bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in speech-on-speech processing between musicians and non-musicians: The role of durational cues
Authors: Kaplan Elif C. , Başkent Deniz , Wagner Anita E.
Published: December 2020

In the current study, we investigate the role of prosodic cues in speech-on-speech perception in musicians and non-musicians. Earlier studies have shown that musically experienced listeners may have an advantage in speech-on-speech perception performance in behavioral tasks (Baskent & Gaudrain, 2016; Swaminathan et al., 2015). Previously, we have also shown in an eye-tracking study, with the visual world paradigm, that musical experience has an effect on the timing of resolution of lexical competition when processing speech in two-talker speech masker (Kaplan et al., 2018). In particular, musicians were faster in lexical decision-making when the two-talker speech masker was added to target speech. However, the source of the difference observed between the two groups remained unclear. In the current study, again by employing a visual world paradigm, we aim to clarify whether musicians make use of durational cues that contribute to prosodic boundaries in Dutch, in resolving lexical competition when processing non-masked versus two-talker masked speech. If musical training preserves listeners' sensitivity to the acoustic correlates of prosodic boundaries when processing masked speech, we expect to observe more lexical competition and delayed lexical resolution in musicians.
The benefit from voice gender cue differences for the perception of speech in competing speech in school-age children
Authors: Nagels Leanne , Gaudrain Etienne , Vickers Debi , Hendriks Petra , Başkent Deniz
Published: December 2020

Differences in speakers' voice gender improve the perception of speech in competing speech for adult listeners, as do differences in only speakers' mean fundamental frequency (F0) or vocal-tract length (VTL), the primary determinants of speakers' perceived voice gender. Children's sensitivity to voice cue differences continues to develop throughout childhood, which may prevent them from benefiting from differences in speakers' voice gender cues during the perception of speech in competing speech. Hence, we investigated how children's benefit from differences in speakers' F0 and VTL cues for perceiving speech in competing speech develops during school-age years (4–12 years). Fifty-five children and fifteen adults participated in a CRM-task with a single-talker speech masker using four masker voice conditions (no F0 or VTL change compared to the target voice, a change in only F0, a change in only VTL, or a change in both F0 and VTL) and three target-to-masker ratios (TMRs). Children's performance improved gradually with age and TMR, but more importantly, children benefited from F0 or VTL differences at all tested ages, even the youngest children. Our results suggest that children can benefit from voice gender cue differences at all tested ages despite their reduced sensitivity to voice cue differences.
Release in linguistic masking changes over time: differences between native and non-native listeners
Authors: Mepham Alex , Bi Yifei , Mattys Sven
Published: December 2020

Research into speech-on-speech masking has identified what is known as release from linguistic masking, i.e., better speech transcription performance against a masker in an unknown than known language. To test whether native (English) and non-native (Mandarin) speakers of English could learn to control the interference of a known language masker, we measured their ability to transcribe English sentences against the background of English or Mandarin competing talkers over the course of 50 trials. Both groups improved over time. Native listeners exhibited release from linguistic masking, with less masking in the Mandarin than English masker condition. The size of this effect increased over time. In contrast, non-native listeners showed no difference between the two language maskers, with this pattern unaffected by time. Masker-to-target intrusion errors decreased over time for native listeners, whereas they were virtually absent for the non-native listeners. The results show that (1) Linguistic masking is worst when the masker language is known to the listener, whether that language is native or non-native, (2) Whether the masker is the same language as the target language is comparatively less important for non-native listeners, and (3) Native listeners are better at learning to suppress masker interference over time than non-native listeners.
Perception of atomic speech
Authors: Meng Qinglin
Published: December 2020

Natural speech signals are continuous and have great redundancy in time, which is learned by human beings and guarantees speech comprehension even in challenging circumstances. This work develops a sound synthesis method to study some time-related characteristics of the human auditory system. The temporal information within the individual frequency band of a speech is down-sampled using Gaussian-shaped pulses and then recombined into a new sound which may have some remaining intelligibility or feasible phonetic features. The “atomic” sound is coined to the sound with an extremely spectral-temporally sparse spectrogram generated using the method. A battery of speech perception tests was administered in normal-hearing listeners. Results show that (1) atomic sounds from clear speech can be understood as speech, although the listeners often reported a feeling of water sound textures; (2) the temporal and spectral resolution could be traded off in the atomic speech comprehension; and (3) only one maximum envelope value preserved among a 32-channel filter-bank at a rate of 400 Hz was surprisingly adequate for speech understanding, which indicates that the brain can organize the only spectral peak within each short duration no longer than 2.5-ms into sentence understanding without either explicit or implicit encoding of the first three formants.
Speech intelligibility improvement of cochlear implant using release of masking
Authors: Arifianto Dhany
Published: December 2020

