Quick Measurement Research Articles

Development and validation of a pictographic assessment embodiment scale.

Embodiment is a complex concept related to the subjective perception of an object as it belongs to its own body. In general, this construct has been evaluated by means of questionnaires, but validation studies in other cultures and limitations related with barriers of language received little attention. The purpose of the present investigation was twofold: to validate the factorial structure of embodiment questionnaire (EQ) and to construct a pictographic scale (PAE) to measure embodiment without relapse verbal representations. In the first experiment, 136 participants underwent a Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) procedure following both congruent and incongruent (control) visuo-tactile stimulations. Then, they evaluated embodiment illusion in EQ using a Likert-type scale to rate their agreement or disagreement with 27 statements and with a pictographic scale designed to assess their subjective experience of the illusion. Principal components analysis in EQ scores identified four components that emerged in both conditions: Embodiment, Disembodiment, Affect and Deafference. PAE scale was highly correlated with embodiment factor and can differentiate between conditions. In a second experiment, 30 participants underwent the RHI procedure, and they were assessed using PAE and proprioceptive drift. Results indicate a high positive correlation between PAE and post-illusion drift score. These results provide evidence about the consistency of the factorial structure of EQ across cultures, and we also provide a new pictographic tool that allows quick measurement of embodiment overcoming language barriers.

Quantitative muscle magnetic resonance imaging in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type R1 (LGMDR1): A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type R1 (LGMDR1) is the most common subtype of LGMD in Europe. Prospective longitudinal data, including clinical assessments and new biomarkers such as quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), are needed to evaluate the natural course of the disease and therapeutic options. We evaluated eight thigh and seven leg muscles of 13 LGMDR1 patients (seven females, mean age 36.7 years, body mass index 23.9 kg/m2) and 13 healthy age- and gender-matched controls in a prospective longitudinal design over 1 year. Clinical assessment included testing for muscle strength with quick motor function measure (QMFM), gait analysis and patient questionnaires (neuromuscular symptom score, activity limitation [ACTIVLIM]). MRI scans were performed on a 3-T MRI scanner, including a Dixon-based sequence, T2 mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. The qMRI values of fat fraction (FF), water T2 relaxation time (T2), fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity were analysed. Within the clinical outcome measures, significant deterioration between baseline and follow-up was found for ACTIVLIM (p= 0.029), QMFM (p= 0.012). Analysis of qMRI parameters of the patient group revealed differences between time points for both FF and T2 when analysing all muscles (FF: p< 0.001; T2: p= 0.016). The highest increase of fat replacement was found in muscles with an FF of between 10% and 50% at baseline. T2 in muscles with low-fat replacement increased significantly. No significant differences were found for the diffusion metrics. Significant correlations between qMRI metrics and clinical assessments were found at baseline and follow-up, while only T2 changes in thigh muscles correlated with changes in ACTIVLIM over time (ρ = -0.621, p< 0.05). Clinical assessments can show deterioration of the general condition of LGMDR1 patients. qMRI measures can give additional information about underlying pathophysiology. Further research is needed to establish qMRI outcome measures for clinical trials.

#444 Novel MRI filtration fraction method to assess glomerular hemodynamics in diabetic kidney disease

