The time course of emotion recognition in speech and music.

The auditory gating paradigm was adopted to study how much acoustic information is needed to recognize emotions from speech prosody and music performances. In Study 1, brief utterances conveying ten emotions were segmented into temporally fine-grained gates and presented to listeners, whereas Study 2 instead used musically expressed emotions. Emotion recognition accuracy increased with increasing gate duration and generally stabilized after a certain duration, with different trajectories for different emotions. Above-chance accuracy was observed for ≤100 ms stimuli for anger, happiness, neutral, and sadness, and for ≤250 ms stimuli for most other emotions, for both speech and music. This suggests that emotion recognition is a fast process that allows discrimination of several emotions based on low-level physical characteristics. The emotion identification points, which reflect the amount of information required for stable recognition, were shortest for anger and happiness for both speech and music, but recognition took longer to stabilize for music vs speech. This, in turn, suggests that acoustic cues that develop over time also play a role for emotion inferences (especially for music). Finally, acoustic cue patterns were positively correlated between speech and music, suggesting a shared acoustic code for expressing emotions.

Aircraft noise and speech intelligibility in an outdoor living space.

Studies of effects on speech intelligibility from aircraft noise in outdoor places are currently lacking. To explore these effects, first-order ambisonic recordings of aircraft noise were reproduced outdoors in a pergola. The average background level was 47 dB LA eq. Lists of phonetically balanced words (LAS max,word = 54 dB) were reproduced simultaneously with aircraft passage noise (LAS max,noise = 72-84 dB). Twenty individually tested listeners wrote down each presented word while seated in the pergola. The main results were (i) aircraft noise negatively affects speech intelligibility at sound pressure levels that exceed those of the speech sound (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N < 0), and (ii) the simple A-weighted S/N ratio was nearly as good an indicator of speech intelligibility as were two more advanced models, the Speech Intelligibility Index and Glasberg and Moore's [J. Audio Eng. Soc. 53, 906-918 (2005)] partial loudness model. This suggests that any of these indicators is applicable for predicting effects of aircraft noise on speech intelligibility outdoors.

Emotional event-related potentials are larger to figures than scenes but are similarly reduced by inattention.

BACKGROUND: In research on event-related potentials (ERP) to emotional pictures, greater attention to emotional than neutral stimuli (i.e., motivated attention) is commonly indexed by two difference waves between emotional and neutral stimuli: the early posterior negativity (EPN) and the late positive potential (LPP). Evidence suggests that if attention is directed away from the pictures, then the emotional effects on EPN and LPP are eliminated. However, a few studies have found residual, emotional effects on EPN and LPP. In these studies, pictures were shown at fixation, and picture composition was that of simple figures rather than that of complex scenes. Because figures elicit larger LPP than do scenes, figures might capture and hold attention more strongly than do scenes. Here, we showed negative and neutral pictures of figures and scenes and tested first, whether emotional effects are larger to figures than scenes for both EPN and LPP, and second, whether emotional effects on EPN and LPP are reduced less for unattended figures than scenes. RESULTS: Emotional effects on EPN and LPP were larger for figures than scenes. When pictures were unattended, emotional effects on EPN increased for scenes but tended to decrease for figures, whereas emotional effects on LPP decreased similarly for figures and scenes. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional effects on EPN and LPP were larger for figures than scenes, but these effects did not resist manipulations of attention more strongly for figures than scenes. These findings imply that the emotional content captures attention more strongly for figures than scenes, but that the emotional content does not hold attention more strongly for figures than scenes.

Titration-free massively parallel pyrosequencing using trace amounts of starting material.

Continuous efforts have been made to improve next-generation sequencing methods for increased robustness and for applications on low amounts of starting material. We applied double-stranded library protocols for the Roche 454 platform to avoid the yield-reducing steps associated with single-stranded library preparation, and applied a highly sensitive Taqman MGB-probe-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. The MGB-probe qPCR, which can detect as low as 100 copies, was used to quantify the amount of effective library, i.e. molecules that form functional clones in emulsion PCR. We also demonstrate that the distribution of library molecules on capture beads follows a Poisson distribution. Combining the qPCR and Poisson statistics, the labour-intensive and costly titration can be eliminated and trace amounts of starting material such as precious clinical samples, transcriptomes of small tissue samples and metagenomics on low biomass environments is applicable.

Anchored pan dengue RT-PCR and fast sanger sequencing for detection of dengue RNA in human serum.

