A Tablet-Based Assessment of Rhythmic Ability.

The exponential rise in use of mobile consumer electronics has presented a great potential for research to be conducted remotely, with participants numbering several orders of magnitude greater than a typical research paradigm. Here, we attempt to demonstrate the validity and reliability of using a consumer game-engine to create software presented on a mobile tablet to assess sensorimotor synchronization, a proxy of rhythmic ability. Our goal was to ascertain whether previously observed research results can be replicated, rather than assess whether a mobile tablet achieves comparable performance to a desktop computer. To achieve this, younger (aged 18-35 years) and older (aged 60-80 years) adult musicians and non-musicians were recruited to play a custom-designed sensorimotor synchronization assessment on a mobile tablet in a controlled laboratory environment. To assess reliability, participants performed the assessment twice, separated by a week, and an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Results supported the validity of this approach to assessing rhythmic abilities by replicating previously observed results. Specifically, musicians performed better than non-musicians, and younger adults performed better than older adults. Participants also performed best when the tempo was in the range of previously-identified preferred tempos, when the stimuli included both audio and visual information, and when synchronizing on-beat compared to off-beat or continuation (self-paced) synchronization. Additionally, high ICC values (>0.75) suggested excellent test-retest reliability. Together, these results support the notion that consumer electronics running software built with a game engine may serve as a valuable resource for remote, mobile-based data collection of rhythmic abilities

Rhythm Rangers:an evaluation of beat synchronisation skills and musical confidence through multiplayer gamification influence

Musical confidence and beat synchronisation skills are explored before and after playing the custom made multiplayer game, Rhythm Rangers. Timing variability is evaluated comparing scores from a repeated baseline test, preand post-game. A qualitative questionnaire assessing musical sophistication, behaviours, and confidence is used for correlation. Participants synchronise claps at quarter-note level to audio loops of varying rhythmic complexity from metronome, to complex syncopated break-beat. The setup comprises bespoke wearable controllers and software integrating multi-sensor microcontrollers (ESP32), a microcomputer (Raspberry Pi), and a visual programming language (Pure Data). Baseline test results indicate better overall beat synchronisation to drum loops compared to a metronome—similar results were found for game scores where the average standard deviation (SD) was highest for the metronome. Average drift variability showed a downward trend for both baseline test loops (metronome and simple drum loop). Total average SD decreased with relation to the amount of rhythmic information in the loops until the complex break-beat. Little correlation between the qualitative data and the participant’s performance during the experiment was found. Dependant samples T-test for the simple drum loop showed a significant effect ( t = −2, 48, p < 0.05). No significant effect for the metronome (t = 0.03, p < 0.05) when comparing the baseline test before and after the game. Participants with least or no improvement found the game most challenging; higher game scores showed the least improvement; less experience with rhythm games showed the most improvement. All participants claimed to have had fun and enjoyed themselves while playing the game

Application of Intermediate Multi-Agent Systems to Integrated Algorithmic Composition and Expressive Performance of Music

We investigate the properties of a new Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) for computer-aided composition called IPCS (pronounced “ipp-siss”) the Intermediate Performance Composition System which generates expressive performance as part of its compositional process, and produces emergent melodic structures by a novel multi-agent process. IPCS consists of a small-medium size (2 to 16) collection of agents in which each agent can perform monophonic tunes and learn monophonic tunes from other agents. Each agent has an affective state (an “artificial emotional state”) which affects how it performs the music to other agents; e.g. a “happy” agent will perform “happier” music. The agent performance not only involves compositional changes to the music, but also adds smaller changes based on expressive music performance algorithms for humanization. Every agent is initialized with a tune containing the same single note, and over the interaction period longer tunes are built through agent interaction. Agents will only learn tunes performed to them by other agents if the affective content of the tune is similar to their current affective state; learned tunes are concatenated to the end of their current tune. Each agent in the society learns its own growing tune during the interaction process. Agents develop “opinions” of other agents that perform to them, depending on how much the performing agent can help their tunes grow. These opinions affect who they interact with in the future. IPCS is not a mapping from multi-agent interaction onto musical features, but actually utilizes music for the agents to communicate emotions. In spite of the lack of explicit melodic intelligence in IPCS, the system is shown to generate non-trivial melody pitch sequences as a result of emotional communication between agents. The melodies also have a hierarchical structure based on the emergent social structure of the multi-agent system and the hierarchical structure is a result of the emerging agent social interaction structure. The interactive humanizations produce micro-timing and loudness deviations in the melody which are shown to express its hierarchical generative structure without the need for structural analysis software frequently used in computer music humanization

