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Managing vibro-acoustic energy transfer between spaces has traditionally relied upon resilient channel to achieve acceptable isolation between spaces. Resilient channel is very sensitive to installation errors requiring well trained and skilled installers. Even then results can be compromised by any connection to the wall framing. Beyond the added cost of the resilient channel , the wall thickness increases by at least one-half inch and up to one and a quarter inches depending on the remediation required which effects door, window, and fixture installations. Leveraging the fundamental learnings of studying the vibro-acoustic energy transfer mechanism in partition walls, an alternative approach for acoustic isolation for partition walls was determined. A study of performance based on design parameters allowed the design and development of a material solution. The resulting performance and comparative results will be presented.

Three-dimensional source characterization is crucial for determining noise metrics produced by operating a firearm in indoor environments. Anechoic measurements for sound power and directivity measurement are challenging for small caliber firearms. In order to create high fidelity source models of an M4A1 firearm (firing blanks), a team from Ball Aerospace, Inc., the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Brigham Young University conducted an expansive characterization within an anechoic facility located at the Owens Corning Acoustic Research Complex using a two-meter spherical microphone array centered on the muzzle of the weapon. The array consisted of a quarter sphere of over forty microphones at various elevation and azimuth angles. By rotating the weapon, an entire closed sphere of over one hundred points were sampled with multiple shots. Differences in directivity, sound power level and shot to shot repeatability are examined for two weapon configurations. These differences reinforce the idea that accurate source characterizations are required for modelling small caliber firearm noise propagation. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Modern homes are constructed leveraging the fundamental learnings of building science. They are built for energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and more recently indoor air quality. Acoustics have also been incorporated, mostly by managing the layout of the spaces to isolate noise generating areas from sleeping or relaxing spaces. When this is not feasible, isolation is most often achieved using resilient channel to improve the performance of partition walls. Resilient channel are required to be installed utilizing skilled and competent workers as the system is very sensitive to installation errors. After years of studying the vibro-acoustic energy transfer mechanism in partition walls, similar isolation was determined to be achieved utilizing an alternative approach. The mechanism and a potential solution will be explored in this paper.

Complexation by small organic ligands controls the bioavailability of contaminants and influences their mobility in the geosphere. We have studied the interactions of Cm3+, as a representative of the trivalent actinides, and Eu3+, as an inactive homologue, with glucuronic acid (GlcA) a simple sugar acid. Time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) shows that complexation at pH 5.0 occurs only at high ligand to metal ratios in the form of 1:1 complexes with standard formation constants log β0 = 1.84 ± 0.22 for Eu3+ and log β0 = 2.39 ± 0.19 for Cm3+. A combination of NMR, QMMM, and TRLFS reveals the structure of the complex to be a half-sandwich structure wherein the ligand binds through its carboxylic group, the ring oxygen, and a hydroxyl group in addition to five to six water molecules. Surprisingly, Y3+, which was used as a diamagnetic reference in NMR, prefers a different coordination geometry with bonding through at least two hydroxyl groups on the opposite side of a distorted GlcA molecule. QMMM simulations indicate that the differences in stability among Cm, Eu, and Y are related to ring strain induced by smaller cations. At higher pH a stronger complex was detected, most likely due to deprotonation of a coordinating OH group.

In this study, fragment-sized hits binding to Pim-1 kinase with initially modest affinity were further optimized by combining computational, synthetic and crystallographic expertise, eventually resulting in potent ligands with affinities in the nanomolar range that address rarely-targeted regions of Pim-1 kinase. Starting from a set of crystallographically validated, chemically distinct fragments that bind to Pim-1 kinase but lack typical nucleotide mimetic structures, a library of extended fragments was built by exhaustive in silico reactions. After docking, minimization, clustering, visual inspection of the top-ranked compounds, and evaluation of ease of synthetic accessibility, either the original compound or a close derivative was synthesized and tested against Pim-1. For compounds showing the highest degree of Pim-1 inhibition the binding mode was determined crystallographically. Following a structure-guided approach, these were further optimized in a subsequent design cycle improving the compound's initial affinity by several orders of magnitude while synthesizing only a comparatively modest number of derivatives. The combination of computational and experimental approaches resulted in the development of a reasonably potent, novel molecular scaffold for inhibition of Pim-1 that targets specific surface regions, such as the interaction with R122 and P123 of the hinge region, which has been less frequently investigated in similar studies.

