Preliminary investigation of the short-term in situ performance of an automatic masker selection system

Soundscape augmentation or "masking" introduces wanted sounds into the acoustic environment to improve acoustic comfort. Usually, the masker selection and playback strategies are either arbitrary or based on simple rules (e.g. -3 dBA), which may lead to sub-optimal increment or even reduction in acoustic comfort for dynamic acoustic environments. To reduce ambiguity in the selection of maskers, an automatic masker selection system (AMSS) was recently developed. The AMSS uses a deep-learning model trained on a large-scale dataset of subjective responses to maximize the derived ISO pleasantness (ISO 12913-2). Hence, this study investigates the short-term in situ performance of the AMSS implemented in a gazebo in an urban park. Firstly, the predicted ISO pleasantness from the AMSS is evaluated in comparison to the in situ subjective evaluation scores. Secondly, the effect of various masker selection schemes on the perceived affective quality and appropriateness would be evaluated. In total, each participant evaluated 6 conditions: (1) ambient environment with no maskers; (2) AMSS; (3) bird and (4) water masker from prior art; (5) random selection from same pool of maskers used to train the AMSS; and (6) selection of best-performing maskers based on the analysis of the dataset used to train the AMSS.Comment: paper submitted to the 52nd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering held in Chiba, Greater Tokyo, Japan, on 20-23 August 2023 (Inter-Noise 2023

Soundscape assessment : towards a validated translation of perceptual attributes in different languages

The recently published ISO/TS 12913-2:2018 standard aims to provide researchers and practitioners around the world with a reliable questionnaire for soundscape characterization. The ISO Technical Specifications report protocols and attributes grounded in the soundscape literature, but only includes an English version. The applicability and reliability of these attributes in non-English speaking regions remains an open question, as research investigating translations of soundscape attributes is limited. To address this gap, an international collaboration was initiated with soundscape researchers from all over the world. Translation into 15 different languages, obtained through focus groups and panels of experts in soundscape studies, are proposed. The main challenges and outcomes of this preliminary exercise are discussed. The long-term objective is to validate the proposed translations using standardized listening experiments in different languages and geographical regions as a way to promote a widespread use of the soundscape attributes, both in academia and practice, across locations, populations and languages

Study on the efficacy of TCM treatment in eczema patients with damp-heat syndrome

Eczema is a chronic skin disease with complex immune mechanisms. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of TCM treatment in eczema patients, and the effect of additional cupping treatment in increasing recovery rates. Ten participants diagnosed with the TCM syndrome of damp-heat were included in this study, with five receiving TCM herbal medication and five receiving TCM herbal medication with cupping at the Shenque acupoint. Assessment of the participants took place during enrolment, at the third week after intervention and at the sixth week after intervention. Participants were assessed using the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) as the primary outcome measure and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as the secondary outcome measure. Results showed that TCM treatment may be effective in AD the treatment of eczema as there was an overall decrease in SCORAD and DLQI scores among all participants. However, there was no strong evidence that cupping increases treatment efficacy. Further investigations are required for a definite result, due to the limitations of this study.Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science

Social media : an additional channel for effective crisis communication.

Social media has been receiving a lot of attention from companies due to the large number of users that are engaged in it. A worldwide Nielsen study has shown that there is a 82% increase in users spending more than five hours a day on social networking sites in December 2009 since a year ago. Our research aims to look at how organizations can tap on social media as an additional tool for effective crisis communication. The basis of our study is derived from the 4Cs(Comprehension, Connection, Credibility and Contagiousness) communication framework by Isabelle Albanese. Following this, a survey was conducted to test the perception of internet-savvy Singaporeans towards the use of social media in crisis communication. Survey results have concluded that out of the 4Cs, comprehension of the message and connection with the audience are the two Cs that benefit most from the use of social media. On the other hand, traditional media is more effective in achieving credibility and message contagiousness. This paper will be of interest to organizations which are contemplating the use of social media in their crisis communication efforts. They can make use of this research to find out more about how crisis communication is affected by social media. In addition, organizations will also be more aware of the benefits that they are missing out if they do not utilize this medium.BUSINES

Home dat bind.

