bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule
Authors: Shih Richard D. , Alter Scott M. , Wells Mike , Solano Joshua J. , Engstrom Gabriella , Clayton Lisa M. , Hughes Patrick G. , Goldstein Lara , Lottenberg Lawrence , Ouslander Joseph G.
Published: July 2024

Background

Several clinical decision rules have been devised to guide head computed tomography (CT) use in patients with minor head injuries, but none have been validated in patients 65 years or older. We aimed to derive and validate a head injury clinical decision rule for older adults.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of an existing dataset of consecutive emergency department (ED) patients >65 years old with blunt head trauma. The main predictive outcomes were significant intracranial injury and Need for Neurosurgical Intervention on CT. The secondary outcomes also considered in the model development and validation were All Injuries and All Intracranial Injuries. Predictor variables were identified using multiple variable logistic regression, and clinical decision rule models were developed in a split‐sample derivation cohort and then tested in an independent validation cohort.

Results

Of 5776 patients, 233 (4.0%) had significant intracranial injury and an additional 104 (1.8%) met CT criteria for Need for Neurosurgical Intervention. The best performing model, the Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule, assigns points based on several clinical variables. If the points totaled 25 or more, a CT scan is indicated. The included predictors were arrival via Emergency Medical Services (+30 points), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <15 (+20 points), GCS <14 (+50 points), antiplatelet medications (+17 points), loss of consciousness (+16 points), signs of basilar skull fracture (+50 points), and headache (+20 points). Utilizing this clinical decision rule in the validation cohort, a point total ≥25 had a sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 96.0–100) and 12.3% (95% CI: 10.9–13.8), respectively, for significant intracranial injury and Need for Neurosurgical Intervention.

Conclusions

The Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule has the potential to reduce unnecessary CT scans in older adults, without compromising safe emergency medicine practice.
The social reproduction of agrarian change: Feminist political economy and rural transformations in the global south. An introduction
Authors: Mezzadri Alessandra , Stevano Sara , Ossome Lyn , Bargawi Hannah
Published: July 2024

The last decade has seen a renaissance of feminist political economy studies centred on the concept of ‘social reproduction’. These aim at studying global capitalism from the vantage‐point of what produces and sustains life, expanding the social boundaries of processes and subjects analysed in political economy. Contributing to this research agenda, the special issue we present in this Introduction explores the Social Reproduction of Agrarian Change. Building on the contributions comprising this collection, we argue that the study of agrarian changethroughsocial reproduction enables us to de‐invisibilise processes of life‐making behind agrarian transformations in three distinct ways. First, the lens of social reproduction enables us to better grasp the regeneration of ‘classes of labour’ in rural areas; gender processes of de‐agrarianisation and their implications for livelihoods; and centre reproductive labour within and beyond the household ‐ across spaces and temporalities ‐ as central to life in the countryside. Secondly, this lens also allows us to complicate the land question beyond productivist readings, explore its significance for life in rural settings, and multiply the agrarian questions of our times, whose histories and trajectories must grapple with debates on economic justice. Finally, the study of the social reproduction of agrarian change also provides us with a novel vantage point to read the formation and reorganisation of complex global geographies of the rural, their relation to crises of social reproduction and the ability to redraw the urban–rural divide. All contributions in this issue insightfully advance debates on methods in social reproduction analysis. The study of the agrarian lifeworlds analysed here also contributes significantly to social reproduction debates. It challenges rigid dichotomies between the ‘productive’ and ‘reproductive’. It problematises the households as a unit of analysis and sets land as central to planetary debates on crises of social reproduction and their resolution.
Negative energy balance affects perinatal ewe performance, rumen morphology, rumen flora structure, and placental function
Authors: Wang Zhibo , Chen Peiyong , Liang Yaxu , Wang Feng , Zhang Yanli
Published: July 2024

This study investigated the effects of negative energy balance (NEB) on perinatal ewes, with a focus on changes in growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, rumen fermentation, ruminal bacteria composition, placental phenotype‐related indicators, and expression levels of genes related to placental function. Twenty ewes at 130 days of gestation were randomly allocated to either the positive energy balance (PEB) or NEB groups. In the experiment, ewes in the PEB group were fed the same amount as their intake during the pre‐feeding baseline period, while ewes in the NEB group were restricted to 70% of their individual baseline feed intake. The experiment was conducted until 42 days postpartum, and five double‐lamb ewes per group were selected for slaughter. The results demonstrated that NEB led to a significant decrease in body weight, carcass weight, and the birth and weaning weights of lambs (P < 0.05). Additionally, NEB caused alterations in serum biochemical parameters, such as increased non‐esterified fatty acids and β‐hydroxybutyrate levels and decreased cholesterol and albumin levels (P < 0.05). Rumen fermentation and epithelial parameters were also affected, with a reduction in the concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, total acid and a decrease in the length of the rumen papilla (P < 0.05). Moreover, NEB induced changes in the structure and composition of ruminal bacteria, with significant differences in α‐diversity indices and rumen microbial community composition (P < 0.05). Gene expression in rumen papilla and ewe placenta was also affected, impacting genes associated with glucose and amino acid transport, proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis (P < 0.05). These findings screened the key microbiota in the rumen of ewes following NEB and highlighted the critical genes associated with rumen function. Furthermore, this study revealed the impact of NEB on placental function in ewes, providing a foundation for investigating how nutrition in ewes influences reproductive performance. This research demonstrates how nutrition regulates reproductive performance by considering the combined perspectives of rumen microbiota and placental function.
Effect of dietary supplementation of macadamia oil on the growth, immune function, physio‐biochemical components and thyroid activity of growing rabbits
Authors: Jaber Fatima A. , Nasr Samia , Al‐Sayed Hanan M. A. , Al‐Otaibi Aljohara M. , Mohamed Hanan S. , Hamdy Haggag M. , Abdelnour Sameh A. , Fouad Walid
Published: July 2024

