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Purpose: To compare volumetric changes in buccal soft tissue and pink esthetic scores after immediate implant placement performed with a socket shield technique (SST) or the conventional technique (CT). Materials and Methods: This parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial included 22 participants requiring replacement of a single maxillary incisor with an immediate implant. Immediate implants were placed via either the SST or the CT, with patients randomly allocated to one of the two groups. All implants underwent an immediate loading protocol. Definitive crowns were placed 6 months after implant placement. Scans of casts were recorded with a digital white light scanner before implant placement and at the end of 12 months. Volumetric changes to soft tissues on the buccal aspect were assessed by superimposition of the scanned cast. Esthetic evaluation of the soft tissue was done by evaluating the pink esthetic score (PES) before implant placement and 6 and 12 months after implant placement. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using statistical software (Stata 16.0, StataCorp). Results: The mean volumetric change in buccal soft tissues at the end of 12 months in the SST group was -0.1520 ± 0.86 mm, and in the CT group, it was -0.643 ± 0.35 mm. The difference was statistically significant (P = .001). Higher PES was observed in the SST group at all time intervals. The difference was statistically significant at 6 months (P = .001) and 12 months (P = .007). Conclusions: The results of this study showed less volumetric changes in buccal soft tissues and higher PES when the SST is used rather than the CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of Digital Audio Tampering Detection (DATD) methods, which are based on Electrical Network Frequency (ENF), predominantly concentrate on the static spatial information of ENF. Unfortunately, this focus neglects the temporal variation present in the ENF time series. This limitation significantly hampers the ENF feature representation capability, consequently diminishing the overall accuracy of tampering detection. To address this gap, our paper introduces an innovative digital audio tampering detection method founded on ENF spatio-temporal feature representation learning. To enhance the feature representation capability and subsequently improve tampering detection accuracy, we propose the construction of a parallel spatio-temporal network model. This model incorporates both Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network architectures. Through this hybrid model, we aim to deeply extract both ENF spatial and temporal feature information. In the process of extracting spatial and temporal features of ENF, we utilize high-precision Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) analysis on digital audio. This analysis allows us to extract ENF phase sequences, which are then adaptively divided into frames through frame shifting. The result is feature matrices of uniform size, effectively representing the spatial features of ENF. Concurrently, phase sequences are segmented into frames based on ENF time changes to capture the temporal features of ENF. Subsequently, deep spatial and temporal features are extracted using CNN and BiLSTM, respectively. To further enhance the representation capability of the spatio-temporal features, we introduce an attention mechanism. This mechanism dynamically assigns weights to the deep spatial and temporal features, providing a nuanced and refined representation. Finally, a deep neural network is employed to discern whether the audio has undergone tampering. Our experimental results validate the effectiveness of our approach, showcasing superior performance compared to six state-of-the-art methods across three public databases for digital audio tampering detection. This comprehensive methodology, focusing on both spatial and temporal aspects of ENF, establishes a robust foundation for advancing the field of DATD and contributes significantly to improving detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podcasts as a mobile learning platform to augment surgical expertise and dialogue have been embraced by many surgical educators and learners. Podcasts are digital audio files that can be streamed or downloaded from the internet to individual devices. Surgical podcast literature was appraised with a search using the keywords 'surgery' AND 'podcast' in the PubMed database which found 639 results with titles and abstracts screened to identify and review 28 relevant articles. This narrative review explores podcast origins, aims, structure and availability for diverse surgical audiences. It also appraises quality, strengths and limitations, highlighting optimal surgical podcast features. Finally, it proposes how to better implement podcasts into surgical training and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies are increasingly used in assessment. On the one hand, this use offers opportunities for teachers to practice assessment more effectively, and on the other hand, it brings challenges to the design of pedagogically sound and responsible digital assessment. There is a lack of validated instruments and models that explain, assess and support teachers' critical pedagogical practice of digital assessment. This explorative work first develops and validates a survey instrument to examine teachers' digital assessment practices. Secondly, we build a model to investigate to what extent teachers' pedagogical digital assessment knowledge is a foundation for the future of digital assessment (ie, authentic, accessible, automated, continuous and responsible). A total of 219 university teachers at a large European university participated in the survey study. Factor exploratory analysis and structural equation modelling were used to validate the reliability and validity of items and internal causal relations of factors. The results show the survey is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing teachers' digital assessment practice in higher education. Teachers' pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of digital assessment is critical, while teachers' technological pedagogical knowledge seems to have a more limited impact on the future of digital assessment.