This research emphasis on an increase in speech intelligibility due to the influence release of masking phenomena as well as testing a variety of enhancement techniques to further improve speech intelligibility. Experiments carried out by listening to the sentence stimuli respondents after those respondents are required to rewrite the stimuli. After that assessment percent correct word for each experiment. Based on research that has been done then some conclusions can be drawn that the influence release of masking has demonstrated an increase in speech intelligibility from the first trial to the second trial of ±7.9%. Of the eight signal enhancement techniques are used, Spectral Substraction still showed the best result that is 2.57499 dB in measuring the results of the second experiment a mixture of stimuli 20 and12.
Cayuga word melodies—A corpus phonetic study
Authors: Hatcher Richard J.
Published: December 2020

This work investigates the intonation of Cayuga, an endangered language of North America, now spoken by some 50 speakers in upstate New York and southern Ontario. Word prominence in Cayuga has been described as sensitive to both word shape and utterance position (Foster, 1982; Michelson, 1988). Non-utterance-final words in Cayuga are known to exhibit f0 prominence on the word-final syllable, although prominence occurs on earlier syllables in utterance-final contexts. This work constitutes an initial corpus phonetic investigation into the interaction of word-shape and utterance position on f0 realization in Cayuga. This study's corpus consisted of approximately 52 min of spoken Cayuga narratives by two L1 speakers (2736 hand-segmented word tokens). The results of the study corroborated some of the earlier descriptions. Words for both speakers exhibited prominence on word-finally in utterance non-final contexts. In utterance final contexts, however, sensitivity to word shape, differed between speakers. By comparing the two locations of prominence, we note small differences both in the alignment and scaling of peaks. Word-final prominence is, on average, scaled higher than utterance-final prominence (210 versus 204 Hz). Finally, utterance-final prominence is aligned earlier in the syllable than word-final prominence (33% vs 49% of vowel duration respectively).
The acoustic realization and timing of glottal stops in Hawaiian
Authors: Davidson Lisa
Published: December 2020

Studies of glottal stop realization have shown that it is often not produced with full closure (Ladefoged and Maddieson, 1996), but conditioning factors are not well understood. This study focuses on Hawaiian, which has phonemic glottal stop that is contrastive in both word-initial (/ˀaka/ “laugh,” [aka] “shadow”) and word-medial position (/pua/ “flower,” /puˀa/ “to excrete”). Glottal stop realization is examined with respect to word position, different versus identical flanking vowel (/puˀu/ “hill”), and duration of the target /VˀV/ sequence. Data from eight native speakers come from the Ka Leo HawaiÊ»i radio program. The majority of glottal stops are produced as a period of creaky voice (63%), either in a modal-creaky-modal, modal-creaky or creaky-modal configuration. Full closures (6.6%) were more likely in word-initial position, and identical flanking vowels led to longer periods of creak. Some tokens had only an intensity dip. Shorter target intervals had longer proportions of creak. These findings for the glottal stop phoneme are consistent with research on the timing of contrastive voice quality in vowels, which show a preference for modal-nonmodal-modal patterns to ensure that vowel quality, voice quality, and tone are recoverable (Silverman, 1997). Effects of word position and flanking vowel are also related to recoverability and segmentation.
Intonation processing in American English is incremental and supports forward-backward inference
Authors: Cole Jennifer , Roettger Timo , Turner Daniel
Published: December 2020

We test the hypothesis of incremental processing of intonation in American English, which predicts that pitch accent cues in the speech signal are immediately processed for inferring the referential status (focus, givenness) of the current word. A challenge to this model is the fact that a word is perceived as having pitch prominence only in relation to nearby words with lesser prominence. We test the time course of processing for pitch accents in American English in a speech comprehension experiment using eye-tracking. 34 native English speakers listened to instructions to click on one of four pictures (potential referents) displayed on the computer screen. Lexical content alone was not sufficient to identify the correct picture from the verbal instruction, but the accent pattern over the subject and object noun provided decisive cues. Findings from eye-tracking data show listeners use accent as a cue to referential meaning. An accented subject noun triggers immediate local inferences about the noun's referent (in looks to that picture) and forward inferences about the referent of the downstream object noun. Backward inferences (looks to the subject referent) are triggered by an unaccented object. These findings show incremental processing in both forward and backward inference for referential meaning.
Phrase-final lengthening and phonological vowel length in Lebanese Arabic
Authors: Kelly Niamh
Published: December 2020

