Integrated speech audiometry: objective and subjective performance of elderly listeners.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the ecological validity of the speech audiometry protocol recommended by Punch and Rakerd (2019) when implemented in older adults with hearing impairment. That protocol measures a listener's speech recognition threshold (SRT), most comfortable loudness level for speech (MCL), and uncomfortable loudness level for speech (UCL) in an integrated format that utilises single spondaic words as the stimulus set for all tests.

Design: Stimulus presentation and response collection were fully automated, test times were tracked electronically, and a short questionnaire was administered to assess subjective reactions to the test procedures.

A filling rig for liquid and gas working fluids for two-phase thermal management systems.

Two-phase cooling devices are used to remove and dissipate heat from high power-density electronic systems to maintain them within their operating temperature limits. The manufacture of these devices, such as heat pipes, thermosyphons or vapour chambers, involves firstly removing any internal air or non-condensable gases before charging with the required volume of working fluid. This paper presents detailed designs and operating instructions for a single bench-top station for use in a laboratory environment for the vacuum evacuation, degassing and charging of these devices.

Further Evaluation of a Protocol for Integrated Speech Audiometry.

Purpose: When a bilateral evaluation is conducted with the integrated speech protocol described in Punch and Rakerd (2019), testing for the first ear concludes with a measurement of the uncomfortable loudness level for speech (UCL). The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility that exposure to the high speech intensities required for that UCL test might bias the subsequent measurement of a listener's most comfortable loudness level for speech (MCL) in the opposite ear.

Method: Across 32 test runs, the left and right ear MCLs were established for 16 young adult listeners with normal hearing (five women, 11 men).

Impact of Donor and Recipient Clinical Characteristics and Hepatic Histology on Steatosis/Fibrosis Following Liver Transplantation.

Background: Deceased donor and recipient predictors of posttransplant steatosis/steatohepatitis and fibrosis are not well known. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and assess donor and recipient predictors of steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis in liver transplantation recipients.

Methods: Using the immune tolerance network A-WISH multicenter study (NCT00135694), donor and recipient demographic and clinical features were collected.