A large number of human infections are caused by different dengue virus strains, mainly in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world, but also outside the endemic regions. RT-PCR methods are used widely for detection of dengue virus RNA in acute-phase serum samples; however, new sequence variation can inhibit these methods. An assay was developed integrating an anchored Pan Dengue RT-PCR with a new Fast Sanger sequencing protocol. For broad detection and identification of dengue virus RNA, including new strains of all serotypes, the conserved 3' genome end was targeted for highly specific cDNA synthesis. A combination of degenerated primers was used for second strand synthesis, followed by tag primed amplification. The mixture of generated amplicons was identified directly by the Fast Sanger sequencing from the anchored 3' genome end. Evaluating the assay on human serum RNA spiked with viral RNA representing the four dengue serotypes demonstrated a detection limit of 44-124 copies viral RNA per reaction for a two-step format of the anchored Pan Dengue RT-PCR and 100-500 copies for a one-step protocol, respectively. The different serotypes were clearly identified from the generated sequences. Further, the 5-hr procedure was evaluated and compared to standard real-time RT-PCR protocols on acute-phase serum samples from patients with confirmed dengue infections. This assay demonstrates a strategy for virus detection, which combines nucleic acid amplification adapted for dengue virus RNA with direct and rapid sequencing. It provides a tolerance for new sequence variation and the strategy should be applicable for other RNA viruses.

Emotion appraisal dimensions inferred from vocal expressions are consistent across cultures: a comparison between Australia and India.

This study explored the perception of emotion appraisal dimensions on the basis of speech prosody in a cross-cultural setting. Professional actors from Australia and India vocally portrayed different emotions (anger, fear, happiness, pride, relief, sadness, serenity and shame) by enacting emotion-eliciting situations. In a balanced design, participants from Australia and India then inferred aspects of the emotion-eliciting situation from the vocal expressions, described in terms of appraisal dimensions (novelty, intrinsic pleasantness, goal conduciveness, urgency, power and norm compatibility). Bayesian analyses showed that the perceived appraisal profiles for the vocally expressed emotions were generally consistent with predictions based on appraisal theories. Few group differences emerged, which suggests that the perceived appraisal profiles are largely universal. However, some differences between Australian and Indian participants were also evident, mainly for ratings of norm compatibility. The appraisal ratings were further correlated with a variety of acoustic measures in exploratory analyses, and inspection of the acoustic profiles suggested similarity across groups. In summary, results showed that listeners may infer several aspects of emotion-eliciting situations from the non-verbal aspects of a speaker's voice. These appraisal inferences also seem to be relatively independent of the cultural background of the listener and the speaker.

Cross-cultural decoding of positive and negative non-linguistic emotion vocalizations.

Which emotions are associated with universally recognized non-verbal signals?We address this issue by examining how reliably non-linguistic vocalizations (affect bursts) can convey emotions across cultures. Actors from India, Kenya, Singapore, and USA were instructed to produce vocalizations that would convey nine positive and nine negative emotions to listeners. The vocalizations were judged by Swedish listeners using a within-valence forced-choice procedure, where positive and negative emotions were judged in separate experiments. Results showed that listeners could recognize a wide range of positive and negative emotions with accuracy above chance. For positive emotions, we observed the highest recognition rates for relief, followed by lust, interest, serenity and positive surprise, with affection and pride receiving the lowest recognition rates. Anger, disgust, fear, sadness, and negative surprise received the highest recognition rates for negative emotions, with the lowest rates observed for guilt and shame. By way of summary, results showed that the voice can reveal both basic emotions and several positive emotions other than happiness across cultures, but self-conscious emotions such as guilt, pride, and shame seem not to be well recognized from non-linguistic vocalizations.

Titration-free 454 sequencing using Y adapters.

We describe a protocol for construction and quantification of libraries for emulsion PCR (emPCR)-based sequencing platforms such as Roche 454 or Ion Torrent PGM. The protocol involves library construction using customized Y adapters, quantification using TaqMan-MGB (minor groove binder) probe-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) and calculation of an optimal template-to-bead ratio based on Poisson statistics, thereby avoiding the need for a laborious titration assay. Unlike other qPCR methods, the TaqMan-MGB probe specifically quantifies effective libraries in molar concentration and does not require specialized equipment. A single quality control step prior to emulsion PCR ensures that libraries contain no adapter dimers and have an optimal length distribution. The presented protocol takes ∼7 h to prepare eight barcoded libraries from genomic DNA into libraries that are ready to use for full-scale emPCR. It will be useful, for example, to allow analyses of precious clinical samples and amplification-free metatranscriptomics.

