bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognition of interrupted words in isolation and in sentences
Authors: Kidd Gary R. , Humes Larry E.
Published: May 2016

When listening to speech in the presence of competing sounds that render portions of a speech signal inaudible or unrecognizable, the ability to utilize partial speech information is crucial for speech understanding. To better understand this ability, we have been examining word recognition with different patterns of missing information (portions of speech replaced by silence) in words and sentences. Although we find that the major determinant of word recognition is the proportion of missing information, the location of glimpses and the pattern and predictability of glimpses can also influence performance. However, these effects depend on the presence or absence of a sentence context and the predictability of the target word within the sentence. With isolated words, the onset information is most important for recognition. For words in sentences, the importance of word onsets is diminished and depends on the amount of context provided by the sentence. When the pattern of interruptions throughout a sentence is manipulated, a predictable pattern of glimpses facilitates word recognition in a highly predictable sentence context, but not in a low-predictable context. The implications of these findings for theories of speech understanding under difficult listening conditions will be discussed. [Work supported by NIH (NIA and NIDCD).]
Modulation masking and masked speech perception in normal-hearing school-age children and adults
Authors: Buss Emily , Grose John H. , Hall Joseph W. , Lorenzi Christian
Published: May 2016

It has recently been suggested that adults’ ability to recognize speech in noise is limited by the inherent modulation of that noise—a form of modulation masking. This study evaluated whether immature masked speech perception in school-age children could be due to greater susceptibility to modulation masking. To gauge modulation sensitivity, the first experiment measured sinusoidal modulation detection for rates of 10–300 Hz carried by a 5000-Hz pure tone. There were large individual differences, but little evidence of a child/adult difference. This adult-like modulation detection for a tonal carrier contrasts with published findings of adult/child differences in modulation detection for a noise-band carrier, suggesting that children may be more susceptible to modulation masking than adults. The second experiment evaluated masked sentence recognition for speech that was filtered into 28 adjacent equivalent rectangular bands (100–7800 Hz), with alternate bands presented to opposite ears. Maskers were composed of either noise bands or tones, one centered on each speech band. These stimuli have been argued to characterize effects of modulation masking. Young children tended to perform more poorly than adults overall. Masker effects will be discussed in terms of possible developmental differences in energetic and modulation masking.
Tales from the dip: Factors in cross-rate intelligibility variation of interrupted speech
Authors: Shafiro Valeriy , Sheft Stanley , Prendergast Brendan
Published: May 2016

Speech intelligibility involves integration of temporally and spectrally distributed acoustic information into higher-order perceptual categories to obtain individual words. In 1950, Miller and Licklider pioneered a simple but powerful method of interrupting speech that has been extensively used to investigate factors that make speech signals perceptually robust. Among numerous subsequent studies, a consistent finding has been a nonmonotonic relationship between intelligibility and interruption rate. As interruption rate increases, and the duration of speech fragments in each interruption cycle decreases, a U-shaped rate-intelligibility function with a dip around 1–5 Hz frequently emerges. While many factors (e.g., speech materials, task parameters, listener age, or hearing status) have been shown to influence performance at specific interruption rates, reasons for the appearance and location of the dip in the function have remained obscure. Previous work indicates that the location of the dip in the rate-intelligibility function can be altered predictably with changes in the temporal structure of the interrupted speech stream, and may vary with the duration of the corresponding perceptual units. These findings will be considered in the context of neurophysiological and information-processing models of interrupted speech, and used to suggest a framework to guide future research and practical applications.
Sensory feedback control in speech: Neural circuits and individual differences
Authors: Guenther Frank H.
Published: May 2016

Speech production involves a combination of feedforward and sensory feedback-based control mechanisms. The latter have been characterized in experiments involving real-time perturbations during speech. Unexpected perturbations of auditory feedback result in corrective motor responses with a minimum latency of approximately 100 ms after perturbation onset. These responses have been shown for both pitch and formant frequency perturbations, and the responsible neural circuitry includes portions of the superior temporal gyrus and ventral premotor cortex (vPMC). Corrective responses to somatosensory perturbations (such as a downward force applied to the jaw) occur approximately 50 ms after perturbation onset and are mediated by ventral somatosensory cortex and vPMC. The degree to which an individual weights auditory versus somatosensory feedback varies substantially. Such differences rely in part on differences in sensory acuity, e.g., a speaker with relatively poor hearing is likely to rely more heavily on somatosensory feedback control mechanisms than auditory feedback control mechanisms. Additionally, reliance on feedback control may be modulated to compensate for impairments in the feedforward system for speech, e.g., adults who stutter show a reduced reliance on auditory feedback control compared to fluent speakers, perhaps because auditory feedback can have a deleterious effect on speech initiation in stuttering.
Development of auditory and somatosensory goals for alveolar sibilant production in later childhood
Authors: Vick Jennell C. , Schreiber Nolan T. , Mental Rebecca L. , Foye Michelle L. , Lee Gregory S.
Published: May 2016