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topicDigital technologies are increasingly used in assessment in higher education.Teachers are the key stakeholders in the assessment for learning.There is a limited transformative nature of digital assessment practices.What this paper addsA validated instrument to assess teachers' pedagogical practice of digital assessment in higher education.Teachers' pedagogical and pedagogical content knowledge of digital assessment is critical to the future of digital assessment.Teachers' technological pedagogical knowledge of digital assessment has a more limited impact on the future of digital assessment.Implications for practice and policyTeachers need to be supported in developing pedagogical digital assessment practices in higher education.Based on this study's outcomes, educators, institutions and policymakers can inform the design and implementation of effective and responsible digital assessment practices.The design and implementation of responsible digital assessments will enhance the quality of higher education in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in the domain of digital audio tampering detection has advanced significantly with the use of Electrical Network Frequency (ENF) analysis, presenting notable benefits for crime prevention and the enhancement of judicial integrity. However, the existing methodologies, particularly those analyzing ENF phase and frequency, are impeded by data clutter, redundancy, and incompatibilities with standard classification algorithms, leading to decreased detection efficacy. This study proposes a novel methodology employing Discriminant Component Analysis (DCA) for the fusion of ENF features, aiming to address these issues directly. By analyzing the distinct characteristics of ENF phase and frequency spectra, our approach uses DCA to merge these features effectively. This fusion not only amplifies the correlation between the features of phase and frequency but also simplifies the feature space through efficient dimensionality reduction. Additionally, to bridge the gap with traditional classification methods, we introduce a cascaded deep random forest algorithm, designed for intricate representational learning of the fused features. This sequential processing enhances the precision of our classification model significantly. Experimental results on both the Carioca and New Spanish public datasets demonstrate that our approach surpasses current state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and robustness, establishing its superiority in the field of digital audio tampering detection. By integrating the DCA algorithm to accentuate feature uniqueness and maximize inter-feature correlation, alongside advanced representational learning via the deep random forest algorithm, our methodology markedly improves the accuracy of digital audio tampering detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Frame blocking' or 'Framing' is a technique that divides a time-sampled speech or audio signal into consecutive and equi-sized short-time frames, either overlapped or non-overlapped, for analysis. The framing hardware architectures (FHA) in the literature support framing speech or audio samples of specific word size with specific frame size and frame overlap size. However, speech and audio applications often require framing signal samples of varied word sizes with varied frame sizes and frame overlap sizes. Therefore, the existing FHAs must be redesigned appropriately to keep up with the variability in word size, frame size and frame overlap size, as demanded across multiple applications. Redesigning the existing FHAs for each specific application is laborious, prompting the need for a configurable intellectual property (IP) core. The existing FHAs are inappropriate for creating configurable IP cores as they lack adaptability to accommodate variability in frame size and frame overlap size. Therefore, to address these issues, a novel FHA, adaptable to accommodate the desired variability, is proposed. Furthermore, the proposed FHA is transformed into a field-programmable gate array-based soft, ready-to-use and configurable frame blocking IP core using the Xilinx® Vivado™ tool. The resulting IP core is versatile, offering configurability for framing in numerous applications incorporating real-time digital speech and audio systems. This research article discusses the proposed FHA and frame blocking IP core in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the growing field of sonic interaction design, increasing emphasis is being placed on walking-based interactions within an array of applications, including virtual reality, interactive media, and rehabilitation. Our study focuses on recreating the aural experience of wading through water, specifically the challenge of eliciting accurate and natural movement-sound associations for wading, both in interactive and listening-only contexts. We engineered a real-time wading simulation using a digital Foley technique that maps lower limb angular velocity contours to the intensity of steady-state flowing sounds. Our first iteration was evaluated in a perceptual experiment involving 16 participants, as well as an interactive test with 9 participants, which revealed the need for additional sensors along with time-domain preprocessing to ensure a consistently natural sound envelope across walking cadences (step tempi). We then refined the mapping function and incorporated more sound layers. In our subsequent listening test, 55 participants compared the realism of the initial and refined versions with real-life wading sounds at various