Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Audio Headset and Mixer

Lisätty Audiotodellisuus (LAT) on käsite, joka on määritelty todellisen ja virtuaalisen maailman reaaliaikaisena yhdistelmänä. Täten jokapäiväiväiseen äänimaailmaan voidaan lisätä virtuaalisia ääniobjekteja. Lisätyn audiotodellisuuden laitteisto, jota tutkitaan tässä työssä, koostuu kuulokeparista sekä kontrolliyksiköstä, nimeltään LAT-mikseri. LAT-kuulokkeet koostuvat binauraalisista kuuloke-elementeistä sekä sisäänrakennetuista mikrofoneista. LAT-mikserissä on kaikki LAT-sovellusten tarvitsemat liittimet sekä signaalinkäsittelyelektroniikka. LAT-kuulokkeiden toimintaperiaate perustuu siihen, että binauraalisten mikrofonien tulisi välittää äänisignaalit muuttumattomana kuuloke-elementeille, jotta todellinen äänimaailma saataisiin kopioitua muuttumattomana. Valitettavasti LAT-kuulokkeet aiheuttavat muutoksia kopioituun äänimaailmaan. Näiden muutoksien takia tarvitaan LAT-mikseriä ekvalisoimaan kuulokkeita. LAT-mikseri mahdollistaa myös virtuaalisten ääniobjektien lisäämisen. Virtuaaliset ääniobjektit voidaan lisätä todellisen äänimaailmaan siten, että käyttäjä voi erottaa ne todellisesta äänimaailmasta tai siten, että käyttäjä ei erota virtuaalisia ja todellisia äänilähteitä toisistaan. Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena on mitata LAT-laitteiston suorituskykyä erilaisten laboratoriomittausten avulla sekä suorittaa käyttäjäkoe. Mittausten ja käyttäjäkokeen avulla pyritään selvittämään LAT-laitteiston tekniset tiedot sekä ymmärtämään miten käyttäjät kokevat LATlaitteiston käytettävyyden jokapäiväisessä elämässä. Kerätyn informaation avulla on mahdollista kehittää LAT-laitteiston käytettävyyttä sekä äänenlaatua.Augmented Reality Audio (ARA) is a concept that is defined as a real-time combination of real and virtual auditory worlds, that is, the everyday sound surroundings can be extended with virtual sounds. The hardware used in this study for augmented reality audio consists of a pair of headphones and a controlling unit, called an ARA mixer. The ARA headphones are composed of binaural earphone elements with integrated microphones. The ARA mixer provides all the connections and signal processing electronics needed in ARA applications. The basic operating principle of the ARA headset is that the binaural microphones should relay the sound signals unaltered to the earphones in order to create an accurate copy of the surrounding sound environment. Unfortunately, the ARA headset creates some alterations to the copied representation of the real sound environment. Because of these alterations, the ARA mixer is needed to equalize the headphones. Furthermore, the ARA mixer enables the addition of virtual sound objects. Virtual sound objects can be embedded into the real environment in a way that the user can distinguish them from the real sound environment or in a way that the user cannot tell the difference between the real and virtual sounds. The aim of this thesis is to perform full-scale laboratory measurements and an usability evaluation of the ARA hardware. The objective is to collect technical data about the hardware and to gather knowledge concerning how users perceive the usability of the ARA headset in everyday-life situations. With the gathered information it is possible to further improve the usability and sound quality of the ARA hardware

EQ

Ekvalisointia käytetään akustiikassa ja audiotekniikassa laajasti esimerkiksi äänentoistojärjestelmän taajuusvasteen korjaamiseen. Ekvalisaattorien (EQ) suunnittelu on kehittynyt paljon viime vuosina. Tässä artikkelissa keskitymme graafisiin ekvalisaattoreihin, joiden suunnittelu on haastavaa. Esittelemme kaksi periaatetta ekvalisaattorin toteuttamiseen, peräkkäis- ja rinnaisrakenteen. Kehittämämme uusimmat graafiset ekvalisaattorit täyttävät kriittisen hifi-vaatimuksen, jonka mukaan taajuusvasteen tulee vastata asetuksia yhden desibelin tarkkuudella. Graafisen ekvalisaattorin peräkkäisrakenteessa se onnistuu valitsemalla tarkoituksenmukainen parametrinen suodin jokaiselle kaistalle, säätämällä niiden kaistanleveys siten, että vahvistuksen vaikutus viereisille kaistoille tunnetaan, ja ratkaisemalla kaistasuotimien vahvistukset pienimmän neliösumman menetelmällä. Tarkka ja tehokas rinnakkainen graafinen ekvalisaattori saadaan muuntamalla peräkkäisrakenne viivästettyyn rinnakkaismuotoon, joka on uutuus tällä alalla.Koska näillä menetelmillä suunniteltujen oktaavi- ja terssiekvalisaattorien parametrien päivitys vaatii paljon laskentaa, olemme korvanneet vahvistusten optimoinnin keinotekoisen hermoverkon avulla. Kehittämiemme menetelmien ansiosta graafisen oktaavi- ja terssiekvalisaattorin suunnitteluongelma on nyt käytännössä ratkaistu.Non peer reviewe

