bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The hand‐foot‐syndrome associated with medical tumor therapy – classification and management
Authors: Degen Annette , Alter Mareike , Schenck Florian , Satzger Imke , Völker Bernward , Kapp Alexander , Gutzmer Ralf
Published: July 2010

The hand‐foot‐syndrome (HFS, palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia, chemotherapy‐associated acral erythema) is characterized by painful predominantly palmo‐plantar lesions. The association with different chemotherapeutic agents has been known for over 20 years. More recently, HFS has been reported in association with regimens using targeted agents, in particular the multikinase inhibitors (MKI) sorafenib and sunitinib. The HFS associated with MKI has a different distribution and clinical appearance than the traditional disorder. In this review, similarities and differences between chemotherapy‐ and MKI‐associated HFS are discussed and current recommendations for their prophylaxis and management are summarized.
Bullous lesions in Henoch Schönlein Purpura as indication to start systemic prednisone
Authors: Den Boer SL , Pasmans SGMA , Wulffraat NM , Ramakers‐Van Woerden NL , Bousema MT
Published: July 2010

Henoch Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is usually mild and self‐limiting, but it may be accompanied by severe complications such as bullous lesions. We describe the use of systemic prednisone in two patients with bullous lesions in HSP. The first patient presented with progressive bullous lesions distributed on the limbs that evolved into painful ulcers and necrosis. These were further complicated by a secondary skin infection. He then received 1 mg/kg/day prednisone after 9 days. Patient 2, a 10‐year‐old boy, presented with HSP and bullous lesions and received intravenous prednisone 1 mg/kg/day within 48 h after appearance of the bullous lesions. He recovered rapidly without any complications.

Conclusion:  To reduce the severity of HSP related bullous lesions and their sequelae, we would propose starting prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) as soon as the bullae appear. In addition to prednisone, analgesics and specialist skin care for bullae should be started.
All for one, and one for all: if texts hold power, to what extent does current Primary and Early Years documentation empower teachers?
Authors: Betteney Mark
Published: July 2010

This article considers the extent to which the needs and aspirations of teachers are taken into account in three examples of current Primary and Early Years documentation – the National Curriculum, the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Primary Framework. This analysis is done through three methods: a critical discourse analysis of the aims and purposes of each; an analysis of models of power; and an analysis of models of pedagogy. The article reveals that teachers and teaching are not well represented within the aims and purposes of two of the documents, but that equally there are pedagogic behaviours within the teaching profession that do not aspire to autonomy. Recent documentation has tended to be accompanied by prescribed systematic pedagogy, which has created perceived tensions within the profession, yet the data show that many teachers seek to be professionally passive in terms of the planning demands of documentation. This article suggests that where there are identifiable tensions, these are not found simply between teachers (collectively) and imposed documentation, but between some teachers and some aspects of documentation.
Genetic link among Hani, Bulang and other Southeast Asian populations: evidence from HLA ‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐DRB1 genes and haplotypes distribution
Authors: Shi L. , Shi L. , Yao Y. F. , Matsushita M. , Yu L. , Huang X. Q. , Yi W. , Oka T. , Tokunaga K. , Chu J. Y.
Published: July 2010

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genetic characteristic of different ethnic minorities would be useful for tracing the origin of modern human HLA matching in transplantation and disease associations. In this study, we reported HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C and ‐DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in the Bulang and Hani populations of southwestern China using a high‐resolution polymerase chain reaction‐Luminex (PCR‐Luminex) typing method. A total of nine HLA‐A, 22 HLA‐B, 13 HLA‐C and 18 HLA‐DRB1 alleles were identified in the Bulang population, and 11 HLA‐A, 25 HLA‐B, 14 HLA‐C and 19 HLA‐DRB1 alleles were in the Hani population. Compared with other populations, the predominant A*1101‐B*1502‐DRB1*1202 haplotype in the Bulang and Hani populations was also common in Jinuo, Wa, Dai, Maonan and Vietnamese populations. The distribution of HLA genes indicate that Bulang and Hani populations belong to the Southeast Asia group and they have maintained their original genetic characteristics and kept a long genetic distance from other populations owing to founder effects and subsequent geographic isolation. In addition, the close relationship among ethnic groups in Yunnan province and the Thai and Vietnamese populations were confirmed, whereas the Mon‐Kmer‐speaking populations shared other common HLA alleles and haplotypes compared with other linguistic groups.
Using Dimensionality‐Based DIF Analyses to Identify and Interpret Constructs That Elicit Group Differences
Authors: Gierl Mark J.
Published: July 2010

In this paper I describe and illustrate the Roussos‐Stout (1996) multidimensionality‐based DIF analysis paradigm, with emphasis on its implication for the selection of a matching and studied subtest for DIF analyses. Standard DIF practice encourages an exploratory search for matching subtest items based on purely statistical criteria, such as a failure to display DIF. By contrast, the multidimensional DIF paradigm emphasizes a substantively‐informed selection of items for both the matching and studied subtest based on the dimensions suspected of underlying the test data. Using two examples, I demonstrate that these two approaches lead to different interpretations about the occurrence of DIF in a test. It is argued that selecting a matching and studied subtest, as identified using the DIF analysis paradigm, can lead to a more informed understanding of why DIF occurs.
Use of Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Statements in Developing Licensure and Certification Examinations
Authors: Wang Ning , Schnipke Deborah , Witt Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2010

