bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep learning for acoustic signal processing for industrial noise
Authors: Priyadarshinee Prachee
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing practices used for acoustic signal processing of noise of machines in various industries. There has been a surge in deep learning based methods for acoustic detection and classification of machinery fault diagnosis. This paper reviews the deep learning models, including the convolutional neural networks, the recurrent neural networks, the spiking neural networks, among the other variants of neural network models specific to industrial noise. Important applications such as sound detection, localization, directivity, source separation are discussed, to aid condition monitoring.
Acoustic communication through well-head for an untethered autonomous well logging tool
Authors: Seren Huseyin R. , Buzi Erjola , Bougis Renad , Deffenbaugh Max
Published: December 2020

Untethered autonomous well logging tools have recently been introduced to oilfields. Once deployed into a well, the tools autonomously travel in the well to collect data and return to surface after the mission is completed. A service operator needs to travel to the well-site and open the well cap to check if the tool has returned. This increases the operational time and cost. This can be addressed by implementing a return detector and notifying the operator. Steel well-head construction leaves acoustics as the most viable option for such detection. We demonstrated a proof of concept of acoustic based simplex communication system through well-head. A pair of identical transducers were used as transmitter and receiver that operates at 155 kHz. Transmitter piezo was positioned at the center of a water filled steel wellhead with 7-inch diameter and 0.25-in. wall thickness, while the receiver was taped outside the wellhead with grease to increase acoustic coupling. Transmission loss was measured as -57 dB which was partially compensated by using a receiver amplifier stage with a gain of 1000. Next, the transmitter will be incorporated on a miniaturized untethered well logging tool.
Panoptic reconstruction and dynamic synthesis of immersive virtual soundscapes
Authors: Huang Mincong , Chabot Samuel , Morgan Mallory , Su Hui , Braasch Jonas
Published: December 2020

Visually generated spatial audio has been frequently explored in research on multimedia analysis. While these efforts have aimed at constructing congruent representation of recorded audiovisual experiences, it has yet to be directly applied to the rendering of virtual soundscapes. Moreover, few have dealt with scenarios in which audio information of captured physical environments is completely absent. This motivates the panoptic soundscape reconstruction and rendering technique presented in this work. The technique considers only captured panoramic visual environments with both embedded and annotated contextual metadata. The visual information is processed using existing pre-trained deep neural networks (DNNs) for semantic segmentation and object detection, with extracted information processed into sound objects. The embedded metadata is used to probabilistically analyze underlying contextual information related to the acoustic environments and generate predictions of its behaviors. Both sound objects and predictions are used as inputs for a spatial audio manager, which generates virtual sound sources and schedules them accordingly. The resulting soundscapes are rendered and experienced with room-centered virtual reality systems, such as Rensselaer’s Collaborative-Research Augmented Immersive Virtual Environment Laboratory (CRAIVE-Lab), with potential adaptability to user-centered virtual reality devices. [Work supported by NSF No.1909229, Cognitive Immersive Systems Laboratory (CISL) and Army DURIP No. 68604-CS-RIP.]
Simulated acoustic characteristics of stage displacements in a shoebox hall: A case study in Cultural Centre Concert Hall in Taipei
Authors: Chen Yu-Chao , Tsaih Lucky S.
Published: December 2020

Since Berlin Philharmonic Hall opened in 1963, surround hall configuration has been preferred and used worldwide by architects for its dramatic visual appearance and the proximity to stage. However, according to Beranek’s study, the top three concert halls in the world that have the best acoustics are in shoebox shape. To study the acoustic characteristics of stage displacement in a shoebox hall is the objective of this study. A simplified wired-frame model of Cultural Centre Concert Hall in Taipei is used as an example in this study. It is a stunning performing-arts building as mentioned by Beranek. Its seating capacity is 2077 and it is a shoebox hall. Five different stage displacements along the central axis have been used. The original ceiling configuration is used and moved with each stage displacements. Fixed materials and the relevant absorption coefficients are used in the study as well. Acoustic parameters such as music clarity, lateral refraction, early decay time as well as reverberation time (T30) are simulated. The results showed that for the best proximity, as stage and stage ceiling are moved toward the centre of shoebox hall, the simulated T30 could be increased to approximately 1.7 seconds in 1000 Hz. To meet the original T30 design goal in 2.25 s at 1000 Hz, about 600 m2 of NRC 0.88 acoustic panel were used.
Spatial variation of ultrasonic attenuation and speed of sound in brain tissue visualized by parametric imaging
Authors: Newman Will R. , Labuda Cecille , Hoffmeister Brent K.
Published: December 2020

