Lin, Hui. / "November 2010"--Abstract. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-179). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Informative sound design serves as an indicator to the player that something just happened, it can be urgently needing the players immediate attention, or serve as a feedback for a job well done. This paper studies how players interpret different informative sounds, how confident they are about their interpretation, and why they interpret the sound that way.

Presented here is an examination of the issues surrounding the analysis of lung sounds and their display. The project is aimed at providing a visual representation of the information that a physician gleans from auscultation of the lungs. Such a tool would be of benefit to those who are hearing impaired and also in teaching auscultation. A second goal is to provide a tool that will allow the examination and quantification of lung sounds thus permitting linkage between the acoustic events and their physical causes. The project is divided into two tasks. The first is the isolation of the wheezes and crackles; the second is their display. The isolation problem is difficult due to the variance in the frequency characteristics of the sounds; wheezes may appear anywhere in a two thousand hertz band and crackles also display a varying spectrum. The difficulty in separation is further compounded by the spectral overlap of the two. These problems preclude any 'simple' filter solution. In order to separate the sounds, filtering methods based on exploiting the statistical differences namely the stationarity of the wheeze and non-stationarity of the crackle are utilized. Of the several methods attempted, the most promising was the Adaptive Line Enhancement process when driven by the Least Mean Squares adaptive algorithm. An important criteria for being able to display the sounds was to access their temporal information. Accomplishing this with the standard short time Fourier transform precludes adequate resolution to identify the frequency characteristics of crackles. Display of the crackle information was facilitated by the use of high resolution time-frequency methods based on Cohen's Class of time-frequency representations. These methods are able to simultaneously provide high time and frequency resolution. A method for automatic adjustment of the parameters involved in the process was developed in order to yield the best display possible. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

No description available.

Geographic variation in the whistle vocalisations of dolphins has previously been reported. However, most studies have focused on the whole whistle repertoire, with little attempt to classify sounds into biologically relevant categories. Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use individually distinctive signature whistles which are thought to help maintain contact between conspecifics at sea. These whistles may show a different kind of variation between populations than non-signature whistles. Here I investigate signature whistle use and variation in the two recognised species of bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus and T. aduncus) from populations inhabiting the coastal waters of the North America, Scotland, South Africa, Tanzania, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and one captive colony. I identified likely signature whistles (signature whistles types, SWTs) from acoustic recordings by combining two novel techniques: automated contour categorisation in ARTwarp (Deecke and Janik, 2006) and a specific bout analysis based on the timing of signature whistle production in T. truncatus termed SIGID (Janik et al. in press). Three ways of categorising the contours were tested and between 87 and 111 SWTs were identified in total. Repeated emissions of stereotyped contours were apparent in the repertoire of all T. aduncus populations using both automated and human observer categorisation, providing good evidence for signature whistle use in this species. There was significant inter-specific variation in the frequency parameters, looping patterns and duration of SWTs. Inflection points, duration and measures of SWT complexity showed high variation within populations, suggesting inter- and intra-individual modification of these parameters, perhaps to enhance identity encoding or convey motivational information. Using 328 bases of the mtDNA control region, I found high levels of population differentiation (FST and φST) within the genus Tursiops. These data do not support a link between mtDNA population differentiation and variability in call type. Instead, morphological variations at the species level, and learned differences at the population level, better explain the variation found.

Drumming is first described for five North American stonefly species, Acroneuria evoluta, Doroneuria baumanni, Isoperla namata, Chernokrilus misnomus, and Pictetiella expansa. Signals of Acroneuria lycorias, Phasganophora capitata and Isoperla signata are further described. Drumming was not recorded from Amhinemura delosa. Signals of A. evoluta are the most complex yet recorded in Plecoptera. Doroneuria baumanni, P. expanse, C. misnomus and P. capitata have 2-way exchanges. Male D. baumanni produce two prolonged beats by rubbing the hammer on the substratum; male-female signals are non-overlapping in the first two species and overlapping in the latter two. Female P. capitata answered with an unusually long sequence of beats. Two male Isoperla species produced monophasic calls without female answers. Female A. lycorias answered taped male signals with monophasic signals like all observed females.