An age-related increase in the fricative contrast /s/-/ʃ/, measured acoustically, occurs in children up to 7 years of age, with 5- and 7-year-olds producing contrasts that are greater than those of younger children, but still significantly smaller than the contrasts produced by adults. Kinematic studies have demonstrated that adult-like speech motor control does not emerge until later adolescence, although no articulatory studies of sibilant production in later childhood have been reported. In this study, the aim was to understand the relative use of somatosensory and acoustic/auditory goals for the production of the fricative contrast in older children (10–15 years of age) and adults. The fricative contrast was measured in the acoustic signal and in articulatory data gathered from the tongue blade. The acoustic and articulatory contrasts were analyzed to test the magnitude of the covariation of the two domains. We further analyzed the development of the contrast in both domains as a function of later speech development. Results will be discussed in the context of the hypothesis that sibilants are produced with prominent goals in both the somatosensory and auditory domains but that auditory goals predominate in older children because of continued refinement of feedforward commands.
Articulatory idiosyncrasy inferred from relative size and mobility of the tongue
Authors: Honda Kiyoshi , Bao Honghao , Lu Wenhuan
Published: May 2016

Origins of individual characteristics of speech sounds have been a mystery. Individual patterns of higher spectra could be attributed to quasi-static hypopharyngeal-cavity resonance, while those of lower spectra are puzzling because both spectra and vocal-tract shapes radically change during speech. A possible clue to look into articulatory idiosyncrasy may be the relation between relative size and mobility of the tongue in the oropharyngeal cavity. To this end, combined cine- and tagged-MRI collected from four Chinese speakers producing two-syllable words were processed. The relative tongue size was indexed by midsagittal tongue area divided by tongue plus airway area both measured above the level of the superior genial tubercle in static MRI during /i/. The mobility of the tongue was measured by average velocity of tag points located along the oral and pharyngeal surface of the tongue. In the result, the velocity monotonically decreased with the relative tongue size, suggesting that the smaller the tongue the faster the movement according to a speaker-specific anatomical constraint derived from the space available for tongue articulation in vowel production. [Work supported by National NSF Programs (No. 61573254 and 61304250), and National One-Thousand Program (WQ20111200010) in China.]
Patterns of lingual articulation: A real-time three-dimensional ultrasound + palate study
Authors: Lulich Steven M.
Published: May 2016

Joe Perkell’s influence on the science of speech articulation has been enormous, beginning with the publication of his doctoral dissertation in 1969, which investigated the motion of speech articulators within the midsagittal plane. This presentation follows in the same spirit, extended to three dimensions. Three-dimensional (3D) tongue shapes—with aligned palate models—for a variety of speech sounds will be presented, followed by a principal components analysis of 3D tongue shape variability. The data were collected using a 3D/4D ultrasound system to image the tongue, and a 3D laser scanner to digitize palate impressions. Unlike most MRI data, these ultrasound recordings were made in upright sitting position during real-time speech. A limitation is the lack of information regarding the positions of the soft palate, the posterior pharyngeal wall, and the lips. The focus with 3D/4D ultrasound is therefore centered on the oral cavity and the anterior pharyngeal wall (i.e., the tongue root).
Speaking one's mind: Vocal biomarkers of depression and Parkinson disease
Authors: Ghosh Satrajit S. , Ciccarelli Gregory , Quatieri Thomas F. , Klein Arno
Published: May 2016

Mental health disorders affect one in four adult Americans and have a staggering impact on the economy. Improved assessment and early detection of mental health state can reduce this impact. Voice analysis has been linked to depression and other mental health disorders. However, difficulties in data collection, variation in collection methods, and computational demands of analysis methods have limited the use of voice in mental health assessment. The pervasive use of smartphones offers a unique opportunity to understand mental health symptoms and speech variation in large groups. We have developed open source mobile applications to collect data and developed voice-based algorithms for predicting mental health state in major depressive disorder and Parkinson disease. We demonstrate the use of biophysical speech production models in creating and improving features for machine learning, in contrast to traditional approaches for feature extraction. A model-based approach fuses prior knowledge of the system with the input data, constrains the space of parameters to biophysically realistic values, and reduces overall prediction error. This joint work with MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Sage Bionetworks couples mobile sensors to effective feature extraction and prediction models to enable a scalable approach for estimating individual variation in mental health disorders.
Broadband cross-correlation processing—Taking advantage of high-frequency impulse response envelope at low frequency
Authors: Hursky Paul
Published: May 2016

