Surface diffusion coefficients for room acoustics : free-field measures

A surface diffusion coefficient is needed in room acoustics to enable the quality of diffusing surfaces to be evaluated. It may also facilitate more accurate geometric room acoustic models. This paper concentrates on diffusion coefficients derived from free-field polar responses. An extensive set of two- and three-dimensional measurements and predictions was used to test the worth of different diffusion coefficient definitions. The merits and problems associated with these types of coefficients are discussed, and past parameters reviewed. Two new coefficients are described. The new measure based on the autocorrelation function is forwarded as the best free-field coefficient. The strengths and weaknesses of the coefficient are defined. © 2000 Acoustical Society of America

Entire choosability of near-outerplane graphs

It is proved that if G is a plane embedding of a K4-minor-free graph with maximum degree Δ, then G is entirely 7-choosable if Δ≤4 and G is entirely (Δ+ 2)-choosable if Δ≥ 5; that is, if every vertex, edge and face of G is given a list of max{7,Δ+2} colours, then every element can be given a colour from its list such that no two adjacent or incident elements are given the same colour. It is proved also that this result holds if G is a plane embedding of a K2,3-minor-free graph or a (K2 + (K1 U K2))-minor-free graph. As a special case this proves that the Entire Colouring Conjecture, that a plane graph is entirely (Δ + 4)-colourable, holds if G is a plane embedding of a K4-minor-free graph, a K2,3-minor-free graph or a (K2 + (K1 U K2))-minor-free graph

Setting number of decimal places for reporting risk ratios: rule of four

BACKGROUND: Visual images may facilitate the communication of pain during consultations. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether photographic images of pain enrich the content and/or process of pain consultation by comparing patients’ and clinicians’ ratings of the consultation experience. METHODS: Photographic images of pain previously co-created by patients with a photographer were provided to new patients attending pain clinic consultations. Seventeen patients selected and used images that best expressed their pain and were compared with 21 patients who were not shown images. Ten clinicians conducted assessments in each condition. After consultation, patients and clinicians completed ratings of aspects of communication and, when images were used, how they influenced the consultation. RESULTS: The majority of both patients and clinicians reported that images enhanced the consultation. Ratings of communication were generally high, with no differences between those with and without images (with the exception of confidence in treatment plan, which was rated more highly in the image group). However, patients’ and clinicians’ ratings of communication were inversely related only in consultations with images. Methodological shortcomings may underlie the present findings of no difference. It is also possible that using images raised patients’ and clinicians’ expectations and encouraged emotional disclosure, in response to which clinicians were dissatisfied with their performance. CONCLUSIONS: Using images in clinical encounters did not have a negative impact on the consultation, nor did it improve communication or satisfaction. These findings will inform future analysis of behaviour in the video-recorded consultations

Tutorial : public engagement through audio internet experiments

This tutorial paper details experiences of four public engagement projects that have communicated acoustic science to lay audiences using web experiments. Recent developments in personal computers, the Internet and software platforms offers new and exciting opportunities for engaging publics because technologies routinely allow the reproduction of sound. The projects are psychoacoustic experiments run via the Internet (there are an increasing number of psychology experiments mediated via the web)

An Aching for Affection

As humans, we’ve needed companionship from the beginning of time. Therefore, what does a true relationship look like in today’s society? In this world of newly emerging relationships, many people have either experienced, seen, or heard of a toxic relationship. This article dives deep into what makes a toxic relationship, how to notice the red flags, and how to ultimately fix or end it

Coverage probability bias, objective Bayes and the likelihood principle

We review objective Bayes procedures based on both parametric and predictive coverage probability bias and explore the extent to which such procedures contravene the likelihood principle in the case of a scalar parameter. The discussion encompasses choice of objective priors, objective posterior probability statements and objective predictive probability statements. We conclude with some remarks concerning the future development and implementation of objective priors based on small coverage probability bias