The task inventory approach is commonly used in job analysis for establishing content validity evidence supporting the use and interpretation of licensure and certification examinations. Although the results of a task inventory survey provide job task‐related information that can be used as a reliable and valid source for test development, it is often the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for performing the tasks, rather than the job tasks themselves, which are tested by licensure and certification exams. This article presents a framework that addresses the important role of KSAs in developing and validating licensure and certification examinations. This includes the use of KSAs in linking job task survey results to the test content outline, transferring job task weights to test specifications, and eventually applying the results to the development of the test items. The impact of using KSAs in the development of test specifications is illustrated from job analyses for two diverse professions. One method for transferring job task weights from the job analysis to test specifications through KSAs is also presented, along with examples. The two examples demonstrated in this article are taken from nursing certification and real estate licensure programs. However, the methodology for using KSAs to link job tasks and test content is also applicable in the development of teacher credentialing examinations.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Authors: Jakowska Sophie
Published: July 2010

A substance, analogous to vegetable mucilage; from which, however, it differs, by affording subcarbonate of ammonia on distillation. Mucus exudes through the skin, in a state of combination with a peculiar oily matter; and, drying, forms the epidermis. It constitutes, in part, the different epidermeous productions, as the hair, nails, wool, and horn of animals, feathers of birds and scales of fish. It is found at the surface of the mucous membranes, and presents some difference in its composition and properties, according to the particular mucous membrane from which it is obtained. It preserves the membranes moist; and in a state best fitted for the performance of their functions. The French give the term glaire to the thick, stringy mucus, secreted by the mucous membranes, when in a state of disease.”

—Definition of mucus from Dunglison, R. 1833. Medical lexicon. A new dictionary of medical science. 1st Edition. Philadelphia. p. 461.
Impact of Sildenafil Therapy on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Lu Xian‐Ling , Xiong Chang‐Ming , Shan Guang‐Liang , Zhu Xian‐Yang , Wu Bing‐Xiang , Wu Guang‐Hua , Liu Zhi‐Hong , Ni Xin‐Hai , Cheng Xian‐Sheng , Gu Qing , Zhao Zhi‐Hu , Zhang Duan‐Zhen , Li Wei‐Min , Zhang Cheng , Tian Hong‐Yan , Guo Ya‐Juan , Guo Tao , Liu Hong‐Min , Zhang Wei‐Jun , Gu Hong , Huang Shi‐An , Chen Jian‐Ying , Wu Wei‐Feng , Huang Kai , Li Jian‐Jun , He Jian‐Guo
Published: July 2010

Background: It has been demonstrated that sildenafil is effective in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the impact of sildenafil on PAH in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has been less investigated. Objective: In this prospective, open‐label, uncontrolled and multicenter study, 60 patients with PAH related to CHD received oral sildenafil (75 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The enrolled patients underwent six‐minute walk test (SMWT) and cardiac catheterization at the beginning and the end of the 12 weeks. The primary end point was the changes in exercise capacity assessed by SMWT; the secondary end point included assessment of functional class, evaluation of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, and clinical worsening (defined as death, transplantation, and rehospitalization for PAH). Drug safety and tolerability were also examined. Results: Oral sidenafil significantly increased SMWT distances (422.94 ± 76.95 m vs. 371.99 ± 78.73 m, P < 0.0001). There was also remarkable improvement in Borg dyspnea score (2.1 ± 1.32 vs. 2.57 ± 1.42, P= 0.0307). Moreover, significant improvements in World Healthy Organization (WHO) functional class and cardiopulmonary hemodynamics were also discovered (mean pulmonary artery pressure, P= 0.0002; cardiac index, P < 0.0001; pulmonary vascular resistance, P < 0.0001). Side effects in this study were mild and consistent with reported studies. None of the enrolled patients experienced significant clinical worsening. Conclusions: This study confirmed and extended previous studies. It suggested that oral sildenafil was safe and effective for the treatment of adult patients with CHD‐related PAH.
Influence of Spud-Can-Soil Interaction Modeling and Parameters on the Reliability Index of Neka Drilling Jack-Up Platform
Authors: Emami Azadi M. R.
Published: July 2010

In the present study, the influence of spud-can-soil modeling and parameters on the reliability index of jack-up platform is investigated. Neka platform is studied as a case, which is a three-leg drilling jack-up type platform located in water depth of about 91 m in the Caspian Sea region. Various spud-can-soil interaction models such as pinned, fixed-base, hyperelastic, and nonlinear elastoplastic spud-can models are applied. The soil type is varied from loose to dense sand and also from soft NC clay to very stiff OC Clay. The effect of bias and coefficient of variation (COV) of the spud-can-soil interaction modeling and also the soil parameters such as the effective interface soil friction angle and also the undrained shear strength of clayey soil are studied. The results showed that inclusion of spud-can-soil interaction may have a considerable effect on the reliability of the jack-up platform. In particular, the bias and COV of soil have shown to have more significant effect on the reliability of jack-up platform in loose sand and soft clayey type soils. It is also found that bias in strength modeling of jack-up itself has less profound effect on the reliability index of the jack-up-foundation-soil system. Importance factors of spud-can-soil modeling are found to be quite considerable. The key aspect is that the inclusion of jack-up-spud-can-soil interaction is more crucial with respect to the reliability of jack-up platform than the choice of interaction model itself.
A Discrete Vortex Method for Simulating a Stand-Alone Tidal-Current Turbine: Modeling and Validation
Authors: Li Ye , Çalışal Sander M.
Published: July 2010

