Listening to Sentences in Noise: Revealing Binaural Hearing Challenges in Patients with Schizophrenia

Noor Alaudin Abdul Wahab,Mohd. Normani Zakaria,Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman,Dinsuhaimi Sidek,Suzaily Wahab 대한신경정신의학회 2017 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.14 No.6

Objective: The present, case-control, study investigates binaural hearing performance in schizophrenia patients towards sentences presented in quiet and noise. Methods: Participants were twenty-one healthy controls and sixteen schizophrenia patients with normal peripheral auditory functions. The binaural hearing was examined in four listening conditions by using the Malay version of hearing in noise test. The syntactically and semantically correct sentences were presented via headphones to the randomly selected subjects. In each condition, the adaptively obtained reception thresholds for speech (RTS) were used to determine RTS noise composite and spatial release from masking. Results: Schizophrenia patients demonstrated significantly higher mean RTS value relative to healthy controls (p=0.018). The large effect size found in three listening conditions, i.e., in quiet (d=1.07), noise right (d=0.88) and noise composite (d=0.90) indicates statistically significant difference between the groups. However, noise front and noise left conditions show medium (d=0.61) and small (d=0.50) effect size respectively. No statistical difference between groups was noted in regards to spatial release from masking on right (p=0.305) and left (p=0.970) ear. Conclusion: The present findings suggest an abnormal unilateral auditory processing in central auditory pathway in schizophrenia patients. Future studies to explore the role of binaural and spatial auditory processing were recommended.

The Hyperactivity of Efferent Auditory System in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions Study

Noor Alaudin Abdul Wahab,Suzaily Wahab,Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman,Dinsuhaimi Sidek,Mohd. Normani Zakaria 대한신경정신의학회 2016 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.13 No.1

ObjectiveaaElectrophysiological studies, which are mostly focused on afferent pathway, have proven that auditory processing deficits exist in patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, reports on the suppressive effect of efferent auditory pathway on cochlear outer hair cells among schizophrenia patients are limited. The present, case-control, study examined the contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in patients with schizophrenia. MethodsaaParticipants were twenty-three healthy controls and sixteen schizophrenia patients with normal hearing, middle ear and cochlear outer hair cells function. Absolute non-linear and linear TEOAEs were measured in both ears by delivering clicks stimuli at 80 dB SPL and 60 dB SPL respectively. Subsequently, contralateral suppression was determined by subtracting the absolute TEOAEs response obtained at 60 dBpe SPL during the absence and presence of contralateral white noise delivered at 65 dB HL. No attention tasks were conducted during measurements. ResultsaaWe found no significant difference in absolute TEOAEs responses at 80 dB SPL, in either diagnosis or ear groups (p>0.05). However, the overall contralateral suppression was significantly larger in schizophrenia patients (p<0.05). Specifically, patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly increased right ear contralateral suppression compared to healthy control (p<0.05). ConclusionaaThe present findings suggest increased inhibitory effect of efferent auditory pathway especially on the right cochlear outer hair cells. Further studies to investigate increased suppressive effects are crucial to expand the current understanding of auditory hallucination mechanisms in schizophrenia patients.

Screening thirty soybean genotypes under solid and intercropping plantings in Egypt

Abd El-Alim A. Metwally,Sayed A. Safina,Eman I. Abdel-Wahab,Sherif I. Abdel-Wahab,Tamer I. Abdel-Wahab 한국작물학회 2021 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.24 No.2

