Ancestral healing rituals and the significance of Taky Samy in andean spirituality.

Taky Samy is an ancestral Andean healing practice of our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and auric bodies. Taky Samy practices connect us with plants, animals, birds and Mother Earth, through the language of instruments made of ceramic, bamboo, deer, and condor feathers and bones. These practices are guided by the sacred word of prayer, mantras and songs that connect with the Great Ordering Spirit Pachakamak, and the Great Mystery Tunupa Tixi Wirakocha, so that we can return to the order of life in harmony with all the beings of Mother Earth. Mother Earth has her order and that order guides all the activities of our lives. This order is represented in the cycles of the cultivation of our crops: corn in the first order, accompanied by potatoes, beans, quinua, chochos, pumpkins, and so on. Mother Earth cycles lead all Raymi and Andean rituals and festive celebrations, such as the solar dances that are accompanied by corn chicha, this includes the practice of Taky Samy ceremonies, music and dances. Taky Samy is more than musical therapy, it is harmony of life. Its therapeutic attributes and sacred language can heal an array of ailments and can also prevent adverse personal and family situations. Taky Samy celebrates social harmony and wards off illnesses and bad luck. It ultimately connects society with the Buen Vivir or Good Living, the Sumak Kawsay, which is a legacy of our Andean ancestors. This paper touches on the origins, purpose and practices of Taky Samy as important elements of the tapestry of ancestral Andean healing rituals. It focuses on Tayta Shairy Quimbo's (this paper's first author) Taky Samy path and practices. Taky Samy sacred instruments and spaces, as well as healing word and practices, connect us with spiritual worlds, to the consciousness of Pacha Mama renewing lives. Taky Samy reveals the importance and centrality of the revitalisation of Indigenous ancestral healing practices to the continuity of Andean spirituality, ontological wisdom and consciousness.

Listening to heart sounds through the pressure waveform.

Non-invasive diagnostic modalities are integral to cardiovascular care; however, current systems primarily measure peripheral pressure, limiting the breadth of cardiovascular prognostication. We report a novel approach for extracting left side heart sounds using a brachial cuff device. The technique leverages brachial cuff device enhanced signal resolution to capture pressure fluctuations generated by cardiohemic system vibrations, the sound pressure waveform. We analyze left heart catheterization data alongside simultaneous brachial cuff device measurements to correlate sound pressure waveform features with left ventricle (LV) contractility. The extracted sound pressure waveform reveals two prominent oscillatory wave packets, termed WP1 and WP2, originating from cardiac structure vibrations associated with LV contractions and relaxation. We demonstrate that WP1 originates from LV contraction during systolic blood ejection through the aortic valve (AV) and is correlated with LV isovolumetric contraction, clinically measured by LV dPdt-max (Pearson-R = 0.65, p < 0.001). Additionally, we show that WP2 comes from LV elongation required for blood flow deceleration at the end of systole, causing AV closure, and is correlated with LV isovolumetric relaxation, measured by LV ndPdt-max (Pearson-R = 0.55, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the value of cuff sound pressure waveforms in providing insights about dynamic coupling of the LV-Aorta complex for non-invasive assessment of LV contractility.

The Potential of Sound Analysis to Reveal Hemodynamic Conditions of Arteriovenous Fistulae for Hemodialysis.

PURPOSE: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis, is associated with high failure rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of AVF sound auscultation in providing quantitative information on AVF hemodynamic conditions. METHODS: This single-center prospective study involved six patients with native radio-cephalic AVFs who underwent multiple follow-up visits. Doppler Ultrasound blood flow volume (BFV) assessment and electronic stethoscope-based sound recordings were performed during each visit, whereas MRIs were acquired 3 days, 3 weeks and 1 year after surgery. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed on patient-specific MRI-derived geometrical models. RESULTS: Higher values of median peak amplitudes ratios (high-low peak ratio-HLPR) were found to be associated with complex blood flow and velocity streamlines recirculation at systolic peak, and corresponding extended regions of high oscillatory shear index (OSI). On the contrary, lower values of HLPR were associated with laminar flow pattern and low values of OSI. Significant differences were observed in HLPR between subgroups with extended or limited areas with OSI > 0.1 (0.67 vs 0.31, respectively). Significant relationships were found between AVF sound intensity and brachial BFV (slope = 0.103, p < 0.01) as well as between longitudinal changes in brachial BFV and HLPR (slope = - 0.001, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results show that AVF sound can be exploited to extract fundamental information on AVF hemodynamic conditions, providing indication of the presence of complex hemodynamic and adequate BFV to perform hemodialysis. Sound analysis has therefore the potential to improve clinical AVF surveillance and to ameliorate outcome.