This paper advanced our recent effort (Li and Çalışal, 2007, “Preliminary Result of a Discrete Vortex Method for Individual Marine Current Turbine,” The 26th ASME International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Jun. 10–15, San Diego, CA) to study the behavior of tidal-current turbines. We propose a discrete-vortex method with free-wake structure (DVM-UBC) to describe the behavior of a stand-alone tidal-current turbine and its surrounding unsteady flow and develop a numerical model to predict the performance and wake structure of the turbine based on DVM-UBC. To validate this method, we conducted a series of towing tank tests. DVM-UBC is then validated with several kinematic and dynamic results. When we compared the results obtained with DVM-UBC with our towing tank test results, published results, and the results obtained with other numerical methods, we achieved good agreements. Our comparisons also suggested that DVM-UBC can predict the performance of a turbine 50% more accurately than the traditional discrete-vortex method (traditional DVM) with comparable computational effort and will produce results comparable to the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equation with much less computational effort.
The effects of fundamental frequency contour manipulations on speech intelligibility in background noise
Authors: Miller Sharon E. , Schlauch Robert S. , Watson Peter J.
Published: July 2010

Previous studies have documented that speech with flattened or inverted fundamental frequency (F0) contours is less intelligible than speech with natural variations in F0. The purpose of this present study was to further investigate how F0 manipulations affect speech intelligibility in background noise. Speech recognition in noise was measured for sentences having the following F0 contours: unmodified, flattened at the median, natural but exaggerated, inverted, and sinusoidally frequency modulated at rates of 2.5 and 5.0 Hz, rates shown to make vowels more perceptually salient in background noise. Five talkers produced 180 stimulus sentences, with 30 unique sentences per F0 contour condition. Flattening or exaggerating the F0 contour reduced key word recognition performance by 13% relative to the naturally produced speech. Inverting or sinusoidally frequency modulating the F0 contour reduced performance by 23% relative to typically produced speech. These results support the notion that linguistically incorrect or misleading cues have a greater deleterious effect on speech understanding than linguistically neutral cues.
Recognition of accented English in quiet by younger normal-hearing listeners and older listeners with normal-hearing and hearing loss
Authors: Gordon-Salant Sandra , Yeni-Komshian Grace H. , Fitzgibbons Peter J.
Published: July 2010

This investigation examined the effects of listener age and hearing loss on recognition of accented speech. Speech materials were isolated English words and sentences that featured phonemes that are often mispronounced by non-native speakers of English whose first language is Spanish. These stimuli were recorded by a native speaker of English and two non-native speakers of English: one with a mild accent and one with a moderate accent. The stimuli were presented in quiet to younger and older adults with normal-hearing and older adults with hearing loss. Analysis of percent correct recognition scores showed that all listeners performed more poorly with increasing accent, and older listeners with hearing loss performed more poorly than the younger and older normal-hearing listeners in all accent conditions. Context and age effects were minimal. Consonant confusion patterns in the moderate accent condition showed that error patterns of all listeners reflected temporal alterations with accented speech, with major errors of word-final consonant voicing in stops and fricatives, and word-initial fricatives.
Evaluating auditory brainstem responses to different chirp stimuli at three levels of stimulation
Authors: Elberling Claus , Callø Johannes , Don Manuel
Published: July 2010

Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) are recorded in ten normal-hearing adults (20 ears) in response to a standard 100 μs click and five chirps having different durations (sweeping rates). The chirps are constructed from five versions of a power function model of the cochlear-neural delay that is based on derived-band ABR latencies from N=81 normal-hearing adults [Elberling, C., and Don, M. (2008). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, 3022–3037]. The click and the chirps have identical amplitude spectra and, in general, for each of the three stimulus levels 60, 40, and 20 dB nHL, the ABRs to the chirps are significantly larger than the ABRs to the click. However, the shorter chirps are the most efficient at higher levels of stimulation whereas the longer chirps are the most efficient at lower levels. It is suggested that two different mechanisms are responsible for these observed changes with stimulus level—(1) upward spread of excitation at higher levels, and (2) an increased change of the cochlear-neural delay with frequency at lower levels.
Effects of the acoustic properties of infant-directed speech on infant word recognition
Authors: Song Jae Yung , Demuth Katherine , Morgan James
Published: July 2010

