bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The correlation of vowel space and speech intelligibility for individuals with cerebral palsy
Authors: Liu Huei-Mei , Tsao Feng-Ming , Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: October 2013

The relationship between the area of the vowel space (F1/F2 space) and speech intelligibility was studied in a group of 20 Mandarin-Chinese-speaking young adults with cerebral palsy. Subjects read aloud 18 bisyllabic words containing the vowels /i/, /a/, and /u/ using their habitual speaking rate. The words were identified by three normal listeners and the percent corrects of vowel identifications were used as speech intelligibility for the individual cerebral-palsied speakers. Results revealed that cerebral-palsied speakers’ intelligibility varied greatly across individuals (scores ranged from 36% to 100%). Speakers with cerebral palsy exhibited smaller vowel space areas when compared to 10 age-matched controls. The correlation between vowel space area and speech intelligibility was significant (r=0.612, p<0.005). Cerebral-palsied speakers with larger vowels spaces were generally more intelligible than speakers with reduced vowel spaces. These results suggest that vowel space area can serve as an important component of overall estimates of speech intelligibility, and will be related to data collected in studies comparing infant-directed (ID) versus adult-directed (AD) speech, which show that speakers use significantly larger vowel areas when engaged in ID speech. [Work funded by NIH, HFSP, and the Talaris Research Institute.]
Miguel C. Junger and the early Cambridge Acoustical Associates
Authors: Smith Preston W.
Published: October 2013

In 1955, Junger and this author (Smith) co-founded the partnership Cambridge Acoustical Associates (CAA), directly from our post-graduate studies at the Harvard Acoustical Research Laboratory. This association continued into 1959 when Smith left to join Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc. while Junger persevered with CAA. This paper presents an historical survey of Junger’s professional activities in that early period of his life.
Speech privacy comparison using Articulation Index (AI) and Speech Privacy Noise Isolation Class (NIC) in an open office
Authors: Yoon Heakyung , Loftness Vivian
Published: October 2013

Two speech privacy measurements, Articulation Index (AI) standardized by the American National Standard Institute in 1969 and Speech Privacy Noise Isolation Class (NIC, Noise Isolation Class Prime) adapted from the Noise Isolation Class (NIC) by U. S. General Services Administration (GSA) in 1979, have been claimed as objective tools to measure speech privacy in open offices. To evaluate which of them is a better tool in terms of speech privacy in a dynamic open office environment, the measurements were taken in the field. AIs and NICs in the current workplace settings as well as in the modifications of partition heights and workplace configurations have been measured following ASTM E1130 (Standard Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Offices Using Articulation Index) and GSA test PBS-C.2, respectively.
An effective motionless medium for sound propagating through an inhomogeneous, moving fluid
Authors: Godin Oleg A.
Published: October 2013

Lord Rayleigh’s idea of similarity between acoustic fields in a moving fluid and in a certain ‘‘effective’’ quiescent medium proved very helpful in understanding and modeling sound propagation in an ocean with currents and in an atmosphere with winds, as well as in other applications involving flows with small velocity compared to sound speed. Known as effective sound speed approximation, the idea is routinely utilized in the contexts of the ray theory, normal mode representation of the sound field, and the parabolic approximation. Despite the wide use of the concept of effective sound speed, no theoretical justification of Rayleigh’s idea was published that would be independent of the chosen representation of the sound field and uniformly apply to distinct propagation regimes. In this paper, such a justification is provided by reducing boundary conditions and a wave equation governing sound fields in the inhomogeneous moving fluid with a slow flow to boundary conditions and a wave equation in a quiescent fluid with effective sound speed and density. The derivation provides insight into validity conditions of the concept of effective quiescent fluid. Conditions are discussed under which the effective parameters are insensitive to the wave propagation direction. [Work supported by ONR.]
The HANG: A hand played steel drum
Authors: Rossing Thomas D. , Hansen Uwe J. , Rohner Felix , Schärer Sabina
Published: October 2013

The HANG is a new steel instrument consisting of two spherical shells of steel, suitable for playing with the hands. Seven to nine notes are harmonically tuned around a central deep note which is formed by the Helmholtz resonance. Elliptical note areas are formed on the upper shell and tuned so that the (1,1)a and (1,1)b modes of each note area have frequencies that are in the ratios of 3:2:1 with respect to the fundamental, except in the highest notes where they are in the ratio of 2.5:2:1 or 2.4:2:1. Holographic studies show the modal shapes and also the extent of coupling between note areas.
Measured versus modeled aircraft noise levels at Hull, MA
Authors: Schomer Paul
Published: October 2013

Boston’s Logan Airport maintains an unattended noise monitor on the Hull peninsula by the Hull High School. They also produce yearly DNL contours for aircraft operations at the airport using INM. These contours include Hull. This paper compares the measured levels at Hull with the DNL predictions. This comparison is done in two steps. First, the true measured airport noise is separated from other monitor-measured noise—notably wind and wave noise. Second, these cleaned data are compared with the DNL predictions. The results show that INM underpredicts at Hull by at least 3 decibels. Of these 3 decibels, at least one can be attributed to the over water (hard surface) situation and the remaining difference is thought to result from systematic sideline biases in INM that relate to other propagation and engine shielding effects.
Using high-frequency acoustics to protect marine mammals
Authors: Johnson Joseph S. , Ellison William T. , Stein Peter , Spikes Clayton H.
Published: October 2013

