To analyze the performance of cochlear implants in French patients aged 65 and over, implanted between 2012 and 2016, using data from the French national registry for cochlear implants (EPIIC).
The ...French national registry incorporates patient data from before implantation and for three years after implantation, stratified in different age groups (18–39, 40–64years, 65–74years and>75years). Here, we assessed the latter two categories. Hearing was assessed using mono- and disyllabic words in a silent background. The Category of Auditory Performance (CAP) scale was also implemented and subjects took the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (Aphab) questionnaire.
The population aged over 65 accounted for 38% (n=1193) of the 3178 adult implanted patients. The performance for mono- and disyllabic words in silence, the CAP scores and the APHAB questionnaire answers for ease of communication, background noise and reverberation were dramatically improved at one year post-implantation (P<0.0001 for each score) and remained stable between one and three years thereafter. The percentage improvement was similar across all age groups. The scores for loud-noise intolerance did not change after cochlear implantation in any age group.
Cochlear implants improve hearing and communication in subjects aged 65 and over, with comparable efficiency to that achieved in younger subjects. Cochlear implantation should thus be proposed whenever hearing aids provide only limited benefit. However, between 2012 and 2016, cochlear implantation was given to less than 1% of the French population aged 65 and over with profound deafness.
Recently it has been shown that surface magnetic doping of topological insulators induces backscattering of Dirac states which are usually protected by time-reversal symmetry Sessi et al., Nat. ...Commun. 5, 5349 (2014). Here we report on quasiparticle interference measurements where, by improved Fermi level tuning, strongly focused interference patterns on surface Mn-doped Bi sub(2) Te sub(3) could be directly observed by means of scanning tunneling microscopy at 4 K. Ab initio and model calculations reveal that their mesoscopic coherence relies on two prerequisites: (i) a hexagonal Fermi surface with large parallel segments (nesting) and (ii) magnetic dopants which couple to a high-spin state. Indeed, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism shows superparamagnetism even at very dilute Mn concentrations. Our findings provide evidence of strongly anisotropic Dirac-fermion-mediated interactions and demonstrate how spin information can be transmitted over long distances, allowing the design of experiments and devices based on coherent quantum effects in topological insulators.
Highlights • We conducted a meningococcal carriage study among children aged 1–7 years old. • We evaluated the impact of MenBvac, an outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccine, on the pharyngeal ...meningococcal carriage. • MenBvac reduces meningococcal carriage and may hence confer herd immunity. • The novel meningococcal B vaccine that includes an OMV component may have an impact on carriage.
Summary Objectives To describe an optimized 3D time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography (3D TR-CE-MRA) at 3T in diagnosing head and neck paragangliomas and assessing their morphology and ...relation to neighboring vessels. Methods In a prospective study, eight consecutive patients presenting cranial cervical masses suspected to be 10 paragangliomas were examined with 3D TR-CE-MRA at 3T. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the overall image quality, the presence of a paraganglioma, the maximum diameter, as well as the vessel invasion. Results In all of the cases, the overall image quality was scored as good. The tumors ( n = 10) were all visualized and localized. The mean maximum diameter was 32.7 mm range 7–80. Vessel invasion was assessed as uncertain in one case and improbable in nine cases. Conclusion 3D TR-CE-MRA at 3T associated with conventional sequences facilitates a comprehensive investigation of paragangliomas, thus providing the anatomical and functional information.
Carbon doped GaAsSb samples have been grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy using carbon tetrabromide as carbon source. A maximal hole concentration of 4.5×10
20
cm
−3 has been obtained with a ...corresponding mobility of 19
cm
2/V
s. For hole concentrations in the 4–8×10
19
cm
−3 range, typically used in HBTs, the hole mobility is 45–50
cm
2/V
s. We show that 450
°C is the optimal growth temperature at which both high hole concentration and mobility are obtained. An InP/GaAsSb/InP DHBT test structure with a 2×10
19
cm
−3 carbon doped base has been realised. The current gain
β is about 80 and the emitter–base and base–collector junction ideality factors are 1.15 and 1.05, respectively, indicating good junction properties.
We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a spontaneous pneumocephalus, 37 years after a mastoidectomy. Clinical examination showed a cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningeal herniation ...in the superior part of the middle ear, and an audible noise from her ear when she stood up due to the entrance of air into the cranium. A computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed the complete destruction of the tegmen tympani and the pneumocephalus in the temporal lobe. The patient underwent an emergency operation via a double middle-ear and subtemporal approach. The meningoencephalocoele and pneumocephalus were probably due to long term pressure upon too thin a tegmen tympani. Pneumocephalus should be considered as a potential delayed post-operative complication of middle-ear surgery. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning supply accurate information and enable a planned surgical approach; they also allow a pathophysiological understanding and a correlation between the clinical signs and the radiological and peri-operative findings.
Carbon doping of In0.53Ga0.47As has been investigated in a production molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system equipped with a CBr4 gas line. Growth temperature and As4 flux effects on surface morphology ...and efficiency of carbon doping are studied. Hole concentrations from 1.7X1017 to 1.3X1020cm-3 have been obtained. A first set of samples shows no significant difference in mobility for comparable beryllium- and carbon-doping levels either in solid source production (Riber MBE49) or in gas source research (Riber MBE32) systems. Best results for carbon doping are obtained with a low As4 flux and a growth temperature in the 400-425 deg C range. A nearly ideal emitter-base I(V) characteristic has been obtained for a doping level of 8X1019cm-3, which is promising for high-frequency InP-based HBTs issue.
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