A number of studies have examined the acoustic differences between infant-directed speech (IDS) and adult-directed speech, suggesting that the exaggerated acoustic properties of IDS might facilitate infants’ language development. However, there has been little empirical investigation of the acoustic properties that infants use for word learning. The goal of this study was thus to examine how 19-month-olds’ word recognition is affected by three acoustic properties of IDS: slow speaking rate, vowel hyper-articulation, and wide pitch range. Using the intermodal preferential looking procedure, infants were exposed to half of the test stimuli (e.g., Where’s the book?) in typical IDS style. The other half of the stimuli were digitally altered to remove one of the three properties under investigation. After the target word (e.g., book) was spoken, infants’ gaze toward target and distractor referents was measured frame by frame to examine the time course of word recognition. The results showed that slow speaking rate and vowel hyper-articulation significantly improved infants’ ability to recognize words, whereas wide pitch range did not. These findings suggest that 19-month-olds’ word recognition may be affected only by the linguistically relevant acoustic properties in IDS.
Effect of rhythmic attention on the segregation of interleaved melodies
Authors: Devergie Aymeric , Grimault Nicolas , Tillmann Barbara , Berthommier Frédéric
Published: July 2010

As previously suggested, attention may increase segregation via enhancement and suppression sensory mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, we proposed an interleaved melody paradigm with two rhythm conditions applied to familiar target melodies and unfamiliar distractor melodies sharing pitch and timbre properties. When rhythms of both target and distractor were irregular, target melodies were identified above chance level. A sensory enhancement mechanism guided by listeners’ knowledge may have helped to extract targets from the interleaved sequence. When the distractor was rhythmically regular, performance was increased, suggesting that the distractor may have been suppressed by a sensory suppression mechanism.
Waveguide monitoring (such as sewer pipes or ocean zones) via matched field processing
Authors: Tolstoy A. I.
Published: July 2010

Detecting and locating changes in a waveguide can be extremely difficult. A method is suggested here which does not require simplification of the problem (no spherical chickens) nor any modeling of the waveguide nor of the propagation within it. The method relies only on previous broadband data recorded on an array of receivers (two or more) which is then compared to more recent data to investigate change. Backscattered energy is to be examined here although bistatic configurations may also be possible. This approach is applicable whenever there is sufficient, appropriate data for comparison (note that absolute levels are not needed) and can be applied to acoustically search for scatterers introduced to an ocean zone (such as targets or pollutants), blockages or changes in sewer pipes, or even to non-acoustic energy in a waveguide, e.g., the use of electromagnetic energy in the earth-ionosphere waveguide. This method is based on the signal processing technique known as matched field processing and will be demonstrated on a variety of laboratory sewer pipe data. The method (particularly for localization) is introduced here, as is the suggestion for application to general waveguide environments.
Speech reception by listeners with real and simulated hearing impairment: Effects of continuous and interrupted noise
Authors: Desloge Joseph G. , Reed Charlotte M. , Braida Louis D. , Perez Zachary D. , Delhorne Lorraine A.
Published: July 2010

The effects of audibility and age on masking for sentences in continuous and interrupted noise were examined in listeners with real and simulated hearing loss. The absolute thresholds of each of ten listeners with sensorineural hearing loss were simulated in normal-hearing listeners through a combination of spectrally-shaped threshold noise and multi-band expansion for octave bands with center frequencies from 0.25–8 kHz. Each individual hearing loss was simulated in two groups of three normal-hearing listeners (an age-matched and a non-age-matched group). The speech-to-noise ratio (S/N) for 50%-correct identification of hearing in noise test (HINT) sentences was measured in backgrounds of continuous and temporally-modulated (10 Hz square-wave) noise at two overall levels for unprocessed speech and for speech that was amplified with the NAL-RP prescription. The S/N in both continuous and interrupted noise of the hearing-impaired listeners was relatively well-simulated in both groups of normal-hearing listeners. Thus, release from masking (the difference in S/N obtained in continuous versus interrupted noise) appears to be determined primarily by audibility. Minimal age effects were observed in this small sample. Observed values of masking release were compared to predictions derived from intelligibility curves generated using the extended speech intelligibility index (ESII) [Rhebergen et al. (2006). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 120, 3988–3997].
Conversational and clear speech intelligibility of /bVd/ syllables produced by native and non-native English speakers
Authors: Rogers Catherine L. , DeMasi Teresa M. , Krause Jean C.
Published: July 2010

The ability of native and non-native speakers to enhance intelligibility of target vowels by speaking clearly was compared across three talker groups: monolingual English speakers and native Spanish speakers with either an earlier or a later age of immersion in an English-speaking environment. Talkers produced the target syllables “bead, bid, bayed, bed, bad” and “bod” in ‘conversational’ and clear speech styles. The stimuli were presented to native English-speaking listeners in multi-talker babble with signal-to-noise ratios of −8 dB for the monolingual and early learners and −4 dB for the later learners. The monolinguals and early learners of English showed a similar average clear speech benefit, and the early learners showed equal or greater intelligibility than monolinguals for most target vowels. The 4-dB difference in signal-to-noise ratio yielded approximately equal average intelligibility for the monolinguals and later learners. The average clear speech benefit was smallest for the later learners, and a significant clear speech decrement was obtained for the target syllable “bid.” These results suggest that later learners of English as a second language may be less able than monolinguals to accommodate listeners in noisy environments, due to a reduced ability to improve intelligibility by speaking more clearly.
Prediction of the vibro-acoustic behavior of a submerged shell non periodically stiffened by internal frames
Authors: Maxit Laurent , Ginoux Jean-Marc
Published: July 2010