The effect of phrase position on duration of words and segments, and its interaction with phonological vowel length, was examined in Lebanese Arabic. All words were disyllabic with initial stress, and the stressed syllable had either a phonologically long or short vowel: 'CV(V)(C).CV(C). Words were produced in carrier sentences, where one was sentence-medial and one sentence-final, both under contrastive focus so as to control for that effect. The measures examined were durations of the word, onset consonants, stressed and unstressed vowels, and intervocalic consonants. Six speakers produced 475 tokens. Speaker, token, vowel and syllable structure were included as random factors in the linear regression models. Results showed that unstressed vowels were longer in phrase-final position, due to final lengthening, while onsets were longer in phrase-medial position. Stressed vowel duration was longer in phrase-final position but only when the vowel was phonologically long. Neither word nor intervocalic consonant durations were affected by vowel length or phrase position. These findings show an asymmetric effect of phrase position based on vowel length, as well as an overall balancing of word duration by compensation between onsets and unstressed vowels. This research contributes a description of phrase-level effects on segmental duration patterns in this variety.
Reducing phonetically incomplete application of tone three sandhi to articulatory implementation
Authors: Liu Chin-Ting
Published: December 2020

Mandarin Chinese Tone Three Sandhi (T3S) is a phenomenon where the first Tone 3 (T3, a falling-rising tone) syllable becomes a rising pitch when it is followed by another T3 syllable. The purpose of this study is to examine if the phonetically incomplete application of T3S among pseudowords could be reduced to the differences in articulatory implementation triggered by lexical familiarity effects. Four types of disyllabic T3 words were used, including two actual occurring morphemes (AO-AO), AO with an accidentally gapped morpheme (AO-AG), AG-AO, and AG-AG. Four acoustical parameters, including average fundamental frequency (f0), f0 contour, the turning percentage (lowest point) of the f0 contour and the f0 slope, were measured. Production results from thirty adult native speakers (with balanced gender) indicated that the application of T3S was phonetically incomplete for AG-AO and AG-AG word groups, showing that the morpheme type of the first syllable was the critical factor. Together with previous studies (Hsieh, 1970, 1975; Wang, 1993; Chuang et al., 2011; Wee, 2019), this study supported Zhang and Peng's (2013) view that the covert, phonetic contrasts observed between real words and certain pseudoword types can be attributed to differences in the articulatory implementation triggered by lexical familiarity effects.
Right-edge markers of narrow focus in Japanese: The duration and intensity of the genitive particle “-no.”
Authors: Ortega-Llebaria Marta , Nagao Jun
Published: December 2020

Because duration and morae express lexical contrasts in Japanese, e.g., ojiisan “old man” vs ojisan “uncle,” narrow focus (e.g., I prefer the WHITE horse) is expressed mainly by pitch cues. Yet, in colloquial registers, adding a mora to some qualifiers conveys emphasis (e.g., sugoku tsukareta “very tired”—sugooku tsukareta “VERY tired”). We investigated whether duration and intensity played a more important role in marking narrow focus than previously assumed in the literature by examining the duration and intensity of the genitive particle [-no] in 3 contexts: (1) attached to a focused word (UMÁNO hizume “HORSE's hoof”), (2) pre-focal position (umáno HIZUME), and (3) neutral statements (umáno hizume). 105 Noun-no Noun combinations in these contexts were elicited from 6 native speakers of Japanese. Results showed that duration cued narrow focus in context (1) by lengthening the whole word (UMANO) and by lengthening [-no] with respect to the root as if adding a mora like in sugooku. Intensity, however, marked the end of an Accentual Phrase independently of its focus. To gain a better understanding of the Japanese narrow focus mechanism, we are currently labeling pitch cues in our database in order to examine their interaction with duration.
Prosodic encoding of information structure in nuclear and prenuclear positions in American English
Authors: Cole Jennifer , Chodroff Eleanor
Published: December 2020

A hallmark of English intonation is the prosodic encoding of information structure (givenness, focus) through distinctions in acoustic prominence and pitch accenting. Information structure (IS) effects are typically illustrated for nuclear accents (rightmost), while less is known about prenuclear accents. We report on a production study of American English, comparing acoustic correlates of accentual prominence (Duration, Intensity, F0) for words as a function of position (Prenuclear, Nuclear), and IS (Contrastive, New, Accessible, Given). 64 native English speakers read aloud 20 mini-stories ending with a target SVO sentence. In a between-subjects manipulation, the IS of the target subject OR the target object varied across stories (Contrastive, New, Accessible, Given). Results show main effects of Position (nuclear words have longer duration and lower intensity than prenuclear), and IS (given words have shorter duration and lower intensity; new words are longer). Interaction effects indicate that positional asymmetries persist when focus conditions are matched (a contrastive nucleus has greater prominence than a contrastive prenuclear word), and Position and IS effects are additive when they are in the same direction. Overall, we observe robustpositional effects on acoustic prominence, and weaker, partial effects of IS, similar in both positions. Prosody primarily encodes position, secondarily IS.
Global and local pitch level in Caabe is not predicted by the frequency code
Authors: Mamadou Yacoubou Tajudeen , D'Imperio Mariapaola , Dai Huteng , Kleinschmidt David
Published: December 2020