Past research indicates there is a link between physiological responses and adaptive social responses to another individual's distress. Scholars have theorized that humans may be predisposed, both physiologically and behaviorally to responding to others, especially those who are in distress. Maternal depression has been associated with dysregulated emotional development and may possibly affect the physiological and behavioral responses of a neonate. The present research examined the relationship between neonates' physiological and behavioral responses to naturally generated (compared to artificial) stimuli of other neonates, as well as the role of maternal depression in the responses. Specifically, heart rate, heart period, and heart period variability were measured to assess the newborns' reaction to cries generated by both other newborns and digitally modulated sources. This study found that newborns of depressed mothers had higher heart period variability and showed less behavioral distress when hearing the cry of another infant. / by Joseph Cotler. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Bronquiolite viral aguda é mundialmente a doença de vias aéreas inferiores mais comum entre lactentes e crianças jovens, sendo uma das principais causas de hospitalização na infância. Um grupo específico de crianças tem risco aumentado para desenvolver quadros mais graves sendo que os principais fatores de risco associados são: idade, sexo, co-morbidades (prematuridade, presença de displasia broncopulmonar e cardiopatia congênita, imunodeficiência), fatores ambientais e socioeconômicos e historia de atopia familiar. Os principais agentes etiológicos associados a bronquiolite são o vírus sincicial respiratório (VSR); influenza A e B; parainfluenza 1, 2 e 3 e adenovírus, picornavírus, coronavírus e metapneumovírus humano. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a etiologia e o impacto clínico de infecções por vírus respiratórios em lactentes com idade entre 0 a 2 anos durante o primeiro episódio de sibilância, atendidas no Pronto Atendimento do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Os vírus respiratórios foram investigados na amostra de lavado nasofaríngeo, exclusivamente por métodos de biologia molecular incluindo RT-PCR em tempo real (vírus sincicial respiratório, influenza, parainfluenza, rinovírus) RT-PCR convencional (coronavírus e metapneumovírus humano) e PCR convencional (adenovírus e bocavírus humano). Os desfechos avaliados foram impacto clínico imediato (hospitalização e admissão em unidade de terapia intensiva - UTI) e tardio (chiado recorrente), através do atendimento inicial e de entrevistas telefônicas aos 15 e 30 dias (impacto imediato) e posteriormente aos 3, 6 e 12 meses (impacto tardio). Chiado recorrente foi caracterizado pela ocorrência de três ou mais episódios de sibilância tratamento com medicação profilática para asma durante o seguimento. A verificação de associação entre as variáveis explicativas e os desfechos escolhidos foi feita através de modelo de regressão logística uni e multivariada, expressando os resultados em razão de chance (odds ratio, OR). O nível de significância adotado foi p< 0,05. Foram incluídos 77 lactentes, com mediana de idade de 6±4 meses. A identificação de pelo menos um vírus respiratório ocorreu em 72 (93%) das amostras. O vírus sincicial respiratório foi positivo em 49 amostras (64%), seguido por rinovírus (34%), enterovírus (21%), metapneumovírus humano (16%), bocavírus humano (12%), parainfluenza 3 (8%) e influenza A (2%), coronavírus (2%) e parainfluenza 1 (1%). Co-detecções foram observadas em 34 amostras (44%). Dos 77 lactentes incluídos no estudo, 32 (41%) necessitaram internação e 8 foram admitidos em UTI, sendo que estes eram mais jovens (p=0,02) e apresentaram maior tempo de internação (6,4 x 3,9 dias, p=0,012) em relação aos lactentes que internaram em apartamento. Quanto ao desfecho internação, idade mais jovem esteve associada a maior risco de internação (OR=0,83; p=0,026), enquanto atopia teve efeito protetor (OR=0,20; p=0,021). Identificação de enterovírus esteve associada a aumento do risco para internação (OR=6,03; p=0,027). Prematuridade foi a única variável associada a um significativo risco de admissão em UTI (OR=24,51; p=0,002). Após um ano de seguimento, 55% dos pacientes foram caracterizados como chiadores recorrentes, mas nenhum fator de risco ou etiologia viral estiveram associados a este desfecho. / Acute viral bronchiolitis is the most common disease of the lower respiratory tract in infants and young children throughout the world, being one of the main causes for hospitalization during infancy. A specific group of children has a greater risk for developing more servere cases, where the most important associated risk factors are: age, gender, co-morbidities (prematurity, presence of bronchopulmonary displasia and congenital heart diseases, deficiency in the immune system), environmental and social-economic factors, and a family history of allergies. The main etiological agents associated with bronchiolitis are the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza types A and B, parainfluenza types 1, 2 and 3 and adenovirus, picornavirus, coronavirus and human metapneumovirus.The objective of this study was to evaluate the etiology and clinical impact of respiratory viruses in infants aged 0 to 2 years, during the first episode of wheezing, attended at the Emergency Unit of the Albert Einstein Israeli Hospital. Respiratory viruses were investigated in nasopharyngeal aspirates, using molecular biology methods, including real time RT-PCR (respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza, rinovirus) conventional RT-PCR (coronavirus and human metapneumovirus) and conventional PCR (adenovirus and human bocavirus). The evaluated outcomes were immediate clinical impact (hospitalization and admission in an intensive care unit ICU) and late impacts (recurrent wheezing), in the initial approach and telephone interviews at 15 and 30 days (immediate impact) and later at 3, 6 and 12 months (late impact). Recurrent wheezing was characterized by the occurrence of three or more wheezing episodes or treatment with prophylactic medicines for asthma during the follow-up. The verification of the association between the explanatory variables and the chosen outcomes was done using uni and multivariated logistic regression models, expressing the results in odds ratio (OR). The level of significance adopted was p<0.05. Seventy-seven infants were included, with a median age of 6 ± 4 months. The identification of ate least one respiratory virus occurred in 72 (93%) of the samples. Respiratory syncytial virus tested positive in 49 samples (64%), followed by rinovirus (34%), enterovirus (21%), human metapneumovirus (16%), human bocavirus (12%), parainfluenza type 3 (8%) and influenza tipe A (2%), coronavirus (2%) and parainfluenza type 1 (1%). Co-detections were observed in 34 samples (44%). Of the 77 infants included in this study, 32 (41%) needed hospitalization and 8 were admitted to ICU, the latter ones being younger (p=0.02) and were hospitalized for a longer period of time (6.4 x 3.9 days, p=0.012) in relation to the infants who were admitted in wards. Regarding the hospitalization outcome, younger patients had a greater risk of hospitalization (OR=0.83; p=0.026), while allergies had a protective effect (OR=0.20; p=0.021). The identification of enterovirus was associated with a greater risk of hospitalization (OR=0.83; p=0.027). Prematurity was the only variable associated with a significant risk of admission in ICU (OR=24.51; p=0.002). After a follow-up one year later, 55% of the patients were characterized as recurrent wheezers, but no risk factor or viral etiology were associated with this outcome.

儘管心力衰竭的診斷和治療已取得了長足進步，但是心力衰竭依然是目前主要的致殘和致死病因。而且，隨著人口的老齡化，心力衰竭的發病率不斷上升。然而心力衰竭的快速診斷、心功能評價以及患者的危險分層依然面臨眾多挑戰。Acoustic cardiography 是一項經濟簡單的新技術。憑藉獨有的雙功能感測器，這項技術可以同時評估收縮間期（systolic time intervals）以及舒張期心音（diastolic heart sounds）。這項技術提供的主要參數包括：第三心音分數（S3 score；第三心音存在的可能性），電機械時間（EMAT, electromechanical activation time；從心電圖Q 波到心音圖第一心音的時間）及電機械時間比例（%EMAT；電機械時間占整個心動週期的比例），收縮障礙指數（SDI, systolic dysfunctionindex）。本論文主要涵蓋Acoustic cardiography 在心力衰竭患者中如下三個方面 的應用： / 一、心力衰竭的診斷和不同亞型的識別 / 本研究入組了 94 名高血壓但無心力衰竭患者、109 名射血分數正常的心力衰竭患者以及89 名射血分數減低的心力衰竭患者，我們發現%EMAT 可以鑒別射血分數正常的心力衰竭和高血壓患者。另一方面，SDI 是鑒別分射血分數正常和射血分數減低患者的最好指標。 / 二、心力衰竭患者心功能障礙嚴重程度評估 / 此研究共招募 94 名高血壓患者和127 名射血分數減低的心力衰竭患者。結果顯示：SDI 可以鑒別射血分數減低的心力衰竭和高血壓患者。亞組分析顯示：SDI 可以區分射血分數嚴重減低和中度減低的心力衰竭患者；S3 score 可以識別伴舒張功能嚴重障礙的心力衰竭患者。 / 三、心力衰竭患者的危險分層 / 共計 474 名心力衰竭患者被納入此研究，平均隨訪時間484±316 天，169名患者死亡，其中125 名死於心臟病。SDI 和S3 score 都是全因死亡率的獨立預測因數；Kaplan Meier 分析顯示：SDI ≥ 5 或S3 score ≥ 4.12 的心力衰竭患者的生存率顯著降低。 / 通過以上三個方面的研究，我們發現這項新技術有助於（1）心力衰竭的診斷和不同亞型的識別；（2）評估心力衰竭患者的心功能障礙嚴重程度，進而發現其中的高危人群；（3）心力衰竭患者的危險分層。因此，這項新技術有望在心力衰竭患者的管理中扮演早期診斷、評估以及危險分層的重要角色。 / Despite recent advances in its management, heart failure remains a major cause of disability and death and its prevalence is still increasing as the population ages. However, rapid and accurate bedside diagnosis, evaluation as well as risk stratification of heart failure still remain challenging. / Acoustic cardiography (AUDICOR, Inovise Medical, Inc., Portland, OR, USA) is a novel and user friendly equipment which can be used in a wide variety of clinical conditions. With proprietary dual-functional sensors, this technology permits simultaneous acquisition of detailed information regarding systolic time intervals and diastolic heart sounds and provides a computerized interpretation of the findings. Major acoustic cardiographic