Dog and human neural sensitivity to voicelikeness: A comparative fMRI study.

Voice-sensitivity in the auditory cortex of a range of mammals has been proposed to be determined primarily by tuning to conspecific auditory stimuli, but recent human findings indicate a role for a more general tuning to voicelikeness. Vocal emotional valence, a central characteristic of vocalisations, has been linked to the same basic acoustic parameters across species. Comparative neuroimaging revealed that during voice perception, such acoustic parameters modulate emotional valence-sensitivity in auditory cortical regions in both family dogs and humans. To explore the role of voicelikeness in auditory emotional valence-sensitivity across species, here we constructed artificial emotional sounds in two sound categories: voice-like vs. sine-wave sounds, parametrically modulating two main acoustic parameters, f0 and call length. We hypothesised that if mammalian auditory systems are characterised by a general tuning to voicelikeness, voice-like sounds will be processed preferentially, and acoustic parameters for voice-like sounds will be processed differently than for sine-wave sounds - both in dogs and humans. We found cortical areas in both species that responded stronger to voice-like than to sine-wave stimuli, while there were no regions responding stronger to sine-wave sounds in either species. Additionally, we found that in bilateral primary and emotional valence-sensitive auditory regions of both species, the processing of voice-like and sine-wave sounds are modulated by f0 in opposite ways. These results reveal functional similarities between evolutionarily distant mammals for processing voicelikeness and its effect on processing basic acoustic cues of vocal emotions.

Modulation of flash ERGs by dynamic backgrounds.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize the signal processing mechanisms that lead to an ERG response and to use this characterization for obtaining more robust responses in patients who display feeble responses with standard recordings. We studied the influence of sinusoidally modulating backgrounds on flash ERGs and the relationship between the ERG components' amplitudes and the momentary Weber fraction of the flash stimulus. METHODS: ERG recordings were performed in nine healthy subjects and three RP patients. In four normal subjects, we measured the response to flashes (500 cd/m2, 1 ms duration) on a steady background (50 cd/m2) and on a sine wave (50 cd/m2 mean luminance) modulating background at 1, 5, 10, and 25 Hz temporal frequencies. The flashes were delivered at eight different phases (0-315° in a step of 45°) during the modulating background sine wave. The responses to the backgrounds were also recorded and subtracted from the responses to flash plus modulating backgrounds to obtain the flash ERGs at the different phases. The recordings in the remaining five normal subjects and the RP patients were performed with a subset of these stimuli. RESULTS: The flash ERGs were strongly modulated by the backgrounds particularly at low frequencies and were enhanced when the momentary Weber fraction was large. The amplitudes of the components could be described by the Weber fraction plus a saturating nonlinearity and a delay in the processing of background luminance. The strength of the modulation decreased with increasing peak time of the component. Furthermore the background luminance delay was positively correlated with the peak time. The effect was also present in RP patients. CONCLUSIONS: A sine wave background of about 1 Hz can be used to enhance ERG responses. Weber fraction of the flashes is an adequate quantification of stimulus for describing the amplitudes of the ERGs. The data provide basic information on how background luminance is processed in ERG generating mechanisms. The response enhancement can be used in clinical applications to obtain a more robust comparison between normal and patient data.