Cropping systems are relatively more important for testing soybean genotypes under Egyptian conditions. A field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during the 2016 and 2017 seasons to evaluate the productivity of thirty soybean genotypes collected from four countries in intercropping with corn. Intercropping two soybean ridges alternating with another two of corn (2:2) was used in a split plot distributed in randomized complete block design. Intercropping and solid systems were randomly assigned to the main plots, and the soybean genotypes were allocated in sub-plots. All over the genotypes, intercropping caused significant increases in maturity date, root length, and plant height; meanwhile, the reverse was true for each of total leaf chlorophyll content, numbers of branches and pods, as well as seed yield per plant. Soybean genotypes Giza 111, C1, Woodworth, C34, Hill, Hutcheson, and Holladay gave higher seed yield than the others. Allover cropping systems, soybean genotypes Giza 111, Woodworth, Hutcheson, and C1 had higher seed yield than the others under intercropping. A significant positive correlation was detected between pod number and seed yield under cropping systems. Early maturing genotypes under intercropping were correlated positively with a higher yield of plants, as well as relative values. Determinate soybean variety Woodworth was matured under intercropping and solid planting at the same time. Soybean genotypes Woodworth, C1, C34, Giza 35, Giza 82, and Giza 111 were tolerant than the others to intercropping. The six soybean genotypes off er useful genetic materials for soybean breeding programs to improve yield under intercropping.

Synthesis, Characterization and Effect of pH Variation on Zinc Oxide Nanostructures

Wahab, Rizwan,Kim, Young-Soon,Shin, Hyung-Shik The Japan Institute of Metals 2009 Materials Transactions Vol.50 No.8

<P>Here we present a systematic study on the morphological deviation of ZnO nanostructure (from sheets to micro-flowers) by varying pH of the solution via precipitation method. In this regard, zinc nitrate hexa-hydrate, NaOH and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH<SUB>2</SUB>OH·HCl) were used. The solution of all three compounds was refluxed at a very low temperature (60°C) for short time (20 min). The solution pH was calibrated from 6 to 12 by the controlled addition of NaOH and HCl. We have observed from FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) that the morphology of ZnO microballs composed with thin sheets markedly varies from sheet (at pH=6) to micro-flower composed with sheets of zinc oxide (pH=10–12). Further the morphology and crystallinity were also studied by the TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and HR-TEM (High resolution transmission electron microscopy) and it’s clearly consistent with the FESEM observations. The FTIR spectroscopic measurement also confirms the compositional analysis of ZnO and it comes in the range of 475 to 424 cm<SUP>−1</SUP> which is a standard peak of ZnO. In addition to this, the amount of H<SUP>+</SUP> and OH<SUP>−</SUP> ions are found a key to control the structure of studied material and discussed in the growth mechanism.</P>

Antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles prepared via non-hydrolytic solution route

Wahab, Rizwan,Mishra, Amrita,Yun, Soon-Il,Kim, Young-Soon,Shin, Hyung-Shik Springer-Verlag 2010 Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol.87 No.5

High Seebeck Coefficient in Solution-Grown PbS Films

Wahab, F.,Fernandes, G. E.,Kim, J. H.,Jung, S.,Kim, K. B.,Hassan Sayyad, M.,Xu, J. Springer Science + Business Media 2014 Journal of Electronic Materials Vol.43 No.2

We have investigated the Seebeck coefficient of solution-grown lead sulfide (PbS) films at room temperature. A high Seebeck coefficient of 450 mu V/K was observed, which is over three times the value commonly measured for PbS films. The positive sign of the Seebeck coefficient indicates that the measured film was characteristically p-type. The high sheet resistance of the films, similar to 186 k Omega/sq., suggests that the high Seebeck coefficient may be the result of increased contributions from junctions and boundary scattering of carriers occurring at interfaces between nanocrystallites, consistent with the scanning electron microscopy study of the film morphology. The solution-grown PbS technology employed here is inherently scalable and, with the larger Seebeck coefficient, may be well suited for energy-harvesting applications.

