17.1 and 27.1 %/dB were obtained for telephone and broadband headphone presentation, respectively. The French digit triplet test by telephone was then implemented as an automatic self-screening test by home telephone, and further evaluated in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. A test-retest variability of 0.7 dB was found and the correlation between SRT and pure-tone average (PTA0.5,1,2,4) was 0.77. One month after launching the test, 20 000 calls were registered. It can be concluded that both versions of the newly developed test have steep slopes and small SRT differences across normal-hearing listeners. The screening test by telephone is highly reliable and proves to fulfill the need for an easily accessible and objective hearing screening. Sumario Se desarrolló y evaluó una prueba de tamiz de inteligibilidad del lenguaje en ruido, utilizando ternas de dígitos como estímulo, tanto para teléfono como para auriculares de banda ancha. Después de optimizar el material lingüístico basado en la inteligibilidad de los dígitos individuales, se establecieron las normas para los sujetos normoyentes. Se obtuvieron umbrales de recepción del lenguaje (SRTs) de -6.4 ± 0.4 y -10.5 ± 0.3dB SNR y pendientes de 17.1 y 27.1%/dB para teléfono y auriculares de banda ancha, respectivamente. Se implementó la prueba de terna de dígitos en francés por teléfono como una prueba de tamiz autoaplicable por teléfono en casa y después se evaluó en normoyentes e hipoacúsicos. Se encontró una variabilidad de test-re-test de 0.7 dB y la correlación entre SRT y el promedio de tonos puros (PTA0.5,1,2,4) fue de 0.77. Un mes después de lanzar la prueba, se registraron 20,000 llamadas. Se puede concluir que ambas versiones de la prueba recientemente desarrollada tiene pendientes pronunciadas y pequeñas diferencias del SRT entre los normoyentes. La prueba de tamiz por teléfono es altamente confiable y demuestra que satisface las necesidades de una prueba de tamiz auditivo fácil, accesible y objetiva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes low-frequency auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) to speech-weighted noise stimuli. The effect of modulation frequency was evaluated within the frequency range below 40 Hz. Furthermore, objective ASSR measures were related to speech understanding performance in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The variability in ASSR recordings over independent test sessions was larger between subjects than within. Trends of increased responses around 10 and/or 20 Hz were found in all subjects. Obtained latency estimates of the responses pointed to primarily cortical sources involved in ASSR generation at low frequencies. Furthermore, significant differences between normal-hearing and hearing-impaired adults were found for ASSRs to stimuli related to the temporal envelope of speech. Comparing these responses with phoneme identification scores over different stimulus levels showed both measures increased with stimulus level in a similar way (ρ=0.82). At a fixed stimulus level, ASSRs were significantly correlated with speech reception thresholds for phonemes and sentences in noise (ρ from -0.45 to -0.53). These results indicate that objective low-frequency ASSRs are related to behavioral speech understanding, independently of level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speech reception tests are commonly administered by manually scoring the oral response of the subject. This requires a test supervisor to be continuously present. To avoid this, a subject can type the response, after which it can be scored automatically. However, spelling errors may then be counted as recognition errors, influencing the test results. We demonstrate an autocorrection approach based on two scoring algorithms to cope with spelling errors. The first algorithm deals with sentences and is based on word scores. The second algorithm deals with single words and is based on phoneme scores. Both algorithms were evaluated with a corpus of typed answers based on three different Dutch speech materials. The percentage of differences between automatic and manual scoring was determined, in addition to the mean difference in speech recognition threshold. The sentence correction algorithm performed at a higher accuracy than commonly obtained with these speech materials. The word correction algorithm performed better than the human operator. Both algorithms can be used in practice and allow speech reception tests with open set speech materials over the internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Dutch sentence test (LIST) and a Dutch number test (LINT) have been developed and validated for the accurate measurement of speech reception thresholds (SRT) in quiet and in noise with severely hearing-impaired individuals and cochlear implant recipients in Flanders and the Netherlands. The LIST consists of 35 lists of 10 sentences of equal known difficulty uttered by a female speaker; while the LINT consists of 400 numbers (1-100) by two male and two female speakers. Normative values were determined at fixed S/N ratios and using the adaptive method (Plomp & Mimpen, 1979), yielding identical results for SRT and slope. For the LIST, average fitted SRTs were 27.1 (0.9) dB SPL in quiet and -7.8 dB (0.2) SNR in