The impulse response in a refracting ocean with multipath can readily be modeled using ray tracing (using a high-frequency approximation) or measured directly using acomms systems (using high-frequency broadband waveforms). Forming the envelope of this impulse response results in a robust characterization of the channel, based on time differences and angles of arrival, that are well-resolved by virtue of the bandwidth and short wavelength at high frequency. Can such a characterization be used as an aid to processing lower frequency signatures that are narrower in bandwidth, and thus not as well resolved in angle, and more prone to fading due to multipath mutual interference? Paths that interact with a layered seabed will introduce frequency-dependent effects that must be accounted for. We will present results of processing data from several vertical line receive arrays, where we have a variety of broadband and narrowband waveforms being transmitted from several towed sources, and can leverage the high-frequency transmissions as an aid to processing the low-frequency signatures.
Adaptive pulse compression for clutter mitigation in midfrequency active sonar
Authors: Summers Jason E. , Botts Jonthan , Gaumond Charles F. , Cummings Ian
Published: May 2016

Midfrequency active sonar can achieve a combination of fine range resolution and good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by transmitting low-crest-factor frequency-modulated (FM) waveforms that are pulse compressed by match filtering. While this linear filter optimizes SNR for signals in additive Gaussian noise, it has large-amplitude range sidelobes that can allow strong sources of clutter, such as fish schools, to mask weaker nearby targets. To address range sidelobes we consider the reiterative minimum mean-square error (RMMSE) adaptive-pulse-compression algorithm [Blunt and Gerlach, Proc. IEEE Intl. Radar Conf., Sept. 2003]. RMMSE performance is known to degrade for small Doppler shifts in the received waveform (e.g., due to clutter internal motion), which, depending on the form of the FM sweep, can be partially mitigated by covariance-matrix tapers [Cuprak, M.S. Thesis, George Mason University, 2013]. We note that RMMSE is analogous to the minimum-variance distortionless-response (MVDR) beamformer: for each range cell it steers nulls the location of strong returns at nearby range samples. Motivated by this similarity and expectation of target sparsity in range, we extend the compressive beamforming approach developed in prior work to learning a compressive-sensing match filter. Preliminary results from this work are discussed. [Work supported by a NAVSEA Phase I SBIR award.]
Bayes Factor test for the discrimination of a submerged mobile object from a continuous wave transmission
Authors: Gendron Paul J. , Anchieta David C. , Charles-Ogan Tamunoala , Entwistle Graham
Published: May 2016

Detection of an underwater mobile object by means of a continuous wave transmission is a challenging problem in part due to the difficulty of making inferences on closely spaced tones that provide clues regarding the objects' depth and speed. Considered here is a bistatic sonar arrangement to detect the presence of an oncoming submerged object. The optimal receiver computes the Bayes factor associated with the hypothesis test. The analytic intractability of the marginalization associated with the composite nature of the hypothesis leads to numerical methods of integration. The prior density on the target present scenario is constructed by an inverse image transformation through the forward propagation model. Computation of the Bayes factor is accomplished by Markov-chain Monte Carlo sampling with a Gibbs sampler. Analytically tractable conditional and marginal densities of the tone amplitudes are exploited while the conditional density of the ordered frequencies are constructed numerically by an inverse quantile sampler. Detection performance of a receiver against a mobile target are illustrated and discussed.
Merging models and data: Predictive modeling for guided wave
Authors: Harley Joel B. , Alguri K. Supreet , Douglass Alexander
Published: May 2016

New simulation tools for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) are enabling predictive power that will quicken inspection accuracies, minimize inspection costs, reduce the need for data, and create pathways to new automatous inspection and monitoring methods. Simulations can be especially powerful tools for analyzing complex geometries and modern anisotropic materials, such as carbon-fiber reinforced composites, where NDE and SHM theory and practice is still developing. Yet, truly predictive simulations are yet to be realized. Most simulations rarely match with experimental data unless the simulation is meticulously tuned. In this paper, we describe a framework for merging existing models with experimental data to create better predictive simulations of guided waves and other complex acoustic environments. We leverage tools and theory from compressive sensing, sparse inversion, and convex optimization. We focus on guided waves due to their significant complexity and their wide use in SHM and other acoustic applications. Our results achieve prediction accuracies of greater than 90% for guided waves in both isotropic and anisotropic environments. We also demonstrate how predictive models can be used for a variety of applications, including time of arrival estimation and temperature compensation.
Acoustic influences of front width in a coastal curved-front model
Authors: DeCourcy Brendan J. , Lin Ying-Tsong , Siegmann William L.
Published: May 2016