DNA microarray technique for detection and identification of seven flaviviruses pathogenic for man.

A flavivirus microarray was developed for detection and identification of yellow fever (YF), West Nile, Japanese encephalitis (JE), and the dengue 1-4 viruses, which are causing severe human disease all over the world. The microarray was based on 500-nucleotide probe fragments from five different parts of the seven viral genomes. A low-stringent amplification method targeting the corresponding regions of the viral genomic RNA was developed and combined with hybridization to the microarray for detection and identification. For distinction of the generated virus-specific fluorescence-patterns a fitting analysis procedure was adapted. The method was verified as functional for all seven flaviviruses and the strategy for the amplification, combined with the long probes, provided a high tolerance for smaller genetic variability, most suitable for these rapidly changing RNA viruses. A potentially high detection and identification capacity was proven on diverged strains of West Nile and dengue viruses. The lower limit for detection was equivalent, or better, when compared to routinely used RT-PCR methods. The performance of the method was verified on human patient samples containing dengue viruses, or normal human serum spiked with YF or JE viruses. The results demonstrated the ability of the flavivirus microarray to screen simultaneously a sample for several viruses in parallel, in combination with a good lower limit of detection.

Microarray technology for identification and distinction of hantaviruses.

DNA microarrays combine high-precision technology with advanced molecular biology to achieve high-throughput screening of DNA fragments. In this study, we investigated the potential of the cDNA microarray technique to identify and discriminate PCR derived amplicons from genetically highly similar viruses. The wide range of sequence variation among hantaviruses makes them suitable as a model for this purpose. The hantaviruses, carried by rodents, cause several hundred thousand cases of severe human disease every year in many parts of the world. A hantavirus-specific microarray, including DNA fragments from 12 viral isolates of six different hantaviruses, was designed. The S and M genome segments were represented by 500-nucleotide overlapping and 250-nucleotide non-overlapping fragments. A considerable ability to distinguish between different hantaviruses was demonstrated using a novel analysis method. Even different isolates of a single virus, were identified correctly despite 90% sequence similarity. The distinction ability was accompanied by a tolerance for smaller sequence differences, which makes the microarray suitable for testing samples containing unknown viruses. Viral genetic material found in samples from the lungs of bank voles caught in the wild was identified precisely, which demonstrated further the potential for this technology.

Home treatment of deep vein thrombosis. An out-patient treatment model with once-daily injection of low-molecular-weight heparin (tinzaparin) in 555 patients.

During a 22-month period, 555 consecutive patients at seven hospitals in the western part of Sweden with an acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) not involving the iliac vein and not having pulmonary embolism were included in a study testing the efficacy of implementing out-patient treatment. For all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute DVT, a folder was used that contained two checklists with detailed instructions for further treatment, one for the doctor and one for the nurse, an information pamphlet for the patient and prepared prescriptions for low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) tinzaparin (Innohep) of 175 anti-Xa IU/kg body weight subcutaneously once daily and warfarin. Patients not requiring hospitalisation, according to strict guidelines, were then eligible for treatment as out-patients. Prior to release from the emergency department for home treatment, a nurse provided detailed information to the patient and administered the first tinzaparin injection. In 194 (35.0%) out of 555 patients, the DVT was localised only in the lower leg not reaching the popliteal vein. Factors predisposing to venous thromboembolism were identified in 35.0% of the patients. 332 (59.8%) out of the 555 patients studied did not require hospitalisation and were therefore treated as out-patients. 140 of these patients (42.2%) injected themselves, the injection was given by a relative in 63 (19.0%) patients and by the community nurse in 129 (38.9%). Six (1.8%) patients reported a worsening of the DVT condition during the LMWH treatment period. No major bleedings were observed during the injection treatment period. Except for local minor skin bleedings at the injection site, only 3 (0.9%) patients reported minor bleedings during the injection treatment period. Recurrences of venous thromboembolism during the first 2 months were reported in 9 patients (2.7%) out of 332 patients who were sent home from the emergency department. Five (2.2%) patients out of the 223 who were admitted to the hospital had an increased tendency to bleeding. Twelve patients (5.4%) were hospitalised because of a pronounced local status, 26 (11.7%) were senile, social factors were the reason for hospitalisation in 76 (34.1%) and lack of time of the physician in 39 (17.5%) of the patients. A pharmacoeconomic analysis found a cost reduction of 69% with the present model for home treatment compared with traditional in-hospital treatment of DVT patients. We conclude that tinzaparin can be safely used at home by patients with DVT below the inguinal region and that the model used in the present study is cost-effective.