Comparing accuracy in voice-based assessments of biological speaker traits across speech types.

Nonverbal acoustic parameters of the human voice provide cues to a vocaliser's sex, age, and body size that are relevant in human social and sexual communication, and also increasingly so for computer-based voice recognition and synthesis technologies. While studies have shown some capacity in human listeners to gauge these biological traits from unseen speakers, it remains unknown whether speech complexity improves accuracy. Here, in over 200 vocalisers and 1500 listeners of both sexes, we test whether voice-based assessments of sex, age, height and weight vary from isolated vowels and words, to sequences of vowels and words, to full sentences or paragraphs. We show that while listeners judge sex and especially age more accurately as speech complexity increases, accuracy remains high across speech types, even for a single vowel sound. In contrast, the actual heights and weights of vocalisers explain comparatively less variance in listener's assessments of body size, which do not vary systematically by speech type. Our results thus show that while more complex speech can improve listeners' biological assessments, the gain is ecologically small, as listeners already show an impressive capacity to gauge speaker traits from extremely short bouts of standardised speech, likely owing to within-speaker stability in underlying nonverbal vocal parameters such as voice pitch. We discuss the methodological, technological, and social implications of these results.

Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. RESULTS: During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5-88.5] vs. 63.5 [51-77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality.

The collagen scaffold supports hiPSC-derived NSC growth and restricts hiPSC.

The human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are one of the promising candidates as patient specific cell source for autologous transplantation or modeling of diseases. The collagen (Col) scaffolds have been shown suitable to create in vitro biomimetic microenvironment for human neural stem cells, but their ability to accommodate stem cells at different stages of neural differentiation has not been verified yet. In this paper we compare lineage related hiPSC during neural differentiation for their ability to colonize Col scaffold. We have also focused on modification of collagen physicochemical properties with improved mechanical and thermal stability, without loss of its biological activity. The hiPSC expressing markers of pluripotency (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG) after neural commitment are NESTIN, GFAP, PDGFR alpha, beta- TUBULIN III, MAP-2, DCX, GalC positive. We have shown, that Col scaffold was not preferable for hiPSC culture, while the neurally committed population after seeding on Col scaffolds revealed good adhesion, viability, proliferation, along with sustaining markers of neuronal and glial differentiation. The Col scaffold-based 3D culture of hiPSC-NSCs may serve as a research tool for further translational studies.

Searching for predictors of sense of quality of health: A study using neural networks on a sample of perimenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: We assumed that perimenopausal women's sense of quality of health (SQH) is a subjective evaluation of their psycho-physical health, and comprises three dimensions: sense of quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and the level of positive and negative affect. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to: 1) test a model about SQH, and 2) explore the role of personality traits, self-esteem, body self, and self-stereotype as predictors of SQH. METHODS: The sample included 201 women aged between 45 and 55 (50.11±3.07). Participants filled out the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Personality Inventory based on the Big Five Factor Model, the Body Self Questionnaire, and a survey querying perimenopausal women's self-stereotype. To determine the individual SQH dimensions we used the Sense of Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Menopause Symptom List, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. To verify the assumptions of the SQH model and look for SQH predictors we conducted a neural networks analysis with structure optimization via genetic algorithms (a multivariate analysis). RESULTS: The SQH model was verified in the course of several neural networks analyses with structure optimization via genetic algorithms (R = 0.849, R2 = 0.723, F = 133,232, p < 0.01). Moreover, we confirmed that SQH comprised three dimensions: quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and affect. SQH and menopausal symptoms were correlated. Similarly, positive and negative affect modified the women's global sense of quality of life. SQH predictors included: personality traits, self-esteem, the body-self, and menopausal woman's self-stereotype. CONCLUSION: In practical terms, our findings may help raise awareness among women and medical practitioners, calling for a holistic approach to the health of menopausal women. Our findings may also facilitate the creation of both prevention and therapeutic programs for women transitioning through menopause, for example, cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Role of the body self and self-esteem in experiencing the intensity of menopausal symptoms. / Rola Ja cielesnego (body self) i samooceny w doswiadczaniu intensywnosci objawów menopauzy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to test differences in self-esteem and strength of the body self, body image, comfort with closeness with others and body protection among women reporting high and low intensity of psychological, vasomotor and somatic symptoms of menopause. METHODS: The sample included 201 women aged 45-55 years. The Menopause Symptom List was used to test the intensity of menopausal symptoms, the Body Self Questionnaire was used to diagnose the body self, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to examine participants'levels of self-esteem. Differences between women experiencing high and low intensity of symptoms were analyzed using Student's t-test for independent samples. RESULTS: Women experiencing high-intensity psychological, vasomotor and somatic symptoms of menopause showed significantly lower self-esteem and poorer body-self functioning in all its dimensions except for body protection. CONCLUSIONS: Women experiencing high-intensity psychological, vasomotor and somatic symptoms of menopause demonstrated poorer functioning of the body self and lower self-esteem.

Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution Using Alginate/Iron (III) Chloride Capsules: a Laboratory Study.

Binding phosphate at participation of alginate/FeCl3 capsules was studied with laboratory experiments. The hydrogel microcapsules were obtained with the dropping-in method, by gelation of sodium alginate water solution by iron (III) chloride solution. Phosphate adsorption characteristics were studied in a static batch system with respect to changes in contact time, initial phosphates concentration, pH of solution, and temperature. After 24 h of the tests, average 87.5% of phosphate ions were removed from the natural water solutions; after 48 h, an equilibrium was reached. The adsorption data were well fit by the Freundlich isotherm model. Parameter k of the isotherms amounted from 43.4 to 104.7, whereas parameter n amounted from 0.362 to 0.476. The course of processes of phosphate adsorption and iron desorption to aquatic phase, as well as changes in pH, suggests that phosphate adsorption is a major mechanism of phosphate removal, whereas simultaneously, but at a much lower degree, a process of precipitation of phosphate by iron (III) ions released from the capsules to the solution takes its place. Parameters calculated in the Freundlich isotherm equation show that by using several times smaller amounts of iron, it is possible to remove similar or bigger amounts of phosphorus than with other adsorbents containing iron. The alginate/FeCl3 adsorbent removes phosphate in a wide pH spectrum-from 4 to 10. Results suggest that the proposed adsorbent has potential in remediation of contaminated waters by phosphate.

Influence of Formulation on Mobility of Clomazone in Soil.

The mobility of clomazone [2-(2-chlorobenzylo)-4,4-dimetylo-1,2-oxazolidin-3-one] in a loamy sand soil and a sand soil was studied in a soil column under laboratory conditions. Commercial clomazone formulation (Command 480 EC) and clomazone immobilized in an alginate matrix were used for a leaching experiment. For both formulations, the same dose of 2.0 mg of the active substance was applied. After an application of a herbicide, the columns were irrigated with: 100, 40 and 3.7 mm of water. After 1 h, when an addition of water was completed, the soils were sampled in the 5 cm segments and were used for the analysis of the residues. The use of an alginate formulation reduced the vertical mobility of clomazone into a soil layer in comparison with the formulation EC.

Influence of formulation on mobility of metazachlor in soil.

The mobility of metazachlor [2-chloro-N-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)acet-2',6'-xylidide] in sand soil and loamy sand soil was studied in a soil column under laboratory conditions. Commercial metazachlor formulation (Metazachlor 500 suspension concentrate (SC)) and metazachlor immobilized in alginate matrix were used for leaching experiment. The initial concentration of metazachlor in soil for both formulations was 2.0 mg mL(-1). After application of herbicide, the columns were irrigated with 100, 40, and 3.7 mm of water. After 1 h, when addition of water was completed, soils were sampled in 5-cm segments and were used for the analysis of residues. The use of alginate controlled release (CR) formulation reduced the vertical mobility of metazachlor into soil layer in comparison with the formulation SC.