Early Experience with Sine Wave Technique for Superficialization of a difficult to cannulate Arterio Venous Fistula.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight safety and efficacy of sine wave technique (SWT) in superficializing deep arterio venous fistula (AVF) and managing infiltrations and other complications. METHODS: It is a single center observational study done from Jul 2017 to July 2020. All successive cases of deep AVFs, aneurysm / pseudoaneurysms of AVFs, and AVFs requiring open venoplasty were managed with SWT. Data was collected prospectively and analyzed. SWT is based on random pattern skin flaps. Using ultrasound, a line is marked on either side of centre line (AVF) at a distance of approximately 1.5-2 cm. A sine wave is drawn starting from either of the lines to the other with multiple crests and troughs. The base of flap should be double the height of the flap, that is, about 3-4 cm. Skin is incised and flaps are raised at level of AVF. Excess fat is removed. A sliver of unhealthy skin can be sacrificed if required. Flaps are sutured back to restore sine wave continuity. RESULTS: SWT was used in a total of eleven patients. Median age was 58 years (range 10-67 years). Eight were females and three males. One was radio-cephalic and rest were brachio-cephalic AVFs. Eight AVFs were deep with median depth of 10.25mm (range 8-13mm), median body mass index of 25.5 kg/m2 (range 23.9-26.5kg/m2), median vein diameter of 7 mm (range 6-8 mm), and median flow rate of 1137.5ml/min (range 650- 1380 ml/min). Out of eight, four AVFs presented with infiltration. In other three, SWT was used for exposing AVF to treat underlying pathology (one case each of aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm & stenosis). Ten cases were done under local or regional anesthesia and one under general anesthesia. There was no peri-operative mortality or loss of AVF. Transient limb oedema developed in one case. Median time to cannulate was 20 days (range 13-28 days). Median follow up was 13 months (range 6 - 31months). Cumulative patency at 18 months was 90% (95% CI 47.3%-98.53%) and 45 % (95% CI 9.9%-87.1%) at 24months and at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: SWT is safe and effective in superficialization of deep / difficult to cannulate AVF as well a good approach to treat complications like infiltration. Post procedure cannulation time is reasonably short.

A human voice, but not human visual image makes people perceive food to taste better and to eat more: "Social" facilitation of eating in a digital media.

Food tastes better and people eat more when eating with others compared to eating alone. Although previous research has shown that watching television facilitates eating, the influencing factors regarding video content are unclear. We compared videos of a person speaking with those of only objects (food and a cell phone) in Experiment 1, and videos of groups of four people talking in Experiment 2. Half of these videos presented human voices (including the objects-only video), while the other half had no audio. Results showed participants rated the popcorn as tasting better and consumed more when eating alone while listening to someone talking, irrespective of whether the person was present or absent in the video in Experiment 1. A similar result was found in Experiment 2, irrespective of the increased number of people talking in the video. In Experiment 3, we assessed to what extent human voices contributed to an increase in food intake and the perceived taste of food by substituting sine-wave speech (SWS) for human voices used in Experiment 1 and found that the perceived taste of food and food intake were not facilitated when participants watched videos with SWS. The present study indicates that the human voice plays a crucial role in the perceived taste of food and consumption amount when people eat alone while watching television. Suggestions to improve food enjoyment when dining alone are discussed.

Design of a New Acoustic Logging While Drilling Tool.

To obtain qualified logging while drilling (LWD) data, a new acoustic LWD tool was designed. Its overall design is introduced here, including the physical construction, electronic structure, and operation flowchart. Thereafter, core technologies adopted in this tool are presented, such as dominant exciting wave bands of dipole source, a sine wave pulse excitation circuit, broadband impedance matching, and an intellectualized active reception transducer. Lastly, we tested this tool in the azimuthal anisotropy module well, calibration well, and normal well, working in the model of the cable, sliding eye, and logging while drilling. Experiments showed that the core technologies achieved ideal results and that the LWD tool obtained qualified data.

Modification of Hot-Wire Anemometers Frequency Bandwidth Measurement Method.

In measurements of fast-changing flows, one of the key issues is knowledge of the anemometer frequency bandwidth. In such measurements, the measurement technique often used is hot-wire anemometry. The determination and optimization of the measurement bandwidth of the hot-wire system is very important for the quality of the measurements carried out. One of the methods used is square-wave or sine-wave electrical testing. The article proposes modification of this method, which involves applying an electrical test signal wirelessly directly to the sensor, using transformer inductive coupling. This modification may in some cases be beneficial and find application in selected metrological problems. The article describes the modified method and its example application.

