It's not what you play, it's how you play it: timbre affects perception of emotion in music.

Salient sensory experiences often have a strong emotional tone, but the neuropsychological relations between perceptual characteristics of sensory objects and the affective information they convey remain poorly defined. Here we addressed the relationship between sound identity and emotional information using music. In two experiments, we investigated whether perception of emotions is influenced by altering the musical instrument on which the music is played, independently of other musical features. In the first experiment, 40 novel melodies each representing one of four emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, or anger) were each recorded on four different instruments (an electronic synthesizer, a piano, a violin, and a trumpet), controlling for melody, tempo, and loudness between instruments. Healthy participants (23 young adults aged 18-30 years, 24 older adults aged 58-75 years) were asked to select which emotion they thought each musical stimulus represented in a four-alternative forced-choice task. Using a generalized linear mixed model we found a significant interaction between instrument and emotion judgement with a similar pattern in young and older adults (p < .0001 for each age group). The effect was not attributable to musical expertise. In the second experiment using the same melodies and experimental design, the interaction between timbre and perceived emotion was replicated (p < .05) in another group of young adults for novel synthetic timbres designed to incorporate timbral cues to particular emotions. Our findings show that timbre (instrument identity) independently affects the perception of emotions in music after controlling for other acoustic, cognitive, and performance factors

A qualitative synthesis of diabetes self-management strategies for long term medical outcomes and quality of life in the UK

Open access article available from the publisher via doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-348BACKGROUND: Qualitative research on self-management for people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has typically reported one-off retrospective accounts of individuals' strategies. The aim of this research was to identify the ways in which self-management strategies are perceived by people with T2DM as being either supportive or unsupportive over time, by using qualitative findings from both longitudinal intervention studies and usual care. METHODS: A systematic review of qualitative literature, published between 2000 and 2013, was conducted using a range of searching techniques. 1374 prospective qualitative papers describing patients' experiences of self-management strategies for T2DM were identified and screened. Of the 98 papers describing qualitative research conducted in the UK, we identified 4 longitudinal studies (3 intervention studies, 1 study of usual care). Key concepts and themes were extracted, reviewed and synthesised using meta-ethnography techniques. RESULTS: Aspects of self-management strategies in clinical trials (e.g. supported exercise regimens) can be perceived as enabling the control of biomarkers and facilitative of quality of life. In contrast, aspects of self-management strategies outwith trial conditions (e.g. self-monitoring) can be perceived of as negative influences on quality of life. For self-management strategies to be sustainable in the long term, patients require a sense of having a stake in their management that is appropriate for their beliefs and perceptions, timely information and support, and an overall sense of empowerment in managing their diabetes in relation to other aspects of their life. This enables participants to develop flexible diabetes management strategies that facilitate quality of life and long term medical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This synthesis has explored how patients give meaning to the experiences of interventions for T2DM and subsequent attempts to balance biomarkers with quality of life in the long term. People with T2DM both construct and draw upon causal accounts as a resource, and a means to counter their inability to balance medical outcomes and quality of life. These accounts can be mediated by the provision of timely and tailored information and support over time, which can allow people to develop a flexible regimen that can facilitate both quality of life and medical outcomes.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR

Evaluation of a new instrument offering sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium in combination with haematocrit, pH and blood gas analysis; the performance of the Nova Stat Profile 1

The Nova Stat Profile 1 analyser, a combined sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, haematocrit and conventional blood gas analyser, was evaluated over a four month period. In addition to assessing and demonstrating that the instrument met analytical requirements, an appreciation of the use of ionised calcium (iCa) was made. Prospective costs were characterised and practical problems of iCa measurement addressed

Developing Students’ Confidence in Using Data in their Journalism

Anyone who has been paying attention over the past two years will be aware of the importance of data. The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic has often been portrayed in figures, whether with the daily death toll or the imminent collapse of the health service and local hospitals. The wide transmission of misinformation has also often been played out in figures regularly showing a complete ignorance of the use of data. Journalists, even working for major publishers such as the BBC or national newspapers, are not immune to failings. FullFact.org, the factchecking campaign group, have had their hands full during the pandemic correcting misinformation in newspapers that should (and possibly do) know better. Readers end up ill-informed either because of poor journalism or unethical journalism. Training in some basic statistical skills and the confidence to handle data can only help improve our students’ employability, ethics and their journalism

Development of the Tri-ATHLETE Lunar Vehicle Prototype

The Tri-ATHLETE (All Terrain Hex Limed Extra Terrestrial Explorer) vehicle is the second generation of a wheel-on-limb vehicle being developed to support the return of humans to the lunar surface. This paper describes the design, assembly, and test of the Tri-ATHLETE robotic system with a specific emphasis on the limb joint actuators. The design and implementation of the structural components is discussed, and a novel and low cost approach to approximating flight-like cabling is also presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of the "second system effect" and other lessons learned as well as results from a three week long field trial of the vehicle in the Arizona desert