This paper describes the development of a numerical model to predict the vibro-acoustic behavior of an externally fluid loaded shell with non-uniformly space stiffeners and transversal bulkheads. This model constitutes an extension of the existing semi-analytic capability in predicting the acoustics of axisymmetric structures. It is based on the circumferential admittance approach (CAA) which consists in substructuring the problem so that the fluid loaded shell constitutes one subsystem and the frames constitute other independent subsystems. These subsystems are coupled together by assembling the circumferential admittances that characterize each uncoupled subsystem. Different numerical approaches can be used to estimate these admittances. The standard finite element code is well adapted for evaluating the admittances of the internal frames whatever their cross-section geometries and material properties. Classical discretization methods such as finite elements and boundary elements are too time-consuming for the fluid loaded shell. To avoid this obstacle, three different approaches with different degrees of approximation are proposed to estimate the shell admittances. Comparisons with a reference case are proposed to evaluate the accuracy and the efficiency of each of these three approaches. With the optimal approach, CAA gives very good results in satisfactory computing time. It is well-adapted for analyzing the behavior of a submarine pressure hull in a wide frequency range of interest.
Bayesian source tracking via focalization and marginalization in an uncertain Mediterranean Sea environment
Authors: Dosso Stan E. , Wilmut Michael J. , Nielsen Peter L.
Published: July 2010

This paper applies Bayesian source tracking in an uncertain environment to Mediterranean Sea data, and investigates the resulting tracks and track uncertainties as a function of data information content (number of data time-segments, number of frequencies, and signal-to-noise ratio) and of prior information (environmental uncertainties and source-velocity constraints). To track low-level sources, acoustic data recorded for multiple time segments (corresponding to multiple source positions along the track) are inverted simultaneously. Environmental uncertainty is addressed by including unknown water-column and seabed properties as nuisance parameters in an augmented inversion. Two approaches are considered: Focalization-tracking maximizes the posterior probability density (PPD) over the unknown source and environmental parameters. Marginalization-tracking integrates the PPD over environmental parameters to obtain a sequence of joint marginal probability distributions over source coordinates, from which the most-probable track and track uncertainties can be extracted. Both approaches apply track constraints on the maximum allowable vertical and radial source velocity. The two approaches are applied for towed-source acoustic data recorded at a vertical line array at a shallow-water test site in the Mediterranean Sea where previous geoacoustic studies have been carried out.
Response to “Comments on ‘On Dowell’s simplification for acoustic cavity-structure interaction and consistent alternatives [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 22–32 (2010)]’ ”
Authors: Ginsberg J. H.
Published: July 2010

Dowell [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 128, 1–2 (2010)] commented on several aspects of an approximation commonly invoked to model the coupling of an acoustic cavity and a surrounding structure. Additional observations regarding these issues are provided herein, as well as an explanation of discrepancies in the low frequency pressure predicted by the approximation.
Mistuning detection and onset asynchrony in harmonic complexes in Mongolian gerbils
Authors: Klinge Astrid , Klump Georg
Published: July 2010

By applying a Go/NoGo paradigm, thresholds for detecting mistuning of components of a 200 Hz complex were determined in the Mongolian gerbil and compared with thresholds obtained in a previous study with an 800 Hz complex. Frequency difference limens (FDLs) for detecting mistuning decreased with increasing harmonic frequency and harmonic number (0.5% to 0.01% Weber fraction). It was furthermore examined how starting and ending the mistuned component earlier than the remaining complex affects the FDL (duration of all components 400 ms, time shift 30 to 500 ms). Large FDLs that are similar to pure tone FDLs (between 21% and 6.7%) were found for onset asynchronies of 300 ms and more, indicating separate processing of the mistuned component. Small FDLs that are similar to FDLs of the synchronous condition were found if the temporal overlap between the mistuned component and the remaining complex was 100 ms or more. These experimental data in combination with a simulation of processing of the harmonic complexes by the gerbil’s peripheral auditory filters led to the conclusion that the phase and amplitude modulations in the filter outputs can provide cues that allow gerbils a sensitive detection of mistuning across a wide range of frequencies.
Intelligibility, listening difficulty and listening efficiency in auralized classrooms
Authors: Prodi Nicola , Visentin Chiara , Farnetani Andrea
Published: July 2010

In order to obtain an effective speech communication in rooms it is advisable, besides reaching the full intelligibility of words, to minimize the effort paid by the listener in the recognition of the speech material. This twofold requirement is not easily described by the current room acoustic indicators, which are mainly concerned either with a subjective rating by means of word recognition scores or with using listeners’ impressions of reported listening difficulties. In this work, the problem is tackled by introducing the concept of “listening efficiency,” which is defined as a combination of the accuracy of intelligibility and of the effort spent on achieving this goal. This indicator is here developed, and an application of the former and of the “listening efficiency” is presented in the field of classroom acoustics. Listening tests with pupils and adults were performed and the subsequent statistical analyses indicated several interesting findings. In particular, listening efficiency is able to clearly discriminate between equal intelligibility scores obtained under different acoustical conditions, permitting room acoustics to be tailored for specific groups, such as children.
Geoacoustic and source tracking using particle filtering: Experimental results
Authors: Yardim Caglar , Gerstoft Peter , Hodgkiss William S.
Published: July 2010

