bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Audibility of time-varying signals in time-varying backgrounds: Model and data
Authors: Moore Brian C. J. , Glasberg Brian R.
Published: September 2013

We have described a model for calculating the partial loudness of a steady signal in the presence of a steady background sound [Moore et al., J. Audio Eng. Soc. 45, 224–240 (1997)]. We have also described a model for calculating the loudness of time-varying signals [B. R. Glasberg and B. C. J. Moore, J. Audio Eng. Soc. 50, 331–342 (2002)]. These two models have been combined to allow calculation of the partial loudness of a time-varying signal in the presence of a time-varying background. To evaluate the model, psychometric functions for the detection of a variety of time-varying signals (e.g., telephone ring tones) have been measured in a variety of background sounds sampled from everyday listening situations, using a two-alternative forced-choice task. The different signals and backgrounds were interleaved, to create stimulus uncertainty, as would occur in everyday life. The data are used to relate the detectability index, d′, to the calculated partial loudness. In this way, the model can be used to predict the detectability of any signal, based on its calculated partial loudness. [Work supported by MRC (UK) and by Nokia.]
Noise: My 62 years of it!
Authors: Miller Laymon N.
Published: September 2013

Imagine getting paid for having fun! Well, in retrospect, it was fun; but there were several tough challenges. Even those are worth remembering. From 1941 to 1982, there were acoustic torpedoes, HVAC acoustics, noise and vibration in auditoriums, aircraft and airport noise, OSHA and industrial noise control, power plants, community noise problems, vbration, railroad and subway vibration control, legal acoustics, noise manuals, and noise courses—and a few other things that don’t fit into those neat categories. Some specific jobs could be named, but that would take away the suspense and the surprise. But 1941 to 1982 is only 41 years. How about the other 20-odd years?
Acoustics careers for engineers
Authors: Hansen Uwe J.
Published: September 2013

Many acoustics opportunities in industry, government laboratories, and academics rely on a background in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or physics. Acoustics deals principally with generation, propagation, and perception of sound. Engineering application, include among many other things, the study and control of structural vibrations, machinery analysis and maintenance, and industrial noise control. Thus, for example, the aircraft industry employs engineers to study vibrational characteristics of items such as turbine blades or entire fuselage assemblies. Among the many techniques utilized are holographic interferometry and modal analysis. Some of these methods will be illustrated.
Diffraction of nonsinusoidal sound in the sea
Authors: Spiesberger John L.
Published: September 2013

A theory of diffraction is applied to nonsinusoidal emissions of low-frequency sound in the sea. The ray approximation is sometimes good and other times not so good. Some theories for the scattering of nonsinusoidal emission of sound assume that propagation occurs within a Fresnel zone of the ray path. This assumption is incorrect. Indeed, the use of a correctly sized region based on a theory of diffraction appears to be able to help resolve major discrepancies between observations and such theories for acoustic fluctuations. Indeed, the correctly sized region can be orders of magnitude smaller than given by a Fresnel radius.
Localization of airborne pure tones by pinnipeds
Authors: Holt Marla M. , Schusterman Ronald J. , Southall Brandon L. , Kastak David
Published: September 2013

Although all pinnipeds communicate acoustically in air, most previous research on sound localization has been done under water. We have recently shown that several pinniped species localize aerial broadband signals as well as some terrestrial carnivores [Holt et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 113 (2003)]. However, it is unclear which frequencies are particularly important for localization in these animals. In this study, we tested a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in a hemianechoic chamber at frequencies ranging between 0.8 and 20 kHz. A left/right procedure was used to measure minimum audible angles (MAAs) corresponding to 75%-correct discrimination. MAAs ranged from approximately 4 to 13 deg in both subjects, with the largest MAAs or poorest acuity measured at the intermediate frequencies tested. These results are consistent with the duplex theory of sound localization in that low-frequency sounds appear to be localized on the basis of interaural time differences, while high-frequency sounds appear to be localized on the basis of interaural intensity differences. Testing with a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) will provide further insight on the use of binaural cues and head-size effects with respect to localization in pinnipeds.
Across-channel interference and grouping
Authors: Buss Emily , Hall Joseph W. , Grose John H.
Published: September 2013

Thresholds were measured for detection of an increment in level of a 500-ms, 1-kHz target tone, either in quiet or in the presence of masker tones at 0.5 and 2 kHz. Maskers were either 500 ms in duration, gated synchronously with the target, or 1 s in duration, leading the target by 500 ms. In some conditions the target and/or the maskers were amplitude modulated by multiplication with a raised cosine. The level of the target to which the increment was added was fixed at 60 dB SPL; the level of each masker was selected independently from a uniform distribution ±8 dB re: 60 dB. Thresholds were higher in the presence than in quiet, despite the 1-octave spectral separation. Maximum threshold elevation occurred for synchronous target/masker gating, and with all tones (target and masker) either steady or 10-Hz amplitude modulated. Thresholds in these conditions were on the order of 10 dB [in terms of 10log(delta I/I)]. Performance tended to improve with introduction of gating asynchrony and with 10-Hz modulation on either target or maskers. Improvements were on average approximately 5 dB, with more pronounced effects of gating. Results will be discussed in terms of spectral cues and perceptual organization.
The acoustical engineering of brasswind instruments 1779–1929
Authors: Myers Arnold
Published: September 2013