The ultrasonic properties of brain have been explored to a limited extent, however the spatial variation of these properties is not well characterized. The goal of this study was to measure the speed of sound and the frequency slope of attenuation in brain tissue at multiple locations to generate parametric images that characterize their spatial distribution. Tissue specimens were 1-cm thick slices of preserved sheep brain prepared from the coronal, sagittal and transverse anatomic planes. Ultrasonic measurements were performed using broadband transducers with center frequencies of 3.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 MHz. The transducers were mechanically scanned to acquire signals from all locations on each slice. Structures visible in the parametric images were consistent with the known morphologic features of the brain. White matter and gray matter appeared to be distinguishable in most images. Measured values for the spatial mean and standard deviation of the frequency slope of attenuation ranged between 0.723–1.06 and 0.194–0.501 dBcm−1MHz−1, respectively, depending on the tissue slice and transducer frequency. Measured values for the spatial mean and standard deviation of the speed of sound ranged between 1520–560 and 6–15 ms−1, respectively. Spatial variation of these properties were clearly visualized in the parametric images.
A three-dimensional finite-element model of a human head for predicting the objective occlusion effect induced by earplugs
Authors: Xu Huiyang , Sgard Franck , Carillo Kévin , Wagnac Eric , De Guise Jacques
Published: December 2020

In a noisy environment, wearing a correctly fitted earplug is the sine qua non condition to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. However, this condition is often unfulfilled due to the discomforts induced by the wearing of the earplug, among which the acoustical discomfort is influenced by the occlusion effect. Objectively, this phenomenon is quantified by a low frequency amplification of the sound pressure in the earcanal, induced by bone-conduction when the earcanal is occluded. Numerical models can go beyond the practical and ethical limits of experiments on living humans. Thus they can be an efficient and helpful tool to evaluate the occlusion effect. They also make it possible to better understand its underlying physical mechanisms associated with different factors concerning the anatomy, earplug and stimulation and ultimately how to reduce it. Thereby, a three-dimensional finite-element model of a human head is developed to compute the occlusion effect induced by earplug under a bone-conducted stimulation. Good agreement is obtained between the simulation results and the experimental data available in the literature giving confidence in the model to predict the occlusion effect. The model is exploited to investigate the individual effects of various factors (e.g., earplug and tissue properties) on the occlusion effect.
Highly efficient acoustophoretic single cell-supernatant separation inside nanoliter droplets
Authors: Gerlt Michael , Haidas Dominik , Ratschat Alexandre , Suter Philipp , Dittrich Petra , Dual Jürg
Published: December 2020

This contribution reports a novel method for cell-supernatant separation inside nanoliter droplets with separation efficiencies for single yeast cells of 100% at flow speeds of 2 mm/s. Cells are focused in nanoliter droplets using bulk acoustic waves before the droplet is split at a bifurcation into a supernatant- and a cell-containing droplet. The chip design is optimized using criteria found through experiments and numerical simulations. The separation efficiency is measured in detail as a function of droplet speed, size, split ratio, and particle concentration for PS beads. Subsequently, yeast cells, mammalian cells and bacteria were introduced into the system to test its versatility. The method enables upconcentration of cells, cell washing, and the separation of supernatant in droplet microfluidic applications.
Semi-supervised self-adjustment fine-tuning procedure for hearing aids for asymmetrical hearing loss
Authors: Gößwein Jonathan A. , Huber Rainer , Bruns Tobias , Chalupper Josef , Kinkel Martin , Rennies Jan , Kollmeier Birger
Published: December 2020

The individual fitting of hearing aids is still a challenge and usually requires several sessions. The audiologist typically fine-tunes the hearing aids based on the patient’s reported perception. Recent research investigated the alternative of empowering the patient by means of self adjustment. However, all known studies on self-adjustment procedures have so far focused on symmetric hearing loss and a symmetrical signal modification adjustable by the user. It is therefore still unknown how to deal with severe asymmetric hearing losses. In this study, we examined a previously evaluated self-adjustmentprocedure for symmetric hearing losses with respect to its applicability for asymmetric hearing losses. For this purpose, experienced hearing-aid users with asymmetric hearing loss were fitted with real hearing aids and equipped with a self-adjustment user interface. Each fitting was performed in several realistic sound scenes in two conditions: first, the two hearing aids were fitted separately; second, both hearing aids were fitted in a coupled way and then fine-tuned separately. In addition to the comparison between the gain settings resulting from the self-adjustments the study examined also subjective sound impressions such as the balance of the sound in both ears.
Production and use of multimedia speech content for perceptual experiments in virtual environments
Authors: Robinson Philip W. , Kishline Lindsey , Colburn Scott
Published: December 2020

Consumer virtual reality devices have become inexpensive and readily available, and offer high quality motion tracking, low latency, and sufficient resolution to conduct ecologically valid perceptual experiments. Unfortunately, high quality multimedia source material can be difficult to produce or obtain due to the specialized equipment and facilities required for capture. To facilitate a wide array of perceptual experiments in multi-modal speech perception, we have generated a multimedia corpus that includes stereoscopic and spherical videos, as well as anechoic audio. These materials can easily be placed into an interactive virtual reality environment and delivered over a head-mounted display to evaluate ventriloquism, lip-reading, spatial release from masking, or other perceptual effects that depend on audio-visual integration. The corpus replicates the Coordinate Response Measure sentences, as well as the Harvard IEEE corpus word list. Subjects were recorded at three different distances to preserve accurate binocular disparities in the videos and can be positioned at arbitrary azimuthal positions. The corpus and a simple virtual reality application for positioning and viewing the videos on a head-mounted display have been made publicly available online for download. We will detail the methods used to produce this content, as well as use of the accompanying viewing application.
Power flow analysis for quantifying structural modifications
Authors: Young Jon , Myers Kyle
Published: December 2020