A particle filtering (PF) approach is presented for performing sequential geoacoustic inversion of a complex ocean acoustic environment using a moving acoustic source. This approach treats both the environmental parameters [e.g., water column sound speed profile (SSP), water depth, sediment and bottom parameters] at the source location and the source parameters (e.g., source depth, range and speed) as unknown random variables that evolve as the source moves. This allows real-time updating of the environment and accurate tracking of the moving source. As a sequential Monte Carlo technique that operates on nonlinear systems with non-Gaussian probability densities, the PF is an ideal algorithm to perform tracking of environmental and source parameters, and their uncertainties via the evolving posterior probability densities. The approach is demonstrated on both simulated data in a shallow water environment with a sloping bottom and experimental data collected during the SWellEx-96 experiment.
Auditory acuity for aircraft in real-world ambient environments
Authors: Hoglund Evelyn , Brungart Douglas , Iyer Nandini , Hamil James , Mobley Frank , Hall John
Published: July 2010

Although many psychoacoustic studies have been conducted to examine the detection of masked target sounds, the vast majority of these studies have been conducted in carefully controlled laboratory listening environments, and their results may not apply to the detection of real-world sounds in the presence of naturalistic ambient sound fields. Those studies that have examined the detection of realistic naturally-occurring sounds have been conducted in uncontrolled listening environments (i.e., outdoor listening tests) where the experimenters were unable to precisely control, or even measure, the specific characteristics of the target and masker at the time of the detection judgment. This study represents an attempt to bridge the gap between unrealistic laboratory listening studies and uncontrolled outdoor listening studies through the use of pseudorandomly-presented real world recordings of target and masking sounds. Subjects were asked to detect helicopter signals in the context of an ongoing ambient recording in a two interval detection task. The results show that the signal-to-noise ratio required to detect an aircraft sound varies across different types of ambient environments (i.e., rural, suburban, or urban).
Individual variability in cue-weighting and lexical tone learning
Authors: Chandrasekaran Bharath , Sampath Padma D. , Wong Patrick C.M.
Published: July 2010

Speech sound patterns can be discerned using multiple acoustic cues. The relative weighting of these cues is known to be language-specific. Speech-sound training in adults induces changes in cue-weighting such that relevant acoustic cues are emphasized. In the current study, the extent to which individual variability in cue weighting contributes to differential success in learning to use foreign sound patterns was examined. Sixteen English-speaking adult participants underwent a sound-to-meaning training paradigm, during which they learned to incorporate Mandarin linguistic pitch contours into words. In addition to cognitive tests, measures of pitch pattern discrimination and identification were collected from all participants. Reaction time data from the discrimination task was subjected to 3-way multidimensional scaling to extract dimensions underlying tone perception. Two dimensions relating to pitch height and pitch direction were found to underlie non-native tone space. Good learners attended more to pitch direction relative to poor learners, before and after training. Training increased the ability to identify and label pitch direction. The results demonstrate that variability in the ability to successfully learn to use pitch in lexical contexts can be explained by pre-training differences in cue-weighting.
An enhanced numerical model to simulate nonlinear continuous wave ultrasound propagation and the resulting temperature response
Authors: Mashouf Shahram
Published: July 2010

In this work a nonlinear CW ultrasound field propagation model based on a second-order operator splitting approach is studied and a number of significant enhancements are introduced and implemented. In this model the ultrasound field is calculated and propagated plane by plane and the effects of diffraction, nonlinearity and absorption are applied independently over incremental steps. This work completes the preceding works (Christopher and Parker 1991, Tavakkoli 1998, Zemp 2003, Williams 2006) by introducing an arbitrary source geometry and excitation definition, full diffraction solution, enhanced pressure, enhanced power deposition rate and temperature prediction capabilities. The result is a particularly useful tool in carrying out simulations of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) that includes temperature rise predictions. Comparisons are made with other codes in both linear and nonlinear regimes. Different dynamics of lesion formation are obtained in linear versus nonlinear models, specially at the onset of lesion creation during HIFU exposure.
Isotopic Studies of Ore-Leads in the Hanson Lake-Flin Flon-Snow Lake Mineral Belt Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Authors: Sangster D. F.
Published: July 2010

