Including osteoprotegerin and collagen IV in a score-based blood test for liver fibrosis increases diagnostic accuracy

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive methods for liver fibrosis evaluation in chronic liver diseases have been recently developed, i.e. transient elastography (Fibroscan™) and blood tests (Fibrometer®, Fibrotest®, and Hepascore®). In this study, we aimed to design a new score in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) by selecting blood markers in a large panel and we compared its diagnostic performance with those of other noninvasive methods. METHODS: Sixteen blood tests were performed in 306 untreated CHC patients included in a multicenter prospective study (ANRS HC EP 23 Fibrostar) using METAVIR histological fibrosis stage as reference. The new score was constructed by non linear regression using the most accurate biomarkers. RESULTS: Five markers (alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein-A1, AST, collagen IV and osteoprotegerin) were included in the new function called Coopscore©. Using the Obuchowski Index, Coopscore© shows higher diagnostic performances than for Fibrometer®, Fibrotest®, Hepascore® and Fibroscan™ in CHC. Association between Fibroscan™ and Coopscore© might avoid 68% of liver biopsies for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Coopscore© provides higher accuracy than other noninvasive methods for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in CHC. The association of Coopscore© with Fibroscan™ increases its predictive value

Intuitive control of rolling sound synthesis

International audienceThis paper presents a rolling sound synthesis model which can be intuitively controlled. To propose this model, different aspects of the rolling phenomenon are explored : physical modeling, perceptual attributes and signal morphology. A source-filter model for rolling sounds synthesis is presented with associated intuitive controls

Audio-Motor Synchronization: The Effect of Mapping Between Kinematics and Acoustic Cues on Geometric Motor Features

International audienceThis paper presents an experiment dealing with the sensorimotor relation between auditory perception and graphical movements. Subjects were asked to synchronize their gestures with synthetic friction sounds. Some geometrical and dynamical parameters of the motor productions are analyzed according to the different mappings. This experiment provides a formal framework for a wider study which aims to evaluate the relation between audition, vision and gestures

An Intuitive Synthesizer of Continuous Interaction Sounds: Rubbing, Scratching and Rolling

International audienceIn this paper, we propose a control strategy for synthesized continuous interaction sounds. The framework of our research is based on the \emph{action-object} paradigm that describes the sound as the result of an action on an object and that presumes the existence of sound invariants, i.e. perceptually relevant signal morphologies that carry information about the action's or the object's attributes. Auditory cues are here investigated for the evocations of rubbing, scratching and rolling interactions. A generic sound synthesis model that simulates these interactions is detailed. Then, we propose an intuitive control strategy that enables users to navigate continuously from one interaction to another in an ''action space'', hereby offering the possibility to simulate morphed interactions, for instance between rubbing and rolling

Exploration of Sonification Strategies for Guidance in a Blind Driving Game

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Assessing sound perception through vocal imitations of sounds that evoke movements and materials

International audienceIn this paper we studied a new approach to investigate sound perception. Assuming that a sound contains specific morphologies that convey perceptually relevant information responsible for its recognition, called invariants, we explored the possibility of a new method to determine such invariants, using vocal imitation. We conducted an experiment , asking participants to imitate sounds evoking movements and materials generated through a sound synthesizer. Given that that the sounds produced by the synthesizer were based on invariant structures, we aimed at retrieving this information from the imitations. Results showed that the participants were able to correctly imitate the dynamics of the sounds, i.e. the action-related information evoked by the sound, whereas texture-related information evoking the material of the sound source was less easily imitated