The Relationship Between Perceptual Evaluation and Objective Multiparametric Evaluation of Dysphonia Severity

SUMMARY: The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) as an objective multiparametric measurement in assessing dysphonia. The DSI was compared with the score on Grade of the GRBAS scale. Investigated was also whether the DSI is related to severity of dysphonia, which was represented by different diagnosis groups. Furthermore, it was investigated whether the DSI can differentiate between a group of patients and a control group. A total of 294 patients with different voice pathologies were included. A control group consisted of 118 volunteers without any voice complaints. The voices of all participants were perceptually evaluated on Grade, and the DSI was measured. The groups of patients with voice complaints have a lower DSI and higher scores on Grade than the control group. The DSI was significantly lower when the score on Grade was higher. The DSI discriminates between patients with nonorganic voice disorders, vocal fold mass lesions, and vocal fold paresis/paralysis. To determine whether the DSI discriminates between patients and controls, the sensitivity and specificity for different DSI cutoff points were calculated. With a DSI cutoff of 3.0, maximum sensitivity (0.72) and specificity (0.75) were found. We conclude that the DSI is a useful instrument to objectively measure the severity of dysphonia.     

Sustainable and Selective Modern Methods of Noble Metal Recycling

Noble metals exhibit broad arrange of applications in industry and several aspects of human life which are becoming more and more prevalent in modern times. Due to their limited sources and constantly and consistently expanding demand, recycling of secondary and waste materials must accompany the traditional mineral extractions. This Minireview covers the most recent solvometallurgical developments in regeneration of Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os, Ag and Au with emphasis on sustainability and selectivity. Processing—by selective oxidative dissolution, reductive precipitation, solvent extraction, co-precipitation, membrane transfer and trapping to solid media—of eligible multi-metal substrates for recycling from waste printed circuit boards to end-of-life automotive catalysts are discussed. Outlook for possible future direction for noble metal recycling is proposed with emphasis on sustainable approaches.