parameters include S3 score (probability that the third heart sound exists), electromechanical activation time (EMAT, interval from Q wave to the first heart sound; %EMAT is the proportion of cardiac cycle that EMAT occupies), and systolic dysfunction index (SDI= exp [S3 score/10] x QRS interval x QR interval x %EMAT).This thesis will cover 3 aspects of clinical application of acoustic cardiography in heart failure patients. / I. Identification of heart failure and its phenotypes / We performed one study involving 94 patients with hypertension without heart failure, 109 patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF, EF > 50%) and 89 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF, EF < 50%). We found that %EMAT significantly differentiated HFNEF from hypertension. Whereas SDI out-performed the other acoustic cardiographic parameters in differentiating HFREF from HFNEF. / II. Assessment of HFREF patients at high risk by evaluating the severity of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction / Ninety-four hypertensive patients without heart failure and 127 HFREF patients (EF < 50%) were consecutively recruited for the study. SDI significantly differentiated HFREF from hypertension. In subgroup analysis, SDI discriminated HFREF patients with severely impaired EF (EF ≤ 35%) from those with moderately impaired EF (35% < EF <50%). S3 score > 4.67 identified HFREF patients with restrictive LV filling pattern. / III. Risk stratification in patients with heart failure / A total of 474 patients hospitalized for heart failure were enrolled into our study. During a mean follow-up time of 484±316 days, 169 (35.7%) patients died and 125 (26.4%) of them died of cardiac causes. After controlling for other potential confounders, we found that S3 score ≥ 4.12, and SDI ≥ 5 were both independent predictors for all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that heart failure patients with SDI ≥ 5 or S3 score ≥ 4.12 had a significantly lower survival rate than those with lower SDI or S3 score. / In summary, this bedside technology offers a wide variety of clinical applications in (1) identification of heart failure and its phenotypes; (2) assessmet of HFREF patients at high risk by evaluating the severity of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction; (3) risk stratification in patients with heart failure. Thus, acoustic cardiography is likely to be helpful in the management of heart failure patients, acting as an early detection, evaluation and risk-stratification tool. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wang, Shang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-135). / Abstract also in Chinese. / DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO THIS THESIS --- p.iv / Full publications --- p.iv / Conference presentations --- p.v / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xv / ABSTRACT --- p.xviii / 論文摘要 --- p.xx / Chapter PART I --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction to Acoustic Cardiography --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1 --- History of auscultation, phonocardiography --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- STIs --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Conventional STIs --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Echocardiographic STI --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Acoustic cardiography --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- ECG parameters of acoustic cardiography --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Systolic parameters of acoustic cardiography --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Diastolic Parameters of acoustic cardiography --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Comparison between acoustic cardiography and traditional phonocardiography --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Clinical Application of Acoustic Cardiography --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1 --- Mechanism of generation of S3 and S4 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2 --- Prevalence of S3 and S4 --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3 --- Clinical auscultation of S3 and S4 problems --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4 --- Rapid identification of heart failure or LV dysfunction --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- S3 and S4 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- EMAT --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- SDI --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Other derived acoustic cardiographic parameters --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5 --- Predicting elevated LV filling pressure --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6 --- Improving