A joint industry-government research effort has designed, developed, and tested a high-frequency marine mammal monitoring (HF/M3) system to ensure that marine mammals are not exposed to high levels of low-frequency sonar signals. The system’s nominal operating characteristics are 30–40 kHz frequency, a variable bandwidth of 1.5–6 kHz, 3%–4% duty cycle, 10–40 m pulse length, 3–4 s pulse repetition rate, and 220 dB (re: 1 μPascal at 1 m) source level. HF/M3 operating parameters are based on in situ acoustic modeling and low-power probe-pulse signals, which define the local ocean acoustic environment. Operating protocols include source level adjustments to ensure approaching marine mammals or sea turtles are unaffected by HF/M3 signals. System capability has been tested and evaluated in 7 sea trials. Estimated probabilities of detection for a 20-m stationary whale at 160 m depth are from 98% at 1-km range to 72% at 2-km range. The ability to track animals via multiple detections virtually eliminates randomly distributed false alarms. Single-ping probabilities of detection suggest that any marine mammal (and possibly sea turtle) within 1 km can be expected to be detected multiple times—approximately once every 50 s.
The matched-lag filter: Detecting broadband multipath signals with auto- and cross-correlation functions
Authors: Spiesberger John L.
Published: October 2013

Signal detection is considered for uncertain noise variance and a broadband source of unknown waveform and emission time. Multipath travel times may be unknown. Using a new ‘‘matched-lag filter,’’ the presence or absence of the signal is estimated from the auto- and cross-correlation functions of the receptions. Like a matched filter, correlation functions provide the first stage of gain in signal to noise ratio because the paths are assumed to be partially coherent. The second stage achieves additional gain by searching only over physically possible arrangements of signals in the auto- and cross-correlation functions while excluding forbidden arrangements. These stages enable the matched-lag filter to behave like a matched filter within a matched filter. In an ideal case, simulations of the matched-lag filter yield probabilities of detection that are, with one and two receivers, 4.1 to 366 times respectively that obtained from the conventional energy detector at a false-alarm probability of 0.001. The matched-lag filter has applications to wireless communications and the detection of acoustic signals from animals, vehicles, ships, and nuclear blasts. The matched-lag filter more completely describes signal structure than stochastic detection and communication theories whose specified autocorrelation function does not prohibit forbidden arrangements. [Work supported by ONR.]
Numerical simulation of bottom reverberation in the time domain
Authors: Tang Dajun
Published: October 2013

A model that simulates a mid-frequency (1–4 kHz) direct-path reverberation field in shallow water is presented. This frequency range is important in the applications of detection sonar systems in shallow water. The model assumes that the scattering is caused by seafloor roughness and sub-bottom diffused heterogeneity. A Monte Carlo simulation of the reverberant field in the time domain based on the first-order perturbation approximation is developed. The roughness and sub-bottom heterogeneity are generated based on their power spectra. The computation is handled efficiently by taking advantage of the symmetry of backscattering geometry. The developed code can help to (1) investigate the relative importance of different scattering mechanisms, (2) predict spatial coherence of the scattered field, and (3) simulate and design field experiments. [Work supported by ONR.]
Time reversal mirror in a reverberant structural network
Authors: Dickey Joe , Ertel John
Published: October 2013

The time domain response of a reverberant structural network of connected 1-D wave bearing systems excited by a spatial/temporal impulse is calculated and displayed in a spatial/temporal format. The response of a sensor at an arbitrary point in the network will be a time series of events. A segment of this time series is recorded, reversed in time, and used as an input to the Green function model of the network at the point where it was recorded. The model then shows the constructive interference at the original source location; however, it is not possible to ‘‘run the movie backward’’ in any strict sense. Constructive interference occurs at other alias locations, and the ability to locate the source degrades with increased damping and complexity. The advantage of using structural intensity and nonphysical modeling ‘‘tricks’’ such as negative damping (do not try this experimentally) and altered reflection coefficients after the injection of the time-reversed pulse are demonstrated. This technique can be useful in locating impact points in structural networks.
Using psycho-acoustics frequency masking to reduce distortion in a parametric array speaker
Authors: Liew Yew Hin , Lee Kelvin , Karnapi Furi Andi , Gan Woon Seng
Published: October 2013