Abstract Background and Aims Filtration fraction (FF) is the ratio of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to renal plasma flow (RPF) and is therefore an important measure of glomerular hemodynamics. The gold standard method to assess effective RPF is renal clearance of para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) but technical and labour-intensive difficulties limit its application [1]. Quicker and simpler assays of FF are needed, particularly to assess the renal hemodynamic dysfunction (hyper- or hypofiltration) and effects/mode of action of therapeutic interventions in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We assessed a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to measure FF in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and healthy controls (HC) [2]. Method This cross-sectional sub-study included 32 DKD subjects with measured GFR (mGFR) ≤ 60 ml/ min/1.73 m2 and stratified into the following GFR stages as per the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification: stage G3a (mGFR 45-59 ml/ min/1.73 m2, n = 3), G3b (mGFR 30-44 ml/ min/1.73 m2, n = 8), G4 (mGFR 15-29 ml/ min/1.73 m2, n = 15), G5 (&amp;lt;15 ml/ min/1.73 m2, n = 6), and 18 age-, gender-matched HC with mGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. All subjects were 18-79 years old. mGFR was assessed using iohexol clearance. Renal blood flow (RBF) (ml/min) was measured by a 5-minute add-on phase contrast MRI of the renal artery of each kidney and then summed together. RBF was corrected for Body Surface Area. RPF and FF were calculated as below: ${\rm{RPF }} = {\rm{ RBF}} \times \ ( {1\ -{\rm{ Hematocrit}}} )$ ${\rm{FF}} = {\rm{mGFR}}/{\rm{RPF}}$ Results RBF and mGFR were highly correlated (R2 = 0.70, Fig. 1). FF was 17.1% for HC and decreased with increasing degrees of renal impairment (Fig. 2). While the difference between HC and G3a DKD group was not significant, there was highly significant difference between HC and all other DKD groups (p &amp;lt; 0.001). The standard deviation in the G3a group was relatively large with only 3 subjects in this group. Conclusion The phase contrast MRI scan can provide a quick and simple measurement of glomerular hemodynamics and therewith further insights into the pathophysiology of DKD and its progression. Given the limitations of the existing method for assessing renal plasma flow, this MRI method can facilitate the inclusion of filtration fraction in DKD clinical trials. Further, the described method could be used to identify hyperfiltration, a compensatory mechanism that can influence results in clinical trials of DKD.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Psychiatry: Enhancing Treatment Precision and Patient Outcomes.

Psychiatric disorders often require pharmacological interventions to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. However, achieving an optimal therapeutic outcome is challenging due to several factors, including variability in the individual response, inter-individual differences in drug metabolism, and drug interactions in polytherapy. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), by measuring drug concentrations in biological samples, represents a valuable tool to address these challenges, by tailoring medication regimens to each individual. This review analyzes the current landscape of TDM in psychiatric practice, highlighting its significance in optimizing drug dosages, minimizing adverse effects, and improving therapeutic efficacy. The metabolism of psychiatric medications (i.e., mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants) often exhibits significant inter-patient variability. TDM can help address this variability by enhancing treatment personalization, facilitating early suboptimal- or toxic-level detection, and allowing for timely interventions to prevent treatment failure or adverse effects. Furthermore, this review briefly discusses technological advancements and analytical methods supporting the implementation of TDM in psychiatric settings. These innovations enable quick and cost-effective drug concentration measurements, fostering the widespread adoption of TDM as a routine practice in psychiatric care. In conclusion, the integration of TDM in psychiatry can improve treatment outcomes by individualizing medication regimens within the so-called precision medicine.

Evaluating the Efficiency of Field Oven for Quick Measurement of Gravimetric Soil Water Content

Evaluating the Efficiency of Field Oven for Quick Measurement of Gravimetric Soil Water Content

Objective measure of binaural processing: Acoustic change complex in response to interaural phase differences

Combining cochlear implants with binaural acoustic hearing via preserved hearing in the implanted ear(s) is commonly referred to as combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS). EAS fittings can provide patients with significant benefit for speech recognition in complex noise, perceived listening difficulty, and horizontal-plane localization as compared to traditional bimodal hearing conditions with contralateral and monaural acoustic hearing. However, EAS benefit varies across patients and the degree of benefit is not reliably related to the underlying audiogram. Previous research has indicated that EAS benefit for speech recognition in complex listening scenarios and localization is significantly correlated with the patients’ binaural cue sensitivity, namely interaural time differences (ITD). In the context of pure tones, interaural phase differences (IPD) and ITD can be understood as two perspectives on the same phenomenon. Through simple mathematical conversion, one can be transformed into the other, illustrating their inherent interrelation for spatial hearing abilities. However, assessing binaural cue sensitivity is not part of a clinical assessment battery as psychophysical tasks are time consuming, require training to achieve performance asymptote, and specialized programming and software all of which render this clinically unfeasible. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using an objective measure of binaural cue sensitivity by the acoustic change complex (ACC) via imposition of an IPD of varying degrees at stimulus midpoint. Ten adult listeners with normal hearing were assessed on tasks of behavioral and objective binaural cue sensitivity for carrier frequencies of 250 and 1000 Hz. Results suggest that 1) ACC amplitude increases with IPD; 2) ACC-based IPD sensitivity for 250 Hz is significantly correlated with behavioral ITD sensitivity; 3) Participants were more sensitive to IPDs at 250 Hz as compared to 1000 Hz. Thus, this objective measure of IPD sensitivity may hold clinical application for pre- and post-operative assessment for individuals meeting candidacy indications for cochlear implantation with low-frequency acoustic hearing preservation as this relatively quick and objective measure may provide clinicians with information identifying patients most likely to derive benefit from EAS technology.

