Multicolor and Warm White Emissions with a High Color Rendering Index in a Tb3+/Eu3+-Codoped Phosphor Ceramic Plate.

A series of Tb3+/Eu3+-codoped phosphor ceramic plates with a high color rendering index (CRI) for a near-ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) were fabricated. Color emission can be tuned from green to reddish as a function of Eu3+ concentration. By doping only 0.15 mol% of Eu3+ concentration, a comfortable warm white emission is promoted as a result of simultaneous emissions of Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions. A theoretical model is proposed to calculate the contributions of the emitted color of the donor (Tb3+) and acceptor (Eu3+) ions in terms of europium concentration. The energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+ ions is corroborated by the luminescence spectra and decay time of Tb3+, with a maximum energy transfer efficiency of 76% for 28 mol% of Tb3+ and 14 mol% of Eu3+. Warm white LEDs were constructed using a 380 nm UV chip and showed a CRI of 82.5, which was one of highest values reported for Tb3+/Eu3+-codoped samples. Color-correlated temperature (CCT), color coordinate (CC), and luminous efficacy (LE) were utilized to know the potentials as a phosphor converter in solid-state lighting.

Effects of Auditory Training and Remote Microphone Technology on the Behavioral Performance of Children and Young Adults Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who have a normal pure-tone audiogram but are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit poorer speech recognition and auditory processing when compared with neurotypical peers with normal pure-tone audiograms. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of a 12-week auditory processing training (APT) program that was designed to address the deleterious effects of background noise and auditory processing deficits that are common among individuals diagnosed with ASD. RESEARCH DESIGN: A repeated measures design was used. STUDY SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 15 high-functioning children and young adults who had a formal diagnosis of ASD and who were recruited from local clinics and school districts. INTERVENTION: Participants completed the 12-week APT program consisting of computerized dichotic training, one-on-one therapist-directed auditory training, and the use of remote microphone (RM) technology at home and in the classroom. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Participants completed a comprehensive test battery to assess general auditory processing skills, speech recognition in noise, acceptance of background noise, spatial processing, binaural integration abilities, self-perceived difficulties, and observed behaviors. Testing was conducted before (n = 15), immediately after (n = 15), and 12 weeks after (n = 7) the completion of the APT program. Paired t-tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, or nonparametric tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: On average, the APT program significantly enhanced general auditory processing abilities, including binaural integration and subjective listening abilities in the classroom. When the RM was used, significantly improved speech recognition and improved acceptance of background noise was measured relative to a condition with no technology. CONCLUSIONS: Following the APT program, the participants exhibited the greatest improvements in testing that required binaural integration and auditory working memory. The use of the RM technology was able to address the deleterious effects of noise on speech recognition in noise and acceptance of noise levels.

Speech Recognition in Noise in Adults and Children Who Speak English or Chinese as Their First Language.

BACKGROUND: Speech recognition of individuals who are listening to a nonnative language is significantly degraded in the presence of background noise and may be influenced by proficiency, age of acquisition, language experience, and daily use of the nonnative language. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine and compare speech recognition in noise performance across test conditions with varying signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) as well as the presence of vocal and spatial cues in listeners who speak American English as a native language or Mandarin Chinese as a native language. Self-rated English proficiency and experience were collected for native Mandarin Chinese speakers to determine its relationship to performance on the test measures. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional repeated measures design was used for the study. STUDY SAMPLE: Four groups of participants were included in the study. The adult groups consisted of 25 adults who speak native English and 25 adults who speak native Mandarin Chinese with English as an additional language. The pediatric groups consisted of 16 children who speak native English and 16 children who speak native Mandarin Chinese with English as an additional language. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSES: Percent correct speech recognition in noise was assessed at three SNRs (-3, 0, +3 dB) using the adult or pediatric versions of the AzBio sentence test. The Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentence (LiSN-S) test was used to determine the effect of providing spatial and vocal cues on the speech recognition in noise performance of the groups of participants. The data for each age group and test measure were analyzed with a repeated measures analysis of variance. Correlation analyses were performed to examine relationships between English proficiency and experience on performance across the speech recognition test conditions. RESULTS: Analysis of the data from the adult or pediatric AzBio sentence test identified a significant effect of native language for adults but no significant effect for children. The higher SNRs yielded better performance for all listeners. On the LiSN-S test, results for the adult and pediatric groups were similar and showed significantly better performance for the native English speakers in every test condition. The demographic and language characteristics that most affected speech recognition performance across the test measures included the length of time the person lived in the United States, the age of English acquisition, the number of minutes per day English was spoken by the participant, and the self-rated English proficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study highlight the importance and benefit of higher SNRs as well as the provision of vocal and spatial cues for improving speech recognition performance in noise of adult and pediatric listeners who speak Mandarin Chinese as a native language.

Prevalencia de parasitosis intestinales en la comunidad rural Apostadero, Municipio Sotillo, Estado Monagas, Venezuela / Prevalence of intestinal parasitoses in the rural community Apostadero Sotillo Municipality, Monagas State, Venezuela