[Research Progress of Breath Sound Analysis for Common Respiratory Diseases in Children].

Breath sounds can reflect the physiological and pathological conditions of the lungs and airways.Due to the differences in acoustic characteristics of breath sounds between healthy children and those with different respiratory diseases,analyzing breath sounds may provide important information for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in children.With the development of digital auscultation,children's breath sounds have gradully become a research focus.This article summarizes the recent research progress in breath sound analysis for the diagnosis and treatment of common respiratory diseases in children,offering reference for the research in related fields.

Venous Tropism in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Imaging Presentation.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in adults. Accurate staging and assessment of tumor extent are critical for effective management. RCC often demonstrates a tendency for venous invasion, commonly extending into the renal vein and inferior vena cava. However, RCC extending into the gonadal veins is an uncommon manifestation. In this report, we present the imaging features of a 62-year-old woman presented with left flank pain. The ultrasound examination revealed a large hyperechoic mass in the left renal fossa, replacing almost the entire left kidney with the contiguous extension of the tumor into the left renal vein and ovarian vein. Color Doppler showed the presence of flow within the thrombus, confirming the presence of a malignant thrombus. Contrast-enhanced CT examination revealed a large heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left kidney with the contiguous extension of tumor thrombus in the left renal vein, IVC, and into the left ovarian vein. This report highlights how imaging techniques can be instrumental in detecting and characterizing rare but significant tumor extensions, which can have crucial prognostic implications for overall patient management.

Analysis of aging effects on the mechanical and vibration properties of quasi-isotropic basalt fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

Eco-friendly natural fiber composites, such as basalt fiber composites, are gaining traction in material science but remain vulnerable to environmental degradation. This study investigates the mechanical and vibrational properties of quasi-isotropic basalt fiber composites subjected to aging in two different environments: ambient (30 ºC) and subzero (-10 ºC), both in distilled water until moisture saturation. Aged specimens absorbed 8.66% and 5.44% moisture in ambient and subzero conditions, respectively. Mechanical testing revealed significant strength reductions in tensile, flexural, impact, and short beam shear tests, with ambient-aged specimens showing the largest decline (up to 31.7% in flexural strength). Vibrational analysis showed reduced natural frequencies, particularly under ambient conditions (27.27%). Sound absorption tests showed that pristine specimens had the highest transmission loss, while moisture-rich ambient-aged specimens had the lowest. SEM analysis confirmed surface degradation, with fiber pull-out and matrix debonding contributing to property loss. This research provides valuable insights into the environmental limitations of basalt fiber composites, emphasizing the need for enhanced durability in eco-friendly materials.

Review of respiratory anatomy adaptations in whales.

Whales (cetaceans, including dolphins and porpoises) are superbly adapted to life in water, but retain vestiges of their terrestrial ancestry, particularly the need to breathe air. Their respiratory tract exhibits many differences from their closest relatives, the terrestrial artiodactyls (even toed ungulates). In this review, we describe the anatomy of cetacean respiratory adaptions. These include protective features (e.g., preventing water incursions during breathing or swallowing, mitigating effects of pressure changes during diving/ascent) and unique functions (e.g., underwater sound production, regulating gas exchange during the dive cycle).

Linear pressure waves in mono- and poly-disperse bubbly liquids: Attenuation and propagation speed in slow and fast and evanescent modes.

Using volumetric averaged equations from a two-fluid model, this study theoretically investigates linear pressure wave propagation in a quiescent liquid with many spherical gas bubbles. The speed and attenuation of sound are evaluated using the derived linear dispersion. Mono- and poly-disperse bubbly liquids are treated. To precisely describe the attenuation effect, some forms of bubble dynamics equations and temperature gradient models are employed. Focusing on the dissipative effect, we analyze the stop band that occurs in the linear dispersion relation. In the two-fluid model, even if the dissipation effect is considered, the inconvenience that the wavenumber diverges to infinity in the resonance frequency cannot be resolved. Additionally, the validity of terminating that wavenumber value in the middle of the frequency is demonstrated. To determine a linear dispersion relation that can exactly predict thermal conduction and acoustic radiation, wave propagation velocities and attenuation coefficients are compared with some experimental data and existing models. The results show that thermal conduction and acoustic radiation should be set appropriately to accurately predict the propagation velocity and attenuation except in the high frequency range, the phase velocity in the resonance frequency range, or the attenuation in the high frequency range.