The current research aimed to assess the effects of dietary macadamia oil (MO) on carcass traits, growth performance, physio‐biochemical components, immune function, thyroid hormones and inflammation markers of growing rabbits. A total of 96 growing rabbits were randomly distributed into four treatments, with 24 rabbits in each group. The rabbits were fed a basal diet (control group) or a diet supplemented with MO at 0.5 (MO0.5), 1 (MO1.0) and 2 (MO2.0) mL/kg of diet for eight weeks. The daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio showed a quadratic improvement with increasing levels of MO, and the optimal dose was 1.25 mL/kg of diet. Increasing levels of MO also had a quadratic effect on hepatic and renal functions. Dose‐response curves revealed that the optimal doses of MO were 1.50, 1.75 and 1.25 mL/kg of diet for total bilirubin, gamma‐glutamyl transferase, and creatinine respectively. A quadratic relationship was observed between the increased levels of MO and tumour necrosis factor‐α (p = 0.038), interleukin‐6 (p = 0.014) and immunoglobulins (p = 0.016 and IgM p = 0.026). Additionally, a linear relationship was observed between the increment in MO levels and both nitric oxide (p = 0.040) and interleukin‐4 (p = 0.001). The activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase showed a linear increase with increasing dietary MO content, while xanthine oxidase showed a linear decrease. Total antioxidant capacity showed quadratic improvement (p = 0.035) with the dietary treatment, with the optimal dose observed at 1.25 mL/kg of diet. The inclusion of MO in the diet had a linear effect on the activity of thyroxine (p = 0.001). Therefore, supplementation of MO at a dose of 1 or 1.5 mL/kg of diet in growing rabbits' diets can improve growth and carcass traits, sustain thyroid function by supporting immunity, and reduce oxidative/inflammation pathways.
Effectiveness of acute malnutrition treatment with a simplified, combined protocol in Central African Republic: An observational cohort study
Authors: Heymsfield Grace , Tausanovitch Zachary , Christian Loubah Gondjé , Bebelou M'bary Siolo Mada , Mbeng Benedict Tabiojong , Dembele Anne Marie , Fossi Annie , Bansimba Théophile , Coulibaly Issa Niamanto , Nikièma Victor , Kangas Suvi T.
Published: July 2024

A simplified, combined protocol admitting children with a mid‐upper‐arm circumference (MUAC) of <125 mm or oedema to malnutrition treatment with ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) uses two sachets of RUTF per day of those with MUAC < 115 mm and/or oedema and one sachet of RUTF per day for those with MUAC 115–<125 mm. This treatment previously demonstrated noninferior programmatic outcomes compared with standard treatment and high recovery in a routine setting. We aimed to observe the protocol's effectiveness in a routine setting at scale, in two health districts of the Central African Republic through an observational cohort study. The pilot enrolled children for 1 year in consortium by the Ministry of Health and nongovernmental partners. A total of 7909 children were admitted to the simplified, combined treatment. Treatment resulted in an 81.2% overall recovery, with a mean length of stay (LOS) of 38.7 days and a mean RUTF consumption of 43.4 sachets per child treated. Among children admitted with MUAC < 115 mm or oedema, 67.9% recovered with a mean LOS of 48.1 days and consumed an average of 70.9 RUTF sachets. Programme performance differed between the two districts, with an overall defaulting rate of 31.1% in the Kouango‐Grimari health district, compared to 8.2% in Kemo. Response to treatment by children admitted with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) by MUAC and SAM by oedema was similar. The simplified, combined protocol resulted in a satisfactory overall recovery and low RUTF consumption per child treated, with further need to understand defaulting in the context.
Celecoxib‐tramadol co‐crystal in patients with moderate‐to‐severe pain following bunionectomy with osteotomy: Secondary analyses by baseline pain intensity and use of rescue medication of a phase 3, randomized, double‐blind, factorial, active‐ and placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Viscusi Eugene R. , de Leon‐Casasola Oscar , Cebrecos Jesús , Jacobs Adam , Morte Adelaida , Ortiz Esther , Sust Mariano , Vaqué Anna , Gottlieb Ira , Daniels Stephen , Muse Derek , Kuss Michael E. , Videla Sebastián , Gascón Neus , Plata‐Salamán Carlos
Published: July 2024