Structural modification is the process of changing the physical properties of a structure to achieve a desired objective. For structural-acoustic problems, the objective is usually to minimize structure-borne and air-borne sound, which are generally quantified in terms of power. Mathematically, additions made to the mass, damping, and stiffness matrices, which form the structure's impedance matrix, will change the amount of power that can be input to, dissipated by, flow through, and radiated by the structure. After making structural modifications, the impedance matrix can be expressed as the sum of the impedances of the original structure and the modifications made to the structure. An analytical means of determining how structural modifications affect the aforementioned power metrics with respect to the original structure is examined by utilizing the properties of the inverse of sums of matrices, with emphasis on using spring, dashpot, point mass, and generalized impedances as the structural modifications. Several examples are developed in order to validate the method for numerically generated data, and parametrically show how the modifications affect the power metrics in physical and modal space.
Mechanical resonators as rheological sensors for oil and gas process monitoring
Authors: Gonzalez Miguel
Published: December 2020

Oil and gas operations deal with a wide variety of non-Newtonian fluids that are either being extracted or are utilized for specific tasks and it is critical to monitor their rheological properties. Here, we present different rheological measurement platforms based on mechanical resonators for use in drilling muds, enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) polymer solutions, and hydraulic fracturing fluids. The characteristic resonator sizes used in these platforms span from the nanoscale to the macroscale, and therefore also span a broad range of time-scales for probing the high-frequency viscoelastic response of the fluids. First, an electromechanical tuning fork resonator for in-tank viscosity/density measurements of drilling fluids is described. The resonator works as the frequency-defining element of an oscillator circuit. When the feedback is disconnected, the resonance frequency and oscillation decay time are used to obtain the viscosity and density of the fluid consistently and in real-time. Second, I describe the use of miniature resonating devices, from the nanometer to the millimeter scale, to obtain the viscoelastic response of polymer fluids used in EOR and hydraulic fracturing operations. Finally, I discuss the possibility of using the nonlinear vibrational response from the damping in a non-Newtonian fluid to infer shear rheology-dependent properties of the fluid.
Building bridges between software ecosystems: Parselmouth, a Python interface for Praat
Authors: Jadoul Yannick
Published: December 2020

The value of software depends on more than just the intrinsic quality of the algorithms it implements. In order to be useful, existing software needs to be combinable with functionality in other software libraries. In particular, this holds for research software: modularity and the ability to be integrated in prominent existing software ecosystems are key to correct and easy reuse. Over the last few years, I have created Parselmouth, a Python library for Praat, a software package widely used in speech science. Compared to previous projects offering a thin interface to Praat, Parselmouth's goal is to provide a full-fledged Python library that integrates efficiently into the larger Python ecosystem. In this talk, I will briefly demonstrate Parselmouth and its functionality, then discuss the motivation to create Parselmouth, what different goals had to be considered, and why I believe the current solution strikes a desirable tradeoff between these conflicting goals. Moreover, after working out a technical solution, another important aspect is documenting, distributing, and publicizing the new software package, especially for the wildly varying user base of Praat. While Parselmouth still has a long way to go here, I will also give an overview of how I have approached these aspects.
Using predicted target state to inform transmit waveform selection in active sonar
Authors: Veeramachaneni Venakata , Nelson Jill K.
Published: December 2020

Continuous-wave (CW) and frequency-modulated (FM) transmit pulses are commonly used in active sonar systems. CW pulses allow for measurement of target Doppler but have relatively poor range accuracy. In contrast, FM pulses are insensitive to Doppler but allow for improved range accuracy relative to CW. Active sonars often operate in clutter-dominated environments, where choosing a CW pulse for a high Doppler target provides better tracking capability, while an FM pulse is more effective for a low Doppler target. A challenge, however, is that the target Doppler not known before transmission. At present, the complementary strengths of CW and FM pulses can be exploited only by an operator who actively chooses between them, but requiring an operator to select the transmitted waveform on a ping-by-ping basis presents an unreasonable burden. In this talk, we describe the Predicted State-Based Selection (PSBS) algorithm, which uses an estimate of the target Doppler, derived from a state prediction produced by the tracking filter, to select the transmitted pulse. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance and behavior of the PSBS algorithm. Results show that PSBS improves target localization estimates by 7.7% on average relative to transmission of the same waveform for all pings.
The cutting parameters dependent vibration monitoring method for machine tools
Authors: Hui Mingxin , Wang Jing , Liu Bin , Wang Xun , Cheng Xiaobin , Yang Jun
Published: December 2020