Muscle dysmorphia subscale of eating disorder assessment for men: validity and reliability of the Portuguese version in men across multiple ages

Introduction Although symptom presentation varies by gender, almost all eating disorder/ED instruments have been developed and validated on females. The Eating Disorder Assessment for Men (EDAM; Stanford &amp; Lemberg 2012) is a male specific self-report measure, composed of four sub-scales, proved to be useful to assess gender differences in ED presentations (Nagata et al. 2021). The MD comprises 5 items about the overwhelming concern with muscularity and the false perception of having an underdeveloped body.ObjectivesHaving already valid measures of body image and eating behaviors in men, we now aim to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of MD, in order to have a quick and rigorous measure of this specific construct.MethodsParticipants were 227 male individuals (mean age=30.41 years±13.96; range: 14-73 years). They answered an online survey including the preliminary DM and the Portuguese validated versions of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7) and the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI).ResultsConfirmatory Factor Analysis showed that the unidimensional model presented good fit indexes (χ2/df=.6829; RMSEA=.0000; CFI=1.00 TLI=1.01, GFI=.995). Cronbach’s alfa was .891; all the items contributed to the internal consistency and had high internal validity. Pearson correlations of DM with EDE-Q7 and BICI were significant (p&lt;.001) and moderate-high, respectively,.384 and .522.ConclusionsThe Portuguese preliminary version of DM-EDAM demonstrated validity (construct and convergent) and reliability. can be used for clinical and research purposes, namely in an ongoing project we have in progress, about body image, disordered eating, gender and age.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Novel Distance-Based Molecular Descriptors for Styrene Butadiene Rubber Structures

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is a general-purpose rubber produced from a copolymer of styrene and butadiene. It is used largely in automobile and truck tires. In general, it is considered to be an abrasion-resistant replacement for natural rubber. In this article, we compute a set of recently introduced distance-based topological descriptors namely, Zagreb connection indices and reformulated Zagreb connection indices for the SBR structures. Zagreb indices and Reformulated Zagreb indices were applied to forecast numerous molecular properties through QSAR studies of boiling point, Molar volume and bioactivity. These indices offer a quick and effective measure of molecular complexity and features of their composition resulting in approximate molecular behavior.

Neck circumference as an alternative marker of metabolic syndrome in Peruvian adults: A retrospective, cross-sectional study

Neck circumference is a low-cost and simple anthropometric measure that has been proven to accurately assess central obesity. However, evidence of its use and feasibility in low-resource settings is limited. We aimed to compare the utility of neck circumference with standard physical measures of obesity in northern Peru. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted among adults screened for metabolic syndrome. Body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference, and additional measurements for metabolic syndrome were obtained. Assessments were performed following the WHO STEPS Surveillance Manual. Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the relationship of neck circumference to waist circumference and body mass index. Data from 250 participants showed a normal, homogeneous distribution in both men and women with respect to age and physical/biochemical measurements. The mean age was 53.6 years. A positive correlation of neck circumference with body mass index (r = 0.51 for women and 0.65 for men) and waist circumference (r = 0.6 for women and 0.74 for men) was observed. Multiple linear regression showed that a 1-cm increase in neck circumference increased body mass index by 0.72 kg/m2 (p < 0.001) in men and 0.94 kg/m2 (p < 0.001) in women, and waist circumference by 2.20 cm (p < 0.001) in men and 2.27 cm (p < 0.001) in women. Our findings suggest that neck circumference is a valid and reliable measure that will replace body mass index and waist circumference in Peruvian adults with central obesity; due to the strong correlation that exists between the NC and these anthropometric measurements, mainly because it is an easy, quick measurement and is less vulnerable to errors such as in the measurement of abdominal circumference or variabilities in weight.