Analysis of an ocean shelf-slope front model [Y.-T. Lin and J. F. Lynch, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 131, EL1–EL7 (2012)] shows how acoustic quantities such as horizontal wavenumber depend on feature parameters [DeCourcy etal., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 137, 2421 (2015)]. The front model has a sharp curved interface between two isospeed regions in a coastal wedge. In this talk, the front is modeled more realistically with continuous sound speed variation over an interval of specified width between the two isospeed regions. The same approach is used as for the sharp front to obtain expressions for acoustic normal modes in the wedge. The solution comparisons between the sharp and continuous fronts are described, including the characterizations of modes as trapped, leaky, or transition. Simplified forms of the dispersion relation for the horizontal wavenumber eigenvalues are investigated. The objectives are to examine how including a continuous sound speed variation changes any conclusions about parameter dependence for the sharp front, and to determine sensitivity to model parameters such as front location, front width, slope angle, source frequency, and sound speed. [Work supported by the ONR.]
Coupled acoustic mode equations in the ocean waveguide with rough sea surface and elastic bottom
Authors: Morozov Andrey K. , Colosi John A.
Published: May 2016

Sound wave scattering caused by rough surfaces has been the subject of investigation for many decades. The problem has no exact analytic solution and approximate approaches are needed. In the ocean, scattering of sound by perturbed ocean boundaries couples acoustic modes and increases attenuation. In this paper, approximate coupled mode equations are analyzed using a small perturbation approach. The analytic solution connecting mode shapes with coupling mode coefficients has been derived. It is shown that the coupled mode matrix can be approximated by a linear function of one parameter, which is the perturbation of the sea surface. The equations are applied for one-direction sound propagation with a rough sea surface. For this one parameter model, the coupled mode differential equation has an easy solution in the form of a matrix exponent and can be useful for many applications. The proposed method can be easily extended to the case where modes are coupling by uneven bottom topography including elastic properties for compressional and shear waves.
Implementation of moving magnet actuation in very low frequency underwater acoustic transduction
Authors: Wallin Brenton , Crocker Steven , Szelag Jeffrey
Published: May 2016

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s Underwater Sound Reference Division (USRD) is designing a very low frequency sound source to calibrate line arrays in the 1–100Hz band at their Leesburg Facility. For calibrations below 20 Hz, the low frequency cutoff of their J15-3 standard projector, the USRD currently uses a passive method where the sound source is the ambient noise in the spring. A limitation of this method is a low signal-to-noise ratio. By designing, building, and implementing the aforementioned sound source, the USRD looks to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of their recorded data, and consequently increase the reliability of measurements at very low frequencies. This presentation explores the idea of implementing moving magnet technology in a very low frequency transducer. Although moving coil projectors have been used since 1914 as low frequency sound sources, their acoustic output at very low frequencies is limited. The potential benefits of a moving magnet projector over moving coil projectors are discussed. Acoustic performance estimates for a moving magnet projector are calculated based on specifications of an off-the-shelf moving magnet actuator. Lastly, the presentation will cover current efforts being made to design an underwater housing for the projector.
A potential new and better method for measuring transmission loss in the field
Authors: Schomer Paul D.
Published: May 2016

In a recent study, transmission loss (TL) measurements were made from outdoors-to-indoors and indoors-to-outdoors of a house. These results agree with one another within 0.6 dB. The agreement achieved in this recent study is believed to be because the indoor measurements for the indoor-to-outdoor TL were made at the party-wall surface of the reverberant space. This current paper demonstrates what amounts to a form of pressure doubling at the surfaces of the room containing the reverberant field. It is this higher level that must be used in the TL calculation from indoors-to-outdoors; not the reverberant field measured interior to the room. The actual increase in level for this reverberant-field pressure enhancement appears to be close to + 2.7 dB, which is consistent with measurements of free-field pressure doubling on a hard surface, which are theoretically + 6 dB, but typically measured to be + 5 to + 5.5 dB. This factor of + 2.7 dB for reverberant-field pressure doubling should be applicable to all measurements that use a reverberant space such as laboratory facilities that measure transmission loss from a reverberant room to a more absorptive space.
Design, construction, and evaluation of a binaural dummy head
Authors: Landi Maryam , Naderyan Vahid , Woolworth David S.
Published: May 2016

Binaural-dummy-heads are often used as standard measurement devices where modeling of the human binaural hearing system is desired. The binaural-dummy-head imitates a human head (and torso) which is used in binaural recording as well as research areas such as hearing aids, sound localization, noise measurements, etc. Commercially available binaural heads are not economically efficient for some purposes. This paper outlines a less expensive binaural dummy head built using ANSI/ASA S3.36-2012 standard as a reference as part of an independent coursework. A hard plastic mannequin was used as head and torso, and the two ears were real human ear replicas casted out of water-based alginate gel. The complex Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTF) of our dummy head were measured in an anechoic chamber to evaluate its spectral and directional properties and were compared to the same properties of the standard commercial dummy head.
Characterization of ensemble rehearsal experiences at Brigham Young University
Authors: Smith Kieren H. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Denison Michael H. , Grimshaw Jeremy
Published: May 2016

