bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets for ultrasound imaging and drug delivery
Authors: Luke Geoffrey P.
Published: July 2024

Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets can be triggered to undergo a liquid-to-gas phase transition with an externally applied acoustic pulse. The resulting gaseous bubbles provide strong ultrasound contrast, enabling visualization of their distribution. This talk will focus on recent advances in imaging methods that enable multiplex and molecular imaging using the nanodroplets. In addition, a double-emulsion nanodroplet will be presented that simultaneously encapsulates hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. These dual-drug loaded nanodroplets can be used for on-demand delivery of combination chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy to a site of interest.
Simultaneous plane-wave and ultra high-speed imaging of acoustic droplet vaporization
Authors: Taylor Laura , Wu Qiang , Riemer Kai , Bau Luca , Dunsby Christopher , Tang Meng-Xing , Stride Eleanor P.
Published: July 2024

Super-heated sub-micrometre perfluorocarbon droplets have been shown to offer advantages over microbubbles for ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM). These include better penetration of the microcirculation and enabling higher frame rates using methods such as acoustic wave sparsely activated localization microscopy (AWSALM). The variability of droplet behaviour has however been found to be substantially higher than that of microbubbles and this poses challenges for ULM image construction. The aim of this study was to use simultaneous high speed optical and acoustic imaging to capture the droplet vaporisation process and subsequent bubble dynamics. Droplets composed of octofluoropropane and decafluorobutane were injected into a polyethylene tube submerged in a 37 °C water bath and located at the focus of an ultrasound probe and microscope objective. Optical images were captured at 10 Mfps of the droplet response to ultrasound pulses of varying lengths and amplitude. The results indicate that the number of activated droplets is impacted by increasing either the ultrasound pressure or number of half-cycles as well as by the preceding activation ultrasound pulses; and that different droplet sub-populations can be activated by varying pulse parameters. These data indicate the potential for optimising droplet activation of ULM applications.
k-Wave II: Introduction, progress, and road map
Authors: Treeby Bradley , Stanziola Antonio , Stansby David , Gopinathan Devaraj , Jaros Jiri , Cox Ben
Published: July 2024

k-Wave is an open-source toolbox for simulating the propagation of acoustic and ultrasound waves in complex and tissue-realistic media that is widely used across academia and industry. In this talk, we present an introduction to k-Wave II. k-Wave-II is a major re-write of the original k-Wave toolbox developed with the following aims: (1) re-engineering the code base to leverage object orientated programming, making it simpler to use for model inversions and coupled physics problems, (2) extending the algorithms to facilitate general boundary conditions on arbitrary surfaces, and to increase performance for narrow-band simulations, (3) improving the development and release process to incorporate good practice and advance long-term sustainability, and (4) improving training, user engagement, and support. We will introduce the new toolbox, discuss current progress, and a provide a road map for future development.
Characterization of complex stiffness and thickness of isotropic, viscoelastic plates using multi-modal Lamb waves
Authors: Despres Clément , Masson Patrice , Ducasse Eric , Castaings Michel , Quaegebeur Nicolas
Published: July 2024

This paper presents an approach exploiting the sensitivity of Lamb waves for characterizing the mechanical and geometrical properties of plates. The analytical sensitivity functions are first derived in the case of an isotropic plate and are integrated into an iterative inverse problem to optimize its mechanical and geometrical properties based on a zero-finding approach (Gauss-Newton algorithm for a multivariable problem). This method is validated numerically for a viscoelastic plate and shows high accuracy and low computational cost when compared to existing methods. The design af an experimental setup based on dedicated air-coupled transducers is proposed by optimizing the shape and size of the transducers in order to increase sensitivity of the measred signals with respect to the mechanical parameters of the structure of insterest. Experimental validation demonstrates the ability of the methodto assess simultaneously the viscoelastic properties and the thickness of isotropic plate-like structures.
Characterizing the absolute sound levels of ambient noise in a water tank
Authors: White Benjamin L. , Dobbs Corey E. , Neilsen Tracianne B.
Published: July 2024