Characterization of a Fast Neutron Irradiation Facility Using a Stilbene Scintillation Detector

This paper describes the characterization of a fast neutron facility located at Legnaro National Laboratories’ Van de Graaff CN accelerator. The neutron flux is produced by the 9 Be( p , xn ) reactions, generated by a beryllium thick target bombarded with 5-MeV protons. An iterative unfolding algorithm combined with a pulse shape discrimination technique were used to obtain the energy distributions of the emitted neutrons at different angles and to compute the absolute neutron flux as a function of the proton current. With a proton current of 180 nA and a distance of 5 cm from the emission point, a maximum neutron flux of 2.6 × 10 6 cm−2 s−1 ( ± 15%) was obtained. The gamma-ray component made up around 32% of the total radiation field. The measurements were taken with a Stilbene scintillation detector, therefore a comprehensive study of the detector was also performed, including energy calibration, determination of the proton light output function, and intrinsic neutron detection efficiency. Based on the results and the capabilities of the Stilbene detector, it can be concluded that this detector is suitable for fast neutron flux characterization. It enables quick measurements and real-time monitoring of the neutron field.

Small Robot Vehicle Developed for Multi-purpose Industrial Use

The small robotic vehicle presented in this article is a special, multifunctional vehicle that can perform diagnostic tasks in several different areas. Examination of heat release and heat losses, which characterizes the efficiency of processes in many technical areas. A device that penetrates into small spaces may be needed. In this area, an important task is to navigate the device to the right place under trucks and cars to perform thermal camera diagnostics. The examination of excessive heat emission is extremely important to filter out faulty transmission systems, faulty engines, and to detect excessively hot brake drums, which are unfortunately also responsible for causing many serious accidents and fires.The remote-controlled navigation robot with a camera presented in the article is perfectly suited for the above task, as it can also transmit the image of the thermal camera to a remote display. In addition to automotive applications, the device can also be used for other industrial purposes and machine diagnostic tasks. I According to the current European Union building energy regulations, new buildings must have almost zero energy requirements. The so-called thermal bridges must be calculated for both old and new buildings under construction.A useful solution to this problem can be the quick and cost-effective energetic measurement and classification of thermal bridges, factors, and structural elements that cause heat loss. The Heat Spotter robotic vehicle presented and built in the article is suitable for the above tasks, ready to be manufactured and quickly paying for itself.

Probe with a metallic bowl termination to determine the electric material parameters from variable thicknesses

This paper discusses a new approach to determining the material electric parameters (dielectric constant and dissipation factor) through a technique based on identical material variation thicknesses. The copper bowl controls the material thicknesses and allows quick and safe measurements to get to the electromagnetic material information. This approach assumes that the discontinuities generated at the probe and bowl are identical and removed through mathematical operations. The material under test (MUT) gap thickness doesn’t exceed one millimeter. Some formulations have been developed to determine the discontinuity condensers and both capacitors of each thickness. Two proposed developments have been given to extract the complex effective and relative permittivities. A mathematical formula has been proposed to ensure the transition from effective to intrinsic parameters, where the MUT thicknesses and the probe’s outer diameter of the inner conductor are considered. A de-embedding operation is necessary, and the method is suitable but not limited to low-k. The coaxial probe is flat terminated, and the experimental validation has been made in the frequency ranges 1 MHz—2.2 GHz for FR-4 HTG-175 and 1 MHz—0.8 GHz for Alumina 99.5%. All MUTs are 5.0×5.0 cm2, except their thicknesses. The suggested approach is straightforward in sample insertion, simple in data acquisition and implementation, and precise in the final parameters’ results.

Demonstration of the propagation of errors using resistors

We present a simple experiment to demonstrate the concept of propagation of errors by measuring resistors on printed circuit boards (PCBs). We devise a method for connecting the resistors on a PCB that allows a relatively quick measurement of 200 resistor pairs to show that the distributions of the measurement of individual resistances, as well as the total resistance, are Gaussian-distributed, as expected from the central limit theorem. The measurement demonstrates how individual uncertainties propagate to the total uncertainty. The experiment is part of a laboratory course on statistics for physics students that emphasizes the application of statistics in data analysis.