The on-line monitoring of the machine tools attracts growing interest for the operation of the smart factories. The quality of the workpieces and the productivity of the manufacturing can be maintained through the monitoring and optimization. The vibration signal reflects irregular characteristics of the fault conditions, such as the tool wear and chatter. The corresponding features can be extracted and recognized using the conventional signal processing method in the time and frequency domain. However, the vibration features are process-dependent. Due to the dynamic changes of cutting parameters, the variance of the cutting forces and the consequent frequency response between different cutting parameters could be larger than that between the regular conditions and fault conditions in the identical cutting parameters. This paper combined the vibration signal with the real-time cutting parameters and toolpath calculated by the numerical control codes to analysis the cutting condition of the machining process. A sub-band segmentation method based on spindle speed is proposed. The accuracy and applicability are also discussed.
Assessment of statistical features of the diffused acoustic field in a test section of a cavitation tunnel
Authors: Boucheron Romuald
Published: December 2020

Noise measurements in a cavitation tunnel is nowadays the preferred approach for predicting the underwater noise radiated by a propeller at sea. The accuracy of the prediction is linked to the similitude laws used to transform the model scale measurements to the full-scale ones. Besides, this accuracy is obviously linked to the accuracy of the model scale measurements. The knowledge of the acoustical features of the facility used to perform such measurements is then one of the key point of such measurements. The proposed communication presents the recent results obtained in the test section of the Large Cavitation Tunnel (GTH at Val-de-Reuil) to describe the statistics of the acoustic diffused field. The results shows that the diffused field comply spatially very well with the Gumbel distribution for narrow band levels (expressed in dB for the power spectral density). The limit of the statistical domain (defined as the “Schroeder frequency”) is also estimated thanks to the experimental measurements performed inside the test section.
The role of architectural acoustics in advancing the aural tradition during the Safavid era
Authors: Farzaneh Nima , Braasch Jonas
Published: December 2020

The Safavid era was a significant ruling dynasty in Iran (1501–1736). This period enabled a rich collection of art and architecture as well as scientific and engineering innovations. Naqsh-e-Jahan Square, the apotheosis of the Safavids' urban design, hosts four monumental structures on each side of the plaza. On the south side, the Imam Mosque is an exemplary building in which the Iranian scholar Shaykh Baha'i implemented his knowledge of the science of sound and hyperbolic mathematics to solve acoustical problems. The result is a tranquil soundscape that allows for synchronized prayer rituals with intelligible speeches for up to 15 000 people. The Ali Qapu palace, with its magnificent music room, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the royal family spiritual practice space, and the bazaar portal connecting the great plaza to the heart of the city, each contribute differently to the sonic identity of this complex. This research focuses on the mechanism of sound energy exchange, energy decay pattern due to acoustic coupling, volumetric design, and the impact of material selection and ornamentation in creating the sonic landscape. In a broader scheme, the goal is to find the connection between the created soundscape and the intended function of the spaces.
A novel model using Lumbricus terrestris, earthworms, for microvessel rupture induced by high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound exposure in the presence of microbubbles
Authors: Lopez Asis , Mikkilineni Yaswitha , Berman Shayna , Khismatullin Damir , Clement Gregory T. , Myers Matthew R.
Published: December 2020

We present the earthworm as a useful model for studying vasculature rupture induced by High-Intensity Therapeutic Ultrasound (HITU) with Microbubbles. Although vertebrates are indispensable to biomedical research, studies are often limited by factors such as cost, lengthy internal review, and ethical considerations. An extensive database of vessel-rupture probabilities and times was created for both HITU and HITU + Microbubbles as a function of critical parameters, including microbubble dosage and size, and ultrasound operating frequency and intensity. The earthworm model allows the large number of trials to be performed that enable identification of the critical characteristics of bubbles, blood vessels, and acoustic fields affecting the threshold for blood-vessel rupture in HITU + Microbubble applications. In the experiments performed, the driving frequencies were 0.5, 1.1, 2.5, and 3.3 MHz, and the pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) were 1, 3 and 10 Hz. The duty factor was held at 0.1%. The outcomes of these in-vivo experiments are expected to assist in predicting the rupture probability for HITU + Microbubble procedures. They will also inform a computational model of bubble-induced vessel rupture.
Ultrasound in the presence of microbubbles in a dynamic invitro microfluidic blood-brain barrier model
Authors: Osborn Jenna , Bender-Bier Sara , Lopez Asis , Skoog Shelby , Sarkar Kausik , Myers Matthew R. , Clement Gregory T.
Published: December 2020