Development and initial evaluation of the Hearing Aid Attribute and Feature Importance Evaluation (HAFIE) questionnaire

Objectives: To develop and validate a novel questionnaire aimed at providing a structured, evidence-based methodology for hearing aid recommendation and selection using self-reported importance ratings for different modern hearing aid features. Design: The initial questionnaire items were created through a concept mapping approach that involved input from hearing aid users. Hearing care professional focus groups (n¼10) were conducted to assess questionnaire content and design, and to guide modifications. Validation of this initial 34-item version of the questionnaire was conducted using an anonymous online survey tool (Qualtrics). Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the dataset, using principal axis factoring. Questionnaire reliability and inter-item correlation were assessed. Items with low factor loading and high cross-loading were removed. Study sample: Two hundred and eighteen adult participants with a self-reported hearing loss (median age ¼ 48 years, range ¼ 18–95 years) completed the questionnaire. Results: Analysis and item removal resulted in a 28-item questionnaire. Three factors were identified, dividing the hearing aid features into the subscales: “Advanced connectivity & streaming”, “Physical attributes & usability”, and “Sound quality & intelligibility”. Conclusion: This study has resulted in a patient-oriented questionnaire that allows clinicians to gather patient input in a structured manner

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the benefits of a multimedia educational program for first-time hearing aid users

Objectives: The aims of this study were to (1) develop a series of short interactive videos (or reusable learning objects [RLOs]) covering a broad range of practical and psychosocial issues relevant to the auditory rehabilitation for first-time hearing aid users; (2) establish the accessibility, take-up, acceptability and adherence of the RLOs; and (3) assess the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the RLOs. Design: The study was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial with two arms. The intervention group (RLO+, n = 103) received the RLOs plus standard clinical service including hearing aid(s) and counseling, and the waitlist control group (RLO−, n = 100) received standard clinical service only. The effectiveness of the RLOs was assessed 6-weeks posthearing aid fitting. Seven RLOs (total duration 1 hr) were developed using a participatory, community of practice approach involving hearing aid users and audiologists. RLOs included video clips, illustrations, animations, photos, sounds and testimonials, and all were subtitled. RLOs were delivered through DVD for TV (50.6%) and PC (15.2%), or via the internet (32.9%). Results: RLO take-up was 78%. Adherence overall was at least 67%, and 97% in those who attended the 6-week follow-up. Half the participants watched the RLOs two or more times, suggesting self-management of their hearing loss, hearing aids, and communication. The RLOs were rated as highly useful and the majority of participants agreed the RLOs were enjoyable, improved their confidence and were preferable to written information. Postfitting, there was no significant between-group difference in the primary outcome measure, overall hearing aid use. However, there was significantly greater hearing aid use in the RLO+ group for suboptimal users. Furthermore, the RLO+ group had significantly better knowledge of practical and psychosocial issues, and significantly better practical hearing aid skills than the RLO− group. Conclusions: The RLOs were shown to be beneficial to first-time hearing aid users across a range of quantitative and qualitative measures. This study provides evidence to suggest that the RLOs may provide valuable learning and educational support for first-time hearing aid users and could be used to supplement clinical rehabilitation practice

The effects of rhythmic structure on tapping accuracy

Prior investigations of simple rhythms in familiar time signatures have shown the importance of several mechanisms; notably, those related to metricization and grouping. But there has been limited study of complex rhythms, including those in unfamiliar time signatures, such as are found outside mainstream Western music. Here, we investigate how the structures of 91 rhythms with nonisochronous onsets (mostly complex, several in unfamiliar time signatures) influence the accuracy, velocity, and timing of taps made by participants attempting to synchronize with these onsets. The onsets were piano-tone cues sounded at a well-formed subset of isochronous cymbal pulses; the latter occurring every 234 ms. We modelled tapping at both the rhythm level and the pulse level; the latter provides insight into how rhythmic structure makes some cues easier to tap and why incorrect (uncued) taps may occur. In our models, we use a wide variety of quantifications of rhythmic features, several of which are novel and many of which are indicative of underlying mechanisms, strategies, or heuristics. The results show that, for these tricky rhythms, taps are disrupted by unfamiliar period lengths and are guided by crude encodings of each rhythm: the density of rhythmic cues, their circular mean and variance, and recognizing common small patterns and the approximate positions of groups of cues. These lossy encodings are often counterproductive for discriminating between cued and uncued pulses and are quite different to mechanisms—such as metricization and emphasizing group boundaries—thought to guide tapping behaviours in learned and familiar rhythms