Musicians’ ears are barraged with large quantities of sound almost constantly, a reality that is either augmented or diminished by room environments in which musicians practice and perform. In order to make recommendations for future renovations, the acoustics of ensemble rehearsal spaces within the Brigham Young University School of Music were measured. To quantify sound exposure during rehearsals, noise dosages and sound levels experienced by the musicians were measured in various positions in each of two major practice spaces. Measurements were taken during several two-hour rehearsals for major orchestras and band ensembles at BYU. Using data collected from noise dosimeters, spatial maps indicate the noise dosage throughout the rooms. Maximum and average sound levels experienced during the space of a rehearsal also offer insights into the sound environment. This data indicate which areas of the ensemble experience the greatest noise exposure. Reverberation time measurements taken within the rooms further illuminate potential acoustic deficiencies within the room. This preliminary noise environment and dosage highlights the need for future facility renovations and offers suggestions for short term acoustical treatments. EASE acoustic simulation software was used to determine the effectiveness of suggested renovations.
Evaluating hospital quiet time from engineering, medical, and nursing perspectives
Authors: Weber Jonathan R. , Ryherd Erica E. , Darcy Mahoney Ashley , Rolfes Myra , Cooper Heather , Cherven Brooke
Published: May 2016

A healthy hospital soundscape is crucial to promote healing for patients and a healthy workplace for staff. Unfortunately, the occupant-generated sounds, building systems, and medical equipment required to care for patients can create high noise levels. Rising concern has led to an increase in hospital noise studies exploring noise reduction strategies. One major issue is the gap existing between the acoustical and medical contributions necessary to solving the problem. This talk will document how our team is focusing on bridging that gap through the interdisciplinary collaboration of individuals from architectural engineering, medicine, nursing, psychology, and statistics. The project includes an 18-month longitudinal study aiming to improve Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) soundscapes through the implementation of a Quiet Time (QT) evidence-based practice change. Detailed acoustic measurements and staff surveys were collected to document the objective and subjective effects of QT. The acoustical impact of QT on the soundscape and its occupants is currently being explored through the engineering and medical perspectives. In ongoing phases, infant physiological data are being analyzed to understand the infants’ response to the altered soundscape resulting from QT. The collaborative efforts required to plan, execute, and evaluate this type of interdisciplinary study will be discussed.
Modeling systems of acoustic resonators for application in passive noise control
Authors: Calton Matthew F. , Sommerfeldt Scott D.
Published: May 2016

Acoustic resonators, such as Helmholtz and quarter wave resonators, are commonly used as narrowband attenuators in small enclosures. The widespread use of resonators has led to many analytical expressions and approximations for their response, especially for the ideal geometry case. While these resonators are limited in bandwidth, systems of resonators can be designed to obtain responses not otherwise attainable by a single element. Additionally, practical applications of these systems often require non-ideal geometries to be implemented in the design process. This research aims to incorporate equivalent circuit techniques to more accurately characterize the input impedance of a system of resonators. Using the calculated input impedance of the system, an optimal coupling location is determined using a model of the coupled source and enclosure. These calculations are compared to experimental results for validation.
Acoustical Society of America Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal in Physical Acoustics, Biomedical Acoustics, and Engineering Acoustics: Armen Sarvazyan
Authors: Everbach E. Carr , Crum Lawrence A.
Published: May 2016

The Silver Medal is presented to individuals, without age limitation, for contributions to the advancement of science, engineering, or human welfare through the application of acoustic principles, or through research accomplishment in acoustics.
The power of personality
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: May 2016

From birds to lizards to spiders, individuals exhibit consistent differences in behavior that shape the fate of their species.
Single-molecule decoding of combinatorially modified nucleosomes
Authors: Shema Efrat , Jones Daniel , Shoresh Noam , Donohue Laura , Ram Oren , Bernstein Bradley E.
Published: May 2016

Deciphering the histone code

Regulatory information is stored both in DNA sequences and in the chromatin proteins that package the genome. The covalent modification of histones plays a critical role in signaling whether a gene or genomic region should be active or inactive. Shema
et al.
used high-throughput single-molecule imaging to reveal the different combinations of modifications on millions of individual nucleosomes. Single-molecule DNA sequencing determined the exact location of these modified nucleosomes in the genome.

Science
, this issue p.
717
Gene-microbiota interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Chu Hiutung , Khosravi Arya , Kusumawardhani Indah P. , Kwon Alice H. K. , Vasconcelos Anilton C. , Cunha Larissa D. , Mayer Anne E. , Shen Yue , Wu Wei-Li , Kambal Amal , Targan Stephan R. , Xavier Ramnik J. , Ernst Peter B. , Green Douglas R. , McGovern Dermot P. B. , Virgin Herbert W. , Mazmanian Sarkis K.
Published: May 2016

Genes and microbes converge in colitis

Both host genetics and intestinal microbes probably contribute to a person's overall susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The human gut microbe
Bacteroides fragilis
produces immunomodulatory molecules that it releases via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). These molecules can protect mice from experimentally induced colitis. Chu
et al.
now find that OMV-mediated protection from colitis requires
Atg16l1
and
Nod2
genes whose human orthologs are associated with an increased risk for developing IBD. OMVs trigger an ATG16L1 and NOD2–dependent noncanonical autophagy pathway in dendritic cells (DCs). OMV-primed DCs, in turn, induce regulatory T cells in the intestine that protect against colitis.