The tendency for questions to be realized with a high or rising pitch has long been held as a (near-) universal property of world languages (Bolinger, 1978; Ohala, 1984, a.o) and even lead to ethological theories as the “Biological Codes,” in particular the “Frequency Code” (Gussenhoven, 2002). Rialland (2007,2009) documented a variety of languages found along the Sudanic Belt in Africa, which realize their questions with a terminal non-high pitch (aka “Lax Prosody”), characterized by longer prefinal duration. Also, in a study of five Ghanaian languages, Cahill (2013) found that the overall pitch level in statements is higher than that of questions. In the present paper, we present findings from a production study involving 24 native speakers of Ede Chaabe (Niger-Congo) to answer the questions: (1) do global and local f0 levels differ as a function of modality? and if so, (2) in which direction? Preliminary results show that questions in Ede Chaabe, contra the Frequency Code hypothesis, present both a local final fall as well as a significantly lower overall pitch level compared to statements. Furthermore, tonal specification interacted with intonation specification, in that L tone utterances did not show a significant level difference induced by modality.
The acoustics of word stress in Gaeilge Chorca Dhuibhne
Authors: Kukhto Anton
Published: December 2020

Gaeilge Chorca Dhuibhne (GCD) is a variety of Irish spoken in the Dingle peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Word stress in GCD falls on the second syllable if it is heavy (i.e., contains a long vowel or a diphthong), on the third syllable if it is heavy and the preceding syllables are light, and on the first syllable in other cases. While formal phonological analyses of this system have been proposed before, details of the acoustics of stress remain poorly understood. This paper reports on a production study conducted with five native speakers of GCD in the villages of Ceann Trá and Baile an Fheirtéaraigh. A list of 64 words of various prosodic shapes in carrier-phrases was recorded. The stimuli were presented to the participants in written form and read out loud. The phrases were constructed in a manner that would allow to elicit target words in positions where they are versus are not associated with a HL phrasal accent in order to disentangle effects of word- and higher-level prosody. The preliminary results show that stressed syllables are characterised by a higher f0 and higher intensity levels compared to unstressed syllables, whereas duration is not a significant correlate of stress.
A measure of pause frequency correlation with post traumatic stress disorder symptom severity
Authors: Southee Richard A.
Published: December 2020

Cognitive science research has found prosodic qualities of speech can be analyzed to establish development of cognitive and neurological disorders, as well as treatment efficacy, primarily for disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. Linguistic research has largely overlooked prosodic features within research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and instead focused on semantic choices, despite PTSD's impact on cognitive function. The present pilot study aims to extend findings within cognitive sciences to research on PTSD to establish if prosodic qualities of speech can be used in a similar manner, specifically analyzing pause frequency. Student veterans from universities across the US were recruited for participation. Participants were prompted to elicit a spontaneous monologue between 90 and 120 s that was recorded, they were also required to fill out a PCL-5. Speech was analyzed for pauses of 0.25 s or greater via speech analysis software(PRAAT), and the frequency was contrasted against the individual PCL-5 scores. The results of the pilot study were inconclusive due to limitations in the participant pool. As such this highlights needs in further investigation, but establishes the methods used as functional. Future research should be focused on extending the procedures to a larger pool and looking at other prosodic features.
Differences in regression, classification, and multi-task deep learning on pressure time series for range and seabed type
Authors: Van Komen David F. , Howarth Kira , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Knobles David P.
Published: December 2020

Estimating source-receiver range and predicting seabed type are important problems in underwater acoustics. Deep learning solutions for simultaneous predictions have been previously shown some success for these problems due to their ability to learn patterns from large datasets. However, one important question to consider in deep learning is how predictions should be made: A network can be configured to classify or regress predictions. In this study, that question is explored by comparing predictions from networks trained on simulated SUS charge pressure time-series configured to either regress or classify range and seabed predictions from measured data taken with the IVAR system during the 2017 Seabed Characterization Experiment. To further this inquiry, networks configured to regress range and classify seabed type (via “multi-task” learning) are also explored. Separating the two predictions proves to be useful, as the networks using multi-task learning perform better at predicting range and seabed class simultaneously than those configured only for classification or regression. The results of this experiment illustrate the need to use the proper type of network outputs depending on the desired predictions. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
A brain for a batbot: Combining deep learning and biomimetic robots to understand and replicate bat biosonar
Authors: Müller Rolf , Yin Xiaoyan , Wang Ruihao , Zhang Liujun , Goldsworthy Michael
Published: December 2020