Gallium (as Ga3+) is a Group IIIa metal and its recovery from wastewaters has become increasingly important for its reuse. The use of peptides for recycling offers a low-cost and environmentally-friendly option but the structural characteristics of peptides likely to bind Ga3+ are largely unknown. Multiple computational methods, coupled with experimental verification via NMR and Isothermal Calorimetry (ITC), were used to establish that Ga3+ binds with high affinity to peptide sequences and to elucidate the structural characteristics that contributed. It was demonstrated that peptide pre-organisation is key to Ga3+ binding and that a favourable binding position is necessarily governed by the size and shape of the electrostatic environment as much as individual electrostatic interactions with peptide residues themselves. Given favourable conditions, Ga3+ retrieved plausible binding positions involving both charged and uncharged residues that greatly increases the range of bonding possibilities with other peptide sequences and offers insights for binding other metals. The addition of pH buffer substantially improved the affinity of Ga3+ and a structural role for a buffer component was demonstrated.

Here we provide a proof of principle for an application-oriented concept for the peptide-based recovery of gallium in industrial wastewater, which was supported by biosorption studies with a real wastewater sample. We investigated the interaction of the gallium-binding peptides TMHHAAIAHPPH, NYLPHQSSSPSR, SQALSTSRQDLR, HTQHIQSDDHLA, and NDLQRHRLTAGP with gallium and arsenic through different experimental and computational approaches. Data obtained from isothermal titration microcalorimetry indicated a competitive influence by the presence of acetate ions with an exothermic contribution to the otherwise endothermic peptide gallium interactions. For peptide HTQHIQSDDHLA, a stabilizing influence of acetate ions on the metal peptide interaction was found. Peptide NYLPHQSSSPSR showed the highest affinity for gallium in ITC studies. Computational modeling of peptide NYLPHQSSSPSR was used to determine interaction parameters and to explain a possible binding mechanism. Furthermore, the peptides were immobilized on polystyrene beads. Thus, we created a novel and exceptionally robust peptide-based material for the biosorption of gallium from an aqueous solution. Data obtained from isothermal titration microcalorimetry indicated a competitive influence by the presence of acetate ions with an exothermic contribution to the otherwise endothermic peptide gallium interactions. For peptide HTQHIQSDDHLA, a stabilizing influence of acetate ions on the metal peptide interaction was found. Peptide NYLPHQSSSPSR showed the highest affinity for gallium in ITC studies. Computational modeling of peptide NYLPHQSSSPSR was used to determine interaction parameters and to explain a possible binding mechanism. Furthermore, the peptides were immobilized on polystyrene beads. Thus, we created a novel and exceptionally robust peptide-based material for the biosorption of gallium from an aqueous solution.

Home life has changed over the past 50 years with appliances, providing automated cycles to aid in storage, cleaning, and cooking. Appliances have proven to do tasks conveniently with more efficiency than people. Home designs have changed to adapt to the change in lifestyles. Locating the appliances close areas where they are needed is a highlight of home designs. Clothes washers, long relegated to the basement in older homes have found their way into the main living areas. The price of that convenience is the increase in background sound levels in typically quiet areas of the home. Consider that the sound emitted by a clothes washer in the spin cycle is of similar levels as a car passing a person standing on the side of the road or traffic noise. This level of sound can be disruptive in the home, especially if the appliance is in the main living space or near the bedrooms. In the early 2000s, a major appliance retailer implemented a sound level rating for dishwashers that provided data for customers to compare products. This paper will discuss the positive effects of that standard on dishwasher sound and discuss the need for additional appliance sound level ratings.