Science
, this issue p.
1116
Oligocene primates from China reveal divergence between African and Asian primate evolution
Authors: Ni Xijun , Li Qiang , Li Lüzhou , Beard K. Christopher
Published: May 2016

Climate filters dominant species

The transition between the Eocene and Oligocene periods was marked by distinct cooling. Because primate species are particularly susceptible to cold, this change in climate drove a retraction of primates globally. After this transition, anthropoid primates were dominant in Afro-Arabian regions, but little has been known about primate reestablishment in Asia. Ni
et al.
describe 10 previously unknown primates found in Yunnan Province in China that show that primates took a different path in Asia. Instead of anthropoids, strepsirrhine (lemur-like) primates were dominant. It is still unknown whether this difference was due to the environment or chance.

Science
, this issue p.
673
The “cancer immunogram”
Authors: Blank Christian U. , Haanen John B. , Ribas Antoni , Schumacher Ton N.
Published: May 2016

Visualizing the state of cancer–immune system interactions may spur personalized therapy
Don't ignore the infrastructure
Authors: Leshner Alan I.
Published: May 2016

Large-scale research facilities and new technology development have been essential to answering difficult, often intransigent scientific questions that would otherwise be inaccessible. The recent exciting discovery of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is but one of many startling findings that argue for major investments in large- and mid-scale instrumentation development. But such instruments and facilities are just one type of infrastructure that urgently needs investment. Routine laboratories that underpin most scientific activity are equally critical to progress, but in many cases have long been neglected and are deteriorating. A comprehensive strategy for updating these facilities and other infrastructure elements is essential for accelerating scientific momentum.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus clausii AKU0647, a Strain That Produces Endo-β-
N
-Acetylglucosaminidase A
Authors: Higuchi Yujiro , Mori Kazuki , Suyama Akiko , Huang Yibo , Tashiro Kosuke , Kuhara Satoru , Takegawa Kaoru
Published: May 2016

To comprehensively identify glycosyl hydrolase genes in the genome of
Bacillus clausii
strain AKU0647, which produces endo-β-
N
-acetylglucosaminidase A (Endo-A), we conducted whole-genome shotgun sequencing. We identified several other putative glycosyl hydrolase genes apart from the Endo-A gene, and report these findings here.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Multiantibiotic-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Strains (2865, 2868, and 2871) Isolated from Poultry at Retail Outlets in Malaysia
Authors: Teh Amy Huei Teen , Lee Sui Mae , Dykes Gary A.
Published: May 2016

Campylobacter jejuni
is a frequent cause of human bacterial gastrointestinal foodborne disease worldwide. Antibiotic resistance in this species is of public health concern. The draft genome sequences of three multiantibiotic-resistant
C. jejuni
strains (2865, 2868, and 2871) isolated from poultry at retail outlets in Malaysia are presented here.
Three Genome Sequences of Legionella pneumophila subsp.
pascullei
Associated with Colonization of a Health Care Facility
Authors: Kozak-Muiznieks Natalia A. , Morrison Shatavia S. , Sammons Scott , Rowe Lori A. , Sheth Mili , Frace Michael , Lucas Claressa E. , Loparev Vladimir N. , Raphael Brian H. , Winchell Jonas M.
Published: May 2016

Here, we report the complete genome sequences of three
Legionella pneumophila
subsp.
pascullei
strains (including both serogroup 1 and 5 strains) that were found in the same health care facility in 1982 and 2012.
Children's missed healthcare appointments: professional and organisational responses
Authors: Appleton Jane , Powell Catherine , Coombes Lindsey
Published: May 2016

Aim

This National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) funded UK study sought to examine organisational and professional responses to children's missed healthcare appointments.

Design/methods

The study comprised two parts: phase I was a web-based scoping and systematic analysis of UK National Health Service healthcare organisations' internal policies on missed appointments. Phase II involved a case study of how missed appointments were managed within one hospital trust, including interviews with hospital-based staff, review of organisational data and examination of policies and ‘systems’ in place.

Results

Policies accessed were of variable quality when benchmarked against a predetermined set of evidence-based standards. Additional material (eg, board minutes) gleaned through the searches found an apparent disconnect between nationally determined safeguarding requirements and strategies to reduce the cost pressures arising from missed appointments. Findings from the case study included the continuing use of the adult-centric term ‘did not attend’ (DNA), the challenges that may be inherent in attending appointments (with concomitant sympathy for parents) and a need to further explore general practitioner responses to DNA notifications, particularly given the acknowledged association between missed appointments and child maltreatment.

