Introduction: The aim of the present study was the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in Persian. Methods: The English version of the VFI was translated to Persian using the guidelines of International Quality of Life Assessment. Eighty participants with voice disorders and 50 healthy controls without any voice disorders completed the Persian version of the VFI. The 80 participants with voice disorders completed the VFI a second time a week from the initial completion to evaluate test-retest reliability. Results: The VFI measure demonstrated a strong internal consistency. Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.95 for tiredness and avoidance of voice use, 0.86 for physical discomfort and 0.83 for improvement or lack thereof of symptoms with voice rest. VFI also showed a high test-retest reliability (r = 0.75–0.89). Conclusions: The Persian version of the VFI is considered to be a valid and reliable questionnaire for identifying individuals with probable vocal fatigue. The VFI can be utilized in clinics across Iran in the assessment and treatment of individuals with vocal fatigue.

Trichomonosis is currently the most important venereal disease of cattle in South Africa with adverse economic implications to the beef production industry due to cow abortions, infertility and culling of carrier bulls. Once diagnosed in a herd, eradication is difficult due to financial and biological implications. Bulls are asymptomatic carriers and susceptibility increases with age. In infected females, clinical signs include embryonal death, abortion, pyometra, foetal maceration and uterine discharge. Diagnostic accuracy is one of the major clinical problems preventing easy eradication of trichomonosis from a herd and can be influenced by biological variance in the occurrence of the organism, sampling errors, sample degradation during sample transport and diagnostic laboratory inaccuracies. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of voluntarily enrolled private (n = 8) and state-owned (n = 5) laboratories that perform trichomonosis diagnostic tests by estimating the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) per laboratory. It was hypothesized that diagnostic laboratories in South Africa play an insignificant role in the inaccuracy of the diagnosis of trichomonosis. Laboratories performed either the culture method (n = 5), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 6) or a combination of culture and PCR (n= 2). Fresh preputial scrapings from four bulls with known negative status for trichomonosis were pooled in 200ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to form the sample base for 12 subsamples of 13ml each. Duplicate subsamples were then contaminated with 2ml originating from four different laboratory cultures of Tritrichomonas foetus or 2ml of culture medium for four negative samples. Aliquots of the subsamples were transferred to an anaerobic transport medium, and the final concentration reached in these samples submitted to the laboratories, were categorised as follows: weak (<10 organisms/μl), moderate (10 – 30 organisms/μl) or strong (>30 organisms/μl). A total of 312 samples were sent by courier in two separate rounds: eight (4 duplicates) positive and four negative samples per round. Multiple logistic regression was performed on sensitivity, using sampling round, laboratory sector, diagnostic test type and sample concentration as independent variables, and removing variables in a stepwise manner based on the highest P-value. Two public laboratories only reported on one round of sampling, and one batch of 12 samples was severely delayed in reaching another public laboratory. The sample identifications of a further two batches were not recorded by the respective private laboratories. The results from these 60 unreported samples were not included in the analysis. Laboratories that performed the PCR assay (solely, or in addition to culture) were grouped for data analysis. The overall specificity (Sp) was 100% and the sensitivity was 88.7% (95% CI 83.9% - 93.5%). Laboratories using PCR recorded higher sensitivity than those using the culture method (95.5%; 95% CI 91.0% – 99.9% and 81.3%; 95% CI 72.5% - 90.0% respectively, P < 0.01), and private laboratories recorded higher Se than public laboratories (96.4%; 95% CI 92.9% - 99.9% and 73.2%; 95% CI 61.2% - 85.2%, P < 0.01). For laboratories using PCR, weak positive samples recorded a lower sensitivity than strong positive samples (86.4%; 95% CI 70.8% - 101.9% and 100%; 95% CI 100% - 100%, respectively, P < 0.01). One public and six private laboratories obtained 100% accuracy during the two sampling rounds. In the logistic regression model, private sector (compared to public), an increasing concentration of organisms in the sample and the second round of sampling (compared to the first round) were independent predictors of laboratory sensitivity for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus. It is concluded that inaccuracies in the diagnostic laboratory contributes to the deficiencies in diagnostic sensitivity for trichomonosis in South Africa, but does not influence diagnostic specificity. It is further concluded that diagnostic sensitivity was independently influenced by the sector in which the laboratory operates (private vs public) and the concentration of Tritrichomonas foetus organisms in the sample. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Production Animal Studies / MSc (Veterinary Science) / Unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医科学) / 甲第19629号 / 医科博第67号 / 新制||医科||5(附属図書館) / 32665 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医科学専攻 / (主査)教授 椛島 健治, 教授 岩井 一宏, 教授 渡邊 直樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

No description available.

Metamemory is “knowing about knowing” (Flavell, 1971) and is theorized as a cognitive process that monitors and controls the memory system (Flavell & Wellman, 1975; Nelson & Narens, 1990). The predominate finding in the metamemory and aging literature is that metamemory is unimpaired by aging, even when memory is impaired by aging (Eakin & Hertzog, 2006; 2012; Connor, Hertzog, & Dunlosky, 1997; Hertzog, Sinclair, & Dunlosky, 2010; Eakin, Hertzog, & Harris, 2014, but see Souchay, Moulin, Clarys, Taconnat, & Isingrini, 2007). However, a study examining metamemory for emotional words suggests older adults may show metamemory impairment when predicting memory for emotional words (Tauber & Dunlosky, 2012). This finding challenges the supposition that metamemory is unimpaired with aging. The purpose of the current study was to expand on the results from Tauber and Dunlosky (2012) to determine whether their findings were due to methodological issues rather than age-related deficits in metamemory.

