Initial experiments indicated that avian versus human influenza virus binding was determined by either Sia alpha 2-6 or Sia alpha 2-3 expression. In this review, we suggest that the distribution and detection of these terminal Sia alpha 2-3- and Sia alpha 2-6-linked receptors within the respiratory tract might not be as clear cut as has been reported. We will also review how other viral and receptor components might act as
determinants for successful viral replication and transmission. Understanding these additional components is important in comprehending the infection and the transmission of both existing human influenza viruses and newly emerging avian influenza viruses.”
“We investigated how two distortions of the speech signal – added background noise and speech in an unfamiliar accent – affect comprehension of speech using functional Magnetic LDK378 chemical structure Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Listeners performed a speeded sentence verification task for speech in quiet in Standard Dutch, in DAPT in vivo Standard Dutch with added background noise and for speech in an unfamiliar accent of Dutch. The behavioural results showed slower responses for both types of distortion compared to clear speech, and no difference between the two distortions. The neuroimaging results showed that, compared to clear speech, processing noise
resulted in more activity bilaterally in Inferior Frontal Gyrus, Frontal Operculum, while processing accented speech recruited an area in left Superior Temporal Gyrus/Sulcus. It is concluded that the neural bases for processing different distortions of the speech signal dissociate. It is suggested that current models of the cortical organisation of speech are updated to specifically associate bilateral inferior frontal areas with processing external distortions (e.g., background noise) for and left temporal areas with speaker-related distortions (e.g., accents). Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background. A number of
scales are used to estimate the severity of depression. However, differences between self-report and clinician rating, multi-dimensionality and different weighting of individual symptoms in summed scores may affect the validity of measurement. In this study we examined and integrated the psychometric properties of three commonly used rating scales.
Method. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to 660 adult patients with unipolar depression in a multi-centre pharmacogenetic study. Item response theory (IRT) and factor analysis were used to evaluate their psychometric properties and estimate true depression severity, as well as to group items and derive factor scores.
Results.