step cadences. While the refined version demonstrated a notable improvement over the initial one and was deemed fairly realistic overall, it fell just short of the authenticity of the real-life recordings at faster cadences, suggesting room for further improvement of our simulation. Nevertheless, this research marks a stride in the evolution of walking-based sonic interactions, instigating wider acceptance and application of such systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine's rising popularity, driven by its convenience and accessibility, faces a challenge in remote physical auscultation, particularly for assessing lung and heart sounds. We propose a smartphone-based tele-auscultation approach for capturing lung and heart sounds, based on pitch-shifting customized for smartphone listening, overcoming the technical obstacle found in the limited accuracy of smartphone speakers for reproducing low-frequency sounds, such as heart sounds. We created a database of heart and lung sounds captured with a smartphone, and then we conducted two evaluations, one with sounds from open-source databases and one with sounds from an in-house database. Pitch-shifting algorithms from PaulStretch and SoundTouch libraries were applied, and validated against original recordings through a web survey, initially using conventional headphones, as a first step towards delivering them through loudspeakers. In the open-source database experiment, 71.6% and 80% of 40 final-year medical students indicated preserved clinical information in respiratory and heart sounds, respectively. In the in-house database experiment, 14 physicians and final-year medical students validated the processed audio samples, revealing that 76.5% and 71% of respiratory and heart sounds, respectively, maintained clinical information. These results suggest the potential use of pitch-shifted sounds in tele-auscultation devices like smartphones. However, further research is essential to understand smartphones' playback capabilities in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary mediation gravitates around platforms, central structures where users and content converge. As the pivotal format for mediation through sound, intersecting culture, economy, technology and social processes, podcasting has drawn the attention of platforms which have been investing heavily on attracting/retaining producers and listeners alike, by facilitating production, securing the rights to exclusive content, and providing unique ways to interact with content. In this article we analyze Spotify's Top Podcast rankings in Portugal, using descriptive analysis to identify and characterize content, to determine how discovery is promoted and how diverse is the content being presented to users, determining their perception of the format. We argue that content diversity is central to a format that has become mainstream within contemporary digital and audio culture, through the convergence of independent and mainstream producers in the unique content sphere of podcasting. Platforms may be regarded as enabling agents for this process, having become both audio discovery ecosystems and gatekeepers for the format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Current monitoring methods of asthma, such as peak expiratory flow testing, have important limitations. The emergence of automated acoustic sound analysis, capturing cough, wheeze, and inhaler use, offers a promising avenue for improving asthma diagnosis and monitoring. This systematic review evaluated the validity of acoustic biomarkers in supporting the diagnosis of asthma and its monitoring. Data sources: A search was performed using two databases (PubMed and Embase) for all relevant studies published before November 2023. Study selection: 27 studies were included for analysis. Eligible studies focused on acoustic signals as digital biomarkers in asthma, utilizing recording devices to register or analyze sound. Results: Various respiratory acoustic signal types were analyzed, with cough and wheeze being predominant. Data collection methods included smartphones, custom sensors and digital stethoscopes. Across all studies, automated acoustic algorithms achieved average accuracy of cough and wheeze detection of 88.7% (range: 61.0 − 100.0%) with a median of 92.0%. The sensitivity of sound detection ranged from 54.0 to 100.0%, with a median of 90.3%; specificity ranged from 67.0 to 99.7%, with a median of 95.0%. Moreover, 70.4% (19/27) studies had a risk of bias identified. Conclusions: This systematic review establishes the promising role of acoustic biomarkers, particularly cough and wheeze, in supporting the diagnosis of asthma and monitoring. The evidence suggests the potential for clinical integration of acoustic biomarkers, emphasizing the need for further validation in larger, clinically-diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Xinyang Normal University Natural Science Edition is the property of Journal of Xinyang Normal University Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drawing from Michel Foucault's reading of Immanuel Kant's essay "What is Enlightenment?," and specifically his definition of ascesis , we associate maturity with a capacity for, and interest in, forming the self. On the basis of an empirical study of making vinyl records following the successful commercialization of digital media, we identify micro-disciplinary techniques of self-forming that emerge as enthusiasts steadily learn the craft of vinyl record manufacturing. It is, we argue, through technology, rather than against it, that organizational immaturity can be resisted. Craftwork involves testing and transforming, rather than just acquiring, traditional skills. Maturity involves an ongoing struggle of selectively and reflectively engaging with technologies via attempts to be the subject of one's own subjection. The former contributes to the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a consideration of their