This thesis contributes to the methods for evaluating the hardware performance of microwave imaging systems. Different aspects of this performance study are systematically described and evaluated through existing and novel performance metrics. The dynamic range of two vector network analyzers and their noise floor are explored. The effects of low noise amplifiers on the dynamic range of the microwave system are also studied. To increase the dynamic range and sensitivity of the system, a new high efficiency ultra wide band TEM horn antenna is introduced. The new antenna significantly blocks the electromagnetic interference from the surrounding medium. The parasitic coupling between the transmitting and receiving antennas has been reduced to a minimum. To estimate the efficiency of the antenna used in tissue imaging more realistically, a measurement based method is also proposed. The method models the two-port network formed by the antennas and the medium between them by signal flow graph. The medium’s electrical properties mimic those of tissue and can vary according to the application. Also, a new performance metric for microwave systems namely, the physical contrast sensitivity is proposed. Methodologies are proposed for its evaluation through measurements and through simulations. This enables the estimation of the smallest detectable target permittivity contrast or size for the system under evaluation. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc

Static Visual Acuity (SVA) has been called into question for some time as a measure of overall visual system function and as a predictor of performance on real-life tasks requiring vision (i.e., operating an automobile). Specifically, it has been pointed out that the targets employed in most SVA testing (high contrast, stationary letters) are an insufficient analog to actual targets encountered in everyday activities, which are often in motion and/or of less-than-perfect contrast. In addition, the size-threshold methodology typically used to measure SVA is incongruent with current theories of a multi-channel visual system. Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) and Contrast Sensitivity have been suggested as alternatives to SVA, but while each mitigates specific weaknesses of the SVA measure, neither addresses the shortcomings completely. Traditional DVA measures employ moving targets, but these targets are usually of perfect contrast and a size-threshold methodology is used to specify acuity levels. Contrast Sensitivity employs a contrast-threshold methodology and allows measurement of specific visual channels, but stationary targets are utilized. The present study combined the DVA and Contrast Sensitivity measures in an effort to retain the unique qualities of each while addressing their shortcomings, resulting in a more detailed picture of the human visual system and functioning than has yet been possible. By measuring contrast sensitivity to targets at a set of spatial frequencies spanning the human "window of visibility" and under conditions of motion representative of that encountered in everyday activities, it was hoped that a more powerful predictor of actual visual performance would be created. In addition, normative data was established for two separate age populations, in the hopes of learning more about specific changes that occur to the visual system during the aging process. Indeed, several effects and interactions among the three main variables (spatial frequency, velocity, age) were uncovered, which appears to indicate that the new test may provide more information about the visual system than DVA or contrast sensitivity by themselves. The ramifications of this effort to human factors and visual performance research are discussed along with recommendations for the continuation and application of this line of research.

Discrepancies between the predicted responses of a finite element analysis (FEA) and reference data from test results arise for many reasons. Some are due to measurement errors, such as inaccurate sensors, noise in the acquisition system or environmental effects. Some are due to analyst errors precipitated by a lack of familiarity with the modeling or solver software. Still others are introduced by uncertainty in the governing physical relations (linear versus non-linear behavior), boundary conditions or the element material/geometrical properties. It is the uncertainty effects introduced by this last group that this study seeks to redress. The objective is the obtainment of model improvements that will reduce errors in predicted versus measured responses. This technique, whereby measured structural data is used to correct finite element model (FEM) errors, has become known as “model updating”. Model updating modifies any or all of the mass, stiffness, and damping parameters of a FEM until an improved agreement between the FEA data and test data is achieved. Unlike direct methods, producing a mathematical model representing a given state, the goal of FE model updating is to achieve an improved match between model and test data by making physically meaningful changes. This study replaces measured responses by reference output obtained from a FEA of a small spacecraft. This FEM is referred to as the “Baseline” model. A “Perturbed” model is created from this baseline my making prescribed changes to the various component masses. The degree of mass variation results from the level of confidence existing at a mature stage of the design cycle. Statistical mean levels of confidence are assigned based on the type of mass of which there are three types: • Concentrated masses – nonstructural, lumped mass formulation (uncoupled) • Smeared masses – nonstructural mass over length or area, lumped mass formulation (uncoupled) • Mass density – volumetric mass, lumped mass formulation (uncoupled) A methodology is presented that accurately predicts the forces occurring at the interface between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle. The methodology quantifies the relationships between spacecraft mass variations and the interface accelerations in the form of sensitivity coefficients. These coefficients are obtained by performing design sensitivity /optimization analyses while updating the Perturbed model to correlate with the Baseline model. The interface forces are responses obtained from a frequency response analysis that runs within the optimization analysis. These forces arise due to the imposition of unit white noise applied across a frequency range extending up to 200 hertz, a cut-off frequency encompassing the lift-off energy required to elicit global mass response. The focus is on lift-off as it is characterized by base excitation, which produces the largest interface forces.