Background The Quality Audit (BQA) of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand includes a broad range of data and is the largest New Zealand (NZ) breast cancer (BC) database outside the NZ Cancer Registry. We used BQA data to compare BC survival by ethnicity, deprivation, remoteness, clinical characteristic and case load. Methods BQA and death data were linked using the National Health Index. Disease-specific survival for invasive cases was benchmarked against Australian BQA data and NZ population-based survivals. Validity was explored by comparison with expected survival by risk factor. Results Compared with 93% for Australian audit cases, 5-year survival was 90% for NZ audit cases overall, 87% for Maori, 84% for Pacific and 91% for other. Conclusions BC survival in NZ appears lower than in Australia, with inequities by ethnicity. Differences may be due to access, timeliness and quality of health services, patient risk profiles, BQA coverage and death-record methodology.

Wall constructions are typically evaluated at an accredited acoustical laboratory for sound transmission loss per the ASTM E90 standard and the STC determined per the ASTM E413 standard. In North America, there are several accredited acoustic laboratories where walls can be evaluated. Accredited acoustic laboratories are required by the ASTM E90 standard to demonstrate that their facility is in compliance with the standard by performing transmission loss testing utilizing a reference specimen outlined in the ASTM E1289 standard. This standard prescribes a series of reference assemblies based on sheet metal panels in a metal frame, all with STC values less than 30, to be used in demonstrating compliance. A recent study conducted at the Owens Corning Acoustic Research Center, an accredited acoustical laboratory, provided enough data to perform a gauge study on the E90 test. The results of that study will be presented in this paper.Wall constructions are typically evaluated at an accredited acoustical laboratory for sound transmission loss per the ASTM E90 standard and the STC determined per the ASTM E413 standard. In North America, there are several accredited acoustic laboratories where walls can be evaluated. Accredited acoustic laboratories are required by the ASTM E90 standard to demonstrate that their facility is in compliance with the standard by performing transmission loss testing utilizing a reference specimen outlined in the ASTM E1289 standard. This standard prescribes a series of reference assemblies based on sheet metal panels in a metal frame, all with STC values less than 30, to be used in demonstrating compliance. A recent study conducted at the Owens Corning Acoustic Research Center, an accredited acoustical laboratory, provided enough data to perform a gauge study on the E90 test. The results of that study will be presented in this paper.

Background The aim of this study is to use the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand Quality Audit to evaluate the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment path for Australian women with early breast cancer in relation to geographic location. Methods We accessed data on patient geographic demographics, diagnostic and surgical procedures and cancer characteristics in 115 872 episodes of early breast cancer reported to the Quality Audit between 1998 and 2012. Tumour size, grade and number, lymph node positivity and lymphovascular invasion are the major prognostic factors adjusted for. Results Core biopsy is the most frequently performed diagnostic method and open biopsy the least (P = 0.001). Remote locations have the highest proportion of open biopsies and cities the lowest (13.8 versus 9.8%, P = 0.001). The outer regional/remote patient group has a higher likelihood of an open biopsy than city patients (odds ratio 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.2 P = 0.02). Reconstruction rates are low throughout ranging from 3 to 4% (P = 0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of no surgery (1.5%, P = 0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of breast conserving surgery and the remote the lowest (64.5% versus 29.9%, P = 0.001). Outer regional locations have the highest proportion of mastectomies and cities the lowest (38 versus 29.9%, P = 0.001). The likelihood of receiving radiotherapy is associated with geographic location of residence and geographic distribution of the radiotherapy facility (P = 0.002, P = 0.001). Conclusion Geographic location of residence is associated with the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment of Australian women with early breast cancer.