Background

In the randomized, phase 3, SUSA‐301 trial, celecoxib‐tramadol co‐crystal (CTC) provided significantly greater analgesia compared with celecoxib, tramadol, or placebo in adults with acute, moderate‐to‐severe, postoperative pain. This post hoc, secondary analysis further evaluated the use of rescue medication and the incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

Methods

Patients (N = 637) were randomized 2:2:2:1 to receive oral CTC 200 mg twice daily (BID; n = 184), tramadol 50 mg four times daily (QID; n = 183), celecoxib 100 mg BID (n = 181), or placebo QID (n = 89). Post hoc analyses were conducted on the use of rescue medications up to 4 and 48 h post‐study drug dose, stratified by baseline pain intensity (moderate/severe), and on the incidence of TEAEs, stratified by rescue medication use.

Results

A significantly lower proportion of patients received any rescue medication within 4 h post‐study dose with CTC (49.5%) versus tramadol (61.7%, p = 0.0178), celecoxib (65.2%, p = 0.0024), and placebo (75.3%, p = 0.0001); this was also seen for oxycodone use. Fewer patients in the CTC group received ≥3 doses of rescue medication compared with the other groups, irrespective of baseline pain intensity. In patients who did not receive opioid rescue medication, CTC was associated with a lower incidence of nausea and vomiting TEAEs versus tramadol alone. In patients who received rescue oxycodone, the incidence of nausea was similar in the CTC and tramadol groups, and higher versus celecoxib and placebo.

Conclusion

Celecoxib‐tramadol co‐crystal was associated with reduced rescue medication use and an acceptable tolerability profile compared with tramadol or celecoxib alone in adults with acute, moderate‐to‐severe, postoperative pain.
Full‐spectrum cannabidiol reduces UVB damage through the inhibition of TGF‐β1 and the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Urrutia‐Ortega I. M. , Valencia I. , Ispanixtlahuatl‐Meraz O. , Benítez‐Flores J. C. , Espinosa‐González A. M. , Estrella‐Parra E. A. , Flores‐Ortiz C. M. , Chirino Y. I. , Avila‐Acevedo J. G.
Published: July 2024

The thermodynamic characteristics, antioxidant potential, and photoprotective benefits of full‐spectrum cannabidiol (FS‐CBD) against UVB‐induced cellular death were examined in this study. In silico analysis of CBD showed antioxidant capacity via proton donation and UV absorption at 209.09, 254.73, and 276.95 nm, according to the HAT and SPLET methodologies. FS‐CBD protected against UVB‐induced bacterial death for 30 min. FS‐CBD protected against UVB‐induced cell death by 42% (1.5 μg/mL) and 35% (3.5 μg/mL) in an in vitro keratinocyte cell model. An in vivo acute irradiated CD‐1et/et mouse model (UVB‐irradiated for 5 min) presented very low photoprotection when FS‐CBD was applied cutaneously, as determined by histological analyses. In vivo skin samples showed that FS‐CBD regulated inflammatory responses by inhibiting the inflammatory markers TGF‐β1 and NLRP3. The docking analysis showed that the CBD molecule had a high affinity for TGF‐β1 and NLRP3, indicating that protection against inflammation might be mediated by blocking these proinflammatory molecules. This result was corroborated by the docking interactions between CBD and TGF‐β1 and NLRP3, which resulted in a high affinity and inhibition of both proteins The present work suggested a FS‐CBD moderate photoprotective agent against UVB light‐induced skin damage and that this effect is partially mediated by its anti‐inflammatory activity.
Pricing of medication abortion in the United States, 2021–2023
Authors: Upadhyay Ushma D. , Schroeder Rosalyn , Kaller Shelly , Stewart Clara , Berglas Nancy F.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Financial costs remain one of the greatest barriers to abortion, leading to delays in care and preventing some from getting a desired abortion. Medication abortion is available through in‐person facilities and telehealth services. However, whether telehealth offers a more affordable option has not been well‐documented.

Methods

We used Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)'s Abortion Facility Database, which includes data on all publicly advertising abortion facilities and is updated annually. We describe facility out‐of‐pocket prices for medication abortion in 2021, 2022, and 2023, comparing in‐person and telehealth provided by brick‐and‐mortar and virtual clinics, and by whether states allowed Medicaid coverage for abortion.

Results

The national median price for medication abortion remained consistent at $568 in 2021 and $563 in 2023. However, medications provided by virtual clinics were notably lower in price than in‐person care and this difference widened over time. The median cost of a medication abortion offered in‐person increased from $580 in 2021 to $600 by 2023, while the median price of a medication abortion offered by virtual clinics decreased from $239 in 2021 to $150 in 2023. Among virtual clinics, few (7%) accepted Medicaid. Median prices in states that accept Medicaid were generally higher than in states that did not.