At the start of this 150-year period, brass musical instruments were made to traditional designs, which were developed by trial and error, the fittest surviving. Mechanical inventions (most importantly the valve) greatly widened the possibilities for bore engineering. Increasingly through this period, instrument designers were influenced by the developing science of acoustics. By 1929 most of the range of instruments in use today had been developed and acoustical tools were in use in optimizing the design of instruments. Considering the factors of greatest importance in determining the acoustical response of a brass instrument to be bore profile, bell flare (cutoff frequency), and mouthpiece geometry, landmarks in the development of existing instrumental types and the creation of new models are surveyed. The contributions of Stoelzel, C.M. Pace, Sax, Bayley, Blaikley, Webster, and Couturier are discussed. This paper is based on research involving direct examination of several hundred instruments from 1779–1929 located in museums worldwide.
Ultrasonic spacecraft leak location using structure borne noise
Authors: Holland Stephen D. , Roberts Ron R. , Chimenti D. E. , Strei Michael
Published: September 2013

Leak detection and location in pressure vessels is commonly performed using microphones to detect airborne ultrasound generated by the leak turbulence. For spacecraft, this turbulence is generated outside the spacecraft and cannot be detected inside because the leak velocity is approximately the speed of sound. Instead, to detect and locate leaks in on-orbit spacecraft we monitor leak-generated guided ultrasonic waves within the platelike spacecraft skin. We use cross-correlation to measure the deterministic behavior of the leak-generated noise. Measured leak-into-vacuum noise signals from two adjacent transducers, each correlated with the signal from a third reference transducer, are fed into headphones as a stereo pair. The direction to the leak can be determined by rotating the two transducers, or equivalently by selecting element pairs in a dense array. The leak can be precisely located through triangulation.
Calculating auditorium acoustic parameters from measured binaural impulse response
Authors: Zhao Yuezhe , Wu Shuoxian
Published: September 2013

The differences between Chinese traditional music and western music will cause some specific acoustics requirements for the auditoriums where national music programs are played. There are varieties of coupled spaces in buildings. These coupled spaces have some special acoustical characteristics. As a starting point of these researches, the binaural impulse responses and other acoustical parameters were measured and calculated for Guangzhou Southern Theatre where Chinese traditional music and Guangdong folk music are usually performed. The measurement results were analyzed in detail herein.
Stuttering: A novel bullfrog vocalization
Authors: Simmons Andrea , Suggs Dianne
Published: September 2013

The advertisement call of male bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) consists of a series of individual croaks, each of which contains multiple harmonics with a missing or attenuated fundamental frequency of approximately 100 Hz. The envelope of individual croaks has typically been represented in the literature as smooth and unmodulated. From an analysis of 5251 advertisement calls from 17 different choruses over two mating seasons, we show that males add an extra modulation (around 4 Hz) to the envelope of individual croaks, following specific rules. We term these extra modulations stutters. Neither single croak calls nor the first croak in multiple croak calls contains stutters. When stuttering begins, it does so with a croak containing a single stutter, and the number of stutters increases linearly (plus or minus 1 stutter, up to 4 stutters) with the number of croaks. This pattern is stable across individual males (N=10). Playback experiments reveal that vocal responses to stuttered and nonstuttered calls vary with proximity to the stimulus. Close males respond with nonstuttered calls, while far males respond with stuttered calls. The data suggest that nonstuttered calls are used for aggressive or territorial purposes, while stuttered calls are used to attract females.
Training experienced hearing-aid users to identify syllable-initial consonants in quiet and noise
Authors: Miller James D. , Dalby Jonathan M. , Watson Charles S. , Burleson Deborah F.
Published: September 2013

Five experienced hearing-aid users with sensorineural hearing loss were given 14 h of intensive training identifying consonants in quiet and noise. Their performance was compared to that of five similar hearing-aid users with no special training. All listeners had moderate to severe hearing losses and had worn hearing aids for at least 1 year. All were pretested with a set of 20 consonants combined with three vowels /I,a,u/ as spoken by six different talkers. Pretests were conducted in quiet and in noise (multitalker babble) at moderate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Training was conducted with eight target consonants (TCs). The TCs were in each listener’s middle range of difficulty, and the three most common confusors for each target were individually selected, forming target sets of four consonants. Training was conducted in quiet and noise. During training, trial-by-trial feedback was given and, following an error, the listener could rapidly compare the intended syllable with its confusor. In noise, the SNR adapted to a criterion of 80 correct. There were no differences between training and control listeners on the pretests. After training, there was a significant 5% advantage for the trained listeners. Training generalized to talkers never heard during training. [Work supported by NIDCD.]
The role of formant transitions in the perception of syllable final voicing
Authors: Warren W. J. , Coren A. E.
Published: September 2013