The structural response of graphene on copper to surface- and interfacial-oxygen

Wahab, H.,Haverkamp, R.,Kim, J.H.,Cadogan, J.M.,Mertins, H.-Ch.,Choi, S.-H.,Timmers, H. Elsevier 2016 Carbon Vol.110 No.-

<P>Graphene deposited by Chemical Vapour Deposition on different copper substrates was characterised using Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopies. Pronounced angular dependencies of the carbon pi*- and sigma*-resonances confirmed successful synthesis. Annealing removed surface adsorbates and enhanced the anisotropy of the carbon-bonds, consistent with an observed increase of the carbon 1s binding energy. Most oxygen intercalated at the substrate interface was thus removed, resulting in direct contact between graphene and copper. Oxygen remaining at the interface is bound to carbon. Such bonds are common if graphene on copper is exposed to air for long periods before annealing. The bonds give rise to an X-ray absorption peak at 288.3 eV. When annealed graphene rests in vacuum a deterioration of its structural anisotropy occurs. This is driven by the surface adsorption of oxygen-containing groups. Renewed annealing reverses both effects, which subsequently reoccur. The correlation of anisotropy deterioration and adsorption suggests that by accommodating functional groups at the surface, the hybridization of carbon atoms and the graphene sheet topography are modified. These structural changes occur relatively quickly, so that even in vacuum the graphene sheet only briefly sustains a pristine structure. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Formation of ZnO Micro-Flowers Prepared via Solution Process and their Antibacterial Activity

Wahab, Rizwan,Kim, Young-Soon,Mishra, Amrita,Yun, Soon-Il,Shin, Hyung-Shik Springer 2010 NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS Vol.5 No.10

<P>This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of zinc oxide micro-flowers and their antibacterial activity. The micro-flowers of zinc oxide composed of hexagonal nanorods have been prepared via solution process using precursor zinc acetate di-hydrate and sodium hydroxide in 3 h of refluxing time at ~90°C. The antibacterial activities of grown micro-flowers were investigated against four pathogenic bacteria namely <I>S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhimurium and K. pneumoniae</I> by taking five different concentrations (5–45 μg/ml) of ZnO micro-flowers (ZnO-MFs). Our investigation reveals that at lowest concentration of ZnO-MFs solution inhibiting the growth of microbial strain which was found to be 5 μg/ml for all the tested pathogens. Additionally, on the basis of morphological and chemical observations, a chemical reaction mechanism of ZnO-MFs composed of hexagonal nanorods was also proposed.</P>

Effect of excitation type on dynamic system parameters of a reinforced concrete bridge

Wahab, M.M. Abdel,De Roeck, G. Techno-Press 1999 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.7 No.4

Damage detection in civil engineering structures using the change in dynamic system parameters has gained a lot of scientific interest during the last decade. By repeating a dynamic test on a structure after a certain time of use, the change in modal parameters can be used to quantify and qualify damages. To be able to use the modal parameters confidentially for damage evaluation, the effect of other parameters such as excitation type, ambient conditions,... should be considered. In this paper, the influence of excitation type on the dynamic system parameters of a highway prestressed concrete bridge is investigated. The bridge, B13, lies between the villages Vilvoorde and Melsbroek and crosses the highway E19 between Brussels and Antwerpen in Belgium. A drop weight and ambient vibration are used to excite the bridge and the response at selected points is recorded. A finite element model is constructed to support and verify the dynamic measurements. It is found that the difference between the natural frequencies measured using impact weight and ambient vibration is in general less than 1%.

Volumetric Behaviour of Binary Liquid Mixtures at a Temperature of 303.15 K

Wahab, Mohammad A.,Ali, M. Azhar,Mottaleb, Mohammad A. Korean Chemical Society 2002 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.23 No.7

Excess molar volumes (Vm E ) of binary liquid mixtures: xC6H5CH3 + (1-x1)CH3CN or + (1-x1)C6H5NO2, or + (1-x1)C2H5NO2 have been determined as a function of mole fraction of C6H5CH3 (x) at a temperature of 303.15 K over a entire range of composition. The densities of the binary liquid mixtures were determined by pycnometrically. The VmE values of the mixtures have been found to be negative over the whole composition in order of C6H5CH3 + C6H5NO2, < C6H5CH3 + CH3CN, and < C6H5CH3 + C2H5NO2. The negative magnitude of VmE suggests the presence of intermolecular interaction in the three binary liquid mixtures.