noise. In addition, the LIST in noise displayed a steep discrimination function (17%/dB) and good reliability (within-subject standard deviation=1.2 dB). For the LINT average fitted SRTs in quiet were 20.7 (0.9) dB SPL and about -9.0 dB SNR in noise. Again, the slopes of the performance intensity functions were relatively steep, i.e. 8.5%/dB in quiet and 15.2%/dB in noise, suggesting that the LINT is accurate and efficient and thus capable of reflecting subtle changes in performance. First data with cochlear implanted subjects show that both LIST and LINT are feasible and are capable of mapping a large range of hearing disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two approaches to assess auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) are compared under similar test conditions: a monaural single-frequency technique with a detection method based on phase coherence (AUDERA), and a binaural multiple-frequency technique using the F-test (MASTER). ASSR thresholds at four frequencies were assessed with both methods in both ears of ten normal-hearing and ten hearing-impaired adult subjects, within a test duration of one hour. The test-retest reliability and the influence of prolonging the test duration are assessed. For the total subject group the multiple-frequency technique outperforms the single-frequency technique. In hearing-impaired subjects, however, both techniques perform equally well. Hearing thresholds can be estimated with a standard error of the estimate between 7 and 12 dB dependent on frequency. About 55% of the estimates are within 5 dB of the behavioral hearing threshold, and 94% within 15 dB. Prolonging the test duration improves the performance of both techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of test duration on the precision of hearing thresholds estimated by recording multiple auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) was investigated. ASSR thresholds at four frequencies in both ears were assessed in 10 normal-hearing and 10 hearing-impaired subjects. The precision of the estimated hearing thresholds was compared for ASSR recordings of 5, 10 and 15 min per intensity level, corresponding to total test durations of approximately 30, 55 and 70 min for hearing-impaired ears. Furthermore, an intensity step size of 10 dB was compared to a step size of 5 dB. The mean difference scores averaged over the four frequencies were 15 ± 10, 12 ± 9 and 11 ± 8 dB after recordings of 5, 10 and 15 min respectively. The corresponding Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.93, 0.95 and 0.96. Increasing the length of the separate recordings increases the precision of the estimates, independent of tested frequency. A compromise between both will have to be made. With a total test duration of approximately 1 h, four hearing thresholds in both ears can be estimated with a standard error of the estimate of 8 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which focused on noise reduction strategy. Description of the physical and perceptual evaluation of the real-time implementation; Results; Discussion.

A series of samples of stucco marble, taken from the walls and the sculptures of the Duke's Chapel in the Cistercian abbey at Krzeszów, Lower Silesia, Poland (1728-i738), were analysed for the presence of proteinaceous modifiers and organic coatings. Calibrated amino acid and fatty acid analyses revealed information on the origin of the materials applied and on the way their composition had changed through aging. With the help of accelerated aging at 80°C and 80% relative humidity carried out on replica samples, it was possible to induce changes in the molecular composition of the organic compounds in the presence of pigments, which should lead in the longer term to the situation found in historical samples. The analytical results were helpful in formulating requirements to be met in a future conservation treatment of the stucco marble decorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of stucco marble samples was prepared in the laboratory. All ingredients were selected and treated according to the data found in the literature. The samples were used to establish the experimental conditions necessary for the recovery of the organic modifier of the paste and the organic surface coating. Parameters were selected to describe the composition and possible alteration of the modifier and the coating, using data calculated from amino acid analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parchment is produced by processing the dermal layer of animal hide through limited mechanical and chemical treatment and then drying it under tension. The weak condition of many historical objects made of this material is caused by chemical, biological and mechanical degradation. Repairing these objects by filling gaps with parchment or paper patches may be inadvisable, due to important differences in intrinsic strength, which can create tensions between old and new materials. Alternative filling methods may be used, consisting of the application of solid materials in the form of a powder or a suspension, used to create a solid sheet of reconstituted parchment. The solids may consist of any kind of collagenous material (powdered parchment or hide, gelatin), paper or a combination of the two. Published