Lead isotope abundances in 4 stratabound sulfide ores are presented and show characteristics of being single-stage lead deposits. Model ages based on these data range from 1780 ± 44 to 1900 ± 44 m.y. and are considered to be close approximations of the time of ore formation. Geological evidence in the massive sulfide deposits suggests they are coeval with their host rocks, which are predominantly volcanics of the Amisk Group. If this assumption is correct the average model lead age of the ores is essentially the age of the enclosing rocks. Within error limits the results are in good agreement with published Rb-Sr ages for Amisk rocks of the Flin Flon area, and with U-Pb ages in zircons of rhyolites, which also contain similar, massive sulfide ores in the Churchill Province of Arizona. This is considered to be good evidence that the Hanson Lake-Flin Flon-Snow Lake volcanic mineral belt, previously regarded as Archean, is Aphebian in part.A previously published Archean, Rb-Sr isochron for volcanic rocks in the Hanson Lake area may indicate that Amisk-type rocks are a folded complex of both Aphebian and Archean lithologies. The suggested Aphebian age of the Amisk-Missi Groups and their equivalents, indicates they are possibly eugeosynclinal equivalents of the miogeosynclinal Hurwitz sediments.
Wisconsin Events and the Assiniboine and Qu'Appelle Valleys of Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Authors: Klassen R. W.
Published: July 2010

The Assiniboine and Qu'Appelle valleys formed as spillways and meltwater channels, mostly within partly re-excavated ancestral valleys of probable Early Wisconsin age. It is unlikely this region was glaciated in Mid-Wisconsin time and the Late Wisconsin glaciation was relatively weak resulting in only partial infilling of Early Wisconsin valleys with alluvium, drift, and ice. The alluvial fill below the valley bottoms commonly includes a thick (100 to 200 ft (30.48 to 60.96 m)) lower unit mostly of Mid-Wisconsin and Late Wisconsin age, and a thinner (60 to 100 ft (18.28 to 30.48 m)) upper unit of Late Wisconsin and Recent age.The modern valley system formed between 15 000 and 12 000 years ago. The Qu'Appelle Valley was cut to its maximum late glacial depth more than 14 000 years ago and the Assiniboine Valley about 12 000 years ago. Subsequent infilling of most parts of the valleys with alluvium and colluvium has continued at a gradually diminishing rate to the present.
Earthflows in the Grondines and Trois Rivières Areas, Québec
Authors: Karrow P. F.
Published: July 2010

Extra-sensitive or quick clays are characteristic deposits of the Champlain Sea, which covered the St. Lawrence River valley about 11 000 years ago. Landslides of the earthflow type occur along many of the stream valleys. Rapid dissection and high precipitation are commonly associated with earthflows.Landforms characteristic of earthflows include bowls, slump slice ridges, pinnacles, inter-bowl ridges, and ribbing. Large earthflow complexes cover areas of several square miles, particularly just south of the St. Narcisse moraine. Earthflow debris spreads over alluvial deposits, many of which contain datable plant matter. Only a few prehistoric earthflows have been radiocarbon dated, but such data hold promise for the study of alluvial history and earthflow occurrence. At least two consecutive phases of earthflow activity have been noted in some areas, and a time span of several thousand years appears to be involved.Earthflows tend to occur in groups; historic flows in the area, including the classic St. Thuribe slide, have occurred in close proximity to older slides. Therefore certain slide-prone areas can be designated for planning purposes. It is advisable to avoid having building sites near present stream valleys.
Black shale heaving at Ottawa, Canada
Authors: Quigley R. M. , Vogan R. W.
Published: July 2010

Three inches (7.6 cm) of differential heave has caused severe structural deformation of a lightly loaded building founded directly on drained black shale bedrock in Ottawa, Canada. Portions of the building founded on shale below the water table have not heaved.The heave is attributed to oxidation of disseminated iron sulfide in the shale by autotrophic bacteria to produce secondary hydrous sulfates of greater volume. Autotrophic bacteria of the Ferrobacillus and Thiobacillus ferrooxidan types, which cause this type of oxidation in warm, drained, humid environments, were confirmed by laboratory cultures to exist in the rock waters.The potential importance of heave and sulfate attack on future underground concrete structures in areas of Ottawa underlain by black shale is discussed.
Observations on some basal failures in sheeted excavations
Authors: Milligan V. , Lo K. Y.
Published: July 2010

In excavations below groundwater level, instability of the base may result from the inflow of water into the excavation. The most important factors influencing the stability are the ground water and detailed soil conditions at the site.Construction problems encountered in excavations in clay strata, underlain by pervious water bearing layers, are described. The remedial measures adopted in each case are also discussed. From a study of the observations made in the case records, it is suggested that excavation in intact clays may be carried out to depths exceeding that limited by the ratio of t/h = 0.5, where t is the distance from the bottom of the excavation to the top of the water bearing stratum, and h is the water head at the top of the water bearing stratum, provided that the clay is not disturbed during construction so that the shear strength of the clay is preserved.
A noncontacting transducer for measurement of lateral strains
Authors: Khan Mozammel H. , Hoag Dean L.
Published: July 2010

In order to study the anisotropic deformation behavior of soils in the triaxial test, three principal strains have to be measured accurately while the soil sample is subjected to three independent principal stresses. However, it appears that the technique of measuring small deformations of anisotropic soils has received relatively little attention. The authors have developed a new technique to measure the lateral strains, which does not require any contact of the transducer element with the soil surface. The details of the apparatus are presented in this technical note.
COLLECTIVE MODES OF EXCITATION IN DEFORMED NEUTRON-RICH Mg ISOTOPES
Authors: YOSHIDA KENICHI
Published: July 2010