Pohjois-Suomen varhaisproterotsooisen Näränkävaaran kerrosintruusion petrogeneesi, osa I: pohjoisen peridotiitit ja niiden suhde kerrossarjaan ja uusiin magmapulsseihin

The Paleoproterozoic Näränkävaara layered intrusion, northern Finland, has a surface area of 25 km x 5 km and a stratigraphic thickness of ~3 km. The main body of the intrusion includes a 1.5–2 km thick basal dunite series and a 1.3 km thick peridotitic-dioritic layered series, the latter with two peridotitic reversals related to magma recharge. In addition, a series of poorly known elongate poikilitic harzburgitic intrusions (the northern peridotites) are found along the NE contact between the intrusion and the granite-gneiss basement complex. We investigate new mineral and whole-rock geochemical data from the northern peridotites, with the aim of clarifying their petrogenetic relationship to the main layered body of the intrusion. The northern peridotites form a 200–400 m thick cumulate series grading from olivine orthocumulates (OC) at the northern basement complex contact to olivine-orthopyroxene heteradcumulates (HAC) towards the main intrusion body in the south. The OC show whole-rock and mineral chemical trends consistent with origin as rapidly cooled olivine-melt mixtures. The HAC have crystallized in situ from a relatively Cr- and SiO2-rich magma. Based on lithological and stratigraphical correlations, the northern peridotites are linked to the emplacement of the magma that caused the first reversal in the layered series: marginal orthocumulates were formed at the initial emplacement of a new pulse of LREE-enriched siliceous high-MgO basaltic (SHMB) magma into the Näränkävaara chamber, followed by heteradcumulate formation from a fractionating magma with added external SiO2 and fluid. Ubiquitous granite-gneiss xenoliths and felsic veins in drill core suggest assimilation may have been a local process. The northern peridotite parental magma shows undepleted metal ratios suggesting no sulfide saturation occurred prior to emplacement.Peer reviewe

Casting in finger trap traction without reduction versus closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation of dorsally displaced, over-riding distal metaphyseal radius fractures in children under 11 years old : A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Publisher Copyright: ©Introduction Distal radius is the most common site of fracture in children, comprising 23%-31% of all paediatric fractures. Approximately one-fifth of these fractures are displaced. Completely displaced distal metaphyseal radius fractures in children have traditionally been treated with closed reduction. Recent evidence suggests that correcting the shortening in over-riding distal metaphyseal radius fractures is not necessary in prepubertal children. To date, no published randomised controlled trial (RCT) has compared treatment of these fractures in children by casting the fracture in bayonet position to reduction and pin fixation. Methods and analysis We will conduct an RCT to compare the outcomes of casting the fracture in bayonet position in children under 11 years of age to reduction and percutaneous pin fixation. 60 patients will be randomly assigned to casting or surgery groups. We have two primary outcomes. The first is ratio (injured side/non-injured side) in the total active forearm rotation and the second is ratio (injured side/non-injured side) in total active range of motion of the wrist in the flexion-extension plane at 6 months. The secondary outcomes will include axial radiographic alignment, passive extension of the wrists, grip strength and length of forearms and hands, patient-reported outcome QuickDASH and pain questionnaire PedsQL. Patients not willing to participate in the RCT will be asked to participate in a prospective cohort. Patients not eligible for randomisation will be asked to participate in a non-eligible cohort. These cohorts are included to enhance the external validity of the results of the RCT. Our null hypothesis is that the results of the primary outcome measures in the casting group are non-inferior to surgery group. Ethics and dissemination The institutional review board of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District has approved the protocol. We will disseminate the findings through peer-reviewed publications. Trial registration number NCT04323410. Protocol V.1.1, 29 September 2020.Peer reviewe