This experiment examines the role of formant transitions as a cue in syllable final voicing distinctions, specifically between low vowels and alveolar stops. Past studies have shown that when token length is a variable, listeners identify shorter tokens with voiceless codas and longer tokens with longer tokens. Ten tokens of 200 ms were synthesized from an original token and randomly played to 15 listeners. All tokens were derived from an original with steady state and formant transition period of the vowel at 100 ms each. F1 cutoff was 250 Hz and F2 cutoff was 1600 Hz. To control for token time, as transitional period was taken off in intervals of 5 ms it was then added to the steady state so that a length of 200 ms could be preserved for all tokens. Previous experiments have shown that adding 100 ms of steady state vowel onto tokens of 350 ms produces no shift in voicing distinctions, and the results here strengthen that finding. It has been shown that listeners can quickly learn to associate formant transitions with syllable final voicing distinctions when the length of the tokens is controlled.
Near-shore krill distribution around Livingston Island, Antarctica
Authors: Warren Joseph D. , Demer David A.
Published: September 2013

The near-shore regions of Livingston Island, Antarctica were studied during the austral summers of 2002 and 2004 to measure the Antarctic krill population and factors which control their distribution. These waters serve as the main feeding grounds for the seasonally resident fur seal and penguin populations of Cape Shirreff. Shallow and highly variable bathymetry in this area precludes surveying from large ships, therefore a specially modified, 19-ft inflatable vessel was used to conduct meteorological and acoustic backscatter surveys of the near-shore region. Concurrently, a 300-ft vessel conducted an overlapping, off-shore survey and collected acoustic backscatter, hydrographic, and net tow data. Results from this study indicate that the near-shore waters contained higher concentrations of acoustic scatterers (believed to be krill) and that the distribution of these animals was related to the presence of two deep submarine canyons that flank Cape Shirreff. Hydrographic data indicate that the near-surface waters near these canyons contained elevated levels of temperature and oxygen. During the 2004 study, several buoys equipped with echosounders were deployed at these canyons to better study their effect on the krill population.
Linear contrast agent detection through low frequency manipulation of high frequency scattering properties
Authors: Hansen Rune , Angelsen Bjorn A.
Published: September 2013

In medical ultrasound imaging, contrast agents in the form of encapsulated gas bubbles are injected into the blood to enhance the scattered blood signal which is weak compared to the scattered tissue signal. Obtaining blood information is, from a medical diagnostic point of view, very helpful. Due to the strong linearly back-scattered tissue signal, contrast imaging today relies on the nonlinear scattering properties of the added gas bubbles. These harmonic techniques typically have important limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and image range resolution. The present paper proposes a new method applying the total scattered contrast signal for image reconstruction, thus largely overcoming the problems encountered in contrast harmonic ultrasound imaging techniques. In the new method, contrast signals and tissue signals are differentiated applying a simple pulse subtraction technique which cancels or significantly reduces the scattered tissue signal, whereas the scattered contrast signal, due to assisting transmitted low frequency pulses altering the acoustic scattering properties of the contrast agent, is preserved in this process. The main mechanism through which this imaging technique selects the contrast agent signal is the linear resonant properties of the contrast bubble and the new method is thus mainly a linear contrast agent detection technique.
U.S. Navy sources and receivers for studying acoustic propagation and climate change in the ocean
Authors: Spiesberger John L.
Published: September 2013

Sounds from a U.S. Navy SSQ-110A source are received at high signal-to-noise ratios at ocean-basin scales at two Sound Surveillance Systems in the Pacific. The sounds have sufficient pulse resolution to study climatic variations of temperature. The acoustic data can be understood using ray and parabolic approximations to the wave equation. Modeled internal waves decrease pulse resolution from 0.01 to 0.1 s, consistent with observations.
Disrupting the build-up of the precedence effect
Authors: Freyman Richard L. , Keen Rachel
Published: September 2013

When pairs of clicks are presented with a brief delay to one loudspeaker, the perception of a single fused image builds up as the clicks are repeated. If lead and lag loudspeakers are then reversed, the precedence effect resets, i.e., two auditory images are often heard immediately after the switch. However, Djelani and Blauert [Acta Acust. (Beijing) 87, 253–261 (2001)] found that a brief reversal in lag location did not reset the built-up fusion at the original spatial configuration. The current experiment determined whether the build-up effect would be disrupted or slowed by interleaving variations in lead–lag stimuli within a train of repeated clicks. During the standard train the lead was presented from 45 deg left and the lag from 45 deg right, the click pairs were presented at a rate of 4/s, the number of clicks ranged from 3 to 9, and the delay between lead and lag varied from 2 to 14 ms across trials. Results show that the variation that disrupted the build-up most consistently was when clicks from only the lead loudspeaker were interleaved. This condition simulated the absence of expected reflections. [Work supported by NIDCD DC01625.]
Perception of correlations between acoustic cues in category tuning and speaker adaptation
Authors: Holt Lori , Wade Travis
Published: September 2013