Conclusions

The web-based scoping exercise yielded a small number of organisational policies. These were of variable quality when rated against predetermined standards. Other material gathered through the search strategy found evidence that ‘missed appointment’ strategies aimed at reducing costs did not always acknowledge the discrete needs of children. The case study findings contribute to an understanding of the complexities and challenges of responding to a missed appointment and the importance of taking a child-centred approach.
Unusual case of hereditary multiple exostoses presenting with compressive myelopathy
Authors: Singh Kumar Amerendra , Shankar Vijay , Mohanty Simanchal P
Published: May 2016

A 15-year-old boy presented with progressive weakness of both lower limbs. He had classical clinical features suggestive of multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). Imaging studies of the spine revealed osteochondromas at D7, D11 and L5 vertebrae. The tumour at D11 was encroaching into the spinal canal and causing cord compression. The patient underwent osteochondroma excision and posterior spinal stabilisation, following which there was complete neurological recovery by 3 months.
Thinking dimensional: prevalence of DSM-5 early adolescent full syndrome, partial and subthreshold eating disorders in a cross-sectional survey in German schools
Authors: Hammerle Florian , Huss Michael , Ernst Verena , Bürger Arne
Published: May 2016

Objectives

Investigating for the first time in Germany Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth Edition (DSM-5) prevalences of adolescent full syndrome, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED), partial and subthreshold anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED).

Method

A national school-based cross-sectional survey with nine schools in Germany was undertaken that was aimed at students from grades 7 and 8. Of the 1775 students who were contacted to participate in the study, 1654 participated (participation rate: 93.2%). The sample consisted of 873 female and 781 male adolescents (mean age=13.4 years). Prevalence rates were established using direct symptom criteria with a structured inventory (SIAB-S) and an additional self-report questionnaire (Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2)).

Results

Prevalences for full syndrome were 0.3% for AN, 0.4% for BN, 0.5% for BED and 3.6% for OSFED-atypical AN, 0% for BN (low frequency/limited duration), 0% for BED (low frequency/limited duration) and 1.9% for purging disorder (PD). Prevalences of partial syndrome were 10.9% for AN (7.1% established with cognitive symptoms only, excluding weight criteria), 0.2% for BN and 2.1% for BED, and of subthreshold syndrome were 0.8% for AN, 0.3% for BN and 0.2% for BED. Cases on EDI-2 scales were much more pronounced with 12.6–21.1% of the participants with significant sex differences.

Conclusions

The findings were in accordance with corresponding international studies but were in contrast to other German studies showing much higher prevalence rates. The study provides, for the first time, estimates for DSM-5 prevalences of eating disorders in adolescents for Germany, and evidence in favour of using valid measures for improving prevalence estimates.

Trial registration number

DRKS00005050; Results.
Does time off work after injury vary by jurisdiction? A comparative study of eight Australian workers' compensation systems
Authors: Collie Alex , Lane Tyler J , Hassani-Mahmooei Behrooz , Thompson Jason , McLeod Chris
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To determine whether the jurisdiction in which a work-related injury compensation claim is made is an independent predictor of duration of time off work following work injury, and if so, the magnitude of the effect.

Setting

Eight Australian state and territory workers' compensation systems, providing coverage for more than 90% of the Australian labour force. Administrative claims data from these systems were provided by government regulatory authorities for the study.

Participants

95 976 Australian workers with workers' compensation claims accepted in 2010 and with at least 2 weeks of compensated time off work.

Primary outcome measure

Duration of time lost from work in weeks, censored at 104 weeks.

Results

After controlling for demographic, worker, injury and employer factors in a Cox regression model, significant differences in duration of time loss between state and territory of claim were observed. Compared with New South Wales, workers in Victoria, South Australia and Comcare had significantly longer durations of time off work and were more likely to be receiving income benefits at 104 weeks postinjury, while workers in Tasmania and Queensland had significantly shorter durations of time off work.

Conclusions

The jurisdiction in which an injured worker makes a compensation claim has a significant and independent impact on duration of time loss. Further research is necessary to identify specific compensation system policies and practices that promote timely and appropriate return to work and reduce duration of time off work.
Impact of e-alert for detection of acute kidney injury on processes of care and outcomes: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lachance Philippe , Villeneuve Pierre-Marc , Wilson Francis P , Selby Nicholas M , Featherstone Robin , Rewa Oleksa , Bagshaw Sean M
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalised patients. It imposes significant risk for major morbidity and mortality. Moreover, patients suffering an episode of AKI consume considerable health resources. Recently, a number of studies have evaluated the implementation of automated electronic alerts (e-alerts) configured from electronic medical records (EMR) and clinical information systems (CIS) to warn healthcare providers of early or impending AKI in hospitalised patients. The impact of e-alerts on care processes, patient outcomes and health resource use, however, remains uncertain.