Kinetic analysis of tandem gait on a sine-wave-shaped walkway.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to ascertain the kinetic characteristics on a horizontal plane, including knee joint rotation, when performing tandem gait on a sine-wave walkway. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 10 healthy adults. The movement task included tandem gait on a sine-wave walkway. The instruments used were an electromyograph and a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Regarding data analysis, we determined the knee joint rotation angle and muscle activity of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscle. [Results] The knee joint rotation angle range was 48.1 ± 6.7°. Two strategies were confirmed with regard to the direction of knee joint rotation: a case in which the agonist muscle acts actively and a case in which the antagonist muscle acts passively. [Conclusion] It has been suggested that the knee joint rotational angle and muscular activity of the rotator muscle group are important for tandem gait on a sine-wave-shaped walking path.

Electrocardiographic manifestations of severe hyperkalemia.

Severe hyperkalemia is a hazardous condition that warrants urgent intervention. In critically ill patients, the electrocardiogram (ECG) can be the most immediately available diagnostic tool in identifying patients with potentially lethal hyperkalemia. Peaking of the T waves, the most widely appreciated ECG sign, is actually rarely a manifestation of life-threatening hyperkalemia. In this review, we provide several clinical-electrocardiographic manifestations that can help identify those patients with hyperkalemia who require prompt intervention.

Dynamically Rough Boundary Scattering Effect on a Propagating Continuous Acoustical Wave in a Circular Pipe with Flow.

The pattern of the free surface of the turbulent flow in a partially filled circular pipe contains information on the underlying hydraulic processes. However, the roughness of the free surface of flow and its temporal variation in a pipe is a dynamic and non-stationary process that is difficult to measure directly. This work examines a new acoustic method that is used to study the characteristics of the free surface roughness under controlled laboratory conditions. The acoustic method makes use of a continuous sine wave that is transmitted through the air above the turbulent flow of water over a section of the pipe instrumented with an array of wave probes and microphones. The results obtained for a representative range of flow regimes and variety of pipe bed conditions illustrate that it is possible to unambiguously relate variations in the recorded acoustic field to the standard deviation in the free surface roughness and mean flow depth. These variations are clearly linked to the hydraulic friction factor of the pipe, which is shown to be related to airborne acoustic data obtained non-invasively.

Elevated CO2 increases photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance regardless of photosynthetic induction state.

Leaves are often exposed to fluctuating irradiance, which limits assimilation. Elevated CO2 enhances dynamic photosynthesis (i.e. photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance) beyond its effects on steady-state photosynthesis rates. Studying the role of CO2 in dynamic photosynthesis is important for understanding plant responses to changing atmospheric CO2 partial pressures. The rise of photosynthesis after a step-wise increase to 1000 µmol m-2 s-1, the loss of photosynthetic induction after irradiance decreases, and rates of photosynthesis during sinusoidal changes in irradiance were studied in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves, using three CO2 partial pressures (200, 400, and 800 µbar). Initial irradiance was set to 0, 50, 100, and 200 µmol m-2 s-1 to vary the initial induction state. Most responses at 200 µbar were not different from those at 400 µbar. In contrast, CO2 at 800 µbar increased the relative carbon gain by 12% after an increase in irradiance, decreased the loss of photosynthetic induction by 14%, and increased dynamic photosynthesis during sine waves by 17%, compared with 400 µbar. These effects were additional to steady-state effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis. The enhancement of dynamic photosynthesis rates by elevated CO2 may therefore additionally increase photosynthesis in a future, CO2-enriched climate.

Reliability of Leg and Vertical Stiffness During High Speed Treadmill Running.

In research, the accurate and reliable measurement of leg and vertical stiffness could contribute to valid interpretations. The current study aimed at determining the intraparticipant variability (ie, intraday and interday reliabilities) of leg and vertical stiffness, as well as related parameters, during high speed treadmill running, using the "sine-wave" method. Thirty-one males ran on a treadmill at 6.67 m∙s-1, and the contact and flight times were measured. To determine the intraday reliability, three 10-s running bouts with 10-min recovery were performed. In addition, to examine the interday reliability, three 10-s running bouts on 3 separate days with 48-h interbout intervals were performed. The reliability statistics included repeated-measure analysis of variance, average intertrial correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cronbach's α reliability coefficient, and the coefficient of variation (CV%). Both intraday and interday reliabilities were high for leg and vertical stiffness (ICC > 0.939 and CV < 4.3%), as well as related variables (ICC > 0.934 and CV < 3.9%). It was thus inferred that the measurements of leg and vertical stiffness, as well as the related parameters obtained using the "sine-wave" method during treadmill running at 6.67 m∙s-1, were highly reliable, both within and across days.

