Changes In Tone Research Articles

Asymmetric Tone in Management Discussion and Analysis and Its Impact: Evidence from the Chinese Stock Market

This paper investigates the relationship between managerial tone in management discussion and analysis (MD&A) disclosures and stock price crash risk. We make a distinction between two types of tone—concave and convex—based on how managers’ tone changes according to whether performance is good or bad. Tone is classified as ‘concave’ (‘convex’) when managers overstate (understate) bad news and understate (overstate) good news. Using data on Chinese listed firms from 2013 to 2018, we find that convex tone is positively associated with stock price crash risk, and negatively associated with future performance. The positive relationship between convex tone and stock price crash risk is more pronounced for firms with high free cash flow, opaque financial reporting, and non‐stated‐owned enterprises. These results suggest that the use of a convex tone in MD&A may have a negative impact on the capital market.

Management’s tone change in MD&A and tax avoidance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how variations in management’s tone within management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) sections of 10-K reports can serve as an indicator of tax avoidance and highlight the complex relationship between such linguistic shifts and the tax avoidance decisions within firms. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a textual analysis approach to identify linguistic cues in MD&A sections of 10-K filings related to tax avoidance, going beyond traditional quantitative measures. The study uses differences in negative word occurrences in MD&A to measure management’s tone change and examines various measures of tax avoidance. The sample covers the period from 1993 to 2017 and comprises all firms with 10-K filings available on EDGAR, totaling over 30,000 firm-year observations. Findings The findings indicate a complementary relationship between tax avoidance and other drivers of firm performance. When firms have more negative management’s tone, they are less willing to engage in tax avoidance and vice versa. The study’s approach with management’s tone change provides a different and statistically significant improvement in model fit for detecting tax avoidance. Practical implications This paper provides actionable insights for detecting tax avoidance through the analysis of management’s tone in corporate disclosures, offering a new tool for researchers, investors and tax authorities. It highlights the importance of linguistic cues as indicators of tax avoidance behavior, complementing traditional financial metrics. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by using management’s tone change as a time-varying factor to explain tax avoidance behavior. It uncovers a larger set of linguistic cues in MD&A that can be used to detect tax avoidance. This research provides a complementary approach to traditional quantitative tax avoidance measures and offers insights into the overall relationship between tax avoidance and firm performance, going beyond one-dimensional measures typically used in prior literature.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) in Children: A Comparative Analysis of Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods.

Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs), formerly known as Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTEs), are concerning episodes of short duration (typically <1 min) characterized by a change in breathing, consciousness, muscle tone, and/or skin color. In some cases, SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with episodes of BRUEs in previously healthy children. This study aimed to compare the demographic, respiratory, perinatal, and infectious characteristics in children affected by BRUEs before the COVID-19 pandemic and after the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a retrospective observational study covering January 2018 to March 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and April 2023 (during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). Collected variables included clinical information during pregnancy and neonatal details of children with BRUEs. The number of children in the pre-COVID-19 period was 186 (41%); after the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 this number was 268 (59%). The risk of infection at birth for children developing BRUEs was higher during the pandemic. Children were less likely to have ongoing symptomatic infection during BRUEs during the pandemic (coefficient B = 0.783; p = 0.009). Respiratory symptoms during BRUEs were more frequent during the pandemic (coefficient B = 0.654; p = 0.052). Fever during BRUEs was less likely during the pandemic (coefficient B = -0.465, p = 0.046). These findings could have significant clinical implications for managing children with BRUEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luca Vitone: Monitoring of Four Living Canvases