Controllable, localized permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been a goal of health professionals for enhanced delivery of drugs and therapeutic compounds for cancer and other neurological medical conditions. The transient permeability induced by transcranial ultrasound exposure in the presence of microbubbles has been shown to be a promising option, but little is known about the exact mechanism and response on a cellular level. A microfluidic device developed to recreate the in vivo microenvironment, including physiological fluid flow, was seeded with human cerebral microvessel endothelial cells surrounded by a matrix of astrocytes. The devices were exposed to ultrasound with and without the presence of microbubbles. The ultrasound parameters ranged in frequency from 0.5 to 1.55 MHz, duty factor from 0.0001–0.001 and pulse repetition frequency of 1 Hz–10 Hz. Microbubble size, composition, and concentration within the pumped fluid were also varied, along with varied flow rate. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and cell morphology were monitored throughout and post ultrasound exposure to understand the effects on permeability and cell viability. With this controlled variation of the ultrasound and microbubble parameters, a greater understanding of the induced permeability could lead to more success for clinical utilization.
Assessment of clot degradation under the action of histotripsy and a thrombolytic drug
Authors: Hendley Samuel A. , Paul Jonathan , Bader Kenneth B.
Published: December 2020

Deep vein thrombosis is a major source of morbidity worldwide, affecting 5% of the population. For critical obstructions, catheter-directed thrombolytics are the frontline therapy for vessel recanalization. Adjuvant therapies to lytics are under development to improve treatment efficacy and reduce procedure-related complications. One such adjuvant is histotripsy, a focused ultrasound therapy that relies on the nucleation of bubble cloud to modulate tissue. This combination approach has been successful in vitro, and is hypothesized to promote clot dissolution via two mechanisms: mechanical hemolysis and enhanced fibrinolysis. In this study, the contributions of hemolysis and fibrinolysis to clot degradation under histotripsy and a thrombolytic were quantified with measurements of hemoglobin and D-dimer, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between hemoglobin, D-dimer, and the overall treatment efficacy (clot mass loss). A similar analysis was conducted to gauge the contribution of bubble activity assessed with passive cavitation imaging on hemolysis and fibrinolysis. Tabulation of these data demonstrated hemolysis and fibrinolysis contributed equally to clot mass loss. Furthermore, bubble cloud activity promoted the generation of hemoglobin and D-dimer in equal proportion. These studies indicate a multifactorial process for clot degradation under the action of histotripsy and a lytic therapy.
In-ear noise dosimetry in an industrial environment
Authors: Michael Kevin
Published: December 2020

In-ear noise dosimetry is a new, promising method of preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Specifically, when in-ear noise dosimetry is used on a daily basis, a complete noise exposure history is established for an employee. With this in hand, the hearing conservationist can monitor exposures and intervene when necessary, taking whatever steps are required to prevent future overexposures. These steps can include changing protective devices, increasing wearing duration and improving fitting techniques. Since NIHL generally occurs after months and years of overexposures, the immediate intervention will prevent the hearing loss from progressing. Because the damage-risk criteria were developed using a sound level meter in open space, accurate in-ear measurements must compensate for the transfer function of the open ear (TFOE). This is challenging due to the variability of TFOE across the population and due to various microphone locations within the ear canal. A ‘generic’ TFOE can be used as an estimate for all users, or the TFOE can be measured on each employee by comparing an in-ear microphone measurement and a sound field microphone measurement of the same stimulus. These approaches will be discussed as fundamental elements of an industrial in-ear noise dosimetry program.
Validating a hearing protector with built-in sound level measurement
Authors: Di Francesco Jackie
Published: December 2020

Personal noise measurement, or dosimetry, is a useful tool for estimating a worker’s noise exposure over time. The data collected can be used to mitigate risk of hearing loss and other negative health effects of hazardous noise. It can also be used to ensure compliance with hearing conservation regulations and policies. Conventional noise dosimetry typically measures environmental noise levels from the location of the wearer’s shoulder. Measuring at the shoulder, however, does not take into account the attenuation of any hearing protection that is used. A hearing protector with a built-in sound level measurement system can measure the actual noise levels beneath the hearing protector, as well as the surrounding noise. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a field study to validate hearing protector measurements in real-world environments could not be completed. This study uses alternative methods to validate the accuracy of the hearing protector’s measurements in different noise environments.
Development of a tablet-based fit test system for military and austere environments
Authors: Kulinski Devon , Makashay Matthew J. , Dirks Coral , Sheffield Benjamin , Brungart Douglas S.
Published: December 2020

Hearing protection device (HPD) fit testing is considered “best practice” for hearing loss prevention programs. While DoD regulations recommend fit testing for Service Members (SMs) who experience a threshold shift, current field attenuation estimation systems (FAES) are not readily accessible to many hearing conservation personnel, in part due to issues with portability, cost and scalability. In this study, we compare the efficacy of several novel fit-testing paradigms against an objective field-microphone in real ear (F-MIRE) system. The paradigms include a real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) protocol using a compact headphone-based boothless audiometer, a broadband “HPD Check” screener using a headphone-based boothless audiometer, and a loudness balancing (LB) protocol using low-cost headphones. All three paradigms operate via a commercial android tablet. The low-cost tablet-based protocol in particular might make it feasible to conduct fit testing on all SMs, and not just those who experience significant hearing changes or who are being fitted with hearing protection for the first time. The enhanced portability of the FAES described here would also offer advantages outside of the clinic to ensure proper HPD fit prior to noise-hazardous weapons system exposures in the military training environment. [The views expressed here are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.]
Propagation of vortex beams in a stratified medium
Authors: FAN Xudong , Zou Zheguang , Zhang Likun
Published: December 2020