reverberant characteristics, this article places representations of recording studios as an active cultural process that plays out through the recorded sounds such spaces become associated with. Like other heritage sites, the work to define, maintain, and allocate certain structures as unique or significant relies on the cultural process of collective memory. By focusing on the concept of sonic recollection, the reconfiguration of unique tracking room environments for "in the box" digital audio workstation software, exemplified through reverberation, is shown to draw from a network of people, sounds, and technologies that cumulatively reflect various stages of a recording studio's trajectory. By uncovering this network – encompassing well-known and unnamed engineers, famous to merely aspiring recording artists, established or defunct studios and software companies, and technologies such as convolution reverb, all of which articulate one another in digital audio workstation software – it suggests that the theoretical underpinnings of collective memory studies are a useful tool of analysis to more fully frame reconstructions or representations of physical spaces undertaken through recorded sound, and that reverberation is an ideal metaphor for the work of collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yegah Musicology Journal / Yegah Müzikoloji Dergisi is the property of International Yegah Music Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study focuses on the activities and efforts of the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) in the Uttar Pradesh region, which is known for its vast area, population, and rich cultural heritage. The aim is to examine the digitization work carried out by the NMM in this area, as digitization plays a crucial role in preserving our country’s rich ancient heritage. The importance of safeguarding cultural heritage is universally acknowledged, and digitization serves as a vital tool in this endeavor. Through digitization, we can protect and preserve our heritage for future generations. The government has implemented several commendable initiatives for manuscript digitization, and the NMM stands as a prominent organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage. The NMM possesses a diverse range of cultural heritage resources, including photographic slides, photographs, digital images, photo-negatives, motion pictures, audio spools, microfiche, LP records, endangered manuscripts, audio and videotapes, digital images, microfilms, digital audio and video files, and more. The mission has undertaken extensive digitization efforts to conserve and provide access to a significant portion of its collection. This study is unique as it explores the digital conservation and digitization practices of a premier institute working in the field of art and cultural heritage in Uttar Pradesh. With its extensive network of institutions, the mission aims to cover all manuscripts, digitize them, and consolidate them on a common platform for easy access and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital audio workstations can be used to develop creative thinking in music students while practicing music production. This research aimed to study the effectiveness of the Pyramix software for the development of creative thinking and musical self-efficacy of Chinese music students. It enrolled 200 students with a mean age of 21.8 years. The effectiveness was determined through the comparison of pre-and post-test results in the experimental and control groups. Self-report measures were employed in the study: the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) for assessing creative thinking and the Musical Performance Self-Efficacy Scale (MPSES) for evaluating musical self-efficacy. In the experimental group, there was an increase in creative thinking in all five subscales during the post-test: originality, elaboration, abstractness, and resistance to premature completion increased by 19.26%, 18.23%, 11.04%, 10.40%, and 15.09%, respectively. The differences were significant and confirmed the effectiveness of using stations to develop creative thinking. However, their use did not have a positive effect on musical self-efficacy in terms of mastery experience, vicarious experience, and verbal/social persuasion. Intergroup differences were not significant; only the physiological state significantly increased by 8.72. This research is significant because it gives information on the effect of digital audio workstations in music education on the development of students' creative-thinking skills through the contribution to existing music knowledge and literature. The findings may be of interest to researchers and educational institution managers, who are interested in enhancing creativity skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The educational podcast is a didactic resource requiring specific planning to create a digital audio file with educational content. These podcasts promote meaningful learning and stimulate cognitive skills. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of educational podcasts in increasing students’ satisfaction and performance in content acquisition compared to live oral presentations. An experimental methodology was used, involving 148 students from the University of Zaragoza (2022-2023). Students were divided into two groups: one used podcasts, and the others gave live oral presentations. They assessed both types of presentations using an evaluation rubric and collaborated on content development. Data on academic performance, satisfaction, ratings, gender, age, and admission cut-off marks were collected for statistical analysis. Both groups reported high satisfaction, with in-class presentations deemed slightly more appropriate. Exam performance was similar across groups. Collaborative, student-centered learning increased satisfaction, but intra-group conflicts prevented clear distinctions between the methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Necmettin Erbakan University School of Law Review is the property of Necmettin Erbakan University School of Law Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Despite progress in access to family planning services in many sub-Saharan African countries in recent decades, advances in effective early postpartum contraceptive adoption remain low, and the unmet need for early postpartum contraceptives is high. In Ethiopia, early postpartum modern contraceptive method uptake is still unacceptably low. The barriers/challenges have not yet been sufficiently explored. A deep and detailed understanding of the contextualized barriers and challenges in the adoption of early postpartum contraceptive methods is crucial in developing future locally-appropriate interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to explore barriers/challenges to the uptake of early postpartum modern contraceptive methods after childbirth in Dessie and Kombolcha zones, in northeast Ethiopia. Methods: Aconventional content analysis qualitative study was deployed in Dessie and Kombolcha town zones, northeast Ethiopia using a theoretical purposive sampling technique. A total of 57 study subjects were participated. The sample size was determined using the rule of information saturation through 7 key informant interviews, 6 in-depth interviews, and 5 focused-group discussions with 8–10 participants each. Data were collected using an unstructured interview guide and recorded using a digital audio recorder and field notes. The trustworthiness of the study was assured using different techniques. The collected data were transcribed and translated from native language to English. Atlas-ti version7 software was used to facilitate conventional content qualitative data analysis approach. Open coding, categories, subthemes, and overreaching themes were developed, and a conceptual model of barriers was organized through network analysis. Result: Barriers to uptake of early postpartum modern contraception quoted by study participants and themed were related knowledge, attitude, family-community, health facility, contraceptive method, cultural, religious, fertility desire, gender issues, and misconceptions. The sub-themes of knowledge-related barriers that emerged were lack of awareness of the time to take birth control methods, not knowing the time pregnancy is likely after childbirth, and not being committed to taking contraceptives early enough after childbirth. Moreover, beliefs that modern contraceptives cause breast milk to dry up and perceived low fecundability after childbirth were indicated as attitude barriers. Health facility barriers were lack of reminders and follow-up mechanisms, sporadic service delivery and opening time, long waiting time, and card withdrawal process and providers' approach. Social stigma, child sex preference, and religious restrictions against contraceptive use were community barriers. Conclusion: Generally individual, facility-based, method-related, misconceptions, societal, and cultural barriers were identified as hindrances to the uptake of early postpartum modern contraceptive methods. There is a need for health-seeking behavioral interventions, innovative contraceptive methods, and facility-level interventions to overcome each identified barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audiovisual resources available online gain more importance in satisfying users' information needs, yet the quality of metadata that ensures discoverability of these resources is not yet emphasized, mainly due to lack of benchmark data. This article addresses the need by presenting results of the comparative evaluation of accuracy and completeness of Dublin Core metadata records created by metadata beginners to represent audio recordings and video recordings. We present our findings in the context of how the metadata learning is organized at the program which currently prepares most of those entering the information profession in Kuwait. Findings reveal some similarities, as well as some pronounced differences in metadata accuracy and completeness patterns for two kinds of online digital resources: audio recordings and video recordings. Video metadata was found to be of substantially higher quality than audio metadata created by the same beginners. Overall, for audiovisual information resources, we found the Type metadata field to be the least prone to completeness errors, and Format to accuracy errors. Our data suggests that the Source metadata field is the most vulnerable for accuracy errors in both audio metadata and video metadata. However, Dublin Core metadata fields with the highest possibility of completeness errors did not exhibit overlap between the two sets of beginner-created metadata records. We discuss examples of the most common metadata errors and compare results with findings of previous research. Empirical data obtained in this study allows assessing preparedness of information professionals to create metadata that is functional in supporting resource discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify thoroughbred industry stakeholders' views on the yearling sales endoscopy in Australia. Design: Semi‐structured qualitative group interviews with equine veterinarians, thoroughbred breeders and yearling purchasers. Methods: Twenty‐nine experienced thoroughbred industry stakeholders participated in online focus groups: (1) equine veterinarians involved in yearling endoscopy; (2) thoroughbred breeders; and (3) yearling buyers. The focus groups were audio and video recorded and digital whiteboards were available. Data was transcribed, live‐coded and analysed thematically. Results: The main themes identified included the uncertainty surrounding the relationship between yearling laryngeal function and future performance, especially the significance of yearlings with grade 3 out of 5 laryngeal function; interobserver variability in the laryngeal function grade assigned by