Perceptually enhanced spectral distance metric for head-related transfer function quality prediction.

Given the substantial time and complexity involved in the perceptual evaluation of head-related transfer function (HRTF) processing, there is considerable value in adopting numerical assessment. Although many numerical methods have been introduced in recent years, monaural spectral distance metrics such as log-spectral distortion (LSD) remain widely used despite their significant limitations. In this study, listening tests were conducted to investigate the correlation between LSD and the auditory perception of HRTFs.

Do Extended Reality Interventions Benefit Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgical and Interventional Procedures? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Extended reality (XR) interventions have the potential to benefit patients undergoing elective cardiac surgical and interventional procedures. However, there are no systematic reviews with meta-analyses to guide clinical care.

Aim: To critically evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of XR interventions on patient anxiety and pain and other associated outcomes.

Data on neurophysiological and psychological responses to audio immersive experience in stereo and 3D audio formats.

Objectives: This dataset presents demographic, psychological, auditory and neurophysiological information of 31 volunteers, who participated in an experiment measuring the auditory immersive experience in two audio formats: stereophonic downmix and three-dimensional audio. This dataset could help understand the objectiveness (based on the nervous system response) behind the subjectiveness of immersion brought about by the audio format (based on the listener evaluation). The final objective of this dataset is to study the psychological and neurophysiological responses of immersive attributes in auditory events in future studies.

Environmental noise levels in hospital settings: A rapid review of measurement techniques and implementation in hospital settings.

Background: Hospitals provide treatment to improve patient health and well-being but the characteristics of the care environment receive little attention. Excessive noise at night has a negative impact on in-patient health through disturbed sleep. To address this hospital staff must measure night-time environmental noise levels.

Perceptual threshold of apparent source width in relation to the azimuth of a single reflection.

An investigation into the perceptual threshold of apparent source width (ASW) in relation to a single reflection azimuth was performed in binaural reproduction. In the presence of a direct sound, subjects compared the ASW produced by a single 90° reference reflection against ASW produced by a test reflection with a varying angle for four reflection delay times between 5 and 30 ms. Threshold angles were found to be approximately 40° and 130°, and did not appear to be dependent on delay time.

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is not useful for detecting myocardial ischemia during symptom-limited exercise stress tests.

Background/aims: We examined the ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) level during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Forty patients with a history of chest pain underwent both symptom-limited treadmill exercise stress testing and coronary angiography within one week. During the treadmill tests, blood samples were obtained at baseline and 5 min after exercise to measure the serum IMA level.