Comparing Orthodontist, Prosthodontist, Dental and Non-Dental Student Views on the Impact of Buccal Corridor on Smile Attractiveness of Women with Different Face Shapes

Objectives Today, creating a balanced and attractive smile is the main goal of treatment in modern orthodontics. The buccal corridor is one of the controversial aspects of the smile attractiveness. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of buccal corridor on smile attractiveness of women with Mesoprosopic, Leptoprosopic, and Euryprosopic face types, from the perspective of orthodontists, prosthodontists, Dental and non-dental students.Methods In this comparative cross-sectional study, Photos were taken from 3 women with different face types and by making some changes in these photos, 5 buccal corridors (2%, 10%, 15%, 22%and 28%) were created for each one. Eventually, in order to survey, each 15 pictures were provided to individuals in the study group. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS21 software, using K-S (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney tests.p-value&lt;0.05 was considered significant.Results Orthodontist and non-dental students considered that nearly wide smile for leptoprosopic face shape and wide smile with the minimum buccal corridor for variety of mesoprosopic and euryprosopic face shapes have the most attractiveness (p&lt;0.05). Prosthodontists considered wide and narrow smiles as the least attractive regarding all types of faces (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion Face shapes did not have a significant impact on the selection of the most attractive smile by prosthodontists, while orthodontists and non-dental students shared a similar view on the selection of the most attractive smile regarding the face shape

Automatinio sprendimų vertinimo informatikos olimpiadose raida ir perspektyvos

Pastaruoju metu mokslinėje visuomenėje vis daugiau atgarsio sulaukia įvairios informatikos (algoritmavimo)&nbsp;olimpiados. Ši sritis tampa mokslinių tyrimų objektu. Informatikos olimpiadų dalyviai turi sukurti&nbsp;algoritmus ir juos užrašyti nepriekaištingai veikiančiomis programomis viena iš leidžiamų programavimo&nbsp;kalbų. Darbai yra vertinami automatiškai testuojant juodosios dėžės principu, visiškai nebandant&nbsp;analizuoti paties algoritmo. Toks vertinimas sulaukia nemažai kritikos, tačiau kol kas gerų alternatyvų&nbsp;nėra. Straipsnyje pateikiama automatinio vertinimo informatikos olimpiadose raida nuo pirmųjų olimpiadų&nbsp;iki šių dienų, apžvelgiami darbai, kuriuose nagrinėjama ši problematika, aptariamos olimpiadose&nbsp;ir mokslinėje literatūroje siūlytos patobulintos vertinimo schemos, numatomos ateities gairės.Development and perspectives of automated grading in informatics&nbsp;olympiadsJūratė Skūpienė SummaryInternational Olympiads in Informatics (IOI) lately are&nbsp;gaining more attention in the scientific community.&nbsp;Contestants in IOI have to design algorithms and implement&nbsp;them as programs in one of allowed programming&nbsp;languages. Currently all the submissions are graded&nbsp;automatically using black-box method and grading is&nbsp;based on execution of compiled programs with different&nbsp;tests (input data). The algorithm itself is not analysed&nbsp;or revealed in any other possible way. Current gradingsystem receives a lot of criticism due its unfairness&nbsp;(mistyping the name of a variable might lead to zero&nbsp;points), however, no better grading models have been&nbsp;proposed so far. The paper gives an overview of the development&nbsp;of grading in IOI starting from the very first&nbsp;IOI’s where the verbal description of an algorithm had&nbsp;to be presented and evaluated. Many grading problems&nbsp;emerged in 1990’s due to input/output format requirements&nbsp;which where inevitable in order to be able to perform&nbsp;automated testing of submissions. Input/output details&nbsp;required a lot of concentration from participants for&nbsp;mistyping a file name or redundant/missing end of line&nbsp;symbol might have resulted in zero points. Sometimes&nbsp;that even shifted focus from algorithm to formatting details.&nbsp;These problems were solved with the appearance&nbsp;of the first Informatics Contest Management System in&nbsp;2001 which allowed the contestants to submit and run&nbsp;their program with sample tests thus checking their&nbsp;programs for compatibility with format requirements&nbsp;and correcting if there was such a need during contest&nbsp;time. After the contest management systems found their&nbsp;place in IOI’s the attention was shifted to the relationship&nbsp;between the grades given for a submission and the&nbsp;algorithm implemented. The paper presents overview of&nbsp;published papers and discussions in IOI community on&nbsp;these topics. The papers ends with perspectives and directions&nbsp;for future improvement of grading in IOI’s