“Atmospheric” painting stands as a new frontier in contemporary art, presenting challenges and new considerations in museum practices. This article aims to analyze the possible evolution of four atmospheric paintings created by artist Luca Vitone during their transition from exhibition halls to the storage facilities of the MAXXI museum. The presence of active microbiological consortium raises question regarding the potential interaction these artworks may have with the surrounding environment. The year-long monitoring involved macroscopic and microscopic observation, spectrophotometric analyses, and cell vitality assessments using a bioluminometer. Additionally, the collected data were correlated with the prevailing microclimate within the storage. Indeed, the canvases underwent an evolution during their transfer to the storage; it was mainly the photosynthetic part of the consortium that underwent the greatest changes, resulting in changes in the color tones of the canvases. The viability of the cells in the consortium also underwent changes as indicated by measurements obtained with the bioluminometer. The monitoring has provided invaluable insights into the dynamic evolution of Vitone’s artworks and allowed the authors to hypothesize some strategies for the conservation of these types of artworks.

An Ongoing Tonal-Pattern Change: Lanzhou Dialect

The tonal-pattern of Lanzhou dialect is experiencing a change demonstrated in two aspects: a) Yin-ping 阴平 (T1a) has two variants, falling and level, and the former is being replaced by the latter; b) Shang-sheng 上声 (T2) and Qu-sheng 去声 (T3) are merging. We propose that the tonal change of T1a is partially a result of language contact, and the sandhi T1a from initial position of disyllabic combination also plays a role in extending the level tone to the citation T1a, the change of T1a then further triggers the merger of T2 and T3. Yet whether it is the change of sandhi T1a in the initial position or the change of the surface representation of citation T1a, or the merger of T2 and T3, all the directionality of tonal change is in line with the “clockwise tone shift circle” (Zhu et al. 2015; Yang and Xu 2019). We argue that tone changes are mainly due to internal factors. Although there are external stimuli, the path of tone change follows rules. The illustration of the ongoing tonal-pattern change in Lanzhou dialect will shed light on the understanding of the rules.

STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF CESAREAN SECTION IN SAMARKAND

Cesarean section surgery is included in moderate to severe caesarean section surgery. According to various sources, complications after surgery rangefrom 7-19.5%. These complications are explained by obstetric and extragenital pathology. The first stage lasts on average 2-7 days from the moment of injury, its duration depends on the size and type of injury. Developing changes in microcirculation depend on changes in vascular tone, impaired permeability of vascular walls, and the nature of the biosynthesis of biologically active substances.

TRP channels: a provocative rationalization for local Ca2+ control in arterial tone development.

Arterial networks are controlled by the consolidated output of stimuli that set "how much" (magnitude) and "where" (distribution) blood flow is delivered. While notable changes in magnitude are tied to network wide responses, altered distribution often arises from focal changes in tone, whose mechanistic foundation remains unclear. We propose herein a framework of focal vasomotor contractility being controlled by pharmacomechanical coupling and the generation of Ca2+ waves via the sarcoplasmic reticulum. We argue the latter is sustained by receptor operated, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels through direct extracellular Ca2+ influx or indirect Na+ influx, reversing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. We view this focal regulatory mechanism as complementary, but not redundant with, electromechanical coupling in the precision tuning of blood flow delivery.

Pilot Study to Demonstrate Improvement in Skin Tone and Texture by Treatment with a 1064 nm Q-Switched Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser.

The 1064 nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QS Nd:YAG) laser was developed to treat unwanted pigmentation in the skin such as lentigines caused by photoaging, and tattoos from dye/ink insertion. This laser has also been used for non-ablative epidermal rejuvenation (skin toning). To evaluate changes in skin tone, skin texture and overall improvement after a series of treatments with the QS Nd:YAG laser. Participants received seven full-face treatments with M22 or Stellar M22, a 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser, at 2-week intervals. The investigators and participants evaluated the improvement in skin tone and texture at 1, 3 and 6 months after the last treatment. Patient satisfaction, patient discomfort, downtime and adverse events were recorded. Histological changes in the treated area were also evaluated. Thirteen women with a median age of 45 years (range, 34-61 years) were included in the study. The majority of the participants (53.9%) had skin type VI. One month after the last treatment session, 38% of participants reported good to very good improvement. This value increased to 100% participant improvement at both the 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits. The reduction in melanin index and the histological analysis demonstrated that the laser procedure contributed to a reduction in epidermal melanin content. Treatments were not associated with high levels of pain or discomfort. The most common immediate post-treatment response was erythema and edema. Most participants were satisfied with the resulting treatment outcome. Skin treatment with the 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser module on the M22 and Stellar M22 devices, using a large spot size, low fluence, moderately high repetition rate, improves skin tone and texture in patients with skin types II-VI.