Sonar-based navigation in complex natural environments—whether underwater or in-air—poses major scientific and technological challenges. A key factor for these problems is the unpredictable nature of echoes that are superpositions of contributions from many reflectors (“clutter”). However, many bat species thrive in dense vegetation and hence demonstrate every night that such echoes can convey copious amounts of sensory information. Deep learning (DL) provides a fresh look at these difficult problems with the possibility of taking performance to new levels. A critical advantage of DL is its superior ability to discover informative features. However, DL requires training data sets that are typically much larger than what can be obtained in experiments with behaving animals. Biomimetic robots that can reproduce the behaviors of bats are a good way to obtain large-enough data sets of real-world echoes that have been recorded under controlled conditions. Examples for this approach are the exploration of biosonar landmarks and passageway finding in natural environments. For even larger data sets with better control over the underlying parameters, data augmentation methods based on generative networks can be used. An important remaining challenges is understanding the features selected by the DL networks at the signal and physical levels.
A deep learning approach to utilizing complex Doppler patterns for direction-finding inspired by bat biosonar
Authors: Yin Xiaoyan , Müller Rolf
Published: December 2020

Standard approaches for determining the direction of a sound source from pressure recordings require the use of multiple frequencies or multiple receivers. Inspired by the finding that certain bat species can move their ears fast enough to create Doppler-shift signatures, we have investigated a single pressure sensor that is surrounded by a moving baffle which mimics the mobile pinna of a bat. Due to its fairly complex geometry and motion patterns, the baffle created time-frequency signatures that were qualitatively observed to depend on target direction but could not be readily decoded. In order to investigate whether these patterns can be used for direction finding, we have devised a deep learning regression network with 18 convolutional layers to estimate target direction from a feature vector that represents the spectrogram of the Doppler signatures. The training data consisted of 25,620 signals associated with 1281 different directions (61 in azimuth and 21 in elevation). The regression network has been tested by coupling it with a biomimetic pinna that was mounted on a pan-tilt unit so that it could track an physical sound source (ultrasonic loudspeaker). The accuracy of this system was found to better than 1 deg (rms error).
Normal modes separation by use of ambient noise cross-correlation function in shallow sea
Authors: Sergeev Sergei , Sabirov Ildar , Shurup Andrey
Published: December 2020

The possibility to extract the time-domain Green's function from ambient noise cross-correlation function was demonstrated by a number of authors. This approach has a weak point: the accumulation time of the noise signal. The accumulation time is significantly reduced when using mode signals and separating normal modes. Both numerical study of the spectrogram of the noise cross-correlation function and experiment in Arctic shelf demonstrated that dispersion curves observed in the spectrogram in the case of large distances between hydrophones, with a decrease in this distance are transformed into separate maxima localized both in frequency and in time delay. These maxima arise due to the presence of a stationary phase point near the minimum of the group velocities of the modes, and also due to modes interference, which is more efficient at small distances between hydrophones. At small distances, working with a signal in the frequency band where only the lowest hydroacoustic mode is excited has a number of advantages, the main of which is a decrease in the accumulation time. We demonstrate the change in the regime of modes separation with a change in the distance between hydrophones and discuss the optimal conditions for the applicability of the method.
Peculiarities of the Green's function reconstruction from the ambient noise cross-correlation function based on the mode approach
Authors: Sergeev Sergei , Sabirov Ildar , Shurup Andrey
Published: December 2020

It is known that the time derivative of the average ambient noise cross-correlation function is equal to the difference of the causal and anticausal time-domain Green's functions. This approach is often interpreted as “one hydrophone acts as a source, the other as a receiver.” Due to this interpretation and the principle of causality, the theory predicts the possibility of recovering only the imaginary part of the Green's function. In a real experiment, the correlation function is filtered and, as a consequence, information about its phase is saved. Our study, based on numerical calculations and experimental data, showed that it is possible to restore the phase of the Green's function. This phase experiences discontinuities at frequencies corresponding to the critical frequencies of the propagating hydroacoustic modes. This information is used to develop the new approach to reconstruct the shallow sea mode structure and can be used to reconstruct inhomogeneities in a passive tomographic scheme.
Construction of a Bayesian inversion method for determining seafloor sediment properties from simulated transmission loss data
Authors: Albritton James , Gunderson Aaron
Published: December 2020

Geoacoustic inversion of transmission loss measurements for determining sediment properties greatly reduces the time and cost needed to characterize the seafloor compared to cores or other in situ measurements. This study sought to determine the efficacy of a Bayesian inversion scheme to determine sediment parameters from transmission loss using simulated data, created using a hybrid finite element/ray acoustic model. For simplicity, the sediment was described as a fluid. A reduced order inversion parameter set was chosen to limit computational time and parameter intercorrelation, as well as to limit the search space to what is believed to be the most contributive parameters in the high frequency regime. This set includes sound speed, density, attenuation, and the von Karman spectral strength and exponent to describe interface roughness. The inversion scheme yielded marginal posterior probability distributions for each of the parameters, as well as information about parameter resolvability and covariance. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research, Task Force Ocean.]
Finite element model analysis of scattering by objects in complex seafloor environments
Authors: Gunderson Aaron M.
Published: December 2020