Purpose: To investigate person, cancer and treatment determinants of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) in Australia. Methods: Bi-variable and multi-variable analyses of the Quality Audit database. Results: Of 12,707 invasive cancers treated by mastectomy circa 1998-2010, 8% had IBR. This proportion increased over time and reduced from 29% in women below 30 years to approximately 1% in those aged 70 years or more. Multiple regression indicated that other IBR predictors included: high socio-economic status; private health insurance; being asymptomatic; a metropolitan rather than inner regional treatment centre; higher surgeon case load; small tumour size; negative nodal status, positive progesterone receptor status; more cancer foci; multiple affected breast quadrants; synchronous bilateral cancer; not having neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant hormone therapy; and receiving ovarian ablation. Conclusions: Variations in access to specialty services and other possible causes of variations in IBR rates need further investigation. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to establish the preference and reasons for initial axillary surgery performed on women with invasive breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand using data from the Breast Surgeon's Society of Australia and New Zealand Quality Audit (BQA) according to whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or no axillary surgery was used.

The Quality Audit (BQA) of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand includes a broad range of data and is the largest New Zealand (NZ) breast cancer (BC) database outside the NZ Cancer Registry. We used BQA data to compare BC survival by ethnicity, deprivation, remoteness, clinical characteristic and case load.BQA and death data were linked using the National Health Index. Disease-specific survival for invasive cases was benchmarked against Australian BQA data and NZ population-based survivals. Validity was explored by comparison with expected survival by risk factor.Compared with 93% for Australian audit cases, 5-year survival was 90% for NZ audit cases overall, 87% for Maori, 84% for Pacific and 91% for other.BC survival in NZ appears lower than in Australia, with inequities by ethnicity. Differences may be due to access, timeliness and quality of health services, patient risk profiles, BQA coverage and death-record methodology.

The aim of this study is to use the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand Quality Audit to evaluate the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment path for Australian women with early breast cancer in relation to geographic location.We accessed data on patient geographic demographics, diagnostic and surgical procedures and cancer characteristics in 115,872 episodes of early breast cancer reported to the Quality Audit between 1998 and 2012. Tumour size, grade and number, lymph node positivity and lymphovascular invasion are the major prognostic factors adjusted for.Core biopsy is the most frequently performed diagnostic method and open biopsy the least (P=0.001). Remote locations have the highest proportion of open biopsies and cities the lowest (13.8 versus 9.8%, P=0.001). The outer regional/remote patient group has a higher likelihood of an open biopsy than city patients (odds ratio 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.2 P=0.02). Reconstruction rates are low throughout ranging from 3 to 4% (P=0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of no surgery (1.5%, P=0.001). Cities have the highest proportion of breast conserving surgery and the remote the lowest (64.5% versus 29.9%, P=0.001). Outer regional locations have the highest proportion of mastectomies and cities the lowest (38 versus 29.9%, P=0.001). The likelihood of receiving radiotherapy is associated with geographic location of residence and geographic distribution of the radiotherapy facility (P=0.002, P=0.001).Geographic location of residence is associated with the diagnostic work up and surgical treatment of Australian women with early breast cancer.

Based on the National Breast Cancer Audit of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons an association between patient age and type of breast cancer surgery received has already been demonstrated. The aim of this study is to assess the patterns of surgical treatment for women with early breast cancer in relation to socioeconomic and insurance status. Data on patient demographics, diagnostic, and surgical procedures and cancer characteristics in 115,872 episodes of early breast cancer reported to the National Breast Cancer Audit between 1998 and 2012 is used for this study. Tumor size, histologic grade, number of tumors, lymph node positivity, and lymphovascular invasion are the major prognostic factors adjusted for. Reconstruction following mastectomy is the most likely surgical procedure for the higher socioeconomic and privately insured patients. Mastectomy alone is the most likely surgical procedure for the lower socioeconomic and for public patients. No surgery is the most likely surgical outcome for the lower socioeconomic and the least likely for the higher socioeconomic population. Open biopsy is the most likely diagnostic procedure for the lower socioeconomic and fine needle aspiration for the higher socioeconomic population. Socioeconomic and insurance status, are both independently associated with the types of treatment and diagnostic procedure for women with breast cancer. Opportunities present to investigate an association of these factors with morbidity and survival outcomes.