Discussion

Medication abortion is offered at substantially lower prices by virtual clinics. However, not being able to use Medicaid or other insurance may make telehealth cost‐prohibitive for some people, even if prices are lower. Additionally, many states do not allow telehealth for abortion, deepening inequities in healthcare.
The synergy between stress and self‐compassion in building resilience: A 4‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Park Jinyoung , Bluth Karen , Lathren Christine , Leary Mark , Hoyle Rick
Published: July 2024

This 4‐year prospective study investigated the dynamic relationship between stress, self‐compassion, and resilience among university students, a population with increasing rates of mental health challenges. Drawing on stress theories, the research explored whether the combination of stress and self‐compassion strengthens resilience over time. A sample of 1137 university students (47.6% White, 38% female) completed measures of stress, resilience, and self‐compassion annually during the Spring semester across their four undergraduate years. A random intercept cross‐lagged panel model with latent interactions was used to test the hypothesized causal relationships. Contrary to the common belief that stress is debilitating, the results revealed a positive association between an increase in stress and a subsequent increase in self‐compassion. Moreover, when stress levels increased alongside self‐compassion, students demonstrated higher resilience. Notably, an increase in either stress or self‐compassion alone did not enhance resilience. These findings highlight the synergetic effect between self‐compassion and stress in enhancing resilience; under the right conditions, stress can lead to positive outcomes and increased capacity for coping with future stressors.
The return of industrial policy in data
Authors: Evenett Simon , Jakubik Adam , Martín Fernando , Ruta Michele
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces the New Industrial Policy Observatory (NIPO) data set and documents emergent patterns of policy intervention during 2023 associated with the return of industrial policy. The data show that the recent wave of new industrial policy activity is primarily driven by advanced economies and that subsidies are the most employed instrument. Trade restrictions on imports and exports are more frequently used by emerging market and developing economies. Strategic competitiveness is the dominant motive governments give for these measures, but other objectives such as climate change, resilience and national security are on the rise. In exploratory regressions, we find that implemented measures are correlated with the past use of measures by other governments in the same sector, pointing to the tit‐for‐tat nature of industrial policy. Furthermore, domestic political economy factors and macroeconomic conditions correlate with the use of industrial policy measures. We intend for the NIPO to be a publicly available resource to help monitor the evolution and effects of industrial policies.
Bridging Data Gaps: A Federated Learning Approach to Heat Emission Prediction in Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Lei Rong , Guo Y. B. , Yan Jiwang , Guo Weihong “Grace”
Published: July 2024

Deep learning has impacted defect prediction in additive manufacturing (AM), which is important to ensure process stability and part quality. However, its success depends on extensive training, requiring large, homogeneous datasets—remaining a challenge for the AM industry, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The unique and varied characteristics of AM parts, along with the limited resources of SMEs, hamper data collection, posing difficulties in the independent training of deep learning models. Addressing these concerns requires enabling knowledge sharing from the similarities in the physics of the AM process and defect formation mechanisms while carefully handling privacy concerns. Federated learning (FL) offers a solution to allow collaborative model training across multiple entities without sharing local data. This article introduces an FL framework to predict section-wise heat emission during laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a vital process signature. It incorporates a customized long short-term memory (LSTM) model for each client, capturing the dynamic AM process's time-series properties without sharing sensitive information. Three advanced FL algorithms are integrated—federated averaging (FedAvg), FedProx, and FedAvgM—to aggregate model weights rather than raw datasets. Experiments demonstrate that the FL framework ensures convergence and maintains prediction performance comparable to individually trained models. This work demonstrates the potential of FL-enabled AM modeling and prediction where SMEs can improve their product quality without compromising data privacy.
Improving Terrain Adaptability and Compliance in Closed-Chain Leg: Design, Control, and Testing
Authors: Han Chengleng , Xu Lin , Abdelkareem Mohamed A. A. , Mi Jia
Published: July 2024

This study investigates a novel design of a reconfigurable closed-chain leg for hexapod robot with enhanced terrain adaptability. A length adjustable hydraulic cylinder is incorporated into the Theo Jansen linkage in the proposed reconfigurable closed-chain leg, allowing for flexible trajectory by adjusting the length of the hydraulic cylinder. Kinematic model and system dynamics are analyzed considering the multi-body dynamics of the proposed system. To actively adapt to different terrains with flexible footprints, a variable-domain sliding mode control strategy to adjust the length of hydraulic cylinder is investigated and compared with other control strategies. Meanwhile, an active compliant control strategy of the driving motor is analyzed and deployed to improve the stability and compliance during walking. A prototype was fabricated and tested under various configurations. Results demonstrate that the variable-domain sliding mode control algorithm exhibits fast convergence, robustness, and smooth signals for hydraulic cylinder. In addition, the proposed active compliant control strategy of the driving motor can reduce the impact force and ensure stable equilibrium during walking. Therefore, the proposed reconfigurable closed-chain leg can enhance the terrain adaptability and enrich the applications of closed-chain legged robots.
Investigation of fluorescence versus transmission readout for three-photon Rydberg excitation used in electrometry
Authors: Prajapati Nikunjkumar , Berweger Samuel , Rotunno Andrew P. , Artusio-Glimpse Alexandra B. , Schlossberger Noah , Shylla Dangka , Watterson William J. , Simons Matthew T. , LaMantia David , Norrgard Eric B. , Eckel Stephen P. , Holloway Christopher L.
Published: July 2024