Using a parametric array of ultrasonic transducers, directional sound can be generated from inaudible ultrasonic as a result of nonlinear interaction of ultrasonic wave in air. A finite amplitude ultrasonic wave that can be amplitude modulated by any audio signal is radiated from the array [Yoneyama et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 73, 1532–1536 (1983)]. As a result, an audio signal is produced because of the self-demodulation effect of the modulated sound wave. This, however, generates a large distortion that is impractical. Another method [T. Kite et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 2871 (1998)] uses a preprocessing technique, which utilizes double integration of the square-rooted input. The resulted distortion is greatly reduced but at the expense of very wide bandwidth requirement due to the square-root operation. Various techniques to reduce the distortion by preprocessing have been discussed in previous literature. In this paper, we propose a psycho-acoustic masking scheme, coupled with a suitable modulation that will provide further reduction in distortion. The psycho-acoustic masking focus on the distortion occurred within the critical bands. Simulation and subjective testing have been done to verify the system.
Sonic boom penetration under a wavy air–water interface
Authors: Cheng H. K. , Fincham Adam , Maxworthy Tony , Edwards John R.
Published: October 2013

The interaction of a sonic boom with a wavy air–water interface is investigated theoretically and experimentally to ascertain its effect on sonic boom noise penetration in deep water. The Mach number is assumed to be less than the water-to-air sound speed ratio of 4.53. Unlike the problem with a flat (nonwavy) interface, the interaction with a surface-wave train can produce everfescent (nonattenuating) wave components, in addition to evanescent wave components underwater. The overall effect results in an attenuation rate with a depth which is much lower than predicted by the flat-ocean (Sawyers) model; it overwhelms the flat-ocean wavefield in deep water, even though it has a secondary effect at the surface. The expectation is substantiated by both analysis and laboratory measurements. The latter were performed in a water channel with wavemakers and projectile over flights. Detailed measurements confirm both the wave packet characteristics of the deep water waveform and the frequency downshift property predicted by the theory. Underwater sound-pressure level, frequency range, and waveform characteristics from sonic booms of aircraft and space-launch operations are examined with the wavy-ocean model.
Implementation of CHIEF in MATLAB for prediction of sound radiated from arbitrarily shaped vibrating bodies
Authors: Christensen Mark , Naghshineh Koorosh
Published: October 2013

The Boundary Element Method can be used to predict sound pressure levels radiated from an arbitrarily shaped vibrating body. Using the direct, indirect, and approximation formulation one can solve such an exterior acoustic problem. In this work, the direct formulation is chosen. The two major methods employed for implementation of this formulation are the Combined Helmholtz Integral Equation Formulation (CHIEF) and the Burton–Miller Method. It was decided that the CHIEF method would be the focus of this research. Using the CHIEF method as a guide, a computer simulation was developed that incorporates quadratic elements, calculates the sound pressure and sound power, is able to import surface velocities, and uses the program ideas as a preprocessor. This program was verified using theoretical models as well as experimental measurements conducted in the Western Michigan University Noise and Vibration Laboratory. This program was written in Matlab with the understanding that it can be processed on a personal computer.
Backscattered acoustic signal from submerged water filled elastic shells can be decomposed into body resonances and eigenmodes of the contained water
Authors: Werby Michael , Uberall H.
Published: October 2013

Acoustic signals scatter from an elastic shell and excite elastic shell resonances. For evacuated shells resonances due to proper Lamb waves, A0 and S0 waves and the pseudo-Stoneley resonances, are the only ones allowed. When the shell is fluid filled then the eigenfrequencies of the included fluid may be excited. Further, the presence of the fluid may alter the elastic body resonances. When the impedance of the entrained fluid is not much smaller than the mechanical impedances of the elastic material then the scattered signal is greatly influenced by the entrained fluid, but only at their allowed eigenfrequencies. Since the fluid is entrained this leads to a discrete spectrum and an eigenvalue problem which is quite manageable. In this work we outline a method for determining the eigenfrequencies as well as their nature and use their values to isolate the actual body resonances due to the elastic material. We also illustrate the influence of the presence of the entrained fluid on the elastic resonance frequencies. [Work supported by NRL and ONR.]
The evolution of a pulse in a wave-guide and its interaction with a submerged structure: Some issues
Authors: Werby Michael
Published: October 2013

Initially let a pulse signal progress in time in a wave-guide along one direction ab initio at time t0. If it interacts with a submerged structure, at some time t1 then part of the wave will be refracted and part will be reflected so that at some point along the range between the object and the source there will be interference between the pulse signal and the reflected (backscattered) signal. This, to be sure, is a function of the duration of the pulse as well as other factors. Thus, in that region we must be required to deal with a two-way solution no matter what the topography simply because of the interference between the reflected wave and the time evolving wave. Here, the most general problem is properly formulated and the effect is examined as a function of pulse width, frequency (band) width, gating, and other factors. Results are presented in the form of frames or animations and it is observed that one may gain insight into this complicated process and it is possible to make use of this effect for extracting inverse information. [Work supported by ONR and NRL.]
An efficient method to calculate the radiated pressure from a vibrating structure
Authors: Choi Sunghoon , Kim Yang-Hann
Published: October 2013