diagnostic utility of BNP in detection of heart failure or LV dysfunction --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7 --- Hemodynamic correlations of acoustic cardiographic parameters --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8 --- Prognostic value of acoustic cardiography --- p.38 / Chapter 2.9 --- Cardiac resynchronization therapy --- p.39 / Chapter 2.10 --- Detection of ischemia --- p.40 / Conclusions --- p.42 / Chapter PART II --- STUDIES ON APPLICATION OF ACOUSTIC CARDIOGRAPHY --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Acoustic Cardiography Helps to Identify Heart Failure and Its Phenotypes --- p.49 / Introduction --- p.49 / Methods --- p.50 / Participants and study design --- p.50 / Echocardiography --- p.51 / Acoustic cardiography --- p.52 / Assessment of reproducibility --- p.55 / Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Results --- p.56 / Characteristics of study subjects --- p.56 / Acoustic cardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics --- p.59 / Diagnostic characteristics of acoustic cardiography --- p.64 / Analysis of covariance results --- p.68 / Inter-operator reproducibility --- p.68 / Discussion --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Rapid Bedside Identification of High-Risk Population in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction by Acoustic Cardiography --- p.72 / Introduction --- p.72 / Methods --- p.73 / Study population --- p.73 / Echocardiography --- p.73 / Acoustic cardiography --- p.74 / Assessment of reproducibility --- p.74 / Statistical analysis --- p.74 / Results --- p.75 / Baseline characteristics of study subjects --- p.75 / Acoustic cardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics --- p.78 / Diagnostic test characteristics of acoustic cardiography --- p.84 / Analysis of covariance results --- p.89 / Inter-operator reproducibility --- p.89 / Discussion --- p.89 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Prognostic value of Acoustic Cardiography in Risk Stratification of Patients With Heart Failure --- p.93 / Introduction --- p.93 / Methods --- p.94 / Study population --- p.94 / Acoustic cardiography --- p.94 / Echocardiography --- p.94 / Endpoint --- p.95 / Assessment of reproducibility --- p.95 / Statistical analysis --- p.95 / Results --- p.96 / Study population --- p.96 / All-cause mortality --- p.100 / Cardiac death --- p.100 / Subgroup analysis in 232 patients undergoing echocardiography --- p.107 / Inter-operator reproducibility --- p.107 / Discussion --- p.114 / Strengths and potential limitations --- p.115 / Chapter PART III --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary of the Present Studies --- p.118 / Chapter I. --- Identification of heart failure and its phenotypes --- p.118 / Chapter II. --- Assessment of HFREF patients at high risk by evaluating the severity of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction --- p.119 / Chapter III. --- Risk stratification in patients with heart failure --- p.119 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Future Research Directions --- p.121 / References --- p.123

Circuits underlying motor patterns of closely related species provide an ideal framework in which to study how evolution shapes behavioral variation. Male African clawed frogs (Xenopus and Silurana) advertisement call to attract female mates and silence male rivals. Males of each species produce a unique vocal pattern that serves as a species-identifier. Xenopus laevis is the most well-studied species in terms of its vocal behavior and underlying anatomy and physiology. The clade that includes X. laevis, or X. laevis senso lato, also includes 3 other species that diverged ~8.5 million years ago. All 4 of these species produce advertisement calls that include fast trills – trains of fast rate (~60 Hz) sound pulses. However, their calls differ substantially between species in measures of trill duration and period. I examined the premotor circuit underlying vocal patterning in three of these species: X. laevis, X. petersii, and X. victorianus. I used extracellular recordings to find that a premotor nucleus, DTAM, which is part of the vocal central pattern generator, is the likely source of species-variation of vocal patterns. Species-specific trill duration and period are intrinsic to the region of the hindbrain that includes DTAM. Next, I used blind whole-cell patch recordings in DTAM of X. laevis and X. petersii to examine the cells that encode trill duration and period. I identified homologous populations of premotor vocal cells in both species that code for trill duration and period in a species-specific manner. Together, these results support an autonomous role of the DTAM circuit for generation of species variation in call duration and period.