We present a three-photon based fluorescence readout method where the strength of the fluorescence scales with the strength of the radio-frequency field being applied. We compare this method to conventional three-photon electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA). Our demonstrated three-photon EIA/EIT sensitivity in the collinear three-photon Cesium system is the best reported to date at roughly 30 (same units). The fluorescence is nearly fourfold better in sensitivity compared to EIA/EIT readout.
Is there a right answer? A cross-laboratory study of concrete slabs
Authors: Way Evelyn
Published: July 2024

Commissioning a new acoustic test lab is a non-standardized process and validating test procedures and conditions is complicated by a lack of test samples with established performance. To aid in validating the results at the Maxxon Acoustics Lab, two concrete slabs were fabricated and tested in a Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility-style test design at Intertek Labs. After shipment from York, PA to Hamel, MN, mounting and edge conditions were established (as previously presented) at the Maxxon Labs, and the Gage R&R-style testing was replicated at the Maxxon Lab. The results indicate sources of variability between labs that can be attributed to the standard test methods, physical differences in reverberation rooms and test chamber design, and sample mounting conditions. In addition to validation of a single lab, the results have lessons for the interpretation of lab test results to improve isolation performance comparison across products and assemblies to inform architectural acoustic design.
On the vibroacoustics of cross-laminated timber embedded with acoustic black holes
Authors: Akinpelu Temitope , Lee Joonhee , Yousefzadeh Behrooz
Published: July 2024

The adoption of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in building construction is challenged by low-frequency impact noise. Conventional treatments typically involve increasing the mass of the floor assembly or employing structural decoupling techniques, both of which result in increased floor thickness. This study explores an alternative solution by examining the feasibility of embedding acoustic black holes (ABHs) into CLT floors. The ABH acts as a passive waveguide, concentrating vibrational energy in specific regions where it is transferred to damping layers and reduced. Using the finite element method, we investigated the vibroacoustic behavior of CLT plates within the 50–600 Hz frequency range. Our primary focus was on the influence of the ABH’s outer radius and the number of ABH inclusions within a CLT plate. The findings indicate that increasing the outer diameter of the ABH lowers the cut-on frequency and enhances the effective damping of the CLT plate. The increase in damping extends the effectiveness of the ABH to a broader frequency range, with the most noticeable effect above the cut-on frequency. The number of ABH inclusions impacts the structural modes below the cut-on frequency, and the optimal number of inclusions depends on the frequency of interest.
Comparison of ASTC results with the calculation performed using the NRC soundPATHS calculator
Authors: Leveque Nicolas
Published: July 2024

The NRC has developed a calculator that predict the apparent Sound insulation, as described in the procedure described in Section 5.8.1.4. or 5.8.1.5. of the 2015 edition of the National Building Code of Canada. Since 1984, MJM Acoustical Consultants has performed a lot of ASTC tests in the field on the huge variety of building structures (wood, steel, concrete, steel/concrete, etc.) and on different types of partitions (wood or steel). Since the 2015 National Building Code of Canada has been enforced in January 2022 in the Quebec province, there will be in increased demand to perform calculation the soundPaths calculator. Therefore, the performance of the calculator compared to real life situations should be assessed. The purpose of this paper is to present several comparison of the ASTC rating measured in the field and the rating provided by the soundPaths calculator using the same partitions compositions and building structure . We will then discuss the difference between the results and proposed some improvements of the NRC SoundPaths calculator.
Sonobiopsy for noninvasive molecular diagnosis of diseases
Authors: Chen Hong
Published: July 2024

Ultrasound technology has traditionally been pivotal in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic treatments. However, the advent of “sonobiopsy” has expand its application into molecular diagnosis. Sonobiopsy leverages ultrasound to noninvasively release disease-specific biomarkers into the bloodstream. This innovative approach enables spatially targeted and temporally controlled detection of disease-specific circulating biomarkers, offering a significant advancement in disease diagnosis. Initially conceptualized in 2009 by Gary Glazer's team at Stanford University, sonobiopsy has rapidly emerged as a groundbreaking technique. It is particularly promising in diagnosing brain diseases and other conditions, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional methods. This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the sonobiopsy field. It will cover its development, current applications, and potential future implications in medical diagnostics. The discussion will include insight into how sonobiopsy offers a more precise, controlled, and patient-friendly approach to disease detection, underscoring its growing importance in medicine.
Prediction of the sound pressure response in an enclosed cavity with sound absorbent walls using the CMA and AMA methods
Authors: Sung Shung H. , Nefske Donald J.
Published: July 2024