The underwater acoustic measurement tank used at Brigham Young University is affected by several external sound sources which, although easily identified or hypothesized about on a superficial level, must be investigated in order to determine their specific effects on data collection. Therefore, our goal is to characterize the absolute sound levels of these external acoustic sources. The measurements are conducted using B&K and TC4038 hydrophones. Data are collected over frequency bands within the “flat” range of these hydrophones, facilitating the consistent identification of ambient sounds across several bands. Measurements are taken at various points of the tank in order to determine to what extent tank location affects the ambient sound. Data in Volts are converted to Pascals by applying sensitivity values. To evaluate the accuracy of levels obtained, the same method is applied to the signal from a known source and compared to the levels obtained via a deconvolution approach. The conclusions of this study are applicable in obtaining sound levels in our own tank and in other environments (e.g., aquariums). [Undergraduate Research supported by the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Brigham Young University]
Teaching acoustic and electromagnetic waves
Authors: Brown David A.
Published: July 2024

Students have observational experience with waves by speaking and hearing, seeing, and feeling but their use of mathematics may be delayed until introductory physics at middle school, high school, and/or college. Students following a university physics or engineering bachelor’s degree are usually required to take a course on electromagnetic wave theory because of the foundational science and/or applications such as communications and observation. Regrettably, it is common that a mathematical description of various wave propagations may be acquired but without a thorough understanding of the underlying physics – especially in electromagnetics. Thus, we have tried to develop an introductory graduate level course that teaches electromagnetics and optic waves and its applications on the foundation of first understanding acoustics. This serves as a preparation for research or vocation. Topics include traveling waves, standing waves, wave impedance, radiation patterns, interference, interferometry, sonar and radar, imaging, waveguides in more. Examples of introducing the mathematics of solution first and then derivations of wave equation is presented. The goal is that mathematics should be a useful language to communicate physical information and that acoustic demonstrations should reinforce learning in multiple physical modalities.
Considerations for mathematical backgrounds and goals of music students in introductory acoustics courses
Authors: Choi Daniel
Published: July 2024

Many music institutions include an introductory course in acoustics as prerequisites for certain classes and/or requirements for graduation of a degree program. With the topic involving science, there are mathematical concepts that are naturally introduced to the students. For instruction of music students this may result in challenges as the range of their mathematical background is generally larger. Aside from difficulties in the coursework, it is also common where students will not utilize the mathematical concepts from the course throughout their career. Therefore, it is crucial to survey the typical level of the students' interests and skills in mathematics to align it with the course objectives and determine the methods of instruction. This presentation will focus on modifying the level of mathematical instruction based on the goals of typical music students and the real-world applications of the learned content.
Reciprocal dynamics in nonlinear systems
Authors: Giraldo Andrus , Kogani Ali , Yousefzadeh Behrooz
Published: July 2024

Nonreciprocal vibration transmission is an important problem from a fundamental perspective and because of the additional functionalities that it enables in mechanical or acoustic devices. A common realization of nonreciprocal dynamics relies on implementation of nonlinear internal forces within the system. In this talk, we identify and discuss different manifestations of nonreciprocity in nonlinear systems. As a necessary condition, nonreciprocal dynamics is realized in nonlinear systems with broken mirror symmetry. We show that a second symmetry-breaking parameter can counteract the original asymmetry and ultimately restore reciprocal dynamics in a system with broken mirror symmetry, even near the system resonances. Thus, breaking the mirror symmetry is a necessary but insufficient condition for realizing nonreciprocity in nonlinear systems. We also highlight the contribution of phase to nonreciprocal vibration transmission by discussing response regimes that are characterized by nonreciprocal phase shifts. Our findings showcase the potential of asymmetry to serve as an additional design parameter for devices that operate based on nonreciprocity.
The impact of the summer undergraduate research or internship experience in acoustics program on my knowledge and passion for material science and acoustics
Authors: Leatherwood Aja , Jones Haley N. , Arguelles Andrea P.
Published: July 2024