In English and many other languages, fundamental frequency (f0) varies with voicing such that voiced consonants are produced with lower f0’s than their voiceless counterparts. This regularity robustly influences perception, such that sounds synthesized or spoken with a low f0 are more often perceived as voiced than are sounds with a higher f0. This series of studies exploited these observations to investigate category tuning as a function of incidental exposure to correlations among speech cues and adaptation to speaker idiosyncrasies or accent. Manipulation of f0 across sets of natural speech utterances produced stimulus sets varying in their inherent f0/voicing relationship. Listeners were exposed to these different f0/voicing patterns via spoken word and nonword items in a lexical decision task, and their resulting categorization of ambiguous consonants varying in f0 and voice onset time (VOT) was measured. The results suggest listeners adapt quickly to speaker-specific cues but also remain influenced by more global, naturally occurring covariance patterns of f0 and voicing in English. This pattern contrasts somewhat with studies where idiosyncrasy is represented instead by manipulation of primary, first-order cues to speech sounds, in which listeners are seen to adapt more straightforwardly to the cues they are presented.
Evidence for auditory signal-detection templates tuned to both the frequency and duration of an expected signal
Authors: Wright Beverly A.
Published: September 2013

When trying to detect a tonal signal in a continuous broadband noise, listeners attend selectively to both the frequency and the duration of the expected signal. However, it is not known whether they monitor separate, or combined, representations of these two attributes. To investigate this question, a probe-signal method was used to measure the detectability of signals of expected and unexpected durations at two expected frequencies. Four listeners were led to expect one of two signals to be presented at random: a brief tone at one frequency or a long tone at another frequency. For each signal frequency, the detectability of the signals of unexpected duration decreased to near chance as the difference between the expected and unexpected duration, at that frequency, increased. Thus, signals of each expected duration were rarely detected when they were presented at a frequency not associated with that duration. The frequency specificity of this duration tuning indicates that both the frequency and the duration of an expected stimulus are represented in a single signal-detection template. [Work supported by NIH.]
Standards for acoustical instruments
Authors: Marsh Alan H.
Published: September 2013

Prior to 1930, sounds were classified from subjective judgments of loudness. General-purpose instruments that could make objective measurements of sounds were not yet developed, nor were there any national or international standards with specifications for the performance characteristics of such instruments. In recognition of the need for instruments that could provide objective measurements of a sound, as well as the need for a national consensus on the characteristics of a sound to be measured, the newly founded Acoustical Society of America established Sectional Committees in 1930 to develop such standards under the procedures of the American Standards Association (now the American National Standards Institute). A draft of a standard for sound level meters prepared by the subcommittee for Sound Levels and Sound Level Meters was considered at a meeting of the Sectional Committee in May 1934. After incorporating revisions in response to comments and suggestions, the draft standard for sound level meters was approved for publication by the American Standards Association on 17 February 1936. This paper describes the development of sound level meters and other instruments; along with related national and international standards, in the years since that auspicious beginning.
Normal modes of different types of mandolins
Authors: Cohen David J. , Rossing Thomas D.
Published: September 2013

The vibrational modes and sound spectra of some pre-1929 archtop mandolins and pre-1922 Neapolitan (‘‘bowlback’’) mandolins have been studied. The results have been compared with those obtained previously on archtop mandolins constructed more recently [D. Cohen and T. D. Rossing, CASJ 4(2), 48–54 (2000), D. Cohen and T. D. Rossing, Acoust. Sci. Tech. 24, 1–6 (2003)]. Some obvious and predictable differences between the Neapolitan mandolins and the archtop mandolins were found. The very stiff bowls of the Neapolitans do not contribute to corpus vibrations below about 1.2 kHz. The ladder-braced top plates of the Neapolitans are also quite stiff, with the (0,0) mode first occurring at or above 500 Hz. The (0,0) modes in archtop mandolins generally occur at lower frequencies. Archtop mandolins with f-holes generally have either longitudinal bracing or X-bracing, with the results that the modes involving cross-grain bending [e.g., (1,0), (2,0), etc.] occur at lower frequencies than the modes involving bending along the grain [e.g., (0,1), (0,2), etc.]. In the ladder-braced Neapolitans, the modes involving cross-grain bending occur at higher frequencies than the modes involving bending along the grain.
The role of timbre in pitch matching abilities and pitch discrimination abilities with complex tones
Authors: Moore Robert E. , Watts Christopher R. , Zhang Fawen
Published: September 2013