The aim of this study was to establish the preference and reasons for initial axillary surgery performed on women with invasive breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand using data from the Breast Surgeon's Society of Australia and New Zealand Quality Audit (BQA) according to whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or no axillary surgery was used.Patient data from 1999 to 2011 were categorized according to primary tumour size (≤3 cm or3 cm) and analysed by year of diagnosis, type of initial axillary surgery and frequency of second axillary surgery following SLN biopsy. Patient age at diagnosis, health insurance status, surgeon caseload and hospital location were also examined as factors affecting the likelihood of performing different types of axillary surgery.Seventy thousand six hundred and eighty-eight episodes of early breast cancer with axillary surgery data were reported to the BQA in the study period. The proportion of patients undergoing SLN biopsy as the first operation increased over this period in both tumour size groups with a concomitant decline in the use of ALND as the first operation over the same interval. Elderly women (70 years old) were four times less likely to undergo axillary surgery for their initial management when compared with women aged 41-70 years old (P0.001). Factors favouring ALND as the initial surgery over SLN biopsy included larger tumour size, elderly age, uninsured status and having surgery in a regional centre.From 1999 to 2011, SLN biopsy as the initial axillary surgery has been widely adopted by surgeons reporting to the BQA. Future evaluation of the BQA data in the following 3-5 years will be performed to monitor this progression.

Objective To investigate patient, cancer and treatment factors associated with the residence of female breast cancer patients in lower socioeconomic areas of Australia to better understand factors that may contribute to their poorer cancer outcomes. Methods Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed using the Breast Quality Audit database of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand. Results Multivariable regression indicated that patients from lower socioeconomic areas are more likely to live in more remote areas and to be treated at regional than major city centres. Although they appeared equally likely to be referred to surgeons from BreastScreen services as patients from higher socioeconomic areas, they were less likely to be referred as asymptomatic cases from other sources. In general, their cancer and treatment characteristics did not differ from those of women from higher socioeconomic areas, but ovarian ablation therapy was less common for these patients and bilateral synchronous lesions tended to be less frequent than for women from higher socioeconomic areas. Conclusions The results indicate that patients from lower socioeconomic areas are more likely to live in more remote districts and have their treatment in regional rather than major treatment centres. Their cancer and treatment characteristics appear to be similar to those of women from higher socioeconomic areas, although they are less likely to have ovarian ablation or to be referred as asymptomatic patients from sources other than BreastScreen. What is known about this topic? It is already known from Australian data that breast cancer outcomes are not as favourable for women from areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. The reasons for the poorer outcomes have not been understood. Studies in other countries have also found poorer outcomes in women from lower socioeconomic areas, and in some instances, have attributed this finding to more advanced stages of cancers at diagnosis and more limited treatment. The reasons are likely to vary with the country and health system characteristics. What does this paper add? The present study found that in Australia, women from lower socioeconomic areas do not have more advanced cancers at diagnosis, nor, in general, other cancer features that would predispose them to poorer outcomes. The standout differences were that they tended more to live in areas that were more remote from specialist metropolitan centres and were more likely to be treated in regional settings where prior research has indicated poorer outcomes. The reasons for these poorer outcomes are not known but may include lower levels of surgical specialisation, less access to specialised adjunctive services, and less involvement with multidisciplinary teams. Women from lower socioeconomic areas also appeared more likely to attend lower case load surgeons. Little difference was evident in the type of clinical care received, although women from lower socioeconomic areas were less likely to be asymptomatic referrals from other clinical settings (excluding BreastScreen). What are the implications for practitioners? Results suggest that poorer outcomes in women from lower socioeconomic areas in Australia may have less to do with the characteristics of their breast cancers or treatment modalities and more to do with health system features, such as access to specialist centres. This study highlights the importance of demographic and health system features as potentially key factors in service outcomes. Health system research should be strengthened in Australia to augment biomedical and clinical research, with a view to best meeting service needs of all sectors of the population.