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation-assisted training on lower limb motor function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-assisted training on lower limb motor function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).MethodThirty-one children with HCP who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n = 16) and an experimental group (n = 15). The control group received routine rehabilitation treatment for 30 min each time, twice a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Based on the control group, the experimental group received rTMS for 20 min each time, once a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcome measures included a 10-metre walk test (10MWT), a 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test, D- and E-zone gross motor function measurements (GMFM), the symmetry ratio of the step length and stance time and the muscle tone of the triceps surae and the hamstrings (evaluated according to the modified Ashworth scale), which were obtained in both groups of children before and after treatment.ResultsAfter training, the 10MWT (P < 0.05), 6MWD (P < 0.01), GMFM (P < 0.001) and the symmetry ratio of the step length and stance time of the two groups were significantly improved (P < 0.05), there was more of an improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group. There was no significant change in the muscle tone of the hamstrings between the two groups before and after treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, the muscle tone of the triceps surae in the experimental group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), but there was no significant change in the control group (P > 0.05).ConclusionRepetitive TMS-assisted training can improve lower limb motor function in children with HCP.

Flexible Chitosan-Based Capacitive Humidity Sensors for Respiratory Monitoring.

As one of the most important human health indicators, respiratory status is an important basis for the diagnosis of many diseases. However, the high cost of respiratory monitoring makes its use uncommon. This study introduces a low-cost, wearable, flexible humidity sensor for respiratory monitoring. Solution-processed chitosan (CS) placed on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate was used as the sensing layer. An Arduino circuit board was used to read humidity-sensitive voltage changes. The CS-based sensor demonstrated capacitive humidity sensitivity, whereby the capacitance instantly increased from 10-2 to 30 nF when the environmental humidity changed from 43% to 97%. The capacitance logarithm sensitivity and response voltage change was 35.9 pF/%RH and 0.8 V in the RH range from 56% to 97%. And the voltage variation between inhalation and exhalation was ~0.5 V during normal breathing. A rapid response time of ~0.7 s and a recovery time of ~2 s were achieved during respiration testing. Breathing modes (i.e., normal breathing, rest breathing, deep breathing, and fast breathing) and tonal changes during speech could be clearly distinguished. Therefore, such sensors provide a means for economical and convenient wearable respiratory monitoring, and they have the potential to be used for daily health examinations and professional medical diagnoses.

The use of postural balance restoration tools in the complex treatment of children with cerebral palsy

Physical rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) requires long-term, systematic, individual and step-by-step use of a complex of tools to restore lost motor functions.&#x0D; All forms of cerebral palsy cause a violation of the body's balance control system, which is manifested by unsteady walking, unexpected falls, swaying, and impaired coordination of movements.&#x0D; The purpose of the study is to increase the effectiveness of comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy in the late residual stage by using means of restoring postural balance.&#x0D; Research methods: analysis of special scientific and methodical literature; analysis of medical histories; assessment of the level of motor disorders (gross motor function classification system (GMFCS); assessment of the degree of change in muscle tone (modified Ashworth scale); assessment of balance function (Berg balance scale); methods of mathematical statistics.&#x0D; To achieve the goal, an examination of 20 children with cerebral palsy from 6 to 12 years of age with mainly spastic forms of cerebral palsy was carried out. Patients of the main group received standard rehabilitation treatment and classes on the balance beam and in the rehabilitation system "Spider" in combination with therapeutic gymnastics. The control group of patients received the standard rehabilitation treatment used in this rehabilitation facility. The standard rehabilitation program included therapeutic gymnastics, segmental-reflex massage, mechanotherapy.&#x0D; The impact of means of postural balance restoration in combination with existing methods of physical rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy on coordination and movement disorders was studied.&#x0D; It has been established that complex therapy with the use of means for restoring postural balance can improve the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, both in the older and younger age groups. According to all the conducted tests, positive dynamics were obtained.