"Home Dat Bind" is a 24-minute documentary exploring Singapore's public housing environment.Bachelor of Communication Studie

Preliminary investigation of the short-term in situ performance of an automatic masker selection system

Soundscape augmentation or ``masking'' introduces wanted sounds into the acoustic environment to improve acoustic comfort. Usually, the masker selection and playback strategies are either arbitrary or based on simple rules (e.g. –3 dBA), which may lead to sub-optimal increment or even reduction in acoustic comfort for dynamic acoustic environments. To reduce ambiguity in the selection of maskers, an automatic masker selection system (AMSS) was recently developed. The AMSS uses a deep-learning model trained on a large-scale dataset of subjective responses to maximize the derived ISO pleasantness (ISO 12913-2). Hence, this study investigates the short-term in situ performance of the AMSS implemented in a gazebo in an urban park. Firstly, the predicted ISO pleasantness from the AMSS is evaluated in comparison to the in situ subjective evaluation scores. Secondly, the effect of various masker selection schemes on the perceived affective quality and appropriateness would be evaluated. In total, each participant evaluated 6 conditions: (1) ambient environment with no maskers; (2) AMSS; (3) bird and (4) water masker from prior art; (5) random selection from same pool of maskers used to train the AMSS; and (6) selection of best-performing maskers based on the analysis of the dataset used to train the AMSS.Ministry of National Development (MND)National Research Foundation (NRF)Submitted/Accepted versionThis work was supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and Ministry of National Development, Singapore under the Cities of Tomorrow R&D Program (CoT Award: COT-V4-2020-1)

Establishing language and ethnic equivalence for health-related quality of life item banks and testing their efficiency via computerised adaptive testing simulations.

PurposeWe aimed to (1) establish linguistic and ethnic equivalence (i.e. lack of bias) for the items in the English and Chinese versions of the Singapore Health and Well Being (SHAWS) Physical Functioning (PF), Positive Mindset (PM) and Social Relationship (SR) item banks (IBs); and (2) evaluate the preliminary efficiency of these IBs using Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) simulations.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 671, 670, and 672 subjects answered 55, 48 and 30 items of the PF, PM, and SR IBs, respectively. Rasch analysis was conducted to assess each IB's psychometric properties, particularly the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) for language and ethnicity. A set of performance criteria related to removing items that displayed notable DIF were employed. CAT simulations determined the mean number of items for high, moderate, and moderate-low measurement precisions (stopping rule: SEM 0.300, 0.387. 0.521, respectively).ResultsHalf of subjects were >50 years old (40.9% PF, 42.1% PM, 41.4% SR), Chinese (50.7% PF, 51.0% PM, 50.6% SR) and female (50.0% PF. 49.4% PM, 52.8% SR) respectively. Rasch analysis revealed 4 items with DIF for the PF IB, 9 items with DIF for the PM IB and 2 items with DIF for the SR IB. In CAT simulations, the mean number of items administered was 8.5, 21.6 and 14.5 for the PF, PM and SR IBs, respectively (SEM 0.300), 5.1, 13.0, 8.0 for PF, PM and SR IBs, respectively (SEM 0.387) and 3.1, 5.3 and 4.1 for PF, PM and SR IBs, respectively (SEM 0.521).ConclusionThe PF, PM and SR IBs to measure health-related quality of life revealed minimal DIF for language and ethnicity after remedial efforts. CAT simulations demonstrated that these IBs were efficient, especially when the stopping rule was set at moderate precision, and support the implementation of the SHAWS IBs into routine clinical care

Association of anxiety, depression and resilience with overall health and functioning in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA): a cross-sectional study

Objectives To evaluate the association between anxiety, depression and resilience with overall health and functioning in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).Design Cross-sectional evaluation of baseline data from a prospective cohort study, with recruitment from January 2018 to March 2021.Setting Outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in Singapore.Participants Patients aged 21 years and above who were diagnosed with axSpA.Outcome measures The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used for assessing anxiety and depression, 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) for resilience, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) for disease activity, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) for functional limitation and Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Health Index (ASAS HI) for overall health and functioning. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between anxiety, depression and resilience with health and functioning.Results We included 296 patients in this study. The median (IQR) score for HADS-Anxiety was 5.0 (2.0–8.0), with 13.5% and 13.9% having borderline abnormal and abnormal anxiety, respectively. The median (IQR) score for HADS-Depression was 3.0 (1.0–7.0), with 12.8% and 8.4% having borderline abnormal and abnormal depression, respectively. The median (IQR) CD-RISC-10 score was 29.0 (23.0–32.0) while the median (IQR) ASAS HI score was 4.0 (2.0–7.0). Apart from BASDAI, BASFI and disease duration, anxiety and depression were associated with overall health and functioning (β: 0.12, 95% CI 0.03, 0.20; β: 0.20, 95% CI 0.09, 0.31) in the multivariable linear regression. Level of resilience was not associated with health and functioning.Conclusion Anxiety and depression, but not resilience, were associated with poorer health and functioning. Clinicians could consider routinely screening for anxiety and depression in their patients, especially in patients with more severe symptoms

Simulation results for <i>social relationship</i> at three different precision stopping rule estimates across deciles of participant ability level.

Simulation results for social relationship at three different precision stopping rule estimates across deciles of participant ability level.</p