ABSTRACT
En este trabajo se describe una técnica útil para cuantificar el grado de déficits en el habla de los pacientes con Enfermedad de Alzheimer (EdA). Se comparan las características prosódicas del habla de un grupo de pacientes con EdA con GDS 4 y un grupo de control, midiendo las variaciones de la frecuencia fundamental (F0) en una tarea de lectura. Se utiliza el modelo computacional denominado Prosogram para analizar los contornos prosódicos de las muestras de voz, utilizando estilizaciones melódicas de la F0 basadas en la detección de sus prominencias y de las fluctuaciones de la amplitud de la señal espectral del habla. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas en la mayoría de los parámetros prosódicos analizados en el grupo con EdA GDS 4. Las variaciones normales del tono, así como en la estructura silábica, están reducidas en el grupo de EdA, lo que provoca un habla prosódicamente plana. Estos parámetros del habla pueden tener valor diagnóstico y pronóstico en la EdA y pueden ser útiles en ensayos clínicos (AU)
This paper describes a useful technique for quantifying the degree of speech deficits in dementia of GDS 4 Alzheimers type (DAT). Production of prosodic speech in DAT patients and healthy older controls was analysed using variation in fundamental frequency (F0) measures on a reading task. The prosogram computational model was used to analyze the prosodic contours of the speech samples, using melodic styling of F0 based on perceptual principles and prominence detection of spectral and amplitude fluctuations in the speech signal. Results revealed significant differences in most of these prosodic parameters among the DAT group. Normal pitch variation in speech and variations in syllable timing were reduced in the DAT group, these features cause «flat» speech prosody in these patients. These speech parameters may have diagnostic and prognostic value for Alzheimers disease and therefore could be a useful aid in clinical trials (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Alzheimer Disease/psychology , Articulation Disorders/psychology , Language Development Disorders/psychology , Verbal Behavior/physiology , Analysis of Variance , Data Analysis/methodsABSTRACT
This paper describes a useful technique for quantifying the degree of speech deficits in dementia of GDS 4 Alzheimer's type (DAT). Production of prosodic speech in DAT patients and healthy older controls was analysed using variation in fundamental frequency (F0) measures on a reading task. The prosogram computational model was used to analyze the prosodic contours of the speech samples, using melodic styling of F0 based on perceptual principles and prominence detection of spectral and amplitude fluctuations in the speech signal. Results revealed significant differences in most of these prosodic parameters among the DAT group. Normal pitch variation in speech and variations in syllable timing were reduced in the DAT group, these features cause "flat" speech prosody in these patients. These speech parameters may have diagnostic and prognostic value for Alzheimer's disease and therefore could be a useful aid in clinical trials.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/complications , Speech Acoustics , Speech Disorders/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology , Alzheimer Disease/psychology , Educational Status , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reading , Speech Production MeasurementABSTRACT
The production of granular activated carbon (GAC) basically depends on the correct selection of carbonization temperature, activation ratio and agent (physical or chemical) as well as the raw material. Black cherry, available in Mexico with relative abundance, is of the same genus as the European cherry, whose stones have yielded good GAC production results. Black cherry stones were tried as raw material for GAC production with phosphoric acid as the activating agent. Optimum carbonization temperatures were found to be between 500 and 550 degrees C with an activation ratio of 1.0 g of phosphoric acid/g raw material. Under these conditions the maximum yield was 48.16 g of GAC/100 g black cherry stones. The experimental adsorption parameters fitted into Langmuir's model with a maximum adsorption of 321.75 mg of methylene blue/g GAC and 133.33 mg of phenol/g GAC. Black cherry shells are an abundant agricultural by-product with no uses, and therefore are an alternative for producing GAC.
Subject(s)
Methylene Blue/chemistry , Phenol/chemistry , Prunus/chemistry , AdsorptionABSTRACT
Since its inception the language of humanity was spoken to communicate with those who were coming in the immediate environment. When writing appeared, there was a great evolution since the ideas could be passed at a distance, which made possible the organization of communities, cities, empires, and so on. And the development of literature, science, and the arts. The progress of humanity became more apparent with the discovery of printing and distributing books that were saved ideas, words written by different authors that could be known by reading. Another major advance came with the chance to hear the human voice, spoken language, not just those in the vicinity of the speaker itself is not remotely over the telephone, radio or television. Even it is possible to hear the words of dead people. The last and extraordinary step in spreading the language they are giving the latest computer technology over the Internet in which the possibilities of information and collection of written ideas are virtually endless. In this situation, which has recently started not stop thinking about the danger to the book as a depository and jealous guardian of culture, art, science and history and has personally been targeted by every human being his books or his lack thereof. From the fundamental discoveries of Broca's and Wernicke, progress has been made in the brain language processing. The knowledge and measurement of brain activity in normal subjects has advanced gracais the incorporation of modern methods of diagnostic imaging: PET, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). It is expected to go much further with the application of these techniques in experimental models of various neurological diseases and more sophisticated linguistic analysis.