An improved Simon reaction method to discriminate between methamphetamine and false-positive substances.

The conventional methamphetamine (MA) detection method using the Simon reaction can be affected by false positives owing to compounds similar to aliphatic secondary amines. In this study, we examined the new Simon reaction to improve the qualitative accuracy of MA detection to discriminate substances that give false positives in a conventional Simon reaction. After the conventional Simon reaction for MA and false positives (N-isopropylbenzylamine (NIP-BA), N-methylbenzylamine (NMe-BA), L-proline (Pro), and L-hydroxyproline (HYP)), which are colored blue, di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (t-Boc) reagent was added, and color tone changes were observed. When t-Boc was added to the false positives (NIP-BA, NMe-BA, Pro, and HYP), the colors of MA, Pro, and HYP changed to purple; NIP-BA changed to blue; and NMe-BA changed to light pink after 3 min. These results suggested that MA can be differentiated from NIP-BA and NMe-BA. Furthermore, the solid-phase chromogenic method was examined, and it was confirmed that MA could be differentiated from Pro and HYP. The method developed in this study should increase the accuracy of MA appraisal at crime scenes and contribute to the reduction of misclassifications arising from false-positive substances.

Short-Term Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Working Memory.

Drawing upon the well-documented impact of long-term heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) on psychophysiological responses, this study seeks to explore the short-term effects arising from a single HRVB session during and after paced breathing exercise. The research aligns with the neurovisceral integration model, emphasizing the link between heart rate variability (HRV) levels and cognitive performance. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial employing a between-subjects design was conducted with 38 participants. Each participant was assigned to either the paced breathing intervention group or the spontaneous breathing control group. The study assessed various parameters such as cardiac vagal tone, evaluated through vagally mediated HRV measures, and working memory, measured using the N-back task. Additionally, participants' affective states were assessed through self-reported questionnaires, specifically targeting attentiveness, fatigue, and serenity. The results notably reveal enhancements in the working memory task and an elevated state of relaxation and attention following the HRVB session, as evidenced by higher averages of correct responses, serenity and attentiveness scores. However, the findings suggest that this observed improvement is not influenced by changes in cardiac vagal tone, as assessed using a simple mediation analysis. In conclusion, this study presents promising insights into the impact of a single HRVB session, laying the foundation for future research advancements in this domain.

Tones shape notes: The realization of lexical tones in Chaozhou songs

In tone languages where pitch is used to distinguish word meanings, questions arise about how tonal pitch is preserved in singing. While most studies focus on tone-melody matching by examining pitch changes between tones/notes, the pitch change of tones realized within individual notes is less investigated. This article explores how singers realized tones when singing in Chaozhou, a Southern Chinese language with a complex tonal system. It used a Chaozhou song containing 10 tonal patterns to collect data from 34 Chaozhou singers. Results show that tones are realized to varying degrees when sung, and pitch range, pitch level, and neighboring pitch of tones appear to be influential factors. Vocal training affected the realization of falling tones /53/ and /42/ by reducing the pitch fall and also affected rising tone /23/ with a larger pitch change being found for non-professional singers than for professionals. However, the singers’ experience of singing in Chaozhou did not greatly affect the tone realization. An effect of the metrical structure was only found for tones /53/ and /42/. In addition, tone sandhi affects tones /53/ and /21/. The analysis also hints at the potential effect of melodic intervals on the pitch change of tones when sung.