Adding Insult to Injury: Sleep Deficiency in Hospitalized Patients.

Sleep deficiency is a common problem in the hospital setting. Contributing factors include preexisting medical conditions, illness severity, the hospital environment, and treatment-related effects. Hospitalized patients are particularly vulnerable to the negative health effects of sleep deficiency that impact multiple organ systems. Objective sleep measurement is difficult to achieve in the hospital setting, posing a barrier to linking improvements in hospital outcomes with sleep promotion protocols. Key next steps in hospital sleep promotion include improvement in sleep measurement techniques and harmonization of study protocols and outcomes to strengthen existing evidence and facilitate data interpretation across studies.

The Anatomy of Iconicity: Cumulative Structural Analogies Underlie Objective and Subjective Measures of Iconicity.

The vocabularies of natural languages harbour many instances of iconicity, where words show a perceived resemblance between aspects of form and meaning. An open challenge in this domain is how to reconcile different operationalizations of iconicity and link them to an empirically grounded theory. Here we combine three ways of looking at iconicity using a set of 239 iconic words from 5 spoken languages (Japanese, Korean, Semai, Siwu and Ewe). Data on guessing accuracy serves as a baseline measure of probable iconicity and provides variation that we seek to explain and predict using structure-mapping theory and iconicity ratings. We systematically trace a range of cross-linguistically attested form-meaning correspondences in the dataset, yielding a word-level measure of cumulative iconicity that we find to be highly predictive of guessing accuracy. In a rating study, we collect iconicity judgments for all words from 78 participants. The ratings are well-predicted by our measure of cumulative iconicity and also correlate strongly with guessing accuracy, showing that rating tasks offer a scalable method to measure iconicity. Triangulating the measures reveals how structure-mapping can help open the black box of experimental measures of iconicity. While none of the methods is perfect, taken together they provide a well-rounded way to approach the meaning and measurement of iconicity in natural language vocabulary.

Ambient chemical and physical approaches for the modulation of sleep and wakefulness.

Humans spend a third of their lives asleep. While the sleep-wake behaviors are primarily modulated by homeostasis and circadian rhythm, several ambient chemical and physical factors, including light, sound, odor, vibration, temperature, electromagnetic radiation, and ultrasound, also affect sleep and wakefulness. Light at different wavelengths has different effects on sleep and wakefulness. Sound not only promotes but also suppresses sleep; this effect is mediated by certain nuclei, including the pedunculopontine nucleus and inferior colliculus. Certain sleep-promoting odorants regulate sleep through the involvement of the olfactory bulb and olfactory tubercle. In addition, vibrations may induce sleep through the vestibular system. A modest increase in ambient temperature leads to an increase in sleep duration through the involvement of the preoptic area. Electromagnetic radiation has a dual effect on sleep-wake behaviors. The stimulation produced by the ambient chemical and physical factors activates the peripheral sensory system, which converts the chemical and physical stimuli into nerve impulses. This signal is then transmitted to the central nervous system, including several nuclei associated with the modulation of sleep-wake behaviors. This review summarizes the effects of ambient chemical and physical factors on the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, as well as the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

Hydration behavior of D-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) in the presence of sugar-based deep eutectic solvents at different temperatures: experimental and theoretical study.

Considerable efforts have been devoted in recent years to enhancing the efficacy medicinal substance, leading to the discovery of innovative drug formulations and delivery techniques. The successful design of these processes necessitates a profound understanding at the molecular level of how these substances interact with biological membranes. Thorough thermodynamic investigations provide invaluable insights into these interactions and aid in selecting suitable compounds for pharmaceutical production. This study aims to determine the density and speed of sound for D-calcium pantothenate in mixtures of water and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), specifically choline chloride/sucrose, choline chloride/ glucose, and choline chloride/ fructose (with 2:1 molar ratio) over a temperature range of 288.15 K to 318.15 K under atmospheric pressure. In order to predict the behavior of molecules, COSMO model (the Conductor-Like Screening Model) offer complementary strengths in quantum chemistry. This approach allows for calculating solvation free energies, making it ideal for predicting properties like solubility, where understanding solvent-solute interactions is crucial. By correlating the measured parameters using standard relationships, important partial molar parameters such as apparent molar volumes and apparent molar isentropic compressibility are calculated. Additionally, apparent molar isobaric expansion, and Hepler's constant are derived from the density and speed of sound data. The experimental apparent molar volumes, and apparent molar isentropic compressibility data is fitted to the Redlich-Meyer equation to obtain significant quantities such as standard partial molar volume, and partial molar isentropic compression. The comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of this studied system holds immense significance for advancements in the pharmaceutical industry.