PrestoCell: A persistence-based clustering approach for rapid and robust segmentation of cellular morphology in three-dimensional data.

Light microscopy methods have continued to advance allowing for unprecedented analysis of various cell types in tissues including the brain. Although the functional state of some cell types such as microglia can be determined by morphometric analysis, techniques to perform robust, quick, and accurate measurements have not kept pace with the amount of imaging data that can now be generated. Most of these image segmentation tools are further burdened by an inability to assess structures in three-dimensions. Despite the rise of machine learning techniques, the nature of some biological structures prevents the training of several current day implementations. Here we present PrestoCell, a novel use of persistence-based clustering to segment cells in light microscopy images, as a customized Python-based tool that leverages the free multidimensional image viewer Napari. In evaluating and comparing PrestoCell to several existing tools, including 3DMorph, Omipose, and Imaris, we demonstrate that PrestoCell produces image segmentations that rival these solutions. In particular, our use of cell nuclei information resulted in the ability to correctly segment individual cells that were interacting with one another to increase accuracy. These benefits are in addition to the simplified graphically based user refinement of cell masks that does not require expensive commercial software licenses. We further demonstrate that PrestoCell can complete image segmentation in large samples from light sheet microscopy, allowing quantitative analysis of these large datasets. As an open-source program that leverages freely available visualization software, with minimum computer requirements, we believe that PrestoCell can significantly increase the ability of users without data or computer science expertise to perform complex image analysis.

Strengthening damaged columns on the soft first story of reinforced concrete building using ultra-high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete panels

In this study, ultra-high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete (UFC) panels were used as a quick and effective measure for seismic strengthening of damaged reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Four 1/3-scale specimens, which replicated RC columns of the soft-first-story of a 10-story condominium building that was heavily damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, were constructed and tested. The specimens were strengthened using UFC panels after being preloaded to the drift ratio, at which the maximum load capacity of the target column was measured, and then subjected to the main loading until the ultimate state was reached. The UFC panels were installed on the two faces of the column in a direction parallel to the assumed loading direction. Two of the specimens had a UFC or RC wing wall attached to one side of the column, which was also aligned with the assumed loading direction. During the preloading and main loading, the specimens were subjected to a cyclic lateral load and varying axial load that simulated an earthquake load. The proposed method improved the maximum strength and ultimate drift ratio, and helped restore the initial stiffness of specimens with UFC panels and a wing wall to that of a column specimen during preloading. The test results of a previous study, wherein the target column, loading method, and strengthening method were the same but the specimens were not damaged before strengthening, were compared to study the impact of the damage on the RC column before strengthening.

The Broad Autism Phenotype-International Test (BAP-IT): A two-domain-based test for the assessment of the broad autism phenotype.

The broad autism phenotype refers to a group of behaviors related to autism spectrum disorder, but that appear to a lesser extent. Its assessment has been performed through outdated broad autism phenotype/autism spectrum disorder definitions and tests. To address this problem, this study presents the development of a new test, the Broad Autism Phenotype-International Test, a 20-item measure consisting of two dimensions, SOCIAL-BAP and RIRE-BAP, targeting the two-domain operationalization of autism spectrum disorder in Spain and the United Kingdom. Unlike the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire, this test received empirical support as a quick and effective broad autism phenotype measure that can facilitate both broad autism phenotype/autism spectrum disorder research and interventions. This is the first step to studying the BAP in several Spanish and English-speaking countries.

Technological tools for the measurement of sensory characteristics in food: A review

The use of technological tools, in the food industry, has allowed a quick and reliable identification and measurement of the sensory characteristics of food matrices is of great importance, since they emulate the functioning of the five senses (smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing). Therefore, industry and academia have been conducting research focused on developing and using these instruments which is evidenced in various studies that have been reported in the scientific literature. In this review, several of these technological tools are documented, such as the e-nose, e-tongue, colorimeter, artificial vision systems, and instruments that allow texture measurement (texture analyzer, electromyography, others). These allow us to carry out processes of analysis, review, and evaluation of food to determine essential characteristics such as quality, composition, maturity, authenticity, and origin. The determination of these characteristics allows the standardization of food matrices, achieving the improvement of existing foods and encouraging the development of new products that satisfy the sensory experiences of the consumer, driving growth in the food sector. However, the tools discussed have some limitations such as acquisition cost, calibration and maintenance cost, and in some cases, they are designed to work with a specific food matrix.