An alternative formulation of the Helmholtz integral equation, derived by Wu et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 1763–1774 (1998)], expresses the pressure field explicitly in terms of the velocity vector of a radiating surface. This formulation, derived for arbitrary sources, is similar in form to Rayleigh’s formula for planar sources. Because the pressure field is expressed explicitly as a surface integral of the particle velocity, which can be implemented numerically using standard Gaussian quadratures, there is no need to use the boundary element method to solve a set of simultaneous equations for the surface pressure at the discretized nodes. Furthermore the nonuniqueness problem inherent in methods based on Helmholtz integral equation is avoided. Validation of this formulation is demonstrated first for some simple geometries. This method is also applied to general vibro-acoustic problems in which both the surface pressure and velocity components are unknown. [Work sponsored by Ministry of Education, Korean Government under the BK21 program and Ministry of Science and Tech., Korean Government under National Research Lab. program.]
Keep your ear on the ball: Display of targets in the bat’s sonar receiver
Authors: Simmons James A.
Published: October 2013

This tutorial examines how the biological sonar systems of bats transform wideband acoustic information conveyed in echoes from their initial reception by the external ear and transduction by the inner ear through the cascade of processing stages in the auditory nervous system. This information finally is manifested as the content of the images the bat perceives. The intention of the tutorial is to give people having the diverse interests of ASA members—in acoustics and electronics engineering, signal processing, psychoacoustics, bioacoustics, and auditory physiology—a comprehensive view of how these images are formed and how all these areas of study prove vital for appreciating how unconventional is the organization of the bat’s sonar receiver. The presentation will detail the various design problems associated with imaging of objects by high-resolution sonar, and how they appear to be solved by the bat’s auditory system. Some critical functions are carried out by single structures, such as the middle ear, while other functions are so distributed that they are concealed from view at any one stage and can only be discerned by bringing together observations made across stages. The relevance of recent discoveries in cochlear physiology, time-frequency signal-processing, and neural display of information known to be retained in biosonar images will receive particular attention.
Measurement of Rayleigh streaming in high-amplitude standing waves using laser Doppler anemometry
Authors: Thompson Michael W. , Atchley Anthony A.
Published: October 2013

Current theories for Rayleigh streaming in a long, cylindrical pipe predict dc velocities which increase as the square of the amplitude of the first harmonic, and exhibit a parabolic radial profile. The velocity field in such a pipe, driven at one end and rigidly capped at the other, has been measured using LDA (laser Doppler anemometry) techniques. Analysis of the data produced by the LDA system can be complicated by two things: (i) the data are randomly sampled at a frequency below the Nyquist rate, resulting in a large, uneven sample spacing which is unsuitable for standard discrete Fourier transform techniques; and (ii) the dc velocity is typically two to three orders of magnitude smaller than the ac velocity, resulting in a very low signal-to-noise ratio. A robust signal processing algorithm is presented which overcomes these two obstacles, permitting fast and accurate estimates of the magnitudes, phases, and uncertainties of the velocity Fourier coefficients. The measured dc velocities agree well with the theoretical predictions when the tube is driven at low amplitudes, but deviate significantly from the theoretical predictions when the tube is driven at high amplitudes. [Work supported by ONR.]
Extraction of directional pitch change by Japanese monkeys
Authors: Takahashi Tokuro , Riquimaroux Hiroshi
Published: October 2013

Perception of directional pitch change was behaviorally investigated in Japanese monkeys on an operant Go–Nogo task with water reward. Results show that the difference in the fundamental frequency makes a difference in direction of pitch change. A pair of tone bursts and/or harmonically structured complex tone bursts were sequentially presented. The monkeys could always discriminate the direction of pitch change by using the fundamental frequency cue but in a specific case. Their performance was worse than a chance level, or they oppositely responded to the fundamental frequency cue in the specific case. The case was that the temporal sequence was made of a simple tone burst and a complex tone burst where the frequency of the simple tone burst was in between the fundamental and the second harmonic frequencies of the complex tone burst, and the fundamentals of the complex tone were lower than 500 Hz. They showed amelioration in using the fundamental frequency cue as interval between two tones was expanded. The results were confirmed with probe tests. [Research supported by Special Coordination Funds, and a grant to RCAST at Doshisha University from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.]
Analysis of auditory spatial receptive fields: An application of virtual auditory space technology
Authors: Takahashi Terry T. , Keller Clifford H. , Euston David R. , Spezio Michael L.
Published: October 2013

Virtual auditory space technology, typically used to simulate acoustical environments, also allows one to vary one sound localization cue independently of others. VAST was used to determine the contributions of interaural time and level differences (ITD, ILD) to the spatial receptive fields (RFs) of neurons in the owl’s midbrain. The presentation of noise filtered so that only ITD varied evoked a response along a vertical strip of virtual space, called the ITD-alone RF. Conversely, when ITD was fixed at the cell’s optimum and the ILD spectrum of each location was presented, the cell responded along a horizontal strip, called the ILD-alone RF. The spatial RF was at the intersection of the ITD and ILD-alone RFs. The cell’s ILD tuning across frequency, combined with individualized head-related transfer functions, was transformed into an ILD-alone RF that predicted half the variance in the measured one. This discrepancy was due partly to the poor response of the neurons to tones, and a new method of inferring frequency-specific ILD tuning from responses to noise explained about 75% of the variance. By understanding how spatial RFs are constructed, it is possible to infer the neural image of complex auditory scenes containing multiple sources and echoes. [Work supported by NIDCD.]
Ira Hirsh and oral deaf education: The role of audition in language development
Authors: Geers Ann
Published: October 2013