A meta-analysis of letter-sound integration: Assimilation and accommodation in the superior temporal gyrus.

Despite being a relatively new cultural phenomenon, the ability to perform letter-sound integration is readily acquired even though it has not had time to evolve in the brain. Leading theories of how the brain accommodates literacy acquisition include the neural recycling hypothesis and the assimilation-accommodation hypothesis. The neural recycling hypothesis proposes that a new cultural skill is developed by "invading" preexisting neural structures to support a similar cognitive function, while the assimilation-accommodation hypothesis holds that a new cognitive skill relies on direct invocation of preexisting systems (assimilation) and adds brain areas based on task requirements (accommodation). Both theories agree that letter-sound integration may be achieved by reusing pre-existing functionally similar neural bases, but differ in their proposals of how this occurs. We examined the evidence for each hypothesis by systematically comparing the similarities and differences between letter-sound integration and two other types of preexisting and functionally similar audiovisual (AV) processes, namely object-sound and speech-sound integration, by performing an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis. All three types of AV integration recruited the left posterior superior temporal gyrus (STG), while speech-sound integration additionally activated the bilateral middle STG and letter-sound integration directly invoked the AV areas involved in speech-sound integration. These findings suggest that letter-sound integration may reuse the STG for speech-sound and object-sound integration through an assimilation-accommodation mechanism.

Real-Time Prediction of Resident ADL Using Edge-Based Time-Series Ambient Sound Recognition.

To create an effective Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) system that supports the daily activities of patients or the elderly, it is crucial to accurately detect and differentiate user actions to determine the necessary assistance. Traditional intrusive methods, such as wearable or object-attached devices, can interfere with the natural behavior of patients and may lead to resistance. Furthermore, non-intrusive systems that rely on video or sound data processed by servers or the cloud can generate excessive data traffic and raise concerns about the security of personal information. In this study, we developed an edge-based real-time system for detecting Activities of Daily Living (ADL) using ambient noise. Additionally, we introduced an online post-processing method to enhance classification performance and extract activity events from noisy sound in resource-constrained environments. The system, tested with data collected in a living space, achieved high accuracy in classifying ADL-related behaviors in continuous events and successfully generated user activity logs from time-series sound data, enabling further analyses such as ADL assessments. Future work will focus on enhancing detection accuracy and expanding the range of detectable behaviors by integrating the activity logs generated in this study with additional data sources beyond sound.

Cochlear implant usage in single sided deafness and factors affecting usage.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine duration of daily cochlear implant (CI) usage at 12 and 24 months post-operatively in single sided deafness (SSD). The secondary objective was to examine factors that could affect CI usage. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients with SSD who received CI from January 2015 to March 2020. CI usage was evaluated at 12 and 24 months. Hearing loss duration, tinnitus scores and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were correlated with CI usage at 12 months. RESULTS: Usage data was available for 54 patients at 12 months and 38 patients at 24 months. The mean usage was 8.2 h/day (SD 4.2) at 12 months, 7.0 h/day (SD 5.1) at 24 months. 5 out of 54 (9.3%) and 7 out of 38 patients (18.4%) were non-users at 12 and 24 months post-operatively. An improved mean SNR score from pre-operative 4.4 dB (SD 2.8) to - 0.70 dB (SD 4.2) at 12 months post-operative was positively correlated with CI usage at 12 and 24 months. Hearing loss duration and tinnitus scores were not associated with CI usage. CONCLUSIONS: 18.4% of our patients were non-users at 24 months. Mean usage at 24 months was 7.0 h/day. Improved hearing in noise at 12 months was correlated with better usage.

A perspective review on the role of engine sound in speed perception and control: state of the art and methodological suggestions.