Sympathetic transduction of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in healthy, conscious sheep.

Sympathetic transduction is the study of how impulses of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) affect end-organ function. Recently, the transduction of resting bursts of muscle SNA (MSNA) has been investigated and shown to have a role in the maintenance of blood pressure through changes in vascular tone in humans. In the present study, we investigate whether directly recorded resting cardiac SNA (CSNA) regulates heart rate (HR), coronary blood flow (CoBF), coronary vascular conductance (CVC), cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial pressure. Instrumentation was undertaken to record CSNA and relevant vascular variables in conscious sheep. Recordings were performed at baseline, as well as after the infusion of a β-adrenoceptor blocker (propranolol) to determine the role of β-adrenergic signalling in sympathetic transduction in the heart. The results show that after every burst of CSNA, there was a significant effect of time on HR (n=10, ∆: +2.1±1.4 beatsmin-1 , P=0.002) and CO (n=8, ∆: +100±150mLmin-1 , P=0.002) was elevated, followed by an increase in CoBF (n=9, ∆: +0.76mLmin-1 , P=0.001) and CVC (n=8, ∆: +0.0038mLmin-1 mmHg-1 , P=0.0028). The changes in HR were graded depending on the size and pattern of CSNA bursts. The HR response was significantly attenuated after the infusion of propranolol. Our study is the first to explore resting sympathetic transduction in the heart, suggesting that CSNA can dynamically change HR mediated by an action on β-adrenoceptors. KEY POINTS: Sympathetic transduction is the study of how impulses of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) affect end-organ function. Previous studies have examined sympathetic transduction primarily in the skeletal muscle and shown that bursts of muscle SNA alter blood flow to skeletal muscle and mean arterial pressure, although this has not been examined in the heart. We investigated sympathetic transduction in the heart and show that, in the conscious condition, the size of bursts of SNA to the heart can result in incremental increases in heart rate and coronary blood flow mediated by β-adrenoceptors. The pattern of bursts of SNA to the heart also resulted in incremental increases in heart rate mediated by β-adrenoceptors. This is the first study to explore the transduction of bursts of SNA to the heart.

Interaction mode enables user perception recognition and perception optimization: An AI human-computer interaction study

Artificial intelligent (AI) has various ways of human-computer interaction, but most of them overlook the recognition of human perception. If the interaction mode is combined with psychology, the user's mood change can be identified by the user's subtle expression, movement change and voice tone change, so as to provide corresponding services and improve the user experience. Statistical analysis of human responses to different situations in cognitive psychology, incorporating them into human-computer interaction methods. The current human-computer interaction modes in products tend to be standardized, and focusing user experience on user perception will bring special experiences to users. Emotional recognition is a cross disciplinary discipline with broad application prospects, but it has not yet reached a mature stage and requires corpus enrichment, theoretical strengthening, and method innovation. The era of artificial intelligence is leading a new wave of technological progress, and emotion recognition, as an important topic in the field of artificial intelligence, can help computer intelligence recognize human emotions and make human-computer interaction more friendly. In the near future, research on emotion recognition technology will make greater progress and be better applied to practical products.

The Effect of Tone Changes on The Interjection of ‘Aiya’ (哎呀) in Attitude and Emotional Signals

The purpose of this research is to prove that modification of the interjection ‘Aiya’ [哎呀] at certain intonation signals a different attitude. As a result, this study focuses on the different emotional expressions that the Chinese word aiya might convey. Re-searchers employed recording methods with the PRAAT application. Furthermore, the researcher presented 40 respondents who were Mandarin students to give a direct as-sessment of the original and the manipulated interjection. The perception test is carried out by playing five interjection utterances without telling the respondent which sound is the initial utterance. The first sentence has the results of happy emotional attitudes. When it is raised and lowered to 4 semitones, there is a balanced variation of emotions. However, when it was raised to 8 semitones, the test results show an emotional attitude of disappointment, and when lowered to 8 semitones, showed an emotional attitude of impressed. An increase of one tone point can create a positive impression. Then, if there is a decrease, it will make a negative impression. However, because of the vast variation in everyone's perception, generating these conclusions is still impossible. This is where the suggestion appears for future researchers to continue this research and make this research a reference.