veterinarians to the same endoscopic exam; and the presence of intra‐horse variability in laryngeal function over different time points. Discussion: Stakeholders raised multiple concerns about the current yearling sales endoscopy process in Australia. Recommendations to address these concerns include further investigation into the race performance of yearlings identified with grade 3 laryngeal function; training of veterinarians to reduce inter‐observer variability; and the need to determine the most appropriate grading system to use in yearlings. Future research should evaluate the significance of intra‐horse variability in a yearling population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We address the problem of systematizing the authoring of digital dictionaries for craft education from ethnographic studies and recordings. First, we present guidelines for the collection of ethnographic data using digital audio and video and identify terms that are central in the description of crafting actions, products, tools, and materials. Second, we present a classification scheme for craft terms and a way to semantically annotate them, using a multilingual and hierarchical thesaurus, which provides term definitions and a semantic hierarchy of these terms. Third, we link ethnographic resources and open-access data to the identified terms using an online platform for the representation of traditional crafts, associating their definition with illustrations, examples of use, and 3D models. We validate the efficacy of the approach by creating multimedia vocabularies for an online eLearning platform for introductory courses to nine traditional crafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the literature on music digital platforms has focused mainly on the consequences of production and consumption, few works have looked at platformization from the perspective of companies active in the music business. Drawing on an ethnographic inquiry of Sofar Sounds—a London-based company that organizes intimate and secret concerts in unconventional spaces—I introduce platform work to explore the kinds of practices in which platforms engage. I identify three operations in Sofar Sounds' platform work: the incorporation of Sofar Sounds concerts into digital devices; its financing by venture capital (VCs) funds; and the activation and generification of its global community. In conclusion, I argue that being a platform involves organizational practices and that studying these practices shifts our attention beyond a few limited successful companies. I propose that light-tech capitalism accounts for this mundane and unsophisticated aspect of platform work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the interaction effect of two dimensions of preference on social contagion: preference similarity between a consumer (i.e., who seeks recommendation) and a peer (i.e., who potentially provides recommendation) and the fit of an experience good with the consumer's preference. For empirical analyses, the authors collected rich information from Last.fm, a music social networking website, including individual users' music play histories, friendship information, social tags (i.e., user-generated keywords associated with artists and songs), and new song profiles. The results show that consumers' trial of a song that fits less with their preference is influenced more by peers with similar preferences. By contrast, consumers' trial of a song that fits more with their preference is influenced more by peers with dissimilar preferences. This research enriches the understanding of the nuanced role of preference in social contagion and offers managerial implications to better leverage social dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for estimating the first and second derivatives of discrete audio signals intended to achieve higher computational precision in analyzing the performance and characteristics of digital audio systems is presented. The method could find numerous applications in modeling nonlinear audio circuit systems, e.g., for audio synthesis and creating audio effects, music recognition and classification, time-frequency analysis based on nonstationary audio signal decomposition, audio steganalysis and digital audio authentication or audio feature extraction methods. The proposed algorithm employs the ordinary 7 point-stencil central-difference formulas with improvements that minimize the round-off and truncation errors. This is achieved by treating the step size of numerical differentiation as a regularization parameter, which acts as a decision threshold in all calculations. This approach requires shifting discrete audio data by fractions of the initial sample rate, which was obtained by fractional delay FIR filters designed with modified 11-term cosine-sum windows for interpolation and shifting of audio signals. The maximum relative error in estimating first and second derivatives of discrete audio signals are respectively in order of 10 - 13 and 10 - 10 over the entire audio band, which is close to double-precision floating-point accuracy for the first and better than single-precision floating-point accuracy for the second derivative estimation. Numerical testing showed that this performance of the proposed method is not influenced by the type of signal being differentiated (either stationary or nonstationary), and provides better results than other known differentiation methods, in the audio band up to 21 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musical cultural heritage, as an important component of cultural heritage, possesses significant cultural value and inheritance significance. With the development of society and the passage of time, these precious traditional musical cultural heritages inevitably face the dilemma of gradual depletion or even disappearance. In the digital age, effectively protecting and inheriting these musical cultural heritages has become an urgent problem to be