Recording Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions using the Adaptive Noise Cancelling Algorithm

Background: A DPOAE signal must be detected in the presence of ambient acoustic noise and physiological noise arising from the patient. For testing in an unquiet environment, e.g., clinic offices or schools, attaining an advisable signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is challenging. An effective noise reduction approach to detect DPOAEs uses weighted averaging by accepting quiet frames and applying a high weight to them while discarding frames with noise artifacts treated with low weight. A DPOAE probe of the QScreen system features two microphones to capture noise inside and outside the ear canal. An adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) algorithm includes filtering out environmental noise that passes the seal of the ear tip, resulting in an improved S/N and a reduced testing time. The study aimed to collect DPOAEs with the QScreen system under simulated noisy environment conditions to evaluate whether applying the ANC decreases the number of false positives and reduces testing time significantly. Methods: DPOAEs were recorded in 26 ears of normal-hearing young adults with a subject seated in a reclining chair outside the audiometric booth. The tests were performed with the ANC turned off and on under three conditions: 1. without presenting any signals from loudspeakers of an audio system (ambient noise level ≈35 dBA); 2. with a cafeteria noise presented at 60 and 70 dBA, and 3. with Fastl noise [1] presented at 50, 60, and 70 dBA. The volume of the sound system was adjusted to reach the target level of the noise signal with a sound level meter placed close to the entrance of the ear canal. DP-grams were recorded for the f2 frequency of 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz with the primaries L1=61/L2=55 dB SPL. Minimum and maximum recording time per frequency was set at 2.1 and 15.2 sec. If S/N\u3e9dB was not reached after the maximum averaging time, the data point was considered a “refer”. The overall pass criterion required at least 4 “pass” results out of 6 frequencies tested. Results: The ANC benefit increased with increasing noise level for both Fastl and cafeteria noise, with a minimal benefit in the ambient noise condition. Applying the ANC reduced testing time by up to a quarter, i.e., the median time benefit was up to 35 sec. For Fastl noise presented at 70 dBA, \u3e70% of initial overall “refer” changed to “pass” results after applying the ANC. The highest rate of “refer” to “pass” change, as well as the greatest decrease of testing time, occurred for f2 = 1, 1.5, and 2 kHz with the ANC turned on. Conclusions: The ANC algorithm using the second microphone pointing outwards for capturing ambient noise and the primary microphone for capturing the DPOAE response in the ear canal decreases the impact of the environmental noise without influencing the DPOAE response. The benefits include: 1. reduced number of false positives, i.e., an improvement of specificity; 2. shorter testing time, and 3. a possibility of performing the screening of cochlea function based on DPOAE tests in adverse environmental conditions

CO2N: Let's Convert!.

This projects aims to building a Website to support individuals, families, companies and other organizations in the transition towards a CO2 neutral way of living and working/producing. To this end, the site will contain a footprint calculator for CO2 emissions as well as tools to provide users with tips, advices, donations and feedback. It will also be possible to certify if a company is CO2 neutral and allow them to use a logo/stamp that they can add to their products. This project is developed under the BlendED AIM framework and with a team of 7 students from all over Europe. (4 IT, 2 Design, 1 Marketing).<br /

Impact of Intrinsic Density Functional Theory Errors on the Predictive Power of Nitrogen Cycle Electrocatalysis Models

Oxidized nitrogen species can pollute both the atmosphere (1−3) and water bodies. (4−6) Their concentrations are worryingly increasing because of anthropogenic activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels and intensive agriculture. (7−11) An alternative to remediate their negative impact is to reduce them into unharmful molecular nitrogen (N2) or valuable ammonia (NH3), (12−14) thereby dynamizing the nitrogen cycl

Scope and limitations of open assessment: An ICT-Based case study

7 páginasThis paper describes the results of a study that presents open assessment as an innovative educational practice mediated by information and communications technology. In addition, it describes the implementation of an open assessment experience in higher education as a case study. The results show that open assessment is accepted well by students due to the adaptability and flexibility of the time and place of testing, and it has been possible to demonstrate that the responsibility and maturity of the students play important roles in improving the learning process as a part of this type of evaluation, which makes it formative in nature.Este artículo describe los resultados de un estudio que presenta la evaluación abierta como una práctica educativa innovadora mediada por la tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC). Además, se describe la implementación de una experiencia de evaluación abierta en la educación superior como un estudio de caso