In this review we focus on the role of in-car sound, specifically the artificial engine sounds, on drivers' speed perception and control, a topic that has received little attention so far. Previous studies indicate that removing or reducing engine sound leads drivers to underestimate speed and, consequently, to drive faster. Furthermore, evidence suggests that specific sound frequencies could play a role in this process, highlighting the importance of in-car sound features. First, we show that the amount of research in the field is scarce and rather outdated, and that this is largely due to the fact that industrial research is subject to very few publications. Then, we examine benefits and limitations of different research paradigms used and we propose a protocol to investigate systematically the phenomenon. In particular, we argue for the benefits of a wider use of psychophysical methods in speed perception, a field that has been typically explored by means of driving simulation. Finally, we highlight some methodological and statistical limitations that might impact the interpretation of the evidence considered. Our methodological considerations could be particularly useful for researchers aiming to investigate the impact of sound on speed perception and control, as well as for those involved in the design of in-car sounds. These are particularly relevant for the design of electric vehicles, which represent a challenge but also the ideal testing ground to advance the knowledge in the field.

A new test for evaluation of marginal cognitive function deficits in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus through expressing texture recognition by sound symbolic words.

Introduction: The number of dementia patients is increasing with population aging. Preclinical detection of dementia in patients is essential for access to adequate treatment. In previous studies, dementia patients showed texture recognition difficulties. Onomatopoeia or sound symbolic words (SSW) are intuitively associated with texture impressions and are less likely to be affected by aphasia and description of material perception can be easily obtained. In this study, we aimed to create a test of texture recognition ability expressed by SSW to detect the presence of mild cognitive disorders. Methods: The sound symbolic words texture recognition test (SSWTRT) is constructed from 12 close-up photos of various materials and participants were to choose the best SSW out of 8 choices to describe surface texture in the images in Japanese. All 102 participants seen in Juntendo University Hospital from January to August 2023 had a diagnosis of possible iNPH (age mean 77.9, SD 6.7). The answers were scored on a comprehensive scale of 0 to 1. Neuropsychological assessments included MMSE, FAB, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Pegboard Test, and Stroop Test from the EU-iNPH Grading Scale (GS). In study 1 the correlation between SSWTRT and the neuropsychological tests were analyzed. In study 2, participants were divided into two groups: the Normal Cognition group (Group A, n = 37) with MMSE scores of 28 points or above, and the Mild Cognitive Impairment group (Group B, n = 50) with scores ranging from 22 to 27 points, and its predictability were analyzed. Results: In study 1, the total SSWTRT score had a moderate correlation with the neuropsychological test results. In study 2, there were significant differences in the SSWTRT scores between groups A and B. ROC analysis results showed that the SSWTR test was able to predict the difference between the normal and mildly impaired cognition groups. Conclusion: The developed SSWTRT reflects the assessment results of neuropsychological tests in cognitive deterioration and was able to detect early cognitive deficits. This test not only relates to visual perception but is likely to have an association with verbal fluency and memory ability, which are frontal lobe functions.

Gender and age biases in the assessment of speech accuracy: A study of speech-language clinicians' ratings of /s/ accuracy.

PURPOSE: Typically developing children assigned male at birth (AMAB) and children assigned female at birth (AFAB) produce the fricative /s/ differently: AFAB children produce /s/ with a higher spectral peak frequency. This study examined whether implicit knowledge of these differences affects speech-language pathologists'/speech and language therapists' (SLPs'/SLTs') ratings of /s/ accuracy, by comparing ratings made in conditions where SLPs/SLTs were blind to children's sex assigned at birth (SAB) to conditions in which they were told this information. METHODS: SLPs (n = 95) varying in clinical experience rated the accuracy of word-initial /s/ productions (n = 87) of eight children with speech sound disorder in one of four conditions: one in which no information about the children was revealed, one in which children's SAB was revealed, one in which children's age was revealed, and one in which both were revealed. RESULTS: Despite there being no statistically significant differences between AFAB and AMAB children's /s/ production in researcher-determined accuracy or in one acoustic characteristic, spectral centroid, SLPs in all four conditions judged the /s/ productions of AFAB children as more accurate than AMAB children. Listeners were significantly less likely to judge the productions of AMAB children to be inaccurate in the conditions in which age or age and SAB were revealed. These effects were consistent across SLPs with greatly varying levels of clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Knowing or imputing children's age and SAB can affect ratings of /s/ accuracy. Clinicians should be mindful of these potential effects. Future research should understand how expectations about sociolinguistic variation in speech affect appraisals of their speech and language. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Adult men and women produce /s/ differently. A consensus is that these differences reflect sociolinguistic gender marking, rather than being the passive consequence of vocal-tract differences. Recent studies have shown that children assigned female at birth (AFAB) and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) produce /s/ differently in ways that mirror the differences between adult men and women, and which presumably reflect gender marking. What this paper adds to existing knowledge We asked whether US-based speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) ratings of the accuracy of /s/ differ depending on whether they are rating an AFAB or an AMAB child, and whether these differences are greater in conditions in which people are told the sex assigned at birth of the child being rated. We found that SLPs were more likely to judge AFAB children's /s/ productions to be more accurate than AMAB children's, even though the productions from the AMAB and AFAB children that were used as stimuli were matched for accuracy as determined by trained researchers. What are the clinical implications of this work? SLPs/speech-language therapists should be sensitive to the influence of social variables when assessing /s/. SLPs/speech-language therapists might rate children's productions differently depending on whether they believe they are rating an AFAB or an AMAB child.