Underwater object detection and classification efforts are complicated by object burial within complex seafloor interfaces, which can alter the acoustic scattering signature in a variety of ways based on the level of object burial, orientation, frequency, grazing angle, and the variation of the seafloor topography. In this investigation, three-dimensional finite element models of acoustic scattering from objects in seafloor sediment were developed, to explore the effects that interface bathymetry and roughness have on the acoustic scattering, and to capture these effects within the model. Models were developed for comparison with measured acoustic scattering data from objects in real in situ ocean environments. Far-field scattering results outside the model domain were achievable through a numerical Green's function determination process. A high fidelity model that can account for the effects of interface rippling and mounding, small-scale roughness, and target/environment asymmetry has great appeal for detection and classification efforts. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research and by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.]
Bill Cavanaugh's contributions to the field of noise control engineering and INCE-USA
Authors: Singleton Herb , Bahtiarian Michael
Published: December 2020

This presentation will remember William J. Cavanaugh's contributions to the field of noise control engineering, and in particular his contributions to the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE-USA). Bill served as INCE President in 1993, a board member, and an INCE Foundation board member for many years. He is a Fellow of INCE-USA; an honor given for his contributions to the advancement of noise control engineering as a teacher, author, consultant, researcher, and founding partner of a distinguished acoustical consulting firm. In 2015, Bill was honored again by INCE-USA with the award of the Laymon Miller Award for Excellence in Acoustical Consulting. This presentation will also summarize some of the ongoing INCE-USA activities, and its outlook for the future.
The National Council of Acoustical Consultants—A community held to high standards with gratitude to Bill Cavanaugh
Authors: Stewart Noral D. , Reuter Eric , Pfeiffer Scott
Published: December 2020

The National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC), founded in 1962, is an international organization of professional firms that specialize in acoustical consulting based upon education, references, and proven experience. All members must adhere to a strong Canon of Ethics supporting the highest standards of business practice, technical consulting, and client service. This presentation will quickly explore some of its history, discuss its recent activities supporting and promoting the profession, and share its outlook. Bill Cavanaugh was vital to its founding, growth, and prestige. His contributions will be discussed.
Bill Cavanaugh—Colleague, mentor, and friend
Authors: Hoover K. Anthony
Published: December 2020

Bill Cavanaugh had a profound and positive influence on acoustics, on architectural acoustics consulting, and on many of us. This presentation will be a personal recollection through four decades with my mentor and friend Bill. This presentation will offer a few stories, will briefly review a few of Bill's areas of interest including cinemas and professional society activities, and will highlight several of his richly deserved awards, including the ASA Wallace Clement Sabine Medal in 2006, the NCAC (National Council of Acoustical Consultants) & INCE (Institute of Noise Control Engineering) Laymon N. Miller Award for Excellence in Acoustical Consulting in 2015, and the ASA Gold Medal in 2019.
Cetaceans and seismic surveys in the Southern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Sirovic Ana , Frasier Kait , Holcer Drasko
Published: December 2020

The first long-term, broadband, passive acoustic monitoring effort was conducted in the south Adriatic Sea from October 2018 to December 2019 using a High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP). The recording effort coincided with seismic surveys that took place off Montenegro in the fall and winter 2018–2019. These surveys occurred at distances 70 to 125 km from the recording site, at water depths between 70 and 800 m. Recordings were manually reviewed with start and end times of air-gun encounters and ship passages marked. A generic energy detector and unsupervised clustering procedure were used to extract odontocete echolocation clicks. During the surveys, sound pressure levels (SPL) in the 15 to 200 Hz band increased by up to 20 dB during fall and up to 10 dB during winter survey, with an average increase of 7.5 dB. Cuvier's beaked whale echolocation clicks were very commonly detected in the recordings, but sperm whale clicks were only sporadically present. At least three additional echolocation click types were also detected and their attribution to particular species is underway. Although mortality related to seismic surveys has not been recorded, high levels of noise have the potential to cause long term disruption to cetaceans in this region.
Assessment of potential impacts to marine mammals from underwater radiated noise due to ferries
Authors: Weiss Zachary , Bonnice William B. , Spence Jesse
Published: December 2020

Underwater radiated noise was measured and assessed from seven vessel classes active under the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF). Unattended hydrophones were deployed in Seattle, Anacortes, and Port Townsend in order to collect data from nine vessels under multiple operating conditions. These data were then processed to identify potential Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS) and Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) impacts to marine life for each WSF vessel class using the 2018 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) guidelines. Behavioral Impacts (BI) were also evaluated according to criteria provided by WSF. Additionally, an assessment of the primary causes of radiated noise for each vessel class was performed and potential mitigation strategies were investigated.
Quieting of low-frequency vessel noise in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ryan John P. , Joseph John E. , Margolina Tetyana , Peavey Reeves Lindsey , Hatch Leila , DeVogelaere Andrew , Southall Brandon , Stimpert Alison , Baumann-Pickering Simone
Published: December 2020