Posicionamento bioético dos profissionais de saúde espanhóis: Um estudo semi-quantitativo

The present study was undertaken to examine the positions of Spanish health professionals on a variety of bioethical issues and to determine the relationships between these positions and the professionals’ religious beliefs and political views. The study sample consisted of 50 individuals randomly selected from a database of Spanish health professionals who had received solid training in bioethics. A structured questionnaire was designed that contained six closed questions on positions on biomedical advances and science and biotechnology (eugenics, use of nonimplanted embryos for experimental purposes, human cloning, and the idea that science should have limits) and the respondents’ sociopolitical and religious views, and assessment scales were developed for the responses. The distribution of the responses was subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA). For the items with responses scored on a Likert scale, the positions taken were moderately adverse, and the vast majority of respondents believed that there should be limits to science. Religious convictions had greater influence on the responses than political orientation. There was evidence that liberal beliefs corresponded with what the authors consider to be more progressive ideas about the bioethics issues addressed in the study. The important questions of bioethics require an interdisciplinary approach and a combination of state and private-sector action to strengthen the links between religion and science, keep general knowledge up to date, and properly train biotechnology professionals.Se realizó el presente estudio para examinar las posiciones de profesionales de la salud española sobre una variedad de temas bioéticos y determinar las relaciones entre estas posiciones y las creencias religiosas y puntos de vista políticos de los profesionales. La muestra del estudio consistió de 50 individuos seleccionados al azar de una base de datos de profesionales de la salud en España que habían recibido formación sólida en bioética. Se diseñó un cuestionario estructurado con seis preguntas cerradas sobre posiciones acerca de avances biomédicos, de ciencia y biotecnología (eugenesia, uso de embriones no implantados para propósitos experimentales, clonación humana y la idea de que la ciencia debería tener límites), y los puntos de vista sociopolíticos y religiosos de los respondientes, y se desarrollaron escalas de evaluación para las respuestas. Se sometió la distribución de las respuestas a análisis estadístico usando análisis de varianza (ANOVA). Para los elementos con respuestas valuadas con una escala Likert, las posiciones tomadas fueron moderadamente adversas y la inmensa mayoría de los respondientes creían que debería haber límites para la ciencia. Las convicciones religiosas tuvieron mayor influencia en las respuestas que la orientación política. Hubo evidencia de que las creencias liberales se correspondieron con las que el autor consideraba ideas más progresistas sobre temas de bioética abordados en el estudio. Las preguntas importantes de bioética requieren una aproximación interdisciplinaria y una combinación de acción estatal y del sector privado para fortalecer los vínculos entre religión y ciencia, mantener el conocimiento general actualizado y formar apropiadamente a los profesionales de la biotecnología.O presente estudo foi realizado para examinar a posição de profissionais de saúde da Espanha sobre uma variedade de temas bioéticos e determinar a correlação entre estas posições e crenças religiosas dos profissionais e pontos de vista políticos. A amostra estudada consistiu de 50 indivíduos selecionados aleatoriamente da base de dados de profissionais de saúde da Espanha que receberam sólido treinamento em bioética. Um questionário estruturado foi definido para conter seis questões fechadas sobre posições a cerca de avanços biomédicos, ciência e biotecnologia (eugenia, utilização de embriões não implantados para projetos experimentais, clonagem humana e a ideia de que a ciência deveria ter limites) e os pontos de vista sociopolítico e religioso dos respondentes, e escalas de avaliação foram desenvolvidas para as respostas. A distribuição das respostas foi objeto de análises estatísticas utilizando a análise de variância (ANOVA). Para os itens com respostas computadas pela escala de Likert, desde de ‘concorda fortemente’ a ‘discorda fortemente’, as posições tomadas foram moderadamente adversas, e a vasta maioria dos respondentes acreditaram que deveria haver limites para a ciência. Convicções religiosas tiveram maior influência nas respostas do que aquelas de orientação política. Houve evidência de que crenças liberais corresponderam com o que os autores consideram ser ideias mais progressistas sobre temas bioéticos direcionados pelo estudo. As importantes questões de bioética requerem uma abordagem interdisciplinar e uma ação combinada dos setores público (estatal) e privado para revigorar os elos entre religião e ciência, manter um conhecimento geral atualizado, e treinar adequadamente profissionais em biotecnologia