Wave vortices, with a spiral phase proportional to azimuth angle, can be used for particle manipulations and underwater navigation. Prior studies focused on acoustic vortices in homogeneous media, however, media like tissues or ocean environments can be inhomogeneous. Here, the propagation of vortex beams in a linearly stratified medium, where the sound speed is a function of depth, is simulated. The evolution of the vortex fields and linear/angular momentum are examined to reveal the interaction of the stratification and the vortex beams. A series of dynamic behaviors have been observed including distorting of the fields and reversal of angular momentum [Fan et al., Phys. Rev. Res. 1(3), 032014 (2019)]. The complexity of vortex beam propagation in inhomogeneous media and inspired applications are suggested.
Cue-dependent processing in an automatic acoustic cue analysis system for detecting atypical speech
Authors: Parllaku Fjona , Choi Jeung-Yoon , Shattuck-Hufnagel Stefanie
Published: December 2020

Current automatic speech recognition systems have been shown to be quite accurate in handling the way machines respond to human language spoken by typical healthy speakers. However, there are still many challenges to overcome in applying these systems to the task of detecting atypically produced speech. Analysis of acoustic cue production patterns by speakers can provide more detailed information than analysis of word, phoneme or phone error rates. A system for automatic detection of acoustic cues is being developed that extracts the individual cues to distinctive features. These acoustic cues include landmark acoustic cues (vowel, glide, consonant closures and releases) as well as vowel place, consonant place, nasalization and glottal cues. We describe a cue-dependent processing framework for detecting a subset of these cues, involving smoothing, peak detection, and segmentation.
Formant variability is actively regulated in vowel production
Authors: Parrell Benjamin , Niziolek Caroline A.
Published: December 2020

Although movement variability is typically attributed to unwanted noise in the sensorimotor system, recent work in reaching has demonstrated that variability may be at least in part actively controlled. However, it is unknown if this is true for speech production, a complex, well-practiced task controlled via non-visual sensory feedback. Here, we test how variability in formant production for vowels may be actively regulated through real-time perturbations to auditory feedback that push vowel formants toward or away from the center of each speaker’s distribution for that vowel in F1/F2 space. These inward and outward perturbations effectively decrease and increase perceived variability, respectively. Participants exposed to the inward-pushing perturbation increased their produced variability both during and after exposure, indicating that lower perceived variability “frees” the motor system to be less precise. However, the outward-pushing perturbation had no consistent effect on produced variability. This suggests that at least some skilled movements are already produced at the lower limits of possible variability. While overall variability did not change, vowel “centering,” a measure of within-trial correction for variability, did increase, suggesting participants became more responsive to errors. Together, these results suggest that variability in speech production is actively regulated.
The disruptive effect of production on learning to perceive a novel sound contrast
Authors: Haupt Zoë , Trebon Tillena , Wesson Allegra , Wallace Maggie , Baese-Berk Melissa M. , Jaggers Zachary , Samuel Arthur G.
Published: December 2020

Previous research demonstrates that simultaneous training of novel sound contrasts in both perception and production can disrupt rather than enhance perceptual learning, indicating that although perception and production are assumed to be closely connected, these modalities may have a competitive relationship. In spite of this perceptual disruption, subjects trained in perception and production show gains in producing the distinction they were trained on, compared to perception-only training. The current study examines how subjects learn to produce a new sound contrast after training in perception or production. L1 Spanish speakers were trained on an unfamiliar Basque sibilant fricative-affricate contrast: /s̺a/–/ʃa/. Since learners’ productions of the contrast may not be identical to the way native speakers distinguish it, and rather than exploring a single phonetic dimension, we apply Linear Discriminant Analysis to acoustic measurements of subjects’ post-test productions to classify whether and how they distinguish the categories in a potentially multidimensional space. This classification model is then applied across conditions to compare production learning across training modes and examine how production learning relates to perceptual learning.
The effect of phonotactic structure on novel lexical tone perception
Authors: Wright Jonathan , Baese-Berk Melissa M.
Published: December 2020

Results from several studies suggest that the tonal status of the listener’s first language (L1) accurately predicts novel tone discrimination ability. However, other studies show that novel tone discrimination is more complex than a simple dichotomy between tonal and non-tonal L1s, and that L1 prosodic features and acoustic properties of the target tones interact in predicting accuracy. The current study furthers this literature by examining phonotactic factors affecting novel tone discrimination. We examine the interaction between L1 and syllable structure in predicting discrimination accuracy. Tone discrimination studies typically operate under the implicit or explicit hypothesis that consonant-vowel (CV) syllables with familiar segments are the best tokens to use for tone perception tests. We test this hypothesis by including syllable structure as a predictor. This permits the examination of the interaction between L1 and syllable structure, as well as the effect of unfamiliar phonotactic structures on novel tone discrimination via consonant-consonant-vowel (CCV) syllables for native Mandarin participants and CV syllables with /ŋ/ onsets for native English participants. The results of the current study shed light on the effect of L1 background on novel tone discrimination across syllable types, as well as the effects of unfamiliar phonotactic structures on discrimination sensitivity.
Testing Korean listeners’ use of acoustic cues to the /i/-/ɪ/ contrast in English spoken word recognition
Authors: Lee Jinmyung , Tremblay Annie
Published: December 2020