Treatment of hallux rigidus (HARD trial) : study protocol of a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of arthrodesis versus watchful waiting in the treatment of a painful osteoarthritic first metatarsophalangeal joint

Introduction Hallux rigidus is a common problem of pain and stiffness of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) caused mainly by degenerative osteoarthritis. Several operative techniques have been introduced for the treatment of this condition without high-quality evidence comparing surgical to non-surgical care. In this trial, the most common surgical procedure, arthrodesis, will be compared with watchful waiting in the management of hallux rigidus. Methods and analysis Ninety patients (40 years or older) with symptomatic first MTPJ osteoarthritis will be randomised to arthrodesis or watchful waiting in a ratio of 1:1. The primary outcome will be pain during walking, assessed using the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at 1 year after randomisation. The secondary outcomes will be pain at rest (NRS), physical function (Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire), patient satisfaction in terms of the patient-acceptable symptom state, health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), activity level (The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Sports subscale), use of analgesics or orthoses and the rate of complications. Our null hypothesis is that there will be no difference equal to or greater than the minimal important difference of the primary outcome measure between arthrodesis and watchful waiting. Our primary analysis follows an intention-to-treat principle. Ethics and dissemination The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Finland. Written informed consent will be obtained from all the participants. We will disseminate the findings of this study through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Protocol version 21 June 2021 V.2.0.Peer reviewe

PhD degree in four years : Results from the supervision workshops of the Finnish Doctoral Program in Geology

Englanninkielinen abstraktiNew regulations in doctoral training in Finland require that a PhD degree should be completed within four years of the beginning of a PhD project. The Doctoral Program in Geology has organized two seminars for doctoral students and their supervisors to map out the best practices for realizing this goal within the field of geosciences. One seminar was organized in Tallinn (spring 2012) and another one in Oulu (spring 2013) during the annual Geological Colloquium (cf. Lehtonen 2013). The Doctoral Program in Geology recommends that the scope of the PhD thesis is re-evaluated and scaled so that it can be finished in four years. In addition the supervision processes need to be developed so that 1) a written supervision agreement is implemented, 2) every doctoral student is assigned a supervision group or a follow-up group in addition to the official supervisor, 3) beginning stages of the PhD project are emphasized in the supervision process, and 4) more attention is paid to the feasibility of the PhD project’s research plan throughout the entire project.New regulations in doctoral training in Finland require that a PhD degree should be completed within four years of the beginning of a PhD project. The Doctoral Program in Geology has organized two seminars for doctoral students and their supervisors to map out the best practices for realizing this goal within the field of geosciences. One seminar was organized in Tallinn (spring 2012) and another one in Oulu (spring 2013) during the annual Geological Colloquium (cf. Lehtonen 2013). The Doctoral Program in Geology recommends that the scope of the PhD thesis is re-evaluated and scaled so that it can be finished in four years. In addition the supervision processes need to be developed so that 1) a written supervision agreement is implemented, 2) every doctoral student is assigned a supervision group or a follow-up group in addition to the official supervisor, 3) beginning stages of the PhD project are emphasized in the supervision process, and 4) more attention is paid to the feasibility of the PhD project’s research plan throughout the entire project

Pohjois-Suomen varhaisproterotsooisen Näränkävaaran kerrosintruusion petrogeneesi, osa II: U-Pb ID-TIMS -ikä ja Sm-Nd-isotooppisystematiikka