methods describe preliminary treatments (e.g. relaxation), application media (water, solvents, additives), use of additional consolidating membranes (Japanese paper, goldbeater's skin), use of adhesives for pasting and surface consolidation purposes, preparation of mechanically isotropic templates for infills and tinting with synthetic dyes. A comparative investigation of methods confirms that the mechanical properties achieved in these infills, such as tensile strength and elasticity, as well as their reproducibility, are acceptable for application in conservation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two red dyes from 21st dynasty Egypt and one from the 12th dynasty were analyzed. The first two were essentially madder, in one case mixed with small amounts of tannins. The third contained pure haematite (red ochre), thus representing one of the earliest known uses of this pigment for the dyeing of linen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantitative determination of selected dyestuff components by high performance liquid chromatography, diode-array detection and post-run data manipulation was used to recognize dyes on historic yarns prepared from Dactylopius coccus (American cochineal), Kermes vermilio (kermes), Porphyrophora polonica (Polish cochineal), Por- phyrophora hamelii (Ararat cochineal) or Kerria lacca (Indian lac). Study of scale-insect red dyes suggests a rather widespread use of mixed primary sources, not only of insect reds alone but also in combination with plant reds and tannins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation and quantitative determination of anthraquinones is achieved by high performance liquid chromatography in mixtures of methanol, water and formic acid on a reversed-phase stationary phase. The products are identified by retention time and, more accurately, by standard additions and UV-visible spectroscopy. This methodology has been applied to extracts of plant roots and insects, commonly used in earlier times as the source of red dyestuffs for dyeing textiles. Quantitative evaluation of the anthraquinone derivatives present in ancient red dyes was carried out after acid hydrolysis of 0.2 to 2.0mg of textile fibre. Due to the great sensitivity of the method, important minor constituents, such as kermesic acid in cochineal, can be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method was developed for t he repair of badly degraded parchment by leafcasting with a material consisting of hide powder, partially pretanned with formaldehyde, and calcium carbonate added as a filler. The opacity of the final solid material, called ‘reconstituted parchment’, was controlled by selecting appropriate amounts of formaldehyde for tanning, calcium carbonate for filling, and by adjusting the conditions for milling the suspension. The prepared reconstituted parchment proved to be physically and chemically stable under artificial ageing when the relative humidity was varied between 30% and 80%, at 30 C for up to 9 weeks. The new material was intrinsically strong but formed relatively weak bonds with parchment, so that the bond will break at a point of tension. The reconstituted parchment was shown to contain a tough interwoven network of fibre bundles that encapsulated calcium carbonate crystals and could be used with parchment documents. Both opaque and translucent pulp preparations were used for the conservation of the severely damaged sheets of the Codex Eyckensis (8th century) by leafcasting on a custom-built vacuum table. Translucent pulp was used in combination with a more opaque pulp to fill very small gaps or to consolidate disintegrating areas. Small strips of goldbeaters' skin were used in some areas with the reconstituted parchment and were applied with 2.5% (w/v) Tylose MH300. Reconstituted parchment overlaid with goldbeaters' skin was strong enough to withstand sewing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A conservation project was set up for the Codex Eyckensis, an illuminated manuscript on parchment from the 8th century AD. Poly(vinylchloride) membranes, applied in 1957, were removed. Different options for a new conservation were discussed within the framework of a supervising committee. Research in the field of chemistry, microbiology, codicology and conservation techniques was interpreted in an interactive way. A method for the laboratory preparation of goldbeater's skin is described. Several adhesives for parchment repair were tested for their tensile strength, water-vapour permeability, influence on the appearance of the materials to be adhered and reversibility, before and after ageing, following two different systems. An investigation was started to check the applicability of dermal hide substance suspensions to parchment leafcasting according to strict working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article describes the development of the French Intelligibility Sentence Test (FIST). The procedures include preparation of test materials, estimation of the performance-intensity function, equalization of sentence difficulty, formation of sentence lists and development of norms and reliability. Reference data have been obtained for normal-hearing listeners and the performance of Francophone listeners from France and Belgium was compared.