Previous offline speech perception research has shown that English listeners rely more on spectral cues than on durational cues whereas Korean learners of English rely more on durational cues than on spectral cues when perceiving the English /i/-/ɪ/ contrast. This study uses an online cross-modal priming task to elucidate how L2 learners’ implicit use of spectral and durational cues affects the degree of activation of words that (mis)match these cues. Auditory primes matched or mismatched the spectral cues (/i/ and /ɪ/) and durational cues (a long and short vowel duration typical of /i/ and /ɪ/, respectively) expected of visual targets (/i/ and /ɪ/). Native English listeners showed significant facilitative priming effects only when targets followed primes with matching spectral cues (primes: [gi(:)s]; target: geese), suggesting that they rely on spectral cues to the /i/-/ɪ/ contrast. Korean L2 learners of English at intermediate proficiency showed significant facilitative priming effects when targets followed primes with either matching or mismatching spectral and durational cues (primes: [gi(:)s], [gɪ(:)s]; target: geese), with the priming conditions not differing from one another. This suggests that Korean listeners did not use spectral or durational cues to the /i/-/ɪ/ contrast, possibly due to their insufficient exposure to native-like English.
Perception of Japanese moraic-nasal (/N/) sounds followed by a vowel: A comparison of Japanese native speakers and Korean learners of Japanese
Authors: Han Heesun
Published: December 2020

This study examines the difference in the perception of the Japanese moraic-nasal (/N/) between Japanese native speakers (J) and Korean learners of Japanese (K). The intervocalic /N/ is generated not solely as nasal vowels (or vowels) but includes variations such as completely closed nasal stop [ŋ] (or [N]) in the oral cavity and the intermediates between these two. On the other hand, in the Korean language, it is necessary to clearly distinguish the place of articulatory (/m, n, ŋ/) on the nasal codas. Therefore, there is thepossibility of differences in the perception of /N/ between J and K due to differing attentiveness towards the degree of closure. This study employs the meaningful word (/goseNeN/: five thousand yen) consisting of five morae. Seven Japanese native speakers are asked to naturally pronounce /goseNeN/ to collect various sounds at the third mora of the test word. Sixty listeners (J:30, K:30) participated in the perception experiment and were instructed to identify stimuli by choosing one of two choices (/goseNeN/, /gose:eN/: encouragement). The results showed that the J judgment rate of /N/ is higher than that of the K. In conclusion, K depend on “the degree of closure” more than J in judgments of /N/.
Breaking medical data sharing boundaries by using synthesized radiographs
Authors: Han Tianyu , Nebelung Sven , Haarburger Christoph , Horst Nicolas , Reinartz Sebastian , Merhof Dorit , Kiessling Fabian , Schulz Volkmar , Truhn Daniel
Published: December 2020

Distributed adversarial networks can generate synthesized radiographs, yielding better classification while maintaining privacy.
Chronic embedded cortico-thalamic closed-loop deep brain stimulation for the treatment of essential tremor
Authors: Opri Enrico , Cernera Stephanie , Molina Rene , Eisinger Robert S. , Cagle Jackson N. , Almeida Leonardo , Denison Timothy , Okun Michael S. , Foote Kelly D. , Gunduz Aysegul
Published: December 2020

Effective tremor suppression in ET with half the energy requirements was achieved by on-demand DBS based on real-time cortical sensing.
A blueprint for translational regenerative medicine
Authors: Armstrong James P. K. , Keane Timothy J. , Roques Anne C. , Patrick P. Stephen , Mooney Claire M. , Kuan Wei-Li , Pisupati Venkat , Oreffo Richard O. C. , Stuckey Daniel J. , Watt Fiona M. , Forbes Stuart J. , Barker Roger A. , Stevens Molly M.
Published: December 2020

This Review outlines a practical blueprint for academics seeking to develop translational regenerative therapies.
Transcriptomic profiling across the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum reveals gene signatures for steatohepatitis and fibrosis
Authors: Govaere Olivier , Cockell Simon , Tiniakos Dina , Queen Rachel , Younes Ramy , Vacca Michele , Alexander Leigh , Ravaioli Federico , Palmer Jeremy , Petta Salvatore , Boursier Jerome , Rosso Chiara , Johnson Katherine , Wonders Kristy , Day Christopher P. , Ekstedt Mattias , Orešič Matej , Darlay Rebecca , Cordell Heather J. , Marra Fabio , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Bedossa Pierre , Schattenberg Jörn M. , Clément Karine , Allison Michael , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Ratziu Vlad , Daly Ann K. , Anstee Quentin M.
Published: December 2020