To investigate patient, cancer and treatment characteristics in females with breast cancer from more remote areas of Australia, to better understand reasons for their poorer outcomes, bi-variable and multivariable analyses were undertaken using the National Breast Cancer Audit database of the Society of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand. Results indicated that patients from more remote areas were more likely to be of lower socioeconomic status and be treated in earlier diagnostic epochs and at inner regional and remote rather than major city centres. They were also more likely to be treated by low case load surgeons, although this finding was only of marginal statistical significance in multivariable analysis (p=0.074). Patients from more remote areas were less likely than those from major cities to be treated by breast conserving surgery, as opposed to mastectomy, and less likely to have adjuvant radiotherapy when having breast conserving surgery. They had a higher rate of adjuvant chemotherapy. Further monitoring will be important to determine whether breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy utilization increase in rural patients following the introduction of regional cancer centres recently funded to improve service access in these areas. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background: The National Breast Cancer Audit Database of the Society of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand is used by surgeons to monitor treatment quality and for research. About 60% of early invasive female breast cancers in Australia are recorded. The objectives of this study are: (1) to investigate associations of socio-demographic, health-system and clinical characteristics with treatment of invasive female breast cancer by mastectomy compared with breast conserving surgery; and (2) to consider service delivery implications. Materials and Methods: Bi-variable and multivariable analyses of associations of characteristics with surgery type for cancers diagnosed in 1998-2010. Results: Of 30,299 invasive cases analysed, 11,729 (39%) were treated by mastectomy as opposed to breast conserving surgery. This proportion did not vary by diagnostic year (p>0.200). With major city residence as the reference category, the relative rate (95% confidence limits) of mastectomy was 1.03 (0.99, 1.07) for women from inner regional areas and 1.05 (1.01, 1.10) for those from more remote areas. Low annual surgeon case load (≤10) was predictive of mastectomy, with a relative rate of 1.08 (1.03, 1.14) when compared with higher case loads. Tumour size was also predictive, with a relative rate of 1.05 (1.01, 1.10) for large cancers (40+ mm) compared with smaller cancers (

A variety of tests were done on an acoustic guitar to help characterize and quantify the radiated sound. Modal analysis was performed to determine resonant low frequency modes of the guitar and the motion of the air in the sound hole. Mechanical impedance and mobility measurements were taken at the bridge. String decay and radiated decay times were measured at several fret positions to study the interaction between modal resonances and decay times. Many of these individual tests have been performed on acoustic instruments before. This paper will combine the analysis of all tests and measurements to show that the modal frequencies play a large role in affecting the sound quality of an acoustic guitar.

The effects of the stresses in a missionary's environment were examined in terms of their responses to a measure of hostility and an index of stress. The Buss-Durkee Inventory (BD; Buss & Durkee, 1957) was used to measure hostility among 34 missionaries, 15 of whom were currently on the mission field and 19 of whom were home on furlough. The groups were compared with the norms on the BD for hostility scores and preferred means of hostility expression. Hostility expression was divided into seven different measures: Assault, indirect hostility, irritability, negativism, resentment, suspicion, and verbal hostility. Scores for indirect hostility and negativism did not differ significantly from the norms. On five of these measures the missionary groups scored significantly lower than the norms. Comparisons were also made between the two missionary groups for each hostility measure. No significant differences were found between missionaries on the field and those on furlough, except on the measure of indirect hostility where male missionaries on the field scored higher than those on furlough. The inverse was true for females. Perception of stress increased as the number of years on the field increased.