Naresuan University Journal
Not a member yet
39887 research outputs found
Sort by
Benefit from, and acclimatization to, frequency compression hearing aids in experienced adult hearing-aid users.
No full textOBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate whether frequency compression (FC) hearing aids provide additional benefit to that conferred by conventional amplification. DESIGN: Participants wore the same hearing aid with FC enabled and disabled for six weeks (ABA design) in each condition. Speech recognition tests (in both quiet and in noise) were administered alongside two questionnaires. Performance was compared across the two signal processing conditions and at different time points. STUDY SAMPLE: Twelve experienced hearing-aid users (aged 65-84 years old) with moderate-to-severe high-frequency hearing loss participated in the study. RESULTS: FC resulted in statistically significantly higher mean scores in all of the administered speech tests. Improvements over time were limited to high frequency phoneme perception. No effect of FC on self-report outcomes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: FC may lead to significant improvements in speech perception outcomes in both quiet and noise for many individuals. No participant was significantly disadvantaged by the use of FC
Receptor modelling of fine particles in southern England using CMB including comparison with AMS-PMF factors
No full textPM2.5 was collected during a winter campaign at two southern England sites, urban background North Kensington (NK) and rural Harwell (HAR), in January-February 2012. Multiple organic and inorganic source tracers were analysed and used in a Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) model, which apportioned seven separate primary sources, that explained on average 53% (NK) and 56% (HAR) of the organic carbon (OC), including traffic, woodsmoke, food cooking, coal combustion, vegetative detritus, natural gas and dust/soil. With the addition of source tracers for secondary biogenic aerosol at the NK site, 79% of organic carbon was accounted for. Secondary biogenic sources were represented by oxidation products of alpha-pinene and isoprene, but only the former made a substantial contribution to OC. Particle source contribution estimates for PM2.5 mass were obtained by the conversion of the OC estimates and combining with inorganic components ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and sea salt. Good mass closure was achieved with 81% (92% with the addition of the secondary biogenic source) and 83% of the PM2.5 mass explained at NK and HAR respectively, with the remainder being secondary organic matter. While the most important sources of OC are vehicle exhaust (21 and 16 %) and woodsmoke (15 and 28 %) at NK and HAR respectively, food cooking emissions are also significant, particularly at the urban NK site (11% of OC), in addition to the secondary biogenic source, only measured at NK, which represented about 26 %. In comparison, the major source components for PM2.5 at NK and HAR are inorganic ammonium salts (51 and 56 %), vehicle exhaust emissions (8 and 6 %), secondary biogenic (10% measured at NK only), woodsmoke (4 and 7 %) and sea salt (7 and 8 %), whereas food cooking (4 and 1 %) showed relatively smaller contributions to PM2.5. Results from the CMB model were compared with source contribution estimates derived from the AMS-PMF method. The overall mass of organic matter accounted for is rather similar for the two methods. However, appreciably different concentrations were calculated for the individual primary organic matter contributions, although for most source categories the CMB and AMS-PMF results were highly correlated (r(2) = 0.69-0.91). In comparison with the CMB model, the AMS appears to overestimate the biomass burning/coal and food cooking sources by a factor of around 1.5 to 2 while estimates of the traffic source are rather similar for each model. The largest divergence is in the primary/secondary organic matter split, with the AMS estimating an appreciably smaller secondary component. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed, but despite these substantial divergences, the strong correlation of the two methods gives some confidence in their application
Placental Features of Late-Onset Adverse Pregnancy Outcome.
No full textOBJECTIVE: Currently, no investigations reliably identify placental dysfunction in late pregnancy. To facilitate the development of such investigations we aimed to identify placental features that differ between normal and adverse outcome in late pregnancy in a group of pregnancies with reduced fetal movement. METHODS: Following third trimester presentation with reduced fetal movement (N = 100), placental structure ex vivo was measured. Placental function was then assessed in terms of (i) chorionic plate artery agonist responses and length-tension characteristics using wire myography and (ii) production and release of placentally derived hormones (by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay of villous tissue and explant conditioned culture medium). RESULTS: Placentas from pregnancies ending in adverse outcome (N = 23) were ~25% smaller in weight, volume, length, width and disc area (all
Effects of Centrifugal Buoyancy on Developing Convective Laminar Flow in a Square Channel Occupied with a High Porosity Fibrous Medium
No full textInformed, involved and influential: three Is of shared decision making
No full textCollaboration between service users and mental health professionals is at the heart of values-based practice and shared decision making. However, there has been limited analysis of the implications of these approaches to processes that can involve depriving service users of their freedom. This article proposes a framework in which it is acknowledged that all participants must be informed, involved and influential in the decision-making process. The article notes, however, that these aims are on a sliding scale of influence that depends on context, capacity and desire to influence
An introduction to using the Method Of Levels (MOL) therapy to work with people experiencing psychosis. (in press)
No full textTechnological change in developing countries: opening the black box of process using actor-network theory
No full textProcesses of technological change – innovation, transfer, adaptation, implementation – are central to development. Yet they are typically black-boxed in research accounts so actors and practice remain hidden. This paper applies one aspect of actor–network theory (ANT) – moments of translation – to a case study of technological change in the Sri Lankan public sector. Such application has its challenges but ANT provides a rich, detailed account of technological change processes for development. It can offer three unique insights that expose: the formation and dissolution of socio-technical structure; the active role of technology; and the ‘translation’ of interests, identities and ideas during these processes