Kinematic analysis of tandem gait on a sine wave walkway.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to ascertain the kinematic characteristics on a horizontal plane, including knee joint rotation, when walking with a tandem gait on a sine wave walkway. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen healthy adults were enrolled as subjects in this study. They walked with a tandem gait on a sine wave walkway. A three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to record data and calculate the trunk, hip joint, and knee joint rotation angles. [Results] The rotation angle ranges for the trunk, hip joint, and knee joint were 23.3°, 53.3°, and 47.3°, respectively. The trunk generally rotated towards the direction of movement, and when turning left using the left leg as the pivot, the hip joint was internally rotated and the knee joint was externally rotated. In contrast, when making a directional change to the right using the left leg as the pivot, the hip joint was externally rotated and the knee joint was internally rotated. [Conclusion] Through tandem gait analysis on a sine wave walkway, knee joint rotation was found to be important in changes of direction.

Roles of ON cone bipolar cell subtypes in temporal coding in the mouse retina.

In the visual system, diverse image processing starts with bipolar cells, which are the second-order neurons of the retina. Thirteen subtypes of bipolar cells have been identified, which are thought to encode different features of image signaling and to initiate distinct signal-processing streams. Although morphologically identified, the functional roles of each bipolar cell subtype in visual signal encoding are not fully understood. Here, we investigated how ON cone bipolar cells of the mouse retina encode diverse temporal image signaling. We recorded bipolar cell voltage changes in response to two different input functions: sinusoidal light and step light stimuli. Temporal tuning in ON cone bipolar cells was diverse and occurred in a subtype-dependent manner. Subtypes 5s and 8 exhibited low-pass filtering property in response to a sinusoidal light stimulus, and responded with sustained fashion to step-light stimulation. Conversely, subtypes 5f, 6, 7, and XBC exhibited bandpass filtering property in response to sinusoidal light stimuli, and responded transiently to step-light stimuli. In particular, subtypes 7 and XBC were high-temporal tuning cells. We recorded responses in different ways to further examine the underlying mechanisms of temporal tuning. Current injection evoked low-pass filtering, whereas light responses in voltage-clamp mode produced bandpass filtering in all ON bipolar cells. These findings suggest that cone photoreceptor inputs shape bandpass filtering in bipolar cells, whereas intrinsic properties of bipolar cells shape low-pass filtering. Together, our results demonstrate that ON bipolar cells encode diverse temporal image signaling in a subtype-dependent manner to initiate temporal visual information-processing pathways.

Rapamycin increases fetal hemoglobin and ameliorates the nociception phenotype in sickle cell mice.

Fetal hemoglobin-inducing therapies are disease-modifying and ameliorate the pain phenotype in sickle cell disease (SCD). Rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, increases HbF in erythroid precursor cells in vitro. We hypothesized that rapamycin would increase HbF levels and improve nociception phenotype in SCD mice. We used sine-wave electrical stimulation to examine nocifensive phenotype and evaluate myelinated [2000Hz (Aß-fiber) and 250Hz (Aδ-fiber)] and unmyelinated (5Hz C-fibers)] sensory fiber function. Rapamycin significantly increased γ-globin mRNA and HbF levels [+2.3% (0.7, 3.9), mean increase (95% confidence interval, CI), p=0.006]. In homozygous (sickling) mice, long- (16 weeks), but not short-term (6 weeks), rapamycin treatment increased 2000Hz and 250Hz current thresholds in a pattern that varied according to sex. In male, but not female mice, rapamycin (compared with vehicle) was associated with increases in 2000Hz [21Units (7, 35), mean difference (95% CI), p=0.009 for sex∗treatment interaction] and 250Hz [9Units (1, 16), p=0.01] current thresholds. In rapamycin-treated homozygotes, HbF levels directly correlated with myelinated [2000Hz(Aß-fiber, r=0.58, p=0.01) and 250Hz(Aδ-fiber, r=0.6, p=0.01)] but not unmyelinated sensory fiber current thresholds. These findings suggest that in SCD mice, rapamycin increases HbF and modulates current thresholds of myelinated fibers. Therefore, mTOR signaling might be implicated in the pathobiology of SCD.