Control of fundamental frequency (F0) is important for singing in-tune and is an important factor related to the perception of a talented singing voice. One purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pitch-matching skills, which is one method of testing F0 control, and pitch discrimination skills. It was observed that there was a relationship between pitch matching abilities and pitch discrimination abilities. Those subjects that were accurate pitch matchers were also accurate pitch discriminators (and vice versa). Further, timbre differences appeared to play a role in pitch discrimination accuracy. A second part of the study investigated the effect of timbre on speech discrimination. To study this, all but the first five harmonics of complex tones with different timbre were removed for the pitch discrimination task, thus making the tones more similar in timbre. Under this condition no difference was found between the pitch discrimination abilities of those who were accurate pitch matchers and those who were inaccurate pitch matchers. The results suggest that accurate F0 control is at least partially dependent on pitch discrimination abilities, and timbre appears to play an important role in differences in pitch discrimination ability.
Modes and quasimodes for outdoor sound propagation at night
Authors: Waxler Roger
Published: September 2013

Sound propagation outdoors at night is characterized by sound-speed profiles which are downward refracting in the first few hundred meters of the atmosphere but upward refracting at higher altitudes. The downward refraction causes sound to be ducted along the ground. Due to the upward refraction up high, however, this ducting is imperfect in that sound can leak away into the upper atmosphere. It has been shown that for most frequencies the sound is attenuated by the ground before it can leak out of the duct, effectively stabilizing the duct. For these frequencies a modal expansion has been developed which gives an efficient and physically transparent model for low-angle propagation. There are, however, certain resonant frequency bands in which the leaking can be significant. For these frequencies the modal expansion is not sufficient, but needs to be augmented by the addition of quasimodes. The quasimodes, while not strictly speaking modes, have the same form as the modes. A straightforward method for determining the quasimodes will be presented. The result is a modal expansion with uniform validity from frequencies of a few Hz up to a few kHz.
Multiple scattering from a random distribution of elastic cylinders in a fluid: Reflection and transmission coefficients of a slab
Authors: Le Bas Pierre-Yves , Luppe Francine , Conoir Jean-Marc
Published: September 2013

The reflection and transmission coefficients of a slab containing a random distribution of elastic, infinitely long cylindrical scatterers in water are studied. The slab is immersed in water and insonified by a harmonic plane wave. All scatterers are identical, parallel, with axes normal to the incidence plane. A uniform random distribution is supposed. An extension of the Fikioris and Waterman model is developed in order to describe the propagation of the coherent wave in the slab. Its dispersion equation is numerically solved, providing its velocity and its attenuation. When there is only one solution of the dispersion equation that corresponds to an actually propagating wave, the slab is shown to behave as a dissipative equivalent fluid medium (effective medium). The results are compared to those obtained from the Waterman and Truell model and to those of Foldy. The reflection and transmission coefficients are then written in a compact form similar to that of a fluid slab, so that the frequency dependence of the density of the effective medium may be studied. Results are shown for different concentrations of scatterers and for two different kinds of cylindrical scatterers.
Developmental changes in the perception of syllable-final stop voicing are not explained by age-related differences in auditory sensitivity
Authors: Nittrouer Susan
Published: September 2013

Two cues to voicing decisions for syllable-final stops are vocalic duration and formant transitions, especially F1, at syllable offset. Developmental studies show that children weight vocalic duration less and formant transitions more than adults. This study tested the hypothesis that age-related differences in auditory sensitivity can explain these developmental changes by measuring adults’ and children’s sensitivities to changes in the duration of nonspeech, complex tones and analogous speech stimuli. The durations of three-tone sinusoidal stimuli and natural cob and cop were varied. Duration difference limens (DLs) were similar for listeners across ages, and similar for nonspeech and speech. Also, the extent of frequency fall was varied in three-tone sinusoidal stimuli for the first tone (T1) only or for all three tones, as well as for F1 only in synthetic buck/bug. DLs for frequency extent were similar for listeners across ages for nonspeech stimuli when all three tones fell, but children had larger DLs than adults when only T1 or F1 fell, a finding contrary to labeling results showing that children weight this very property more than adults. Overall the evidence contradicted the hypothesis that age-related differences in auditory sensitivity can explain developmental changes in the perception of syllable-final stop voicing.
Self-organizing spatial pattern formation in wedge diffraction
Authors: Ueda Mitsuhiro
Published: September 2013

