Influence of Telecommunication Modality, Internet Transmission Quality, and Accessories on Speech Perception in Cochlear Implant Users.

BACKGROUND: Telecommunication is limited or even impossible for more than one-thirds of all cochlear implant (CI) users. OBJECTIVE: We sought therefore to study the impact of voice quality on speech perception with voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) under real and adverse network conditions. METHODS: Telephone speech perception was assessed in 19 CI users (15-69 years, average 42 years), using the German HSM (Hochmair-Schulz-Moser) sentence test comparing Skype and conventional telephone (public switched telephone networks, PSTN) transmission using a personal computer (PC) and a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) telephone dual device. Five different Internet transmission quality modes and four accessories (PC speakers, headphones, 3.5 mm jack audio cable, and induction loop) were compared. As a secondary outcome, the subjective perceived voice quality was assessed using the mean opinion score (MOS). RESULTS: Speech telephone perception was significantly better (median 91.6%, P<.001) with Skype compared with PSTN (median 42.5%) under optimal conditions. Skype calls under adverse network conditions (data packet loss > 15%) were not superior to conventional telephony. In addition, there were no significant differences between the tested accessories (P>.05) using a PC. Coupling a Skype DECT phone device with an audio cable to the CI, however, resulted in higher speech perception (median 65%) and subjective MOS scores (3.2) than using PSTN (median 7.5%, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Skype calls significantly improve speech perception for CI users compared with conventional telephony under real network conditions. Listening accessories do not further improve listening experience. Current Skype DECT telephone devices do not fully offer technical advantages in voice quality.

Presence and Persistence of Andes Virus RNA in Human Semen.

When infecting humans, Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV) may cause a severe disease called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Following non-specific symptoms, the infection may progress to a syndrome of hemorrhagic fever combined with hyper-acute cardiopulmonary failure. The case fatality rate ranges between 25-40%, depending on the outbreak. In this study, we present the follow-up of a male patient who recovered from HCPS six years ago. We demonstrate that the ANDV genome persists within the reproductive tract for at least 71 months. Genome sequence analysis early and late after infection reveals a low number of mutations (two single nucleotide variants and one deletion), suggesting limited replication activity. We can exclude the integration of the viral genome into the host genome, since the treatment of the specimen with RNAse led to a loss of signal. We demonstrate a long-lasting, strong neutralizing antibody response using pseudovirions expressing the ANDV glycoprotein. Taken together, our results show that ANDV has the potential for sexual transmission.

Mobile Internet Telephony Improves Speech Intelligibility and Quality for Cochlear Implant Recipients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the benefit of mobile Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over conventional mobile phone calls (Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM) on speech intelligibility and quality for cochlear implant (CI) recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, prospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: A volunteer sample of experienced, German-speaking, adult CI recipients was considered. Volunteers with less than 50% aided monosyllabic word discrimination were excluded. INTERVENTION: Smartphone communication was changed from GSM to VoIP on two separate devices (A and B). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech intelligibility was assessed with the Hochmair-Shulz-Moser (HSM) test in noise, speech quality with the mean opinion score (MOS) survey and the perceptual evaluation of speech quality (PESQ) algorithm. RESULTS: With device A, the mean HSM scores were 64.40% ±â€Š32.41 with GSM and 77.28% ±â€Š21.60 with VoIP (p = 0.0573). 66.7% of patients had a higher score with VoIP. For device B the means were 53.90% ±â€Š21.77 and 69.07% ±â€Š21.09 (p < 0.0001). 94.1% patients scored better with VoIP.With device A the average MOS scores were 3.12 ±â€Š1.52 and 4.08 ±â€Š0.95 (p = 0.0078). 76.9% of patients gave a higher score with VoIP. With device B the means were 2.71 ±â€Š1.08 and 3.528 ±â€Š1.44 (p = 0.0068). 56.3% of patients gave a higher score with VoIP. The effect was smaller when using an accessory cable. PESQ scores were significantly higher with VoIP (p < 0.001) in all configurations. CONCLUSIONS: CI recipients experience speech intelligibility and quality improvements using VoIP on a smartphone compared with conventional mobile phone calls.

Host switching pathogens, infectious outbreaks and zoonosis: A Marie Sklodowska-Curie innovative training network (HONOURs).

The increase of the human population is accompanied by growing numbers of livestock to feed this population, as well as by an increase of human invasion into natural habitats of wild animals. As a result, both animals and humans are becoming progressively vulnerable to infections with known (zoonotic) pathogens, but are also increasingly exposed to novel viruses. Global trade as well as climate changes can contribute to pathogen transmission, e.g. through import of infected vectors or expansion of habitats for arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and midges. Infectious disease outbreaks, especially those by novel viruses, are generally unexpected, and therefore we should be prepared with tools and abilities for immediate action, including the identification of the causative agent, the evaluation of its pathogenic potential for animals and humans, and the fast development of diagnostic assays to allow contact tracing and quarantine measures. HONOURs is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network (MSCA-ITN), teaching 15 talented young researchers to become "preparedness-experts". HONOURs, initiated in April 2017, involves 11 laboratories from 6 different European countries, all at the forefront of novel virus investigations and characterizations. The network includes surveillance experts in both the veterinary and the human health sector, who have developed and utilize highly sensitive virus discovery techniques, e.g. next generation sequencing based genomics and universal primers based PCR, to allow identification and characterization of novel viruses. Production of pure viral proteins, providing high-resolution structures, aids in the design of novel, fast and easy-to-use diagnostics. Organotypic in vitro cell cultures systems (e.g. pseudostratified human airway epithelia) provide tools for virus replication, if needed via a reverse genetics platform, and the production of virus stocks permits inoculation in animal models to examine disease, evaluate candidate vaccines, and fulfilment of the Koch's postulates. Scientists of the various institutes will provide training in the HONOURs network through specialized courses and workshops, combined with challenging research projects. The final aim of the network is to deliver 15 expert scientists, ready to act in case of the emergence of an epidemic.