Methods and analysis

We will perform a systematic review to describe and appraise e-alerts for AKI, and evaluate their impact on processes of care, clinical outcomes and health services use. In consultation with a research librarian, a search strategy will be developed and electronic databases (ie, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Inspec via Engineering Village) searched. Selected grey literature sources will also be searched. Search themes will focus on e-alerts and AKI. Citation screening, selection, quality assessment and data abstraction will be performed in duplicate. The primary analysis will be narrative; however, where feasible, pooled analysis will be performed. Each e-alert will be described according to trigger, type of alert, target recipient and degree of intrusiveness. Pooled effect estimates will be described, where applicable.

Ethics and dissemination

Our systematic review will synthesise the literature on the value of e-alerts to detect AKI, and their impact on processes, patient-centred outcomes and resource use, and also identify key knowledge gaps and barriers to implementation. This is a fundamental step in a broader research programme aimed to understand the ideal structure of e-alerts, target population and methods for implementation, to derive benefit. Research ethics approval is not required for this review.

Systematic review registration number

CRD42016033033.
Improving the safety of prescriptions of domperidone in primary care: implementing MHRA advice.
Authors: Hall William
Published: May 2016

Domperidone is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist acting on the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the medulla and also in the gut, causing antiemetic and gastrokinetic effects respectively. In the past, domperidone was considered largely safe, with many indications and few contraindications listed in the product literature. In 2014, Domperidone became indicated only for the prevention of nausea and vomiting and the duration of treatment was limited to seven days. Furthermore, the maximum daily dose was limited to thirty milligrams. A quality improvement project was undertaken at Holland Park Surgery to improve compliance with MHRA guidelines. Prescriptions of domperidone in the previous nine months were assessed for compliance with the MHRA advice. Domperidone was prescribed for 23 patients; of these 4 were single acute prescriptions, 3 were repeats which had been stopped and 16 were on active repeat at the time of the search. All patients who had active repeat prescriptions had exceeded the recommended duration of treatment. MHRA contraindications were found in 6 (37%) of active repeat prescriptions. The strategy for improvement involved three PDSA cycles and involved engaging with patients for medication reviews and staff to improve prescribing practices. After the third PDSA cycle we demonstrated that all repeat prescriptions had been stopped and that new prescriptions were compliant with MHRA advice.
Experimental study on residual strength of concrete confined with corroded stirrups
Authors: Zhang Guanghui , Cao Xinhu , Fu Qiuni
Published: May 2016

Corrosion of steel bars is a serious issue compromising the reliability of reinforced concrete structures. Previous research has proven that confined concrete has increased confined strength, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, etc. However, existing confined concrete models cannot accurately predict the strength and stress–strain relationship of concrete confined with corroded stirrups. This paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of eight square columns confined with stirrups damaged by accelerated chloride corrosion. The weight loss of the stirrup ranges from 5% to 31.7%. The stress–strain curves of confined concrete are obtained from the concentric compression loading tests. Based on the well-established Mander model, modification factors are introduced to account for the effect of corrosion on the confined strength, confined strain, and descending branch of the curves. These modification factors predict the constitutive relationship of concrete confined with square stirrups as a function of the weight loss and localization levels of corrosion.
Vector bundles on curves coming from variation of Hodge structures
Authors: Catanese Fabrizio , Dettweiler Michael
Published: May 2016

Fujita’s second theorem for Kähler fibre spaces over a curve asserts, that the direct image [Formula: see text] of the relative dualizing sheaf splits as the direct sum [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is ample and [Formula: see text] is unitary flat. We focus on our negative answer [F. Catanese and M. Dettweiler, Answer to a question by Fujita on variation of Hodge structures, to appear in Adv. Stud. Pure Math.] to a question by Fujita: is [Formula: see text] semiample? We give here an infinite series of counterexamples using hypergeometric integrals and we give a simple argument to show that the monodromy representation is infinite. Our counterexamples are surfaces of general type with positive index, explicitly given as abelian coverings with group [Formula: see text] of a Del Pezzo surface [Formula: see text] of degree 5 (branched on the union of the lines of [Formula: see text], which form a bianticanonical divisor), and endowed with a semistable fibration with only three singular fibres. The simplest such surfaces are the three ball quotients considered in [I. C. Bauer and F. Catanese, A volume maximizing canonical surface in 3-space, Comment. Math. Helv. 83(1) (2008) 387–406.], fibred over a curve of genus 2, and with fibres of genus 4. These examples are a larger class than the ones corresponding to Shimura curves in the moduli space of Abelian varieties.