Variability of pudendal and median nerve sensory perception thresholds in healthy persons.

BACKGROUND: Normative current perception thresholds (CPTs) are used for the evaluation of sensory function in a variety of diseases. AIMS: To evaluate the reproducibility of CPT measurements with sinusoidal current in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Neuroselective CPT evaluations of the median and pudendal nerve in healthy volunteers were repeated with 1 week interval (T1 and T2). RESULTS: In the study group (N = 41) no difference between genders for age (MW-U: P = 0.91) and BMI (t-test: P = 0.18) were found. No significant difference between T1 and T2 was found (Paired t-test: all P-values > 0.05), although the intraclass correlation for each person was low. The variability of measures for the pudendal nerve was: ICC 2 kHz: 0.41; 250 Hz: 0.30; 5 Hz: 0.38, and for the median nerve respectively: 0.58; 0.46; 0.40. Normal CPTs were shown for the pudendal nerve: 2 kHz: 51%; 250 Hz: 76%; 5 Hz: 71%, and median nerve respectively: 78%; 98%; 80%. The pudendal nerve showed more deviating values compared to the median nerve. CONCLUSION: Both nerves showed deviating values. CPT values with sinusoidal current assessed with 1 week interval, showed a weak intraclass correlation. This finding limits the use of CPT values with this current for longitudinal studies.

Phonetic matching of auditory and visual speech develops during childhood: evidence from sine-wave speech.

The correspondence between auditory speech and lip-read information can be detected based on a combination of temporal and phonetic cross-modal cues. Here, we determined the point in developmental time at which children start to effectively use phonetic information to match a speech sound with one of two articulating faces. We presented 4- to 11-year-olds (N=77) with three-syllabic sine-wave speech replicas of two pseudo-words that were perceived as non-speech and asked them to match the sounds with the corresponding lip-read video. At first, children had no phonetic knowledge about the sounds, and matching was thus based on the temporal cues that are fully retained in sine-wave speech. Next, we trained all children to perceive the phonetic identity of the sine-wave speech and repeated the audiovisual (AV) matching task. Only at around 6.5 years of age did the benefit of having phonetic knowledge about the stimuli become apparent, thereby indicating that AV matching based on phonetic cues presumably develops more slowly than AV matching based on temporal cues.

Pudendal and median nerve sensory perception threshold: a comparison between normative studies.

BACKGROUND: For the evaluation of sensory innervation, normative data are necessary as a comparison. AIMS: To compare our current perception thresholds (CPTs) with normative data from other research. METHODS: Healthy volunteers were assessed for 2000, 250, and 5 Hz CPTs of the median and pudendal nerve and data were compared with other studies. RESULTS: Normative data in the studied group n = 41 (male: 21; female: 20) for the median nerve, 2 kHz, 250 Hz, and 5 Hz were respectively: 241.85 ± 67.72 (140-444); 106.27 ± 39.12 (45-229); 82.05 ± 43.40 (13-271). Pudendal nerve CPTs 250 Hz were: 126.44 ± 69.46 (6-333). For men 2 kHz: 349.95 ± 125.76 (100-588); 5 Hz: 132.67 ± 51.81 (59-249) and women 2 kHz:226.20 ± 119.65 (64-528); 5 Hz: 92.45 ± 44.66 (35-215). For the median nerve no statistical differences for gender were shown. For the pudendal nerve, only 250 Hz showed no difference for gender (t-test: 0.516). Comparison of our data with CPTs of other normative data showed no agreement for the pudendal nerve. For the median nerve only 2 kHz showed agreement in three studies and for 5 Hz with one study. CONCLUSION: Comparing normative data of multiple studies shows a variety of results and poor agreement. Therefore, referring to normative data of other studies should be handled with caution.