Rethinking Fluid Responsiveness during Septic Shock: Ameliorate Accuracy of Noninvasive Cardiac Output Measurements through Evaluation of Arterial Biomechanical Properties.

Beat-to-beat estimates of cardiac output from the direct measure of peripheral arterial blood pressure rely on the assumption that changes in the waveform morphology are related to changes in blood flow and vasomotor tone. However, in septic shock patients, profound changes in vascular tone occur that are not uniform across the entire arterial bed. In such cases, cardiac output estimates might be inaccurate, leading to unreliable evaluation of fluid responsiveness. Pulse wave velocity is the gold-standard method for assessing different arterial biomechanical properties. Such methods might be able to guide, personalize and optimize the management of septic patients.

Acute effects of muscle mechanical properties after 2000-m rowing in young male rowers.

The mechanical properties of muscles, such as changes in muscle tone and stiffness, are related to sports performance and injuries. Rowers are at increased risk of muscle fatigue and injury during high-repetition and heavy-load cyclic muscle actions. In view of this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect on muscle tone and stiffness, as well as bilateral muscle asymmetry, in high school rowers after a 2000-meter rowing ergometer test. Twelve young male rowers (age = 17.1 ± 0.9 years, body weight = 73.5 ± 9.7 kg) were included in the study. The data of muscle tone (frequency) and stiffness of the posterior deltoids (PD), latissimus dorsi (LD), and rectus femoris (RF) (dominant and non-dominant side) before and after a 2000-m rowing ergometer test were collected using a handheld MyotonPRO device. After the rowing ergometer test, the muscle tone of dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the muscle stiffness of the non-dominant side LD and RF, as well as the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05). The muscle tone and stiffness results showed that the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were all significantly higher than the non-dominant side after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05), where bilateral PD and RF exhibits moderate asymmetry (5% < symmetry index < 10%). After a high-intensity and high-load 2000-m rowing ergometer test, PD, LD, and RF showed increases in muscle tone and stiffness, as well as changes in the symmetry of bilateral muscle mechanical properties.

Ab. No. 162 Autonomic Tone (Galvanic Skin Response) During Vertical Height Tolerance (VHT) Using Stairs in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Autonomic tone influences segmental dissociation, balance strategies and the control of the centre of gravity during activities of daily living (ADL). Stair climbing is a common ADL which has been noted to be challenging and linked to fear avoidance. It is vital to understand the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) during stair climbing in the normal population, to optimize therapies for the patient population. The GSR is an objective measure of the ANS that detects changes in electrical conductivity of the skin due to increased sweat gland activity, seen in fearful individuals. The study aims to understand the changes in the autonomic tone measured by galvanic skin response (GSR) during VHT using stairs in young adults. Methods: 34 young adults (18 to 25 years) were recruited based on the eligibility criteria using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional study was performed. Baseline GSR was recorded for 20 seconds in both sitting and standing positions. Participants were then required to stand at the edge of 4 steps with uniform height increments. GSR values were recorded on each step with eyes open and eyes closed for 20 seconds each. Result: ANOVA showed statistically significant difference between each task position (χ 2=175, p&lt;0.001). Statistically significant difference was seen in DSCF Pairwise comparisons between baseline sitting &amp; all positions (p&lt;0.001), step 1 &amp; step 3 (w=4.8, p&lt;0.003) and step 1 &amp; step 4 (w=5.9, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: VHI using stairs generates significant changes in the autonomic tone in young adults. Implications: Understanding the sensitivity of the GSR response during ADLs such as stair climbing in normal populations may help optimize treatment techniques in the patient population having a fear of falls