Several mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions were emplaced in the NE Fennoscandian Shield during a magmatic episode at 2.44 Ga. The Paleoproterozoic Näränkävaara layered intrusion, northern Finland, is one of the largest ultramafic bodies in the Fennoscandian Shield, with a surface area of 25 km x 5 km and a magmatic stratigraphic thickness of ~3 km. The intrusion comprises a 1.3 km-thick peridotitic–dioritic layered series (2436 ± 5 Ma) with two peridotitic reversals, and a 1.5–2 km thick basal dunite series mainly composed of olivine adcumulates (dated here). The intrusion has been studied since the 1960’s, but several questions regarding its structure and petrogenesis remain. The basal dunite shows several lithological features typical of komatiitic rather than intrusive olivine cumulates; namely, >1 km-thick “extreme” olivine adcumulates, some showing textures with bimodal grain sizes, oscillating variations in Mg# with stratigraphic height, and poikilitic chromite. With Archean greenstone belts nearby, it was previously hypothesized that the basal dunite series could represent an Archean komatiitic wall rock to the Paleoproterozoic layered series. However, our new U-Pb ID-TIMS baddeleyite age of 2441.7 ± 0.9 Ma for the basal dunite series shows that the basal dunite and layered series of the Näränkävaara intrusion are co-genetic. New whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data from key stratigraphic units (initial εNd at 2440 Ma of -3.5 to -1.7) indicate that the intrusion was constructed from repeated emplacement of LREE-enriched high-MgO basaltic magmas that were mantle-derived and contaminated by crust, similarly to other Fennoscandian 2.44 Ga intrusions. The parental magmas show similar compositions regardless of stratigraphic position, suggesting that most wall rock contamination and homogenization had occurred before emplacement, with in situ contamination being a relatively minor process. The open-system features of the basal dunite suggest that it may have formed (at least partly) as a feeder channel cumulate, possibly related to the ~100 km long Koillismaa-Näränkävaara Layered Igneous Complex. The Näränkävaara parental magmas show variably depleted metal ratios and could have potential for orthomagmatic mineral deposits, given the availability of S-rich wall rocks.Peer reviewe

Healthy people in healthy premises : the Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme 2018-2028

Clean and fresh indoor air supports health and well-being. However, indoor air can contain pollutants that can cause a variety of symptoms and reduce well-being. Individual exposure agents can also increase the risk of certain diseases. Finns have taken major steps to improve the quality of indoor air for several decades. The primary focus of these activities has been the prevention and reduction of exposure to poor indoor air quality through guidance and regulation directing remediation of damaged buildings. Nevertheless, reported symptoms related to poor indoor air quality are common in Finland. In addition to exposure to indoor air pollutants, this may be partly due to the lively public discussion on the health risks caused by poor indoor air quality, conflicting views between experts, and mistrust towards public authorities, building owners and builders. Because of the scale of the indoor air problems in Finland, people's needs for reliable information and support, and the major costs involved, there is a call for new evidence-based methods, perspectives and solutions. Therefore, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare initiated the Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme 2018-2028 together with a number of collaborators and stakeholders. The primary, long-term objective of the programme is to reduce hazards to health and well-being linked to indoor environments in Finland. To fulfill this objective, the programme will focus on the promotion of human health and well-being, the prevention of hazards, improved communication and engage the whole health-care sector to manage better patients ' symptoms and complaints. The 10-year Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme consists of four areas that aim (1) to increase understanding of the effects of indoor environments on health and well-being; (2) to develop the management of problems linked to indoor environments; (3) to improve the treatment and working and functional capacity of people with symptoms and illnesses; and (4) to strengthen the competence in matters related to indoor environments. The progress of the programme and reaching the predefined, quantitative goals will be monitored throughout the programme.Peer reviewe

Healthy people in healthy premises: the Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme 2018–2028

Abstract Clean and fresh indoor air supports health and well-being. However, indoor air can contain pollutants that can cause a variety of symptoms and reduce well-being. Individual exposure agents can also increase the risk of certain diseases. Finns have taken major steps to improve the quality of indoor air for several decades. The primary focus of these activities has been the prevention and reduction of exposure to poor indoor air quality through guidance and regulation directing remediation of damaged buildings. Nevertheless, reported symptoms related to poor indoor air quality are common in Finland. In addition to exposure to indoor air pollutants, this may be partly due to the lively public discussion on the health risks caused by poor indoor air quality, conflicting views between experts, and mistrust towards public authorities, building owners and builders. Because of the scale of the indoor air problems in Finland, people’s needs for reliable information and support, and the major costs involved, there is a call for new evidence-based methods, perspectives and solutions. Therefore, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare initiated the Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme 2018–2028 together with a number of collaborators and stakeholders. The primary, long-term objective of the programme is to reduce hazards to health and well-being linked to indoor environments in Finland. To fulfill this objective, the programme will focus on the promotion of human health and well-being, the prevention of hazards, improved communication and engage the whole health-care sector to manage better patients´ symptoms and complaints. The 10-year Finnish Indoor Air and Health Programme consists of four areas that aim (1) to increase understanding of the effects of indoor environments on health and well-being; (2) to develop the management of problems linked to indoor environments; (3) to improve the treatment and working and functional capacity of people with symptoms and illnesses; and (4) to strengthen the competence in matters related to indoor environments. The progress of the programme and reaching the predefined, quantitative goals will be monitored throughout the programme