Calibration Techniques for Water Content Measurements in Solid Biofuels

This paper presents methodologies and equipment for SI-traceable inline measurements of water content (a critical quality parameter) in solid biofuels. Inline measurement systems for water content are commonly used at CHP plants, providing continuous real-time data. However, the accuracy of these systems is in most cases unsatisfactory, mainly because the systems are not calibrated representatively for the relevant material, and until now, calibrations traceable to the SI system have not been available. To provide reliable and accurate inline water content data, new procedures and equipment for calibrating measurement systems were developed. Two reference methods for the determination of water content were developed; one measures the airflow and dewpoint of desorbed water in the air passing a test sample, while the other uses a P2O₅-sensor. Additionally, a transfer standard based on a cavity resonance sensor was developed for fast onsite calibration of the inline sensor at the power plant. This new instrument allows for quick and accurate measurements. The transfer standard is made metrologically traceable to the primary measurement standards. The entire system was demonstrated by calibrating an inline microwave-based (MW) sensor at the CHP plant of VERDO in Randers, Denmark. Thus, a complete metrological traceability chain was established from an industrial to a primary standard.

Comparative Study on Handheld, Modular, and Laboratory Raman Instruments for the Analysis of Colon Tissues and Colorectal Polyps

Portable Raman spectrometers may offer advantages for clinical medical diagnostics over laboratory instruments by allowing for quick measurements in the field and provision of data suitable for screening analyses. This work evaluates the potential of using available handheld, modular, and laboratory Raman spectrometers for screening normal colon tissues and benign and malignant colon polyps. The Raman spectra of tissue samples and reference biological macromolecules were measured with these instruments and analyzed using curve fitting and multivariate statistics. The spectra of calf thymus DNA measured with portable devices showed suitable signal-to-noise levels and half-widths of the prominent bands. Band positions, resolution, and relative intensities in the Raman spectra of colon tissues and reference compounds varied for the instruments, and the laboratory device demonstrated the best spectral feature. The principal component analysis (PCA) of the spectra obtained with all Raman devices showed well discrimination of normal colon tissue, adenomatous polyp, and adenocarcinoma. Dendrograms of similarity obtained using hierarchy cluster analysis (HCA) for the Raman spectra of all three devices also showed good separation of these samples. The soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) and support vector machine (SVM) models efficiently classified normal colon tissues and benign/malignant colorectal polyps based on the Raman data from all three devices. Despite its less pronounced spectral characteristics, the handheld Raman spectrometer can be used in early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, comparable to the modular and laboratory instruments.

Reliability of some tinnitus psychoacoustic measures

IntroductionPsychoacoustic measures are used to quantify tinnitus perception in clinical and research settings. Residual inhibition (RI), for instance, is defined as a temporary reduction in tinnitus loudness after the presentation of an acoustic stimulus. A novel approach was developed recently to assess the minimum sound level producing RI, the minimum residual inhibition level (MRIL), after the repeated presentation of short sounds separated by short periods of silence. Two studies were performed: the objective of the study 1 was to assess the reliability and the reproducibility of this measures as well as others, including the minimum masking level (MML). The objective of study 2 was to assess whether a smoother envelope of the sound would produce similar levels of MML and MRIL and improve listening comfort.MethodsThirty participants with chronic tinnitus completed each study. For study 1, MML and MRIL were obtained at the seven standard audiometric frequencies at around 1-month interval. For study 2, MML and MRIL were obtained using triangular and trapezoidal-shaped NBN signals centered at three different frequencies.ResultsThe mean absolute test-retest difference was 3 dB for both MML and MRIL [Intraclass correlation, ICC (2,1) of 0.70 and 0.84, respectively] for the measures obtained in test and retest (86% of cases for MML and 21% of cases for complete MRIL). While the two types of envelopes provided comparable MRIL, the “triangular” envelope provided more listening comfort.DiscussionIn sum, the novel approach provides quick and reliable MML and MRIL measurement, with the potential benefit of subtyping participants.