It is well-known that the amplitude of potential near the apex of a 2D rigid wedge is proportional to the (PAI/WA)th power of the distance between the observation point and the apex, where PAI=3.14 and WA is an apex angle of the wedge measured in the free space. In the case of a semi-infinite plane (WA=2PAI), the square-root dependence is observed. This phenomenon should be regarded as a self-organizing spatial pattern formation, since this pattern arises for any waves incident to the apex. It has been, however, explained in terms of eigenfunctions, and no mechanism for this self-organization has been proposed so far. The boundary value problem for the potential on the boundary of the wedge is formulated using a new principle of diffraction, that is, the virtual discontinuity principle of diffraction (VDPD). By applying this formulation to observation points that are located near the apex, a relation that describes mutual dependence of the potential around the apex is obtained. It can be shown that this relation allows the stable solution only for the specific distance dependence. Thus, the mechanism of the self-organization in wedge diffraction is made clear by the VDPD analysis.
Noise and social deprivation in an urban environment
Authors: Shield Bridget , Dockrell Julie
Published: September 2013

Noise levels have been measured inside and outside approximately 170 schools in London, England, as part of a project to investigate the effects of noise on the cognitive performance and academic attainments of children of primary school age in London. As well as providing data on individual schools the survey has provided a portrait of the noise climate across London. In addition to noise levels, the external noise sources present at each measurement location have been identified. The locations in which external schools noise levels were measured include areas where road traffic is the predominant noise source and areas near Heathrow Airport where aircraft are the major source. In addition to noise data, the following socioeconomic information has been obtained for a majority of the schools: percentages of children at each school having free school meals and the numbers for whom English is not the first language. The first of these is known to be a reliable indicator of social deprivation in an area. The relationship between noise and these socioeconomic factors has been established, which shows that, as might be expected, the higher noise levels in London are associated with the areas of greater social deprivation.
Environmental noise in Beijing
Authors: Tian Jing , Wang Yi
Published: September 2013

Beijing is a city under rapid development. More than 60% of the complaints on the environment comes from noise pollution. With a road system of total length of 4200 km and thousands of construction sites, road traffic, and construction are the most important noise sources in Beijing. One third of its population of nearly 14 million inhabitants and more than 3 million visitors is influenced by traffic noise and 16% of its inhabitants are living along various roads and expressways. A series of noise control measures have been taken since the early 1980s, such as road system reconstruction and improvement, industrial noise source control, vehicle noise control, as well as various administrative steps, which reduced the traffic noise by 7 dBA with the number and average flux of vehicles multiplied by more than three times and kept the city in a day–night average level around 64 dBA. In this paper, the environmental noise legislation in Beijing is briefly introduced. The historical progress in noise control is reviewed. The noise pollution up-to-date is given and discussed. Some possible improvements and potential opportunities are presented.
Confronting bad husbandry
Authors: Henderson Kathryn
Published: September 2013

THIS series gives readers the opportunity to consider and contribute to discussion of some of the ethical dilemmas that can arise in veterinary practice. Each month, a case scenario is presented, followed by discussion of some of the issues involved. In addition, a possible way forward is suggested; however, there is rarely a cut‐and‐dried answer in such cases, and readers may wish to suggest an alternative approach. This month's dilemma, ‘Confronting bad husbandry’, was submitted and is discussed by Kathryn Henderson. Readers with comments to contribute are invited to send them as soon as possible, so that they can be considered for publication in the next issue. Discussion of the dilemma ‘Honesty and euthanasia’, which was published in the July/August issue of In Practice, appears on page 487.

The series is being coordinated by Siobhan Mullan, of the University of Bristol. It is hoped it will provide a framework that will help practices find solutions when facing similar dilemmas.
Potential applications of CCTV in veterinary practice
Authors: Harvey Ian
Published: September 2013

We are currently living in the ‘digital age’ and CCTV has its own part in this technological revolution. Ian Harvey, explains some of the changes and the potential advantages available when CCTV systems are effectively designed.
Comments on the dilemma in the July/August issue: ‘Honesty and euthanasia’
Authors: Mullan Siobhan
Published: September 2013

The dilemma in the July/August issue concerned a client who wanted her dog to be euthanased; it had bitten several people and was required to wear a muzzle in public. The situation was complicated by the owner's teenage son, who strongly opposed ending his pet's life. You noticed a possible infected neoplasm on the dog's leg and the owner suggested convincing her son that the dog had to be put down because of the ‘incurable cancer’ (In Practice, July/August 2013, volume 35, pages 422‐423). Peter Fordyce proposed that the best way forward might be to go through with the euthanasia. Not only had previous behavioural modification failed but the owner would likely seek out a different vet if you refused. He argued that prolonging the situation would probably bring further physical, psychological and legal risk to the family. While the vet should not lie to the son directly, it might be acceptable to go along with the deception if it came from the mother, for the greater good of the family's harmony.
Soft tissue surgery of the chinchilla
Authors: Saunders Richard
Published: September 2013