Low-frequency sound from large vessels is a major source of ocean noise, overlapping the range of marine animal communication. Changes in vessel activity provide opportunities to quantify the relationship between traffic levels and soundscape conditions in biologically important habitats. Using continuous deep-sea (890 m) recordings ∼20 km from shipping lanes, we observed quieting of low-frequency noise within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (California, USA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Noise levels in the frequency band 31–100 Hz, which captured large vessel noise while minimizing potential biases from geological and biological sound sources, decreased during January–June 2020. At monthly resolution the 2020 quieting trend correlated with decreasing cumulative hours of vessel presence derived from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for cargo vessels (r = 0.92; p = .01), and the sum of all positively correlated vessel types (cargo, towing, dredging, passenger, tanker; r = 0.88; p = 0.02). February–June 2020 levels were up to 2.7 dB re 1 μPa2/Hz below baseline of the two years prior. While anticipated to be short-term, at their peak these changes represent nearly a halving of acoustic power, emphasizing the significance of offshore large vessel traffic to sound levels in deeper waters in the sanctuary.
Automated segmentation and scoring of lung ultrasound images of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Roshankhah Roshan , Karbalaeisadegh Yasamin , Greer Hastings , Mento Federico , Soldati Gino , Smargiassi Andrea , Inchingolo Riccardo , Torri Elena , Aylward Stephen , Demi Libertario , Muller Marie
Published: December 2020

Using ultrasound for point-of-care lung assessment is becoming more and more relevant. Today, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread over the world at a very high rate. The most severe cases of COVID-19 are associated with lung damage such as ground-glass opacities and areas of lung consolidation, leading to acute respiratory distress. During the COVID-19 pandemic the need to detect and monitor the lung state is critical. Changes in the COVID-19 lung structure modify the way ultrasound propagates in the lung and are reflected by changes in the appearance of lung ultrasound images. Vertical artifacts known as B-lines appear and can evolve into white lung patterns in the more severe cases. Currently, these artifacts are assessed by trained physicians and sonographers, and the diagnosis is qualitative and operator dependent. We propose an automatic segmentation method using a convolutional neural network, to automatically stage the progression of the disease and predict the severity of the lung damage. By classifying the images based on illness severity we can define different scores—from healthy lung to most severe case—and produce a reliable tool to establish severity of COVID-19.
Using singular value distribution of backscattered ultrasound waves for tracking the pulmonary edema caused by COVID-19 in lung: A phantom-based study
Authors: Yousefian Omid , Grondin Julien , Konofagou Elisa
Published: December 2020

A condition caused by COVID-19, pulmonary edema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in lungs. B-lines tracking of ultrasound images is a common way to track lung abnormality, however due to multiple scattering this method tracks the air volume change only on the lung surface. The aim of this phantom-based study is to assess the pulmonary edema in lungs using multiple scattering of ultrasonic waves in MHz range. A 128-element array transducer is used to form an Inter-elements Response Matrix (IRM) by firing a 5.2 MHz broadband pulse, element by element and receiving the backscattered signal by the whole array. The distribution of singular values of IRM in frequency domain is then analyzed for polymer sponges (n = 4) with different Water Volume Content (WVC) ranging from 5 to 25 ml mimicking pulmonary edema. The results of Random Matrix Theory are used to show that the mode of the Probability Density Function of singular values increases as the WVC increases in sponge indicating the change in scattering regime. The B-mode image of sponges with different WVC did not represent neither A nor B lines, however our results shows that there is a correlation between the WVC in sponge and the strongest singular value of IRM (R = 0.89) indicating the potential of using quantitative ultrasound in lung for early diagnosis of COVID-19.
Ultrasound characterization of lung mimicking phantoms using backscatter statistics
Authors: Karbalaeisadegh Yasamin , Muller Marie
Published: December 2020

The accumulation of fluids in lungs and subsequent reduction in air volume fraction (VF) is one of the main indicators of pulmonary edema. The backscattered ultrasound signals are affected by air VF resulting in a change in statistical parameters such as Shannon entropy which is defined as the negative of the logarithm of the probability distribution of the signal amplitude. This parameter has been exploited to characterize hepatic steatosis in the past. Two sponge phantoms are used to mimic lung parenchyma. To obtain 33 different air VFs (1.80%—65.82%), different amounts of water are added to each phantom; then, it is shaken to achieve a relatively homogeneous water distribution. A linear array transducer (128 elements) is used to transmit 5.2 MHz signals to the sample. The backscattered envelope of beamformed image data is acquired by a Verasonics Vantage system (Verasonics, Inc., Kirkland, WA). A sliding window method is used to calculate the entropy from local signals. The entropy is averaged over an region of interest (ROI) for samples with different air VFs. Results indicate a positive correlation between air VF and entropy (R = 0.67, p ≪ 0.001) making entropy a potentially effective parameter to assess edema in lungs.
Using constructed impulse responses to study the influence of sound speed profiles on outdoor acoustic propagation
Authors: Swearingen Michelle E. , White MichaelJ.
Published: December 2020