Patient-centred care in general dental practice--a systematic review of the literature.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewBACKGROUND: Delivering improvements in quality is a key objective within most healthcare systems, and a view which has been widely embraced within the NHS in the United Kingdom. Within the NHS, quality is evaluated across three key dimensions: clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience, with the latter modelled on the Picker Principles of Patient-Centred Care (PCC). Quality improvement is an important feature of the current dental contract reforms in England, with "patient experience" likely to have a central role in the evaluation of quality. An understanding and appreciation of the evidence underpinning PCC within dentistry is highly relevant if we are to use this as a measure of quality in general dental practice. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to identify the features of PCC relevant to dentistry and ascertain the current research evidence base underpinning its use as a measure of quality within general dental practice. RESULTS: Three papers were identified which met the inclusion criteria and demonstrated the use of primary research to provide an understanding of the key features of PCC within dentistry. None of the papers identified were based in general dental practice and none of the three studies sought the views of patients. Some distinct differences were noted between the key features of PCC reported within the dental literature and those developed within the NHS Patient Experience Framework. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review reveals a lack of understanding of PCC within dentistry, and in particular general dental practice. There is currently a poor evidence base to support the use of the current patient reported outcome measures as indicators of patient-centredness. Further research is necessary to understand the important features of PCC in dentistry and patients' views should be central to this research.NIH

Individualisation of drug treatments for patients with long-term conditions: a review of concepts.

Journal ArticleOBJECTIVES: Patients and policy makers advocate that drug treatments should be individualised. However, the term is used in a variety of ways. We set out to identify the range of related terminology and concepts in the general field of individualisation, map out the relationships between these concepts and explore how patients' perspectives are considered. DESIGN: We consulted members of an established patient and public involvement group about their experience of medicine taking for long-term conditions and their ideas about individualisation. We then conducted a scoping review of the literature to explore how terms surrounding individualisation of drug treatment are used and defined in the literature, and to explore the extent to which patients' perspectives are represented, with a view to informing future recommendations as to how individualisation can be operationalised. METHODS: We identified relevant literature using a range of search strategies. Two researchers independently extracted definitions of terms using a template. Inductive and deductive methods were used to explore the data. RESULTS: Definitions were categorised according to the following themes: medical management; pharmacogenetics, the patient's perspective; interactions between the healthcare provider and patient and management of long-term conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Within the literature reviewed, the involvement of patients in the ongoing management of drug treatment was largely absent. We propose the use of a new term 'mutually agreed tailoring' (MAT). This describes the ongoing pharmacological management of conditions that incorporates patients' specific needs, experiences and existing strategies for using their medications, and the professionals' clinical judgement. This usually includes patients monitoring their symptoms and, with the support of the professional, making appropriate product, dose or timing adjustments as necessary. Our previous work suggests that many patients and doctors are successfully practising MAT, so we suggest that a formal description may facilitate wider utilisation of strategies that will improve patient outcomes.NIHR - CLAHR

Reflection on modern methods: Calculating a sample size for a repeatability sub-study to correct for measurement error in a single continuous exposure

Using a continuous exposure variable that is measured with random error in a univariable linear regression model leads to regression dilution bias: the observed association between the exposure and outcome is smaller than it would be if the true value of the exposure could be used. A repeatability sub-study, where a sample of study participants have their data measured again, can be used to correct for this bias. It is important to perform a sample size calculation for such a sub-study, to ensure that correction factors can be estimated with sufficient precision. We describe how a previously published method can be used to calculate the sample size from the anticipated size of the correction factor and its desired precision, and demonstrate this approach using the example of the cross-sectional studies conducted as part of the International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia study. We also provide correction factors calculated from repeat data from the UK Biobank study, which can be used to help plan future repeatability studies

Hydra Europe

Poster at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014Posters, Demos and Developer "How-To's"This poster will demonstrate the breadth of usage of the Hydra open repository solution within Europe, and highlight how the institutions using it have engaged with the Hydra community to establish their own repositories and fed into ongoing development. Readers will become aware of the use of Hydra within Europe, and how this relates to the Hydra project overall.Awre, Christopher Louis (University of Hull, United Kingdom)Conrad, Anders Sparre (Royal Library of Denmark)Frost, Dermot (Trinity College Dublin)Guasch i Arambudo, Roger (Theatre Institute of Barcelona)Wright, Nicola (London School of Economics

Assessing the deflection behaviour of mechanical and insulated rail joints through finite element analysis

Rail joints constitute a weak component in the railway system. In this paper three- dimensional (3D) finite element analyses (FEA) are carried out to study the structural deflection performance of rail joints under a fatigue static test through vertical stiffness assessment. Four different types of 4-bolted joints are investigated under a dynamically enhanced static load including a glued insulated rail joint (IRJ), a dry encapsulated IRJ, a dry non-glued IRJ and a mechanical RJ. The analysis focused on the accurate simulation of the contact types between the interfaces of rail joint components, namely among the rail, fishplate faces, bolts, insulating materials and on the effect of the elastic supporting structure of the joint on the overall joint deflection. The effect of bolt pretension is included in the model. The vertical displacement of IRJs is measured experimentally both by dial gauges and Video technique both in laboratory and in field. The numerical modelling investigated the effect of different contact types on the interfaces of the rail joint components during the performance of fishplates, and of the rail in the vicinity of the RJ under a given support condition. The vertical displacement of the rail joint were presented and assessed against specified endurance tests’ limits and field measured deflection values that validate the model. Stress distribution in the fishplates was presented that could allow the calculation, through a stress-life approach, the fatigue life of the fishplates and consequently of the joints due to repeated wheel passage. A comparison of the performance of the aforementioned RJ types is included. The results indicate this FE model to be practical to be routinely applied to industry, as it was used in UK Rail industry study to allow designers to optimise life expectancy of IRJs