The sound pressure response in an enclosed cavity with sound absorbent walls is predicted using the classical modal analysis (CMA) method and the asymptotic modal analysis (AMA) method. The sound absorbing material is represented as an equivalent fluid with frequency dependent bulk material properties. The equivalent fluid properties can be obtained from either impedance tube test data or based on micro-scale Biot material properties. In the low frequency range, the CMA method is implemented to include the frequency dependent material properties. In the medium and high frequency ranges, when modal density is high, the frequency dependence effects become cumbersome using CMA. The AMA method has been developed as an asymptotic extension of the CMA method for the mid- and high-frequency ranges and is extended here to incorporate the frequency dependence of an equivalent fluid properties of the sound absorbing materials. An enclosed rectangular box subjected to loudspeaker excitation is used to evaluate the effect of absorption materials using the CMA method for the low-frequency range and the AMA method for the mid- and high-frequency ranges. Test data have also been obtained for comparisons of the CMA method in the low frequency range. Using these procedures, the CMA and AMA methods can be applied to represent absorbent materials over a wide frequency range for enclosure architectural design.
Exploring integral bounds for sound absorption: A comprehensive study
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Hu Ying , Huang Bohua , Han Xue , Huang Lixi
Published: July 2024

Sound absorption across a wide range of frequencies is a focus in contemporary acoustics. Recently, integral bounds of absorption or reflection coefficients were introduced as a guide of design optimization following the footsteps of electromagnetics, where integral relations were derived based on system causality considerations. This talk examines the relation between the integral bound and the effects of various physical boundary conditions and the bulk absorber material, with the hope to raise the bound. Effects of various approximations made during mathematical derivation are also examined by comparison with specific numerical examples, and the physics of the bound is thoroughly discussed. The findings are expected to have significant implications for the development of effective noise reduction strategies and the advancement of smart acoustic design.
Highlights from the technical committee on noise
Authors: Loubeau Alexandra , Mathews Logan T.
Published: July 2024

The Technical Committee on Noise (TCNS) includes researchers and industry practitioners interested in understanding noise generation from a variety of sources, its propagation, and its impact on structures, objects, and people. The goal of reducing the impact of this noise, or unwanted sound, has led to innovative model development, measurement techniques, mitigation strategies, and input towards the establishment of regulations. Community noise definition and abatement is of particular interest and motivates the advancement of research on a variety of topics, such as transportation noise from traditional and new vehicles, hearing protection, jet and rocket noise, building systems noise and vibration, atmospheric sound propagation, soundscapes, and low-frequency sound. The diverse technical background of TCNS members is essential, given the interdisciplinary nature of this research, and it is mirrored in the topics of special sessions typically held jointly with other ASA technical committees.
Assessing the role of auditory access in infancy
Authors: Uhler Kristin M. , Tollin Daniel , Madrid Angela M. , Gilley Phillip
Published: July 2024

Even with the widespread adoption of newborn hearing screening and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention systems, infants who are hard-of-hearing (IHH) remain at increased risk for poor or delayed development of auditory and speech perception skills. Speech perception is positively correlated with better auditory development on functional auditory skills and a variety of language outcomes. However, clinical utilization of speech perception tests has not been broadly accepted. One clinically viable tool to assess speech perception during infancy is our electroencephalography (EEG) procedure, which has been validated as an objective measure of speech discrimination. However, we have not examined the development of infant speech perception among IHH and infants with normal hearing (INH). Perceptual attunement—or “narrowing”—is a model of perceptual learning that posits that perceptual abilities are shaped by environmental experiences over the first year of life. Here, we describe our adapted EEG methods to examine the development of infant speech perception to study periods of perceptual attunement between IHH and INH. Preliminary findings confirm that at 3 months of age, infants demonstrate neural encoding of native and non-native speech sounds, and at 6 months of age results suggest a decrease in non-native speech sound encoding.
Digital therapeutics in hearing healthcare
Authors: Nakamura Keisuke A. , Kim Noori
Published: July 2024

Digital therapeutics (DTx) in hearing research have emerged as a new category of therapies that provide evidence-based intervention via digital means, such as software, smartphone apps, or websites. However, as they are relatively new, yet not well-established. In this presentation, we review DTx technologies in hearing research fields, focusing on three categories: prevention and diagnosis, aid (assistance), and curing (digital medicine). We observed that the majority of DTx systems require interactions with users (or patients) without clinical professionals’ direct support to obtain or collect medical evidence; this makes training (or education) features crucial to the success of the therapy. In this view, we will discuss the education or training functions of the current DTx and their contribution and purposes. The impact of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) on DTx in hearing research is being explored, along with discussions about the future of DTx concerning AI integration. We believe that this work will contribute to a better understanding of the current and future DTx technological advancements, shedding light on the field of hearing research, in particular.
Cognitive and developmental contributions to psychometric functions on three auditory tasks during adolescence and young adulthood
Authors: Huyck Julia J. , Sereki Serena A. , Benedict Jordin T.
Published: July 2024