Throughout an enriching 10-week experience with the Acoustical Society of America's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Acoustics program (SUREIA), I had the privilege of contributing to the innovative research at Penn State's Arguelles Lab, focusing on ultrasound as a tool for characterizing material properties and defects. Despite my background in communication science, I immersed myself in material science through the lab. I collaborated with graduate students to learn immersion ultrasound testing on bulk ceramic materials and processed data using MATLAB. At the end of the opportunity, I presented my findings at Penn State University and the SURIEA Program Open House. Beyond the academic pursuits, the true richness of this experience lies in the meaningful connections cultivated within my SUREIA cohort and lab members. These connections have not only enhanced my understanding of material science but have also provided me with a network of like-minded individuals whom I can collaborate with in the future. Additionally, the Arguelles Lab has provided me with invaluable mentorship and guidance, enabling me to enhance my research skills and broaden my knowledge in the unfamiliar yet fascinating field of material science.
Neural mechanisms of spatial auditory attention with magnified interaural level difference cues
Authors: Richardson Benjamin N. , Kainerstorfer Jana , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara , Brown Christopher A.
Published: July 2024

Bilateral cochlear implant users struggle in spatial release from masking (SRM) tasks, likely due to restricted access to interaural time difference (ITD) cues. Instead, they must rely on interaural level difference (ILD) cues; however, our previous behavioral experiments suggest that magnification of ILDs can facilitate SRM. Here, we probed the neural mechanisms underlying the benefit of magnified ILDs. We tested 18 normal-hearing subjects in an anechoic chamber. Listeners heard target and masker sequences of object and color words from opposite (left and right) quarterfields and were asked to detect color words in the target stream. Both streams were spatialized using either 50 μS ITD (ITD50), 500 μS ITD (ITD500), a broadband 10 dB ILD (ILD10), or the largest naturally occurring frequency-specific ILD (70 degrees; ILD70n). We recorded task-elicited hemodynamic responses in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Subjects performed best in the ITD500 and ILD10 conditions. Hemodynamic response magnitudes were smaller for ITD50 than for all other conditions, consistent with frontal activity increasing when perceptual segregation is possible and spatial attention can be deployed successfully. These data show that magnified ILD cues enhance SRM and that the benefit ILDs confer arises because listeners can engage cognitive attentional processes.
Human perception of impact sounds suggests auditory intuitive physics
Authors: Agarwal Vinayak , Traer James , McDermott Joshua H.
Published: July 2024

Upon hearing objects collide, humans can estimate many of the underlying physical attributes, such as the objects’ material and mass. Although the physics of sound generation are well established, the inverse problem that listeners must solve – of inferring physical parameters from sound – remains poorly understood. In this work, we show that humans leverage an understanding of acoustical physics to constrain their perceptual inferences, allowing them to disambiguate multiple object properties from a single impact sound. We derived a linear generative model of impact sounds, combining theoretical acoustics with empirically measured statistics of object resonances. We used an analysis-by-synthesis algorithm to infer mode parameters from recorded object impulse responses. We then fit distributions to these parameters, from which object impulse responses could be sampled. Perceptual experiments demonstrated that humans could judge material and mass from sound alone, even when both of the underlying objects varied. However, performance with synthetic sounds was impaired if the simulated physical regularities were altered to be unnatural. The results suggest that listeners use internal physical models to separate the acoustic contributions of the objects that interact to create sound.
Comparison of spectral resolution and spectro-temporal modulation sensitivity well above and near the hearing threshold
Authors: Hildebrandt Ryan , Ozmeral Erol J. , Klockgether Stefan , Rehmann Julia , Keller Matthias , Eddins David A.
Published: July 2024