Giant resonances and the pygmy mode in neutron-rich Mg isotopes close to the drip line are investigated by means of the deformed Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov and quasiparticle random-phase approximations using a Skyrme energy-density functional. It is found that the giant monopole resonance has a two-peak structure due to the deformation. The lower-energy resonance is generated associated with the mixing with the Kπ = 0+ component of the giant quadrupole resonance. We find for the negative-parity excitations that the pygmy dipole resonance appeared just above the threshold has a significant mixing effect among the isovector dipole, isoscalar octupole and compression dipole excitations.
SUPERDEFORMED BAND IN ASYMMETRIC N > Z NUCLEUS 40Ar
Authors: MORIKAWA TSUNEYASU , IDEGUCHI EIJI , OTA SHINSUKE , OSHIMA MASUMI , KOIZUMI MITSUO , TOH YOSUKE , KIMURA ATSUSHI , HARADA HIDEO , FURUTAKA KAZUYOSHI , NAKAMURA SHOJI , KITATANI FUMITO , HATSUKAWA YUICHI , SHIZUMA TOSHIYUKI , SUGAWARA MASAHIKO , MIYATAKE HIROARI , WATANABE YUTAKA , HIRAYAMA YOSHIKAZU , OI MAKITO
Published: July 2010

A rotational band with five cascade γ-ray transitions was newly found in 40 Ar . The deduced transition quadrupole moment of [Formula: see text] has demonstrated this band as having a superdeformed shape of β2 ~ 0.5. The structure of the band was discussed in the framework of cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations and the assignment of multiparticle–multihole configuration has been made.
COMPLEX SCALING AND SCATTERING OBSERVABLES
Authors: KRUPPA A. T.
Published: July 2010

A general recipe is given how to use the method of complex scaling in calculation of scattering observables. The physical quantity has to be expressed in an explicit form in terms of the total Green operator and this operator have to be replaced with the continuum discretized complex scaled Green-operator. Contrary to earlier expectations the two-body scattering problem in the presence of the Coulomb interaction can be solved using the standard uniform complex scaling. It is sketched how to apply the procedure in the case of three-body scattering. The great advantage of the use of the complex scaling is that the explicit construction of the scattering boundary condition can be avoided.
INVESTIGATION OF CONTINUUM STATES IN THE UNBOUND NEUTRON-RICH N = 7 AND 9 ISOTONES VIA BREAKUP AND KNOCKOUT
Authors:   for the LPC–CHARISSA–DEMON Collaboration, AL FALOU H. , LEPRINCE A. , ORR N. A.
Published: July 2010

The structure of the unbound nuclei 9 He , 10 Li and 13 Be has been explored using breakup and proton-knockout from intermediate energy 11 Be and 14,15 B beams. In the case of both N = 7 isotones, virtual s-wave strength is observed near threshold together with a higher-lying resonance. A very narrow structure at threshold in the 12 Be + n relative energy spectrum is demonstrated to arise from the decay of the 14 Be *(2+), discounting earlier reports of a strong virtual s-wave state in 13 Be .
DI-NEUTRON CORRELATIONS IN THE SUPER NEUTRON-RICH NUCLEUS; 7H
Authors: AOYAMA S. , ITAGAKI N.
Published: July 2010

We study the di-neutron correlations in the super neutron-rich nucleus 7 H with the AMD triple-S (AMD superposition of selected snapshots). 7 H is the most neutron-rich nucleus in the neutron ratio to the proton ( N / Z = 6). And the strong di-neutron correlations are expected due to the weak binding properties. In this paper, the mixing of di-neutron cluster components is estimated by calculating the squared overlap with the di-neutron condensate type wave function. The calculated results show significant mixing of di-neutron (t + 2n + 2n) components (70 ~ 80%).
NEUTRON CORRELATIONS IN 6He VIEWED THROUGH NUCLEAR BREAK-UP
Authors: ASSIÉ M. , SCARPACI J. A. , LACROIX D. , ANGÉLIQUE J. C. , BAZIN D. , BEAUMEL D. , BLUMENFELD Y. , CATFORD W. N. , CHABOT M. , CHATTERJEE A. , FALLOT M. , IWASAKI H. , MARÉCHAL F. , MONROZEAU C. , NYBERG J. , PETRACHE C. , SKAZA F. , TUNA T.
Published: July 2010

Nuclear break-up as a tool to study neutron correlations is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. First a time dependent theory going beyond mean field has been developed and shows that correlations between nucleons can be probed through nuclear break-up. Secondly, nuclear break-up of 6 He on 208 Pb target was studied at 20 A.MeV using a secondary beam of 6 He produced by the SPIRAL facility at GANIL. From the correlation function, a strong contribution of the di-neutron configuration of 6 He is found.
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL FOR PAIRING WITH PARTICLE NUMBER CONSERVATION
Authors: LACROIX DENIS , HUPIN GUILLAUME
Published: July 2010

In this work, a new functional is introduced to treat pairing correlations in finite many-body systems. Guided by the projected BCS framework, the energy is written as a functional of occupation numbers. It is shown to generalize the BCS approach and to provide an alternative to Variation After Projection framework. Illustrations of the new approach are given for the pairing Hamiltonian for various particle numbers and coupling strengths. In all case, a very good agreement with the exact solution is found.