Prior to the 1960s, the teaching of speech to deaf children consisted primarily of instruction in lip reading and tactile perception accompanied by imitative exercises in speech sound production. Hirsh came to Central Institute for the Deaf with an interest in discovering the auditory capabilities of normal-hearing listeners. This interest led him to speculate that more normal speech development could be encouraged in deaf children by maximizing use of their limited residual hearing. Following the tradition of Max Goldstein, Edith Whetnall, and Dennis Fry, Hirsh gave scientific validity to the use of amplified speech as the primary avenue to oral language development in prelingually deaf children. This ‘‘auditory approach,’’ combined with an emphasis on early intervention, formed the basis for auditory-oral education as we know it today. This presentation will examine how the speech perception, language, and reading skills of prelingually deaf children have changed as a result of improvements in auditory technology that have occurred over the past 30 years. Current data from children using cochlear implants will be compared with data collected earlier from children with profound hearing loss who used hearing aids. [Work supported by NIH.]
Investigation of the sound transmission behavior of a chamber core cylinder
Authors: Li Deyu , Vipperman Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2013

Several kinds of novel composite structures, such as advanced grid stiffened (AGS) and chamber core (CC) structures have been designed, fabricated, and investigated for both civil and military applications. The chamber core composite is a novel advanced sandwich-type structure that is created by filament winding an inner shell onto a cylindrical mandrel, arranging previously fabricated U-shaped channels around the perimeter of this shell to form the inner chamber walls, and filament winding an outer shell followed by a co-cure process. In this study, the structural/acoustic behavior of a normal composite chamber core cylinder is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Lightly coupled structural and acoustic modal parameters are identified using experimental modal analysis techniques. The properties of sound transmission loss (TL) of the cylinder are also investigated experimentally. The effect of the structural/acoustic natural frequencies and the damping on the sound transmission loss is analyzed. Finally, passive control strategies are discussed, and several passive control materials for improving the sound transmission loss (0–500 Hz) of the cylinder are experimentally evaluated. [Work sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS), POC Dr. Steven Lane, (505) 846-9944.]
Visualization and Quantification of Electrochemical and Mechanical Degradation in Li Ion Batteries
Authors: Ebner Martin , Marone Federica , Stampanoni Marco , Wood Vanessa
Published: October 2013

Battery Breakdown

Although a range of materials can be used for chemically storing electrical charge, many cannot be made into batteries that retain their capacity over many cycles. Failure may be because of secondary reactions, poisoning through the formation of surface coatings, or volumetric changes leading to fracture.

Ebner
et al.

(p.
716
, published online 17 October) studied this last scenario in an operating battery using synchrotron x-ray tomographic microscopy, tracking both the chemical changes in the battery and the resulting mechanical changes in a tin oxide model system, which is known to undergo large volume changes.
Primate Transcript and Protein Expression Levels Evolve Under Compensatory Selection Pressures
Authors: Khan Zia , Ford Michael J. , Cusanovich Darren A. , Mitrano Amy , Pritchard Jonathan K. , Gilad Yoav
Published: October 2013

Don't Ape Protein Variation

Changes in DNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels have been used to estimate evolutionary changes between species. However protein expression levels may better reflect selection on divergent and constrained phenotypes.

Khan
et al.

(p.
1100
, published online 17 October; see the Perspective by

Vogel

) measured the differences among and within species between mRNA expression and protein levels in humans, chimpanzees, and rhesus macaques, identifying protein transcripts that seem to be under lineage-specific constraint between humans and chimpanzees.
Coordinated Effects of Sequence Variation on DNA Binding, Chromatin Structure, and Transcription
Authors: Kilpinen Helena , Waszak Sebastian M. , Gschwind Andreas R. , Raghav Sunil K. , Witwicki Robert M. , Orioli Andrea , Migliavacca Eugenia , Wiederkehr Michaël , Gutierrez-Arcelus Maria , Panousis Nikolaos I. , Yurovsky Alisa , Lappalainen Tuuli , Romano-Palumbo Luciana , Planchon Alexandra , Bielser Deborah , Bryois Julien , Padioleau Ismael , Udin Gilles , Thurnheer Sarah , Hacker David , Core Leighton J. , Lis John T. , Hernandez Nouria , Reymond Alexandre , Deplancke Bart , Dermitzakis Emmanouil T.
Published: October 2013

DNA Differences

The extent to which genetic variation affects an individual's phenotype has been difficult to predict because the majority of variation lies outside the coding regions of genes. Now, three studies examine the extent to which genetic variation affects the chromatin of individuals with diverse ancestry and genetic variation (see the Perspective by

Furey and Sethupathy

).

Kasowski
et al.

(p.
750
, published online 17 October) examined how genetic variation affects differences in chromatin states and their correlation to histone modifications, as well as more general DNA binding factors.