Quieting the neonatal intensive care unit: A quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is vital for preterm infants but is often plagued by harmful noise levels. Excessive noise, ranging from medical equipment to conversations, poses significant health risks, including hearing impairment and neurodevelopmental issues. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends strict sound limits to safeguard neonatal well-being. Strategies such as education, environmental modifications, and quiet hours have shown to reduce noise levels. However, up to 60% of the noises remain avoidable. High noise exposure exacerbates physiological disturbances, impacting vital functions and long-term neurological outcomes. Effective noise reduction in the NICU is crucial for promoting optimal neonatal development. AIM: To measure the sound levels in a NICU and reduce ambient sound levels by at least 10% from baseline. METHODS: A quasi-experimental quality improvement project was conducted over 4 mo in a 20-bed level 3 NICU in a tertiary care medical college. Baseline noise levels were recorded continuously using a sound level meter. The interventions included targeted education, environmental modifications, and organizational changes, and were implemented through three rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Weekly feedback and monitoring were conducted, and statistical process control charts were used for analysis. The mean noise values were compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS: The baseline mean ambient noise level in the NICU was 67.8 dB, which decreased to 50.5 dB after the first cycle, and further decreased to 47.4 dB and 51.2 dB after subsequent cycles. The reduction in noise levels was 21% during the day and 28% at night, with an overall decrease of 25% from baseline. The most significant reduction occurred after the first PDSA cycle (mean difference of -17.3 dB, P < 0.01). Peak noise levels decreased from 110 dB to 88.24 dB after the intervention. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted intervention strategy reduced noise in the NICU by 25% over 4 months. The success of this initiative emphasizes the significance of comprehensive interventions for noise reduction.

Effect of Soundscape Augmentation on Behavioral Symptoms in People With Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objectives: Sound is an important environmental factor that influences the expression of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Recent research on the effect of soundscape has shown promising results in improving environmental impact on people with dementia. However, no controlled studies have aimed to quantify the effects of soundscape intervention on resident outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and impact of a soundscape intervention on people with dementia and behavioral symptoms. Research Design and Methods: Pilot single-blind repeated-measures randomized controlled trial of an augmented soundscape intervention. Participants were people with dementia in a hospital-based specialized dementia unit. Participants were randomized to an augmented soundscape intervention delivered in their room in the morning and evening or treatment as usual, with 2 baseline weeks and 4 weekly post-randomization assessments of the primary and secondary behavioral outcomes. Results: The soundscape intervention was feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, and delivery of the intervention. There were improvements in the neuropsychiatric inventory total scores over time in both groups (-5.89, 95%CI -8.45 to -3.28, p < .001), but no differences between groups. There were no significant group, time, or group × time differences for the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) total score. For the PAS-resisting care subscale, there was a significant group × time difference, with a greater reduction in the soundscape group over the study period (-0.81, 95% CI -1.59 to -0.03, p = .042). Discussion and Implications: In this pilot study, soundscape augmentation was a feasible and effective nonpharmacological approach to reducing resistance to care in people with dementia, although it did not improve neuropsychiatric symptoms more globally. Further studies with larger samples and of longer duration are needed to investigate the long-term effects of augmented sonic environments on people with dementia. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT04809545.