Timbre from Sound Synthesis and High-level Control Perspectives

International audienceExploring the many surprising facets of timbre through sound manipulations has been a common practice among composers and instrument makers of all times. The digital era radically changed the approach to sounds thanks to the unlimited possibilities offered by computers that made it possible to investigate sounds without physical constraints. In this chapter we describe investigations on timbre based on the analysis by synthesis approach that consists in using digital synthesis algorithms to reproduce sounds and further modify the parameters of the algorithms to investigate their perceptual relevance. In the first part of the chapter timbre is investigated in a musical context. An examination of the sound quality of different wood species for xylophone making is first presented. Then the influence of instrumental control on timbre is described in the case of clarinet and cello performances. In the second part of the chapter, we mainly focus on the identification of sound morphologies, so called invariant sound structures responsible for the evocations induced by environmental sounds by relating basic signal descriptors and timbre descriptors to evocations in the case of car door noises, motor noises, solid objects, and their interactions

A digital waveguide-based approach for Clavinet modeling and synthesis

The Clavinet is an electromechanical musical instrument produced in the mid-twentieth century. As is the case for other vintage instruments, it is subject to aging and requires great effort to be maintained or restored. This paper reports analyses conducted on a Hohner Clavinet D6 and proposes a computational model to faithfully reproduce the Clavinet sound in real time, from tone generation to the emulation of the electronic components. The string excitation signal model is physically inspired and represents a cheap solution in terms of both computational resources and especially memory requirements (compared, e.g., to sample playback systems). Pickups and amplifier models have been implemented which enhance the natural character of the sound with respect to previous work. A model has been implemented on a real-time software platform, Pure Data, capable of a 10-voice polyphony with low latency on an embedded device. Finally, subjective listening tests conducted using the current model are compared to previous tests showing slightly improved results

A Multicenter Retrospective Survey regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management in Italian Children with Type 1 Diabetes

We conducted a retrospective survey in pediatric centers belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. The following data were collected for all new-onset diabetes patients aged 0-18 years: DKA (pH < 7.30), severe DKA (pH < 7.1), DKA in preschool children, DKA treatment according to ISPAD protocol, type of rehydrating solution used, bicarbonates use, and amount of insulin infused. Records (n = 2453) of children with newly diagnosed diabetes were collected from 68/77 centers (87%), 39 of which are tertiary referral centers, the majority of whom (n = 1536, 89.4%) were diagnosed in the tertiary referral centers. DKA was observed in 38.5% and severe DKA in 10.3%. Considering preschool children, DKA was observed in 72%, and severe DKA in 16.7%. Cerebral edema following DKA treatment was observed in 5 (0.5%). DKA treatment according to ISPAD guidelines was adopted in 68% of the centers. In the first 2 hours, rehydration was started with normal saline in all centers, but with different amount. Bicarbonate was quite never been used. Insulin was infused starting from third hour at the rate of 0.05-0.1 U/kg/h in 72% of centers. Despite prevention campaign, DKA is still observed in Italian children at onset, with significant variability in DKA treatment, underlying the need to share guidelines among centers

DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;2.05, 95%CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;1.39–3.02, p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.42, 95%CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.18–0.99, p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

Il Benchmarking delle performance: una metodologia di analisi della produzione ospedaliera

Il presente capitolo si inserisce nel quadro degli studi sul tema del benchmarking in ambito sanitario. L'obiettivo è quello di individuare una metodologia di analisi della produzione delle prestazioni ospedaliere a livello di reparto sulla base dei flussi informativi SDO. Il campione di indagine è costituito da 10 strutture di ricovero (5 pubbliche e 5 private accreditate) scelte sulla base di criteri predefiniti

Un confronto tra strutture pubbliche e private accreditate

Negli ultimi vent’anni, una molteplicità di innovazioni scientifiche e cliniche, di modelli istituzionali e di strumenti manageriali efficaci sono nati o cresciuti nella sanità lombarda, per poi estendersi all’intero SSN. Per questo, l’Osservatorio curato da Assolombarda, Confindustria Lombardia Sanità Servizi, AIOP Lombardia, ANISAP Lombardia e CeRGAS – Bocconi studia le caratteristiche e i punti di forza del SSR lombardo, con una particolare attenzione al ruolo della sanità privata accreditata, che ne costituisce una componente fondamentale. Il volume offre una fotografia nitida dell’ospedalità privata lombarda in termini di dotazione strutturale, attività, contributo alla soddisfazione del bisogno di salute. Ampio spazio è dedicato alle funzioni di committenza e di finanziamento da parte della Regione, includendo le recenti politiche per rafforzare la presa in carico dei pazienti anziani e cronici, attraverso l’introduzione dei CReG e delle cure sub-acute. Infine, il volume esplora la «scatola nera» degli ospedali lombardi, sia pubblici che privati, per compiere una prima analisi comparata sulla loro efficienza operativa e sui livelli di remunerazione

Le reti Ospedaliere dei SSR: un'analisi comparativa

Il capitolo fornisce un'analisi delle reti ospedaliere nei Servizi Sanitaria Regionali. In particolare, l'indagine, basata sui flussi informativi delle SDO (anno 2005), di divide in due parti: la prima effettua un'analisi descrittiva relativa alle dimensioni effettive delle strutture di ricovero e alle loro vocazioni in ciascun SSR; la seconda pone alcune considerazioni interpretative sul livello di concentrazione/dispersione dell'offerta ospedaliera a livello di singola regione

The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Devon: a comparison of the new and old classification criteria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Devon and compare the new McDonald classification guidelines with the Poser criteria currently used. Methods: All patients known to have multiple sclerosis and alive and resident within the chosen area on 1 June 2001 were included in the study. Seven sources of case ascertainment were used and each patient was classified according to both the Poser criteria and the McDonald guidelines. Results: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Devon was 118 per 100 000 (definite and probable cases, Poser criteria) in a population of 341 796, on the prevalence day. The prevalence of definite and possible cases, as classified by the new McDonald guidelines, was slightly lower at 117 per 100 000. Clinical demographics of the prevalent population were similar to those of other studies in the United Kingdom. Conclusions: This is first survey to use the new recommended guidelines and compare these criteria with the Poser classification. The difficulties encountered with applying the new criteria in research are highlighted, as are the differences between the new and old criteria. This study reports one of the highest prevalences in the south of the UK, adding support for a north-south divide being a step effect rather than a latitudinal gradient