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las enfermedades parasitarias a nivel intestinal aún tienen un papel importante en salud pública y son uno de los problemas médicos importantes, constituyendo una de las principales causas de morbilidad en niños en Latinoamérica, así también Venezuela. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de parasitosis intestinales en niños menores de 15 años en la población estudiada. METODOLOGÍA: El tipo de estudio fue observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal, cada participante fue evaluado clínicamente y mediante un análisis coproparasitológico, las muestras fecales fueron estudiadas mediante examen directo en solución salina fisiológica y coloración temporal de lugol, y la aplicación de la Técnica de Kato. Dichas técnicas se realizaron directamente en comunidad rural. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 64 niños entre 0-15 años de edad, de ellos: 51,6% masculinos y 48,4% femeninos. 87,5% presentaron manifestaciones clínicas, siendo el bruxismo más frecuente, seguido de dolor abdominal. El hallazgo de parasitosis intestinales general fue 92,20%. Se diagnosticaron parasitosis por 14 especies diferentes, de ellos 9 eran protozoarios y 5 helmintos. CONCLUSIÓN: Se determinó una alta prevalencia de parasitosis intestinales en niños menores de 15 años, los helmintos más frecuentes fueron: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura y Ancilostomideos con 72,9%, 47,5% y 33,9% respectivamente. Entre los protozoarios y cromistas destacan: Blastocystis spp(50,8%), Entamoeba coli (28,8%) y Giardia lamblia (23,7%). El poliparasitismo fue superior a 81,4% y las asociaciones más frecuentes fueron: Ascaris lumbricoides + Blastocystis spp (12,5%), seguido por Entamoeba coli + Ascaris lumbricoides + Trichuris trichiura (6,3 %).

INTRODUCTION: The intestinal parasitic diseases still have an important role in terms of public health, and they are one of main medical problems, being one of the principle causes of morbidity in children in Latin America included Venezuela. Objectives: Establish the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children less than 15 years old in the studied population. METHODOLOGY: The type of study was observational, descriptive and cross-sectional, each participant was evaluated clinically and through coproparasitologic test, fecal samples were studied by direct examination in physiological saline solution and temporary stained with lugol, and application of Kato-Katz's technique. These techniques were performed directly in the rural community. RESULTS: 64 children between 0-15 years old were evaluated; 51,6% male and 48,4% female. 87,5% had clinical manifestations, being bruxism the most frequent, followed by abdominal pain. The overall finding of intestinal parasites was 92,20%. There were diagnosed parasitoses by 14 different species, 9 were protozoans and 5 were helminths. CONCLUSION: It was determined a high prevalence of intestinal parasites in children under 15 years old, the most common helminths were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm with 72,9%, 47,5% and 33,9% respectively. Among protozoans and chromists that stood out were Blastocystís spp (50,8%), Entamoeba coli (28,8%) and Giardia lamblia (23,7%). Polyparasitism was higher than 81,4% and the most common associations were: Ascaris lumbricoides + Blastocystis spp. 12,5%, followed by Entamoeba coli + Ascaris lumbricoides + Trichuris trichiura with 6,3%.

Calidad de vida de cuidadores informales: agrupación alzheimer Concepción / Quality of life of informal caretakers: alzheimer association of Concepción

En nuestro país existe un mayor incremento de la población adulto mayor en comparación con otros grupos etáreos. Esta situación trae como consecuencia una mayor preocupación por las enfermedades propias de la tercera edad, así como también sus cuidadores, quienes que por dedicarse la mayor parte del tiempo a la labor de cuidado ven menoscabada su calidad de vida. Investigación de tipo descriptivo, de enfoque cuantitativo, transversal, de diseño no experimental; la muestra fue de corte no probabilístico, determinándola de acuerdo a los siguientes criterios: a) cuidador principal informal, b) diagnóstico clínico de enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) del paciente, y c) perteneciente a la agrupación Alzheimer-Concepción. La recolección de datos se efectuó mediante la autoadministración del Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida en Salud SF-36, Test de AGPAR Familiar de Smilkstein y un cuestionario referido a temas de la agrupación, este último elaborado por el equipo investigador para conocer la situación de los cuidadores principales informales en orden a determinar si su participación en esta institución influye en su calidad de vida. La muestra estuvo constituida por 18 personas quienes presentaron un perfil preferentemente integrado de mujeres, con estado civil de casados (as), e hijos del paciente, como relación de parentesco. Además los encuestados se encuentran en el rango de 51 a 60 años de edad, beneficiarios de FONASA (Fondo Nacional de Salud), son dueñasde casa, tienen un ingreso familiar que se sitúa en el rango de $115.001.- y $650.001.-, se han dedicado a la labor de cuidado entre 1 a 5 años y viven en la comuna de Concepción. Respecto a la calidad de vida en salud ésta se presenta favorable, siendo las áreas más afectadas por la labor de cuidado las dimensiones vitalidad y dolor corporal. En cuanto a la visión que tienen los cuidadores principales informales que pertenecen a la agrupación respecto de la influencia de ésta en su calidad de vida se aprecia una tendencia favorable.

El derecho a la salud y reproducción asistida / The right of health and assisted reproduction

El derecho a la reproducción asistida se deriva del derecho a la salud. En el sentido de que se afecta la psiquís de las personas que no pueden tener hijos por los medios naturales y el Estado debe de procurar la salud integral de la persona. Existe un marco jurídico internacional que así lo estipula y Costa Rica debe de respetar. Palabras clave: Reproducción asistida, derecho a la salud, salud.

Violencia doméstica y conciliación: un problema suprajurídico / Domestic violence and conciliation: one problem suprajuridical

La intencionalidad de este artículo es dejar una reflexión respecto de las limitaciones jurídicas, técnicas y éticas de la conciliación en violencia doméstica. Tanto el modelo de conciliación actual como la situación jurídica vigente, no permiten la posibilidad de someter un problema de esta índole, que cuenta con otras vías formales de abordaje, a un mecanismo de resolución alternativa que claramente pretende prevenir situaciones de violencia, pero que se encuentra limitado para su tratamiento integral.

The propose of this article is to make people think about the legal and ethic limitations that the conciliation have in the cases of domestic violence. With the actual type of conciliation and the national laws, solving those problems have to be by the typical legal way. This is because the conciliation model prevent from violence...