An influence of characteristics of amplitude fluctuation on detectability of alert sound of electric powered vehicles

The motor sound on electric powered vehicle is quiet at low speeds. Thus, pedestrians have difficulty detecting the vehicles approaching them under urban noise. Although the vehicles were designed to play an alert sound to solve this problem, it has not been solved yet. Our previous studies found that characteristics of amplitude fluctuation, fluctuation frequency, non-periodic fluctuation and amplitude envelope, are effective to make them detect approaching vehicles. However, those studies were investigated under only a specific actual environment, weren't examined validity of detectability in those studies. Here, this paper investigates under another actual environment, examine the validity. Investigations were carried out by using synthesized complex sounds which were designed to have periodic and non-periodic amplitude fluctuations. Those complex sounds have characteristics of amplitude fluctuations in gasoline powered vehicle. Amplitude envelopes such as modulation wave in amplitude-modulated sound were set for deviations for time and amplitude, and amplitude-modulated complex sounds were synthesized using sine wave, sawtooth wave, and rectangle wave. Then, their effects on detectability by pedestrians were assessed in another actual environment. The results found that amplitude fluctuation enhances the ability with which people detect approaching electric powered vehicles in case of some complex sound.

Synchrony in Broadband Fluctuation and the 2008 Financial Crisis

We propose phase-like characteristics in scale-free broadband processes and consider fluctuation synchrony based on the temporal signature of significant amplitude fluctuation. Using wavelet transform, successful captures of similar fluctuation pattern between such broadband processes are demonstrated. The application to the financial data leading to the 2008 financial crisis reveals the transition towards a qualitatively different dynamical regime with many equity price in fluctuation synchrony. Further analysis suggests an underlying scale free “price fluctuation network” with large clustering coefficient.

Synchrony in Broadband Fluctuation and the 2008 Financial Crisis

We propose phase-like characteristics in scale-free broadband processes and consider fluctuation synchrony based on the temporal signature of significant amplitude fluctuation. Using wavelet transform, successful captures of similar fluctuation pattern between such broadband processes are demonstrated. The application to the financial data leading to the 2008 financial crisis reveals the transition towards a qualitatively different dynamical regime with many equity price in fluctuation synchrony. Further analysis suggests an underlying scale free “price fluctuation network” with large clustering coefficient.

Variability in Hemoglobin Levels and the Factors Associated with Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients: A 78-Month Follow-Up Study

Some studies have described that when the hemoglobin levels of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients change, especially in those taking erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA), they are associated with unfavorable outcomes such as increased morbidity and mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular events. This prospective cohort study included patients with end-stage renal disease currently undergoing hemodialysis. The initial 6-month clinical evaluation provided data of the variability in hemoglobin, associated blood parameters, and the use of erythropoietin. Subsequently, the patients were followed up for 78 months to evaluate mortality-associated factors. In total, 133 patients completed the 6-month follow-up with a mean age of 47.1 (±13.2) years. The majority were women (51.9%). Six-month hemoglobin levels were as follows: always low (18.0%), intermediate/target (1.5%), always high (0.8%), low-amplitude fluctuation/Hb low (n = 37; 27.8%), low-amplitude fluctuation/Hb high (13.53%), and high-amplitude fluctuation (38.6%), among end-stage renal disease patients. At the end of 78 months, 50 (37.6%) patients died; 70% of deaths were attributed to cardiovascular etiologies. A high variability was observed in hemoglobin levels, which was not associated with mortality. Among all the variables evaluated, age, erythropoietin dose, and transferrin saturation were associated with a higher mortality. Thus, this study suggests that greater attention to erythropoietin doses and transferrin saturation levels may improve the survival of dialysis patients.

P1414THE PREDICTORS OF PARATHYROID HORMONE VARIABILITY IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background and Aims KDIGO Clinical Practice Guidelines suggest in hemodialysis (HD) patients using a dialysate calcium concentration between 1,25 and 1,5 mmol/L and maintaining serum intact parathyroid hormone (sPTH) levels in the range of approximately 2 to 9 times the upper normal limit for the assay. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictors of PTH variability in HD patients over a 12 months period. Method The multicenter restrospective study encompassed 398 patients (256M and 142F) with the average age 59,64±13,29 years and the average HD vintage 78,63±64,26 months. Over a 12 months (M0-M12) period: serum calcium (sCa), serum phosphorus (sPi), serum alkaline phosphatase (sAPh), oral calcium-carbonate daily dose, oral calcitriol weekly dose, and dialysate Ca concentration (dCa) were monitored monthly, and sPTH at 6 months. According to PTH assay reference level (18,4-80,1 pg/ml) 3 groups of patients were categorized: patients with low sPTH<160, with target range sPTH =160-721, and with high sPTH>721. For statistical analysis chi-square test, analysis of variance with repeated measures and logistic regression analysis were performed by softver SPSS. Results Over a 12 months period the number of patients with low sPTH significantly decreased, but the number of patients with target range sPTH and high sPTH increased (Chi square=269,45; p<0.001). On the basis of overall pattern of sPTH fluctuation over a 12 months period six subgroups of patients were observed: consistently low in 20,6% of patients, consistently within the target range in 22,1%, consistently high in 14,07%, low-amplitude fluctuation with low and target range sPTH levels (LAL) in 31,4%, low-amplitude fluctuation with target range and high sPTH levels (LAH) in 10,55%, and high-amplitude fluctuation (HA) subgroup with low, target range and high sPTH levels in 1,25%. In 35 patients constantly hemodialyzed over a 12 months period with dCa=1,25 mmol/L due to high sCa the significant increase of sPTH (M0=797±657 vs M12=1030±740 pg/ml; p=0.001) and no significant changes of sCa (M0=2,44± vs M12=2,34± mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,81±0,49 vs M12=1,68±0,49 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=1,88±1,54 vs M12=2,22±1,53 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=0,84±1,38 vs M12=1,1±1,41 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. In 24 patients constantly hemodialyzed with dCa=1,75 mmol/L due to low sCa the significant decrease of sPTH (M0=518±582 vs M12=391±530 pg/ml; p=0.037) and no significant changes of sCa (M0=2,17±0,19 vs M12=2,18±0,17 mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,3±0,34 vs M12=1,36±0,52 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=2,53±1,58 vs M12=2,1±1,91 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=1,33±1,23 vs M12=1,42±1,69 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. In 195 patients constantly hemodialyzed with dCa=1,5 mmol/L no significant changes of sPTH (M0=388±421 vs M12=434±459 pg/ml; n.s.), sCa (M0=2,29±0,18 vs M12=2,27±0,15 mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,48±0,41 vs M12=1,52±0,41 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=2,42±1,4 vs M12=2,57±1,2 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=0,47±0,72 vs M12=0,38±0,68 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. By model of logistic regression analysis dCa=1,75 (OR=8,33), increased sCa (OR=7,7), and presence of diabetes mellitus (OR=2,44) were the most significant predictors of low sPTH<160 (Chi square=116,27; p<0.001), but the increased sCa (OR=6,88), dCa=1,25 (OR=5,08), and the increased sPi (OR=2,72) were the most significant predictors of high sPTH>721 (Chi square=72,475; p<0.001). Conclusion The prolonged use of dCa=1,25 in patients with high sCa led to significant sPTH increase likely due to net negative calcium balance, but prolonged use of dCa=1,75 in patients with low sCa led to significant sPTH decrease likely due to net positive calcium balance.