Spectral resolution and spectro-temporal modulation (STM) sensitivity both show a correlation with speech reception thresholds in noise. Both are also sensitive to the difficulties resulting from sensorineural hearing loss; however, the relationship between the two is not fully understood. The present study investigated the potential relationship between spectral resolution and STM sensitivity and the impact of presentation level in young, normal hearing listeners. Four noise carriers were tested with the two broader bandwidths and two 1-octave wide bandwidths: 200–6400 Hz, 1250–5000 Hz, 1250–2500 Hz, & 2500–5000 Hz. Presentation levels were 70 dB SPL and 20 dB SL relative to the individual’s pure-tone frequency-shaped noise carrier threshold. Spectral resolution was tested using a phase reversal paradigm, also known as a spectral ripple discrimination task, with thresholds measured in cycles per octave. Spectral, temporal, and STM sensitivity were each tested using a depth detection task, with thresholds measured in dB. On a test-by-test case, results were aligned with past studies that included a single test. The results show that both sensitivities are distinct at a low presentation level close to individual hearing thresholds, and a mixed relationship between both measures indicate that spectral resolution may only be one contributor to STM sensitivity.
Exploring the influence of bilingual experience on speech-in-competition measures
Authors: Padilla-Bustos Katia , Gallun Frederick J. , R. Seitz Aaron , Solís-Vivanco Rodolfo , Lelo de Larrea-Mancera Esteban Sebastian
Published: July 2024

Speech-in-Competition (SIC) tasks mimic real-world environments by including background noise and multi-speaker scenarios. However, few SIC tasks have been translated into Spanish and validated. Moreover, the influence of bilingual experience on SIC measures is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate how bilingual experience influences performance on speech-in-competition tasks conducted in Spanish versus English. We tested fifty-six Mexican undergraduate students whose native language was Spanish who self-rated English dominance on a 10-point scale (M = 5.8, SD = 2.3). Participants performed better on the Spanish version of a spatial release from masking compared to the English version but had similar performance in a digits-in-noise test. The relationship between performances and bilingual experience was tested by creating a linguistic profile based on five dimensions of the second language. Statistically significant medium-size correlations were found between performance and the linguistic dimensions of status, proficiency, and history, but not with demand of use, or stability. This indication that the influence of bilingual experience on SIC measures can be substantial suggests that SIC tasks may be inappropriate for individuals whose native language is not English. This also suggests that other linguistically diverse populations may need specialized SIC measures as well.
Gender-related variation in /s/ and /ʃ/ in child-directed speech
Authors: Wong Eugene , Munson Benjamin
Published: July 2024

Previous research showed that 3-year-old children assigned male at birth begin to produce /s/ differently from children assigned female at birth (Munson, Koeppe & Lackas, 2022). This mirrors the differences in /s/ found between cisgender men and women in American English (e.g., Jongman, Wayland & Wong, 2000; Munson, McDonald, DeBoe, & White, 2006). The current study investigates whether children are exposed to the gender-marking /s/ variants through child-directed speech, a hypothesis suggested by Foulkes, Docherty, and Watt (2005). We collected speech samples from 36 mothers of children aged 2 to 3 years through a story-reading task. Mothers read a male-themed story and a female-themed story to their children. We also measured mothers’ attitude towards their children’s gendered behavior. Spectral characteristics of /s/ and /ʃ/ were measured. As there was no evidence that /ʃ/ marks gender, the acoustic characteristics of /ʃ/ is measured to control for the potential influence of anatomical variation on fricative acoustics. Analysis is ongoing, and will examine whether the acoustic characteristics of /s/ in male- and female-themed stories resemble the male- and female-typed /s/ variants found in previous studies. The results of this study will inform models of the development of gendered speech in children.
Phonetic adaptation in conversation: The case of Cantonese tone merging
Authors: Fong Ivan , Wang Fenqi , Chan Kira , Johnson-Dhillon Tyne , Trasolini Jadeyn , Behne Dawn , Jongman Allard , Sereno Joan , Wang Yue
Published: July 2024