Surgical conditions are relatively uncommon in the chinchilla in practice, but these animals may present with gastrointestinal and urinary tract blockages and as obstetric emergencies. This article describes some of the common conditions likely to be seen, and general factors that should be considered when carrying out surgery on these animals.
THEORETICAL RESEARCH OF THE OPTICAL SPECTRA AND EPR PARAMETERS FOR Cs2NaYCl6:Dy3+ CRYSTAL
Authors: DONG HUI-NING , DONG MENG-RAN , LI JIN-JIN , LI DENG-FENG , ZHANG YI
Published: September 2013

The calculated EPR parameters are in reasonable agreement with the observed values. The important material Cs 2 NaYCl 6 doped with rare earth ions have received much attention because of its excellent optical and magnetic properties. Based on the superposition model, in this paper the crystal field energy levels, the electron paramagnetic resonance parameters g factors of Dy 3+ and hyperfine structure constants of 161 Dy 3+ and 163 Dy 3+ isotopes in Cs 2 NaYCl 6 crystal are studied by diagonalizing the 42 × 42 energy matrix. In the calculations, the contributions of various admixtures and interactions such as the J-mixing, the mixtures among the states with the same J-value, and the covalence are all considered. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the observed values. The results are discussed.
BREAKING ANALYSIS OF ARTIFICIAL ELASTIC TUBES AND HUMAN ARTERY
Authors: LI W. G. , GOING J. , HILL N. A. , LUO X. Y.
Published: September 2013

Mechanical behaviors of artificial elastic tubes are studied to see if the fibre orientation in these vessels is optimal by comparison with those of human artery. By optimal we mean that the strengths of stretching and inflation in the vessels are equally good. Artificial thin film tubes have many applications in the food and fruit packing industry. In this paper, the wall of thin-film elastic tubes is considered as a fibre-reinforced membrane with two families of fibres and a uniform matrix material. Their mechanical properties are determined using a structure-based constitutive law. The constitutive parameters are inversely estimated from two separate uniaxial tensile tests in the circumferential and longitudinal directions. The inflation model for the elastic tubes and human common carotid artery are developed to investigate their breaking characteristics, and to explore the optimal fibre orientations. Results show that the fibre orientation has an important effect on the break behavior of the elastic tubes, and the tubes investigated are much weaker in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the fibre orientation is close to the optimal state in the human common carotid artery.
Nothing in Genetics Makes Sense Except in Light of Genomic Conflict
Authors: Rice William R.
Published: September 2013

Examples of genomic conflict were apparent soon after the inception of the field of modern genetics. Despite these early discoveries, the relevance of genomic conflict to the core principles of genetics has been largely unappreciated. In this synthetic review I will describe why knowledge of the logic and diverse forms of genomic conflict is essential to understanding all subfields of genetics. Because there are so many ways in which some parts of all prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes can evolve to gain a reproductive advantage at the expense of other parts, the prevalence of genomic conflict is universal, and it influences all aspects of genetic form and function.
The Genotypic View of Social Interactions in Microbial Communities
Authors: Mitri Sara , Richard Foster Kevin
Published: September 2013

Dense and diverse microbial communities are found in many environments. Disentangling the social interactions between strains and species is central to understanding microbes and how they respond to perturbations. However, the study of social evolution in microbes tends to focus on single species. Here, we broaden this perspective and review evolutionary and ecological theory relevant to microbial interactions across all phylogenetic scales. Despite increased complexity, we reduce the theory to a simple null model that we call the genotypic view. This states that cooperation will occur when cells are surrounded by identical genotypes at the loci that drive interactions, with genetic identity coming from recent clonal growth or horizontal gene transfer (HGT). In contrast, because cooperation is only expected to evolve between different genotypes under restrictive ecological conditions, different genotypes will typically compete. Competition between two genotypes includes mutual harm but, importantly, also many interactions that are beneficial to one of the two genotypes, such as predation. The literature offers support for the genotypic view with relatively few examples of cooperation between genotypes. However, the study of microbial interactions is still at an early stage. We outline the logic and methods that help to better evaluate our perspective and move us toward rationally engineering microbial communities to our own advantage.
Regulation of Bacterial Metabolism by Small RNAs Using Diverse Mechanisms
Authors: Bobrovskyy Maksym , Vanderpool Carin K.
Published: September 2013

Bacteria live in many dynamic environments with alternating cycles of feast or famine that have resulted in the evolution of mechanisms to quickly alter their metabolic capabilities. Such alterations often involve complex regulatory networks that modulate expression of genes involved in nutrient uptake and metabolism. A great number of protein regulators of metabolism have been characterized in depth. However, our ever-increasing understanding of the roles played by RNA regulators has revealed far greater complexity to regulation of metabolism in bacteria. Here, we review the mechanisms and functions of selected bacterial RNA regulators and discuss their importance in modulating nutrient uptake as well as primary and secondary metabolic pathways.
The Adoption of Transparency Policies in Global Governance Institutions: Justifications, Effects, and Implications
Authors: Donaldson Megan , Kingsbury Benedict
Published: September 2013

Formal transparency policies are increasingly prevalent in global governance institutions, partially attenuating the influence in these institutions of practices of secrecy inherited from interstate diplomacy. This article assesses the incidence and specific characteristics of formal transparency policies across a select group of institutions and outlines some of the justifications given for these policies—including justifications based on the publicness of these institutions—and for the more controversial exceptions to transparency, such as the exception for deliberative materials. It examines three drivers affecting the adoption, form, and content of transparency policies and other transparency measures in these institutions: spillover from national transparency laws and policies, growth in the reach and significance of authority exercised in and through global institutions, and criticism of global institutions by influential states and nongovernmental organizations. Twelve hypotheses are proposed about the effects, for states, nonstate actors, and global governance institutions, of transparency measures—formal policies and other steps to increase transparency—in global governance institutions. Finally, the article considers some implications of transparency measures for structures of political power and authority beyond the state and for global administrative law.
Spent Mushroom Waste as a Media Replacement for Peat Moss in Kai‐Lan (Brassica oleracea var. Alboglabra) Production
Authors: Sendi H. , Mohamed M. T. M. , Anwar M. P. , Saud H. M.
Published: September 2013

Peat moss (PM) is the most widely used growing substrate for the pot culture. Due to diminishing availability and increasing price of PM, researchers are looking for viable alternatives for peat as a growth media component for potted plants. A pot study was conducted with a view to investigate the possibility of using spent mushroom waste (SMW) for Kai‐lan (Brassica oleracea var. Alboglabra) production replacing peat moss (PM) in growth media. The treatments evaluated were 100% PM (control), 100% SMW, and mixtures of SMW and PM in different ratios like 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 (v/v) with/without NPK amendment. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with five replications per treatment. Chemical properties like pH and salinity level (EC) of SMW were within the acceptable range of crop production but, nutrient content, especially nitrogen content was not enough to provide sufficient nutrition to plant for normal growth. Only PM (100%) and SMW and PM mixture in 1 : 1 ratio with NPK amendment performed equally in terms of Kai‐lan growth. This study confirms the feasibility of replacing PM by SMW up to a maximum of 50% in the growth media and suggests that NPK supplementation from inorganic sources is to ensure a higher productivity of Kai‐lan.
Neuroprotective Effects of MicroRNA-210 on Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: Qiu Jie , Zhou Xiao-yu , Zhou Xiao-guang , Cheng Rui , Liu Hai-ying , Li Yong
Published: September 2013

Objectives. To reveal the effect of microRNA-210 on cell apoptosis caused by HIE.Methods. Postnatal day 7 rats after HI injury were intraventricularly injected with microRNA-210 mimic, microRNA-210 inhibitor, or physiological saline. 72 h after the injection, rats were sacrificed and the left hemispheres were collected. The expression level of microRNA-210 was identified by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Apoptosis in brain sections was investigated by TUNEL assay. Apoptosis-related protein expressions were studied by Western blot analysis.Results. The results showed that microRNA-210, whose expression was downregulated in the brain 72 h after HI injury, suppressed neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting caspase activity and regulating the balance between bcl-2 and bax levels.Discussion. Recent study demonstrated that microRNA-210 has neuroprotective effects through inhibiting apoptosis in a murine model of HIE. It represents a potential novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of HIE.
The Role of “Mixed” Orexigenic and Anorexigenic Signals and Autoantibodies Reacting with Appetite-Regulating Neuropeptides and Peptides of the Adipose Tissue-Gut-Brain Axis: Relevance to Food Intake and Nutritional Status in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
Authors: Smitka Kvido , Papezova Hana , Vondra Karel , Hill Martin , Hainer Vojtech , Nedvidkova Jara
Published: September 2013

Eating disorders such as anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are characterized by abnormal eating behavior. The essential aspect of AN is that the individual refuses to maintain a minimal normal body weight. The main features of BN are binge eating and inappropriate compensatory methods to prevent weight gain. The gut-brain-adipose tissue (AT) peptides and neutralizing autoantibodies play an important role in the regulation of eating behavior and growth hormone release. The mechanisms for controlling food intake involve an interplay between gut, brain, and AT. Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and serotoninergic systems are required for communication between brain satiety centre, gut, and AT. These neuronal circuits include neuropeptides ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), leptin, putative anorexigen obestatin, monoamines dopamine, norepinephrine (NE), serotonin, and neutralizing autoantibodies. This extensive and detailed report reviews data that demonstrate that hunger-satiety signals play an important role in the pathogenesis of eating disorders. Neuroendocrine dysregulations of the AT-gut-brain axis peptides and neutralizing autoantibodies may result in AN and BN. The circulating autoantibodies can be purified and used as pharmacological tools in AN and BN. Further research is required to investigate the orexigenic/anorexigenic synthetic analogs and monoclonal antibodies for potential treatment of eating disorders in clinical practice.