Kilpinen
et al.

(p.
744
, published online 17 October) document how genetic variation is linked to allelic specificity in transcription factor binding, histone modifications, and transcription.

McVicker
et al.

(p.
747
, published online 17 October) identified how quantitative trait loci affect histone modifications in Yoruban individuals and established which specific transcription factors affect such modifications.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ Gene Mutation Predisposes to Respiratory Infection and Airway Damage
Authors: Angulo Ivan , Vadas Oscar , Garçon Fabien , Banham-Hall Edward , Plagnol Vincent , Leahy Timothy R. , Baxendale Helen , Coulter Tanya , Curtis James , Wu Changxin , Blake-Palmer Katherine , Perisic Olga , Smyth Deborah , Maes Mailis , Fiddler Christine , Juss Jatinder , Cilliers Deirdre , Markelj Gašper , Chandra Anita , Farmer George , Kielkowska Anna , Clark Jonathan , Kracker Sven , Debré Marianne , Picard Capucine , Pellier Isabelle , Jabado Nada , Morris James A. , Barcenas-Morales Gabriela , Fischer Alain , Stephens Len , Hawkins Phillip , Barrett Jeffrey C. , Abinun Mario , Clatworthy Menna , Durandy Anne , Doffinger Rainer , Chilvers Edwin R. , Cant Andrew J. , Kumararatne Dinakantha , Okkenhaug Klaus , Williams Roger L. , Condliffe Alison , Nejentsev Sergey
Published: October 2013

Answers from Exomes

Exome sequencing, which targets only the protein-coding regions of the genome, has the potential to identify the underlying genetic causes of rare inherited diseases.

Angulo
et al.

(p.
866
, published online 17 October; see Perspective by

Conley and Fruman

) performed exome sequencing of individuals from seven unrelated families with severe, recurrent respiratory infections. The patients carried the same mutation in the gene coding for the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ). The mutation caused aberrant activation of this kinase, which plays a key role in immune cell signaling. Drugs inhibiting PI3Kδ are already in clinical trials for other disorders.
Genome Sequences of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium Blood Clinical Isolate ST4848/06 and Stool Isolate ST1489/06
Authors: Cheng Chi Keung , Au Chun Hang , Li Lei , Nong Wenyan , Law Patrick Tik Wan , Cheung William Man Wai , Ling Julia Mei Lun , Kwan Hoi Shan
Published: October 2013

Salmonella enterica
serotype Typhimurium human blood strains isolated from outside Africa are rarely sequenced. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two
S
. Typhimurium clinical strains isolated in the same year, one from blood and another from stool, in order to gain insights into the genetic basis leading to invasive diseases.
Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus erythropolis DN1, a Crude Oil Biodegrader
Authors: Shevtsov Alexander , Tarlykov Pavel , Zholdybayeva Elena , Momynkulov Dauren , Sarsenova Ainur , Moldagulova Nazira , Momynaliev Kuvat
Published: October 2013

We report the 6,548-Mb genome sequence of
Rhodococcus erythropolis
strain DN1, isolated from the oil-contaminated soil in the Karagandy region of Kazakhstan. The draft genome sequence of strain DN1 might provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms of crude oil biodegradation.
Genome Sequences of Mannheimia haemolytica Serotype A1 Strains D153 and D193 from Bovine Pneumonia
Authors: Hauglund Melissa J. , Tatum Fred M. , Bayles Darrell O. , Maheswaran Samuel K. , Briggs Robert E.
Published: October 2013

Here we report two genome sequences, one complete and one draft, from virulent bovine strains ofMannheimia haemolyticaserotype A1 recovered prior to the field usage of modern antimicrobial drugs.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Extremely Halophilic
Bacillus
sp. Strain SB49, Isolated from a Salt Crystallizer Pond of the Little Rann of Kutch, India
Authors: Pal Kamal Krishna , Dey Rinku , Thomas Manesh , Sherathia Dharmesh , Dalsania Trupti , Patel Ilaxi , Savsani Kinjal , Ghorai Sucheta , Vanpariya Sejal , Sukhadiya Bhoomika , Mandaliya Mona , Rupapara Rupal , Rawal Priya
Published: October 2013

Here we report the draft whole-genome sequence (3.72 Mbp) of
Bacillus
sp. strain SB49, an extremely halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt crystallizer pond of the Little Rann of Kutch in India. Unraveling the genome of this organism will facilitate understanding and isolation of the genes involved in imparting extreme osmotolerance.
Infectious Sacroiliitis Caused by Staphylococcus aureus following acupuncture: A case report
Authors: Tseng Yu-Chen , Yang Ya-Sung , Wu Yu-Cheng , Chiu Sheng-Kang , Lin Te-Yu , Yeh Kuo-Ming
Published: October 2013