addressed. Therefore, this paper proposes an application method based on digital twin technology, exploring how to protect and inherit musical cultural heritages through digital twin technology. By leveraging digital twin technology, a virtual museum dedicated to showcasing the richness and historical connotations of music cultures is created, preserving and simulating the soundscapes of historical music eras. Through the integration of audio archives, 3D modeling, and interactive displays, users can immerse themselves in the experience of historical music in the digital space. This paper evaluates the feasibility and cultural preservation value of this digital music history museum through the creation of music digital twin technology instances and user survey feedback and discusses the prospects of digital twins in the field of musical cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive adoption of digital audio recording has revolutionized its application in digital forensics, particularly in civil litigation and criminal prosecution. Electric network frequency (ENF) has emerged as a reliable technique in the field of audio forensics. However, the absence of comprehensive ENF reference datasets limits current ENF-based methods. To address this, this study introduces ATD, a blind audio forensics framework based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model. ATD can identify phase mutations and waveform discontinuities within the tampered ENF signal, without relying on an ENF reference database. To enhance feature extraction, the framework incorporates characteristics of the fundamental harmonics of ENF signals. In addition, a denoising method termed ENF noise reduction (ENR) based on the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and robust filtering algorithm (RFA) is proposed to reduce the impact of external noise on embedded electric network frequency signals. This study investigates three distinct types of audio tampering—deletion, insertion, and replacement—culminating in the design of binary-class tampering detection scenarios and four-class tampering detection scenarios tailored to these tampering types. ATD achieves a tampering detection accuracy of over 93% in the four-class scenario and exceeds 96% in the binary-class scenario. The effectiveness, efficiency, adaptability, and robustness of ATD in the two and four classification scenarios have been confirmed by extensive experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid in-band on-channel (IBOC) transmission system, which serves as a digital audio radio scheme, facilitates the simultaneous transmission of analog FM and digital audio. In IBOC systems, broadcasters transmit signals within allocated channel bands, posing a challenge in bandwidth allocation for digital audio transmission. To address this, cooperative game theory, supported by the bankruptcy game and Shapley's value, is proposed as a strategy to optimize bandwidth allocation at each node or station. This approach considers service demand, the number of stations, and radio channel conditions in the FM band. The paper presents a scenario under saturated traffic conditions to evaluate the degree of optimization achievable using the Shapley value under clearly defined traffic and channel conditions. The results indicate that cooperative game theory, with the support of the Shapley value, offers an excellent alternative for optimizing bandwidth in digital broadcasting over IBOC in FM, with potential applicability in other digital radio broadcasting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfinance plays an important role in the micro, medium, and small industries in India. SIDBI-PRAYAAS is one such scheme governed by SIDBI to reach the bottom half of the financial pyramid. The current study presented a successful case that highlighted that 6.02% CAGR growth is observed in the businesses of the borrowers who took the facility of the above scheme. In this regard, digital interventions like B-POS and B-Bank have successfully helped borrowers for application, receive, and properly execution of loan repayment till now. The scheme has gained popularity through the collaboration of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, as borrowers could effectively apply the scheme for the growth of Gramin Arogya Kendra. Thus, the present case study has successfully highlighted the effectiveness of the PRAYAAS schemes as well as customer satisfaction through sound digital intervention in the banking system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a book review of "Soundtracked Books from the Acoustic Era to the Digital Age: A Century of 'Books That Sing.'" The reviewer discusses the history and significance of soundtracked books, which are physical or digital publications that have a musical soundtrack. The book explores examples of soundtracked books throughout the 20th century, including children's books, ethnographies, and adult fiction. The reviewer also considers the potential impact of digital platforms on the experience of soundtracked books. Overall, the book serves as a valuable resource for understanding this unique intersection of literature and music. Another document is a book review of "Freedom Moves: Hip Hop Knowledges, Pedagogies, and Futures." The book celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop and explores its global impact. It features essays by scholars, activists, educators, and hip-hop artists from diverse backgrounds. The book highlights the subversive and liberating aspects of hip hop and its role in providing a voice for the voiceless and fighting against racial injustice. The editors, who are influential contributors to hip-hop studies, aim to expand the field beyond the classroom. The book includes well-known figures in hip-hop culture as well as lesser-known artists, educators, and activists. It offers new perspectives on how hip-hop arts and culture are utilized in different contexts. [Extracted from the article]