Auditory perceptual tasks mature at different rates, with temporal tasks having longer developmental courses. We tested 10- to 23-year-olds on frequency discrimination, temporal-interval discrimination, and gap detection using the method of constant stimuli. During task performance, listening effort data were collected via eye-tracker. A cognitive battery was also administered. Thresholds correlated between the frequency and temporal-interval discrimination conditions, which shared the same standard stimulus, but not between other conditions. The slopes of the psychometric functions did not correlate between conditions, suggesting that different or time-varying factors might contribute to slopes on these conditions. Shallower psychometric functions corresponded to poorer thresholds on only the temporal-interval and gap conditions, implying a potential role for attention, engagement, fatigue, or the stability of the stimulus representations on those conditions. Regression modeling indicated a limited role of age: Age predicted thresholds on the temporal-interval discrimination condition and slopes on both the frequency and temporal-interval discrimination conditions. Testing order affected performance on frequency discrimination (threshold) and temporal-interval discrimination (threshold and slope). The measures of listening effort and cognition that predicted thresholds and slopes also differed between those two conditions. On gap detection, neither threshold nor slope was predicted by any variable. [Work funded by NIDCD.]
Individual differences in talker discrimination among adult cochlear implant users
Authors: Tamati Terrin N. , Sevich Victoria A.
Published: July 2024

Real-world speech communication involves interacting with talkers with diverse voices and accents. Adult cochlear implant (CI) users often demonstrate poor discrimination of talkers’ voices relative to their normal-hearing peers, which may contribute to difficulties in understanding speech produced by multiple talkers. However, the factors underlying poor talker discrimination ability are not well understood. The current study examined auditory and cognitive-linguistic factors that support talker discrimination, and explored the association between talker discrimination and sentence recognition across CI users. In an AX talker discrimination task, 25 adult CI users indicated whether word pairs were produced by the same talker or by two different talkers. Participants also completed measures of spectrotemporal processing, cognitive-linguistic skills, including fluid intelligence, working memory capacity, inhibitory control, and phonological processing, and sentence recognition. Results showed that talker discrimination scores (accuracy, sensitivity) were moderately to strongly correlated with spectrotemporal processing, fluid intelligence, inhibitory control, and phonological processing. Talker discrimination scores were also related to sentence recognition accuracy scores across CI users. These preliminary findings suggest that both auditory and cognitive-linguistic processes support talker discrimination, and, furthermore, may underlie the relationship between talker discrimination and sentence recognition in adult CI users.
Visual speech cues relieve listening effort selectively for listeners with hearing loss
Authors: Fleming Justin T. , Winn Matthew B.
Published: July 2024

Elevated listening effort is one of the most commonly reported and widely impactful problems among individuals with hearing loss. The ability to see a talker’s face may help mitigate listening effort, but research on this topic has generally excluded individuals with hearing loss. In this study, we used pupillometry as a time-sensitive index of listening effort for audio-visual speech while manipulating the availability of visual cues by selectively blurring the talker’s mouth. Blurring removed place-of-articulation information while allowing fair comparison of pupil size across conditions. Effortful listening was elicited using a sentence repetition task in which participants needed to use later context to fill in a missing word from earlier in the sentence. For listeners with typical hearing, visual cues had no measurable effect on listening effort. In contrast, listeners with cochlear implants (CIs) had two distinct benefits from visual cues: first, pupil dilations were smaller, suggesting release from effort. Second, the downstream intelligibility errors caused by the word-repair process were alleviated. These results caution against generalizing findings obtained with typical-hearing participants to a hearing loss population, support deeper analysis of perception error patterns, and demonstrate the importance of multisensory speech cues to relieve listening effort.
Fluctuation and correlation analyses for spontaneous otoacoustic activity from three terrestrial vertebrate groups
Authors: Bergevin Christopher , Fedoryk Olha
Published: July 2024

Spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) is a telltale sign of an active ear that commonly manifest as a set of spectral peaks unique to a given individual. These sounds arise from a variety of species, despite dramatic morphological differences considered important for cochlear function. Furthermore, SOAE peaks exhibit amplitude (AM) and frequency modulations (FM), these fluctuations giving rise to their characteristic widths. There is, however, little consensus on how SOAE activity is generated. Here, we provide a systematic comparative study of SOAE peak fluctuations across three different groups: human, owl, and (anole) lizard. Specifically, we focus on analysis of correlative behavior in AM and FM fluctuations within a given peak (intra-peak, IrP) and across peaks (inter-peak, IPP) for SOAE waveforms measured from individual ears. In general, there were numerous similarities and differences across the three groups. To complement the empirical data, we also considered one model class (coupled limit cycle oscillators grouping into “frequency clusters”) to ascertain how well that model captures fluctuations and associated correlative relations. Initial results indicate the model shows some consistencies with data (e.g., IPP correlations strongest for nearest-neighboring peaks) but also inconsistencies (e.g., model commonly exhibits IPP-FM correlations and to a greater degree than AM).
Exploring perceptual segregation cues in polyphonic vocal music under normal and impaired hearing
Authors: Bogaard Lisanne G. , Oxenham Andrew J.
Published: July 2024