A 25-gene expression signature associates with progression of fibrosing steatohepatitis in independent NAFLD cohorts.
Endosomal recycling reconciles the Alzheimer’s disease paradox
Authors: Small Scott A. , Petsko Gregory A.
Published: December 2020

A hub-and-spoke model with endosomal recycling as the hub can reconcile the pathogenic contribution of amyloid precursor protein to Alzheimer’s disease.
Reactivation of dormant tumor cells by modified lipids derived from stress-activated neutrophils
Authors: Perego Michela , Tyurin Vladimir A. , Tyurina Yulia Y. , Yellets Jonathan , Nacarelli Timothy , Lin Cindy , Nefedova Yulia , Kossenkov Andrew , Liu Qin , Sreedhar Sreesha , Pass Harvey , Roth Johannes , Vogl Thomas , Feldser David , Zhang Rugang , Kagan Valerian E. , Gabrilovich Dmitry I.
Published: December 2020

Tumor recurrence can be induced by stress-activated neutrophils via release of S100A8/A9 proteins and modified lipids.
Multiscale Airborne Infectious Disease Transmission
Authors: Dillon Charles F. , Dillon Michael B.
Published: December 2020

Airborne disease transmission is central to many scientific disciplines, including agriculture, veterinary biosafety, medicine, and public health. Legal and regulatory standards are in place to prevent agricultural, nosocomial, and community airborne disease transmission.
Specific Interaction of NovelFriunavirusPhages Encoding Tailspike Depolymerases with Corresponding Acinetobacter baumannii Capsular Types
Authors: Popova A. V. , Shneider M. M. , Arbatsky N. P. , Kasimova A. A. , Senchenkova S. N. , Shashkov A. S. , Dmitrenok A. S. , Chizhov A. O. , Mikhailova Y. V. , Shagin D. A. , Sokolova O. S. , Timoshina O. Y. , Kozlov R. S. , Miroshnikov K. A. , Knirel Y. A.
Published: December 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii, a nonfermentative, Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, is one of the most significant nosocomial pathogens. The pathogenicity ofA. baumanniiis based on the cooperative action of many factors, one of them being the production of capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) that surround bacterial cells with a thick protective layer.
Identification of HLA-A*02:01-Restricted Candidate Epitopes Derived from the Nonstructural Polyprotein 1a of SARS-CoV-2 That May Be Natural Targets of CD8
+
T Cell Recognition
In Vivo
Authors: Takagi Akira , Matsui Masanori
Published: December 2020

For the development of vaccines based on SARS-CoV-2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), we attempted to identify HLA-A*02:01-restricted CTL epitopes derived from the nonstructural polyprotein 1a of SARS-CoV-2. Out of 82 peptides predicted by bioinformatics, 54 peptides showed good binding affinities to HLA-A*02:01.
Optimal Expression of the Envelope Glycoprotein of Orthobornaviruses Determines the Production of Mature Virus Particles
Authors: Sakai Madoka , Fujita Yoko , Komorizono Ryo , Kanda Takehiro , Komatsu Yumiko , Noda Takeshi , Tomonaga Keizo , Makino Akiko
Published: December 2020

Most viruses causing persistent infection produce few infectious particles from the infected cells. Borna disease virus 1, a member of the genus
Orthobornavirus
, is an RNA virus that persistently infects the nucleus and has been applied to vectors for long-term gene expression.
Feasibility of non-invasive cardiac output monitoring at birth using electrical bioreactance in term infants
Authors: McCarthy Karen Nora , Pavel Andrea , Garvey Aisling A , Hawke Ana-Louise , Levins Criona , Livingstone Vicki , Dempsey Eugene M
Published: December 2020

Background

Non-invasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) provides continuous estimation of cardiac output. This has potential for use in the delivery suite in the management of acutely depressed term infants. This study aims to measure cardiac output in term infants at delivery and in the first hours of life.

Methods

Parents of term infants due to be born by elective caesarean section or vaginal delivery at Cork University Maternity Hospital, Ireland were approached in the antenatal period to participate. Cardiac output was measured using a CHEETAH NICOM device, which uses electrical bioreactance technology, at birth and at 2 hours of life.

Results

Forty-nine newborns were included. The median gestational age was 39 (IQR: 39–40) weeks and the median birth weight was 3.50 (IQR: 3.14–3.91) kg. Cardiac output measurements were obtained at a median of 8 (IQR: 5–12) min of life. The mean (SD) cardiac output was 101 (24) mL/kg/min in the delivery room and 89 (22) mL/kg/min at 2 hours of life. There was a statistically significant decrease in cardiac output from birth to 2 hours of life (difference in mean (95% CI): 13.5 (9.2 to 17.9) mL/kg/min, p<0.001, n=47). There were no adverse effects associated with NICOM.

Discussion

This technique is feasible and safe in the delivery room. Mean cardiac output measures using NICOM are lower than those found in studies which used echocardiography to determine cardiac output at birth.