Determination of the origin of infectious sacroiliitis (ISI), a rare form of septic arthritis, is often time consuming and clinically difficult owing to its various presentations, which include joint, skin and urinary tract infections. This report describes the diagnosis, determination of infectious origin and treatment of a case of ISI attributed to the use of acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain. We report on a 61-year-old man who developed right hip pain and fever 3 days after undergoing acupuncture over the right buttock region for the treatment of lower back pain. Blood culture showed infection with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and MRI disclosed the presence of an inflamed area over the right iliac bone and the right portion of the sacrum. The patient was cured after a 4-week course of antimicrobial treatment. Clinicians should take a history of acupuncture use when evaluating patients presenting with fever of unknown origin and/or bacteraemia and consider the possibility of ISI when evaluating patients with hip pain and infectious signs after acupuncture or other possible causes of infection. This indicates the importance of performing clinically clean procedures to prevent septic complications when treating patients with acupuncture.
Managing competing demands through task-switching and multitasking: a multi-setting observational study of 200 clinicians over 1000 hours
Authors: Walter Scott R , Li Ling , Dunsmuir William T M , Westbrook Johanna I
Published: October 2013

Objective

To provide a detailed characterisation of clinicians’ work management strategies.

Design

1002.3 h of observational data were derived from three previous studies conducted in a teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, among emergency department (ED) doctors (n=40), ward doctors (n=57) and ward nurses (n=104). The rates of task-switching (pausing a task to handle an incoming task) and multitasking (adding a task in parallel to an existing task) were compared in each group. Random intercepts logistic regression was used to determine factors significantly associated with clinicians’ use of task-switching over multitasking and to quantify variation between individual clinicians.

Results

Task-switching rates were higher among ED doctors (6.0 per hour) than ward staff (2.2 and 1.8 per hour for doctors and nurses, respectively) and vice versa for multitasking rates (9.2 vs 17.3 and 14.1 per hour). Clinicians’ strategy use was significantly related to the nature and complexity of work and to the person they were working with. In some settings, time of day, day of the week or previous chosen strategy affected a clinician's strategy. Independent of these factors, there was significant variation between individual clinicians in their use of strategies in a given situation (ED doctors p=0.04, ward staff p=0.03).

Conclusions

Despite differences in factors associated with work management strategy use among ED doctors, ward doctors and ward nurses, clinicians in all settings appeared to prioritise certain types of tasks over others. Documentation was generally given low priority in all groups, while the arrival of direct care tasks tended to be treated with high priority. These findings suggest that considerations of safety may be implicit in task-switching and multitasking decisions. Although these strategies have been cast in a negative light, future research should consider their role in optimising competing quality and efficiency demands.
Agreement between mathematically arterialised venous versus arterial blood gas values in patients undergoing non-invasive ventilation: a cohort study
Authors: Kelly Anne-Maree , Klim Sharon , Rees Stephen E
Published: October 2013

Background

Blood gas analysis is important for assessment of ventilatory function. Traditionally, arterial analysis has been used. A method for mathematically arterialising venous blood gas values has been developed. Our aim was to validate this method in patients undergoing non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in an emergency department (ED).

Materials and methods

This post hoc substudy of a prospective cohort study included adult patients undergoing NIV for acute respiratory compromise. When arterial blood gas analysis was required for clinical purposes, a venous sample was also drawn. Mathematically arterialised values were calculated independent of arterial values. Primary outcome of interest was agreement between mathematically arterialised venous and arterial values for pH and pCO2. Bland-Altman agreement plot analysis was used.

Results

Eighty sample-pairs (58 patients) were studied. Mean difference for arterial pH (actual-calculated) was 0.01 pH units (95% limits of agreement: −0.04, 0.06). Mean difference for pCO2(actual-calculated) was −0.06 kPa (95% limits of agreement: −1.34, 1.22).

Conclusions

For patients undergoing NIV in an ED, agreement between mathematically arterialised venous values and arterial values was close for pH but only moderate for pCO2.Depending on clinician tolerance for agreement, this method may be a clinically useful alternative to arterial blood gas analysis in the ED.
An outcomes evaluation of an emergency department early pregnancy assessment service and early pregnancy assessment protocol
Authors: Wendt Kim , Crilly Julia , May Chris , Bates Kym , Saxena Rakhee
Published: October 2013

Background

Complications in early pregnancy, such as threatened or actual miscarriage is a common occurrence resulting in many women presenting to the emergency department (ED). Early pregnancy service delivery models described in the literature vary in terms of approach, setting and outcomes. Our objective was to determine outcomes of women who presented to an Australian regional ED with diagnoses consistent with early pregnancy complications following the implementation of an early pregnancy assessment service (EPAS) and early pregnancy assessment protocol (EPAP) in July 2011.

Methods

A descriptive, comparative (6 months before and after) study was undertaken. Data were extracted from the hospital ED information system and medical healthcare records. Outcome measures included: time to see a clinician, ED length of stay, admission rate, re-presentation rate, hospital admission and types of pathology tests ordered.

Results

Over the 12 -month period, 584 ED presentations were made to the ED with complications of early pregnancy (268 PRE and 316 POST EPAS–EPAP). Outcomes that improved statistically and clinically following implementation included: time to see a clinician (decreased by 6 min from 35 to 29 min), admission rate (decreased 6% from 14.5% to 8.5%), increase in β-human chorionic gonadotrophin ordering by 10% (up to 80% POST), increase in ultrasound (USS) performed by 10% (up to 73% POST) and increase in pain score documentation by 23% (up to 36% POST).