Time-domain predictions can be accomplished by either explicitly calculating within the time domain, such as with the Finite-Difference, Time-Domain method, or by processing frequency-domain calculations into impulse responses. While the FDTD method has been used extensively in outdoor sound propagation studies, the requirement for extensive computational resources greatly limits the computational domain. The impulse response method, while well-utilized in underwater sound propagation has seen limited use in outdoor sound studies. For a given environmental scenario, the impulse response may be obtained from the inverse Fourier transform of transmission loss simulations in the frequency-domain. When it is convolved with the time variation of the source, the receiver signal may be readily predicted. One may re-use the impulse response for any new source, so long as the sampling criteria are met, and the source and receiver positions and environment match those of the modeled situation. A discussion of the implications of frequency resolution and example comparisons to measurements are presented. [This work was funded by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) [ASA(ALT)] with portions funded under 0602784/T40/24 and 0602146/AR9/01. Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.]
Modelling sonic boom propagation through planetary boundary layer turbulence near the lateral extent of the carpet
Authors: Carr Alexander N. , Lonzaga Joel B. , Miller Steven A.
Published: December 2020

Nonlinear acoustic propagation of sonic booms in the atmospheric boundary layer is considered in the context of a one-way solution to a third order wave equation. A split-step approach is utilized to compute different physical effects efficiently. Unlike previous approaches, the diffraction effects are computed exactly in the forward direction with no restriction on the angle of propagation. This results in more accurate modelling of sonic boom near the carpet edge. Heterogenous flow effects are incorporated with a wide-angle parabolic approximation. Nonlinear propagation is computed with a Burgers-Hayes method. Turbulence in the medium is constructed by the method of random Fourier modes. The turbulence spectra are constructed using an altitude dependent 3-dimensional von Karman spectrum. The turbulence field is considered frozen, as the eddy turnover time in the atmospheric boundary layer is generally much larger than the propagation time of the acoustic wave. Comparisons with benchmark predictions from the PCBoom software are conducted. The benchmark cases provide insight into the accuracy of the current prediction code for non-turbulent atmospheres. Future work is discussed regarding the prediction of shaped booms, boundary conditions, and predictions near the lateral extent of the boom carpet where previous approaches fail to capture the diffraction effects.
A physics-informed neural network for sound propagation in the atmospheric boundary layer
Authors: Pettit Chris L. , Wilson D. Keith
Published: December 2020

We describe what we believe is the first effort to develop a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to predict sound propagation through the atmospheric boundary layer. PINN is a recent innovation in the application of deep learning to simulate physics. The motivation is to combine the strengths of data-driven models and physics models, thereby producing a regularized surrogate model using less data than a purely data-driven model. A suitable loss function is central to training a data-driven model. In a PINN, the data-driven loss function is augmented with penalty terms for deviations from the underlying physics, e.g., a governing equation or a boundary condition. Training data are obtained from Crank-Nicholson solutions of the parabolic equation with homogeneous ground impedance and Monin-Obukhov similarity theory for the effective sound speed in the moving atmosphere. Training data are random samples from an ensemble of solutions for combinations of parameters governing the impedance and the effective sound speed. PINN output is processed to produce realizations of transmission loss that look much like the Crank-Nicholson solutions. We describe the framework assembled to implement acoustics PINN, and practical concerns related to the network architecture, the size of the training set, and the design of the physics-informed loss function.
Clustering geospatial data for machine learning modeling of ambient soundscapes
Authors: Cutler Mitchell C. , Pedersen Katrina , Transtrum Mark K. , Gee Kent L. , Lympany Shane V. , James Michael M.
Published: December 2020

Outdoor ambient acoustical environments may be predicted through supervised machine learning using geospatial features as inputs. Previous work used K-Means clustering applied to the geospatial features to identify geographic regions that are geospatially distinct. The clustering results help provide physical insights regarding which features are likely to play the largest roles in the supervised learning model and which locations are impacted by different acoustic training data. However, these results may be sensitive to details of the geospatial data, such as how the data are scaled or the presence of similar redundant features. This work builds on previous results by constructing a reduced feature set by removing redundant geospatial features and by using a physically motivated scaling scheme. Clustering analysis applied to this new dataset indicates that the contiguous United States can be naturally clustered into eight human-interpretable geographic regions. Hierarchical clustering is used to further subdivide these eight clusters into more fine-grained regions. One finding of interest is that no geospatial layer in the present soundscape model uniquely identifies rivers. These results will guide further geospatial layer development and acoustical data collection for more accurate soundscape models. [Work supported by a U.S. Army SBIR.]