Reliabilities of leg and vertical stiffness during treadmill running.

The aim of this study was to determine the intra-participant variabilities (i.e. intra-day and inter-day reliabilities) in leg and vertical stiffness, as well as related kinematic parameters, during treadmill running using the sine-wave method. Twenty-two healthy men ran on a treadmill at 4.44 m/s, and the flight and contact times were measured with a high-speed video camera. Three 30-s running bouts with 2-min inter-bout rests were performed to examine the intra-day reliability, and single 30-s running bouts on three separate days with 24- to 48-h inter-bout intervals were performed to examine the inter-day reliability. The reliability statistics included repeated-measure analyses of variance, average inter-trial correlations, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cronbach's α reliability coefficient, and the coefficient of variation. Both leg and vertical stiffness produced high ICCs within 0.972 and 0.982, respectively, and between 0.922 and 0.873 days, respectively. High values were also observed for all of the reliability coefficients. Similar results were found regarding contact time, flight time, step length, and step rate. It was concluded that the measurements of leg and vertical stiffness, as well as related kinematic parameters, obtained using the sine-wave method during treadmill running at 4.44 m/s, were highly reliable, both within and across days.

Of words and whistles: Statistical learning operates similarly for identical sounds perceived as speech and non-speech.

Statistical learning is an ability that allows individuals to effortlessly extract patterns from the environment, such as sound patterns in speech. Some prior evidence suggests that statistical learning operates more robustly for speech compared to non-speech stimuli, supporting the idea that humans are predisposed to learn language. However, any apparent statistical learning advantage for speech could be driven by signal acoustics, rather than the subjective perception per se of sounds as speech. To resolve this issue, the current study assessed whether there is a statistical learning advantage for ambiguous sounds that are subjectively perceived as speech-like compared to the same sounds perceived as non-speech, thereby controlling for acoustic features. We first induced participants to perceive sine-wave speech (SWS)-a degraded form of speech not immediately perceptible as speech-as either speech or non-speech. After this induction phase, participants were exposed to a continuous stream of repeating trisyllabic nonsense words, composed of SWS syllables, and then completed an explicit familiarity rating task and an implicit target detection task to assess learning. Critically, participants showed robust and equivalent performance on both measures, regardless of their subjective speech perception. In contrast, participants who perceived the SWS syllables as more speech-like showed better detection of individual syllables embedded in speech streams. These results suggest that speech perception facilitates processing of individual sounds, but not the ability to extract patterns across sounds. Our findings suggest that statistical learning is not influenced by the perceived linguistic relevance of sounds, and that it may be conceptualized largely as an automatic, stimulus-driven mechanism.

Comparison of local sine wave modeling with harmonic phase analysis for the assessment of myocardial strain.

PURPOSE: To compare local sine-wave modeling (SinMod) with harmonic phase analysis (HARP), for assessment of left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain (εcc) from tagged cardiovascular magnetic resonance images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mid-ventricular spatial modulation of magnetization was performed in 60 participants (15 each with hypertrophic, dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy and 15 healthy controls) at 1.5 Tesla. Global and segmental peak transmural εcc were measured using HARP and SinMod. Repeated measurements were performed on 25% of examinations to assess observer variability. Effect of contrast was assessed in 10 additional patients. RESULTS: SinMod showed a high level of agreement with HARP for global εcc (mean difference -0.02, 95% limits of agreement -6.46 to 6.43%). Agreement was much lower for segmental εcc. Both methods showed excellent observer agreement for global εcc (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.75). Observer agreement for segmental εcc was also excellent with SinMod, but was significantly lower with HARP. Analysis time was significantly shorter using SinMod. Pre- and postcontrast εcc measurements were not significantly different using either technique, although postcontrast measurements showed greater variability with HARP. CONCLUSION: SinMod and HARP-based measurements of global εcc have a high level of agreement, but segmental agreement is substantially lower. SinMod has generally lower observer variability, is faster and is less affected by contrast, but requires further validation.