Conclusions

The results indicate that patient and service delivery improvements can be achieved following the implementation of targeted service delivery models such as EPAS and EPAP in the ED.
Simulation training based on observation with minimal participation improves paediatric emergency medicine knowledge, skills and confidence
Authors: Bloch Scott A , Bloch Amy J
Published: October 2013

Objective

Simulation is becoming standard during emergency medicine (EM) training. To determine if observation-based simulation with minimal participation improves knowledge, skill performance and confidence, we created and evaluated 12 paediatric emergency medicine (PEM) simulations focusing on the educational value of observation.

Methods

Thirty-one EM residents participated in 1–2 simulations each and observed multiple others. Scores obtained on a knowledge test presimulation and postsimulation, clinical skills assessed for changes in performance over the course of the study, and confidence questionnaires given presimulation and postsimulation were analysed. Participants’ feedback regarding the observation model was also evaluated.

Results

Average scores obtained on the knowledge test improved significantly presimulation to postsimulation (36.3% vs 51.4%), and remained consistent postsimulation to 4 months after simulation training (51.4% vs 48.8%). Gain scores for participants who observed >80% of the simulations were significantly higher than for those who observed<80% (20.7% vs 12.5%). Over 90% of skillsets reassessed throughout the simulations showed improvement, and residents assessed themselves as more confident after simulation training. All participants rated the training as very useful, and 71% reported that being observed was stressful but beneficial, as clinical emergencies are stressful as well.

Conclusions

Using observation with minimal participation as the foundation of simulation training may lead to improvement in observer knowledge, skills and confidence. Observation-based simulation training may also save time and resources, allowing a broader coverage of clinical scenarios than programmes requiring active participation by all learners.
A case-control study examining inconsistencies in pain management following fractured neck of femur: an inferior analgesia for the cognitively impaired
Authors: McDermott J H , Nichols D R , Lovell M E
Published: October 2013

Previous research suggests individuals who suffer from cognitive impairment are less able to vocalise pain than the rest of the cognitively-intact population. This feature of cognitive impairment may be leading to a chronic underdetection of pain as current assessment tools strongly rely on the participation of the patient. To explore inconsistencies in pain management within the acute setting, we conducted a retrospective assessment of 224 patients presenting with fractured neck of femur at a large teaching hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) department between 2 June 2011 and 2 June 2012. These patients were split into either a cognitively-impaired or cognitively-intact cohort based on their Abbreviated Mental Test Scores. Patients with cognitive impairment, on average, received a weaker level of analgesia than individuals without impairment both in the ambulance and in A&E. In the ambulance, 45% of cognitively-impaired patients were prescribed no pain relief compared with just 8% of those individuals who remain cognitively intact. After arrival at A&E, these inconsistencies continued with 69% of the cognitively-intact cohort receiving the strongest opioid analgesia compared with just 37% of the cognitively-impaired cohort. The cognitively-impaired cohort would also wait on average an hour longer before receiving this initial pain relief. We believe that these differences stem from cognitively-impaired patients being unable to vocalise their pain through traditional assessment methods. This work discusses the potential development or adoption of a tool which can be applied in the acute setting and relies less on vocalisation but more on the objective features of pain, so making it applicable to cognitively-impaired individuals.
Climatic control on the Late Permian Main Dolomite (Ca2) deposition in northern margin of the Southern Permian Basin and implications to its internal cyclicity
Authors: Gąsiewicz Andrzej
Published: October 2013

During the Late Permian (Zechstein), the Southern Permian Basin (SPB) of Europe was a shallow epicontinental and evaporitic sea surrounded by large continental masses. It has been assumed that both the cyclic Zechstein deposition and internal cyclicity of the lower Zechstein carbonate units resulted from glacio-eustatic fluxes of marine waters and evaporation in the stable arid climatic conditions.

The Main Dolomite (Ca2) is the carbonate unit of the second Zechstein cycle. The Main Dolomite (MD) deposits formed the Kamień Pomorski carbonate platform, which was attached to land at the northern margin of the SPB (NW Poland). Study of stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition and major and minor elements distribution reveal palaeoclimatic instability induced by a relative rise in precipitation during MD deposition. A tendency towards increased climatic humidity towards the end of the unit reflected by an increased fluvial contribution argues for either a local- and/or regional-scale of temporal flow of wet humid air masses. Chemical weathering and erosion on the nearby Fennoscandian High caused dilution of carbonate accumulation by very fine siliciclastics in the proximal part of the platform.

A lack of internal cycles of a regional extent in the investigated platform implies that it was not global glacio-eustatic influxes but a combination of events, such as local relative sea-level fluctuations induced by climate impact and variation of the palaeoenvironmental parameters, that determined the development of the platform. Future research should investigate the effects of the climate and local tectonics to reveal the basinal dynamics and depositional history of the MD carbonate platforms.