Music plays an important role in the lives of many people, but its enjoyment can be compromised by hearing loss. Although the effects of hearing loss on speech are well-studied, its effects on music perception are less well-understood. This study examined normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners’ ability to hear out individual voices within polyphonic music, while varying the number of voices and the level of inharmonicity in each voice. We hypothesized that hearing loss would hinder listeners’ ability to distinguish voices in music due to impaired frequency selectivity and pitch perception but that inharmonicity would impact hearing-impaired listeners less, due to their reduced sensitivity to pitch discrepancies. MIDI-generated female vocal passages with one to five voices and different inharmonicity levels were presented in two tasks: estimating voice count (denumerability) and following a specific voice in the passage. Preliminary results indicate that hearing-impaired listeners struggle more with increasing voices than normal-hearing listeners but are less affected by inharmonicity. These outcomes align with our hypotheses, confirming that hearing loss leads to poorer overall performance and less sensitivity to inharmonicity. [Work supported by NIH grant R01DC005216.]
Modified rhyme test performance and error patterns predict self-reported frequency of temporary threshold shifts for normal hearing listeners
Authors: Ellis Gregory M. , Makashay Matthew J. , Brungart Douglas S.
Published: July 2024

After exposure to a loud sound, listeners may report that their hearing is dull or muffled. If hearing returns to pre-exposure levels, the change is considered a temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTSs are likely associated with damage to the auditory system. How frequently TTSs are experienced has been shown to be related to performance deficits on tasks like the modified rhyme test (MRT), even if audiometric thresholds are normal. The present study seeks to better understand the types of phonetic errors listeners with different frequencies of TTSs make on the MRT. Over 4000 US Service Members (SMs) completed the study. SMs were asked how frequently they experienced a TTS: “Never,” “Infrequent” ( < 1/year), or “Frequent” (≥1/ year). SMs completed 80 trials of a version of the MRT where SNR and target level were manipulated. Responses were analyzed using information theory and statistical modeling. Overall proportion correct, reaction time, and error rates associated with phonetic features were predictors of TTS frequency for normal hearing listeners. [The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.]
Self-administered, internet-enabled, modified rhyme test (MRT) for evaluating consonant confusion in remote subjects
Authors: Brammer Anthony J. , Golzari Kia , Soleymanpour Rahim , Heiney Erin , Marquis Hillary , Kim Insoo
Published: July 2024

A self-administered MRT has been developed for persons unable to attend on-site for testing. Subjects remotely log on to a website and are instructed to use their own computer and headphones or earphones/earbuds and seek a quiet location without distractions for the test. After inputting personal identification, the software produces the maximum and minimum intensity sounds that will be heard to allow the subject to adjust the audio gain to a comfortable listening level. The subject is then instructed not to re-adjust the audio gain during the MRT. Each trial is initiated by the subject and consists of the forced choice of one of six rhyming words, which is embedded in a carrier sentence. The pre-recorded speech in a single test, consisting of 25 trials, is replayed at a pre-selected, fixed speech signal-to-noise ratio. The internet-enabled MRT has been validated for subjects with believed normal hearing (N = 18) by comparison with a conventional MRT in our audiology clinic in which subjects' hearing thresholds were determined, and stimuli were presented at a prescribed sensation level (N = 7). Results were also compatible with word scores obtained on-site without audiological controls when subjects wore high-fidelity headphones (N = 6). [Work supported by NIOSH and the Alpha Foundation.]
Estimating thresholds with the adaptive scan method of psychophysical testing
Authors: Lelo de Larrea-Mancera E. S. , Koerner Tess K. , Hoover Eric C. , Stecker G. Christopher , Gallun Frederick J. , Seitz Aaron
Published: July 2024

We previously introduced an adaptive psychophysical method called the adaptive scan (AS) that is readily available in the digital app PART. AS presents multiple progressive tracks (e.g., “scans”) each of which comprises a range of stimulus values whose positioning adapts based on a listener´s performance. Each scan is intended to contain trials above and below a listener´s detection or discrimination threshold for an auditory cue, which is anticipated to increase familiarity with the tested cues. Previously, AS was validated against other known adaptive psychophysical methods (e.g., up-down staircases) and the method of constant stimulus using the QUEST algorithm. QUEST allowed for targeting the same point in the psychometric function (e.g., 80% threshold) in all methods tested. However, the QUEST procedure is parametric, requires many trials, and is not easily applied to the diversity of psychophysical tests that AS can be useful for. Here, we examine a variety of alternative approaches to estimate threshold from the AS procedure. This work adds to the usability of AS in particular and psychophysical testing in general.