Phonetic adaptation occurs when one interlocutor adjusts their speech to converge to or diverge from that of their conversation partner to enhance intelligibility. While most research investigates segmental adaptations, our study focuses on suprasegmentals, specifically Cantonese tone merging. Some Cantonese speakers (“mergers”) are found to merge certain lexical tones (e.g., mid-level Tone3 and low-level Tone6), which may cause confusions when interacting with non-merger speakers. Previous research has shown that a merger may unmerge a level tone pair (Tone3/Tone6) when shadowing a non-merger. However, still unclear is whether such changes result from automatic acoustic mimicking or reflect goal-oriented adaptations for intelligibility benefits. This study uses an unscripted conversation task involving a merger and a non-merger playing a video game, where productions of merged tones may cause confusions, thus motivating goal-oriented adaptations. Initial acoustic analyses focus on average F0 and F0 taken at 10 points along the contour in target Tone3 and Tone6 productions by mergers. Differences in these values for Tone3 versus Tone6 provide evidence that a merger is unmerging the tone pair. Preliminary results show increasing unmerging trends as the task progresses, suggesting progressive alignment toward a non-merger’s productions for intelligibility gains.
Influence of tone, vowel, and consonant constraints on lexical selection in Cantonese
Authors: Zheng Minghao
Published: July 2024

This study explores the impact of tones, vowels, and consonants on lexical selection in Hong Kong Cantonese, employing a word reconstruction paradigm. While prior research in European languages suggested greater mutability in vowels than consonants, the applicability of this hypothesis to tonal languages remained untested. Building on Wiener and Turnbull's (2016) Mandarin Chinese experiment, this study involved ten native speakers in a word reconstruction task with vowel, consonant, and tone substitution conditions, and a free choice condition which allowed participants to change either a vowel, consonant, or tone. Results revealed a preference for altering tone over vowels or consonants when transforming fake words into real ones, indicating that in Cantonese, tone carries the lowest information load and constrains lexical access least tightly. Moreover, participants exhibited greater accuracy in tone substitution compared to consonants and vowels. Contrary to the universal intrinsic vowel mutability hypothesis, this study suggests that, in tonal languages like Cantonese, vowels are less mutable than tones or consonants, carry the highest information load, and constrain lexical access most tightly. Vowels are more mutable only in the absence of lexically contrastive suprasegmental information. These findings contribute to understanding lexical selection in tonal languages, challenging prevailing notions regarding vowel mutability.
Protective face masks affect clearly produced diphthongs by L1 and L2 English talkers
Authors: Nuchged Baorian , Smiljanic Rajka
Published: July 2024

The study investigated how the use of protective face masks and language experience shape the production of listener-oriented clear speech. One L1 and one L2 English talker read sentences in a clear and conversational speaking style with and without a surgical mask. Formant trajectories between the onset and offset of two diphthongs, /aɪ/ and /eɪ/, were analyzed using Euclidean distance in the F1–F2 vowel space. The results showed that the distance between the onset /a/ and the offset /ɪ/ was larger when speech was produced without the mask and when speaking clearly. These modifications were larger for L1 talker compared to the L2 talker. The Euclidian distance for /eɪ/was only affected by speaking style. The results suggest that talkers produced hyperarticulated diphthongs characterized by larger formant movements in clear speech. The presence of a mask limited jaw movement for the diphthong containing the low vowel. Additionally, the L1 talker made larger articulatory modifications in response to the presence of a mask and listener-oriented clear speech compared to the talker with less extensive experience with the target language. These production patterns may be related to lower word recognition in noise for masked, conversational, and L2 speech found in previous work.
Range and depth estimates from array invariant and model inversion, compared with machine learning approach
Authors: Hursky Paul
Published: July 2024

The array invariant is derived from the waveguide invariant, and can be used to predict the shape of multipath arrival patterns on a 2D plane with axes of time and angle of arrival. The shape observed on a vertical line array is an ellipse that is a function of the waveguide invariant and the range. Once the range is obtained, ray tracing can be used to invert the multipath pattern for a depth estimate. We will compare results of using the physics-based range and depth estimator with results obtained by training a neural network on synthetic data produced by a ray tracer. We will produce two sets of exemplars to train our estimator. In one, we will provide the range as an input, and train the network to produce a depth. In the second, we will train the network to produce both range and depth. The method derived from the array invariant is expected to be brittle with respect to range-dependent bathymetry. We will compare how well the machine learning approach deals with such variability, compared to the array invariant approach.
Towards extraordinary sound absorption using coupled resonances
Authors: Jing Yun , Ji Jun
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we provide an overview of recent advancements in novel sound absorption designs, predominantly based on optimized coupling between resonances. First, we present a sound absorption panel design capable of achieving high absorption in the low-frequency broadband range (50–63 Hz, one-third octave band). This panel demonstrates an average absorption coefficient of approximately 93%, all while maintaining a thickness of 15.4 cm (equivalent to 1/45 of the wavelength at 50 Hz). Transitioning from the one- port system, we delve into the realm of the two-port system, introducing an ultra-sparse structure for flow-free sound absorption. This structure exhibits near-perfect absorption (∼99%), and this absorption capability is achieved when the spatial period of monopole–dipole resonators is close to one working wavelength (95% wavelength). These developments signify significant strides in sound absorption technology, presenting innovative solutions with enhanced efficiency and performance across various frequency ranges and environments.
Precise, low-intensity triggered release in biological systems using ultrasound-responsive antibubbles
Authors: Athanassiadis Athanasios , Moreno-Gomez Nicolas , Missirlis Dimitris , Trautnitz Yannik L. , Fischer Peer
Published: July 2024

Antibubbles are an emerging carrier for low-intensity, ultrasound-triggered release that can carry large payloads in their liquid cores. As we have previously shown, antibubbles can release their payloads at adjustable pressures, ranging from as low as a few kPa (MI < 0.01) to above a few hundred kPa (MI > 0.2). The specific release threshold and behavior can be determined during fabrication, making it possible to realize either single-shot release or multi-stage dosing of a payload. These characteristics make antibubbles an attractive alternative to conventional microbubble delivery agents particularly in sensitive tissues where risks of ultrasound need to be kept to a minimum. In this talk, we discuss recent experiments in which we demonstrate triggered release from antibubbles in in vitro biological systems. We show that payload release can be controlled using patterned or focused ultrasound fields, and we characterize the distribution and cellular uptake of payloads inside cell-laden matrices. These results not only demonstrate the potential of antibubbles for therapeutic applications but also open the door to targeted delivery in complex tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Targeted delivery of miR-1 to the heart using clinical contrast ultrasound
Authors: Singh Davindra , He Stephanie , Helfield Brandon
Published: July 2024

Pathological left-ventricle hypertrophy is a cardiovascular disorder resulting in the thickening of the ventricle wall due to abnormal cardiomyocyte growth. The downregulation of miR-1 in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes has been identified as an early disease marker, with the delivery of miR-1 as a promising treatment strategy. Ultrasound and microbubbles offer an exciting approach to image-guided and site-specific cardiac gene delivery. The objective of this study is to show the feasibility of viable ultrasound and microbubble-mediated delivery of miR-1 in vivo. Sprague–Dawley rats were injected via tail vein with a suspension of miR-1 mimic (0.6 mg/kg) and Definity. The rats were then treated with a high MI (1.34) flash sequence for 20 min using a C5-2 probe with a Phillips iU22. Delivery was confirmed on isolated heart tissue with RT-qPCR and Western blots for miR-1 and protein expression, respectively. miR-1 delivery in healthy male rats resulted in a 1.33-fold (p = 0.05) increase in miR-1 as compared to sham controls. This resulted in a decrease in hypertrophic protein expression (1.18-fold in TWF1, p = 0.17; 1.23-fold in MEF2A, p = 0.07; 1.25-fold in CX43, p = 0.03). Our data demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrasound and microbubbles as an image-guided delivery method for molecular therapeutics in cardiovascular disorders.
Focused ultrasound-guided delivery of gene editing protein in human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Hazel Kyle , Singh Davindra , Husser Mathieu , Memari Elahe , He Stephanie , Helfield Brandon
Published: July 2024

Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles (MBs) can induce cavitation-mediated plasma membrane permeabilization in nearby cells, thus permitting entry to otherwise impermeable macromolecules. Cas9 is an endonuclease protein currently at the forefront of gene editing due to its efficiency, ease of use, and low cost. In complex with single guide RNA (sgRNA), Cas9 can target specific gene sequences to cause double-stranded breaks, interrupting gene function in the process. Cas9 is best delivered as a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) for the most effective results, however, suffers from inefficient delivery methods for in-vivo applications due to its large size (160 kDa). FUS and microbubbles can be an effective alternative to currently applied systems (e.g., adeno-associated vectors) to deliver Cas9:sgRNA RNPs for CRISPR-mediated knockout. Currently, we are exploring the use of FUS for Cas9-mediated knockout of EGFP in both EGFP-expressing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and human cardiomyocytes. Treatment of hiPSC under acoustic conditions (1 MHz, 1000 cycles, 5 ms intervals, >208 kPa) suitable for cavitation-mediated sonoporation led to EGFP knockout in hiPSCs. By modulating FUS parameters and setup, we can optimize delivery of Cas9 as an RNP for treatment of genetic diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Ultrasound diagnosis and treatment of heterotopic ossification
Authors: Morgan-Curtis Fea , Ruge-Jones Lucas , Wood Grace M. , Berntsen Lisa , Elliott Jacob C. , Hayes Daniel , Simon Julianna C.
Published: July 2024

Heterotopic ossification (HO), or the presence of bone in soft tissues, can occur after musculoskeletal trauma, causing pain and reduced mobility. However, even the most sensitive diagnostic modality requires 2–3 weeks after initiation to detect HO, and the only treatment is surgical resection after HO matures (>2 years). Here, we evaluate the color Doppler ultrasound twinkling artifact for early diagnosis of HO and focused ultrasound (fUS) for treatment of early HO. We began by evaluating twinkling and fUS parameters in ossified cell culture. We then evaluated imaging and treatment parameters in mice with HO. Results show that twinkling correlated well with the presence of ossified cells; although the exact size/number of ossified cells required for twinkling was unclear. In mice, twinkling was found to detect HO in some mice as early as 3 days-post-injection, which is earlier than other imaging modalities. For treatment, fUS at 1.07-MHz and 0.2% duty-cycle with p + /p− = 17/7 MPa was found to be most successful at disrupting mineralizations with little damage to surrounding cells. Mice treated with fUS were found to have less advanced HO compared to sham mice. These results highlight the promise of ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of early HO. [Work supported by CDMRP PR201164].
Improving the persuasiveness of the noise consultant report—A critique and proposal
Authors: Leahy Charles E.
Published: July 2024

The author, a retired mechanical engineer and patent attorney, sat on an HOA Board that converted four tennis courts to 13 pickleball courts without installing the noise absorbing barrier recommended in three reports by two acoustical consultants. A nuisance lawsuit seeks an injunction to close the courts and money damages. Consultants study the pickleball noise and recommend mitigation options to the deciders. Deciders are laymen, such as city officials and HOA boards, unfamiliar with noise science and under pressure to meet the insatiable need for more pickleball courts. When mitigation is not implemented, or not successful, litigation ensues. Judge and jury become deciders. This paper starts from the premise that the consultant makes technically competent recommendations and is motivated to fully educate the lay deciders. We explore the communication gap between consultants and deciders. Proposals include embedding wav. noise files in the written report, reference to ANSI standards for highly impulsive noises, deference to the lack of research on health issues of long-term exposure to persistent repetitive impulsive noise. We introduce the missing metrics of “pickle pops per hour” and the “predictable worst case noise impact” occurring when intensively used courts are introduced into residential neighborhoods.
Challanges in enacting pickleball noise regulations
Authors: Hougland Dana S. , Maurer Tammy
Published: July 2024

Outdoor pickleball courts installations vary widely in environmental conditions, including terrain and construction. With the rapid rise in popularity of pickleball, new court installations and conversions of existing tennis courts have generated community pressure for local governments to enact noise restrictions. Local governmental agencies have been challenged to establish regulations, which must apply across a number of unique installation conditions and terrains. This presentation examines the challenges by a selection of local governmental agencies to enact and enforce regulations.
Wave transmission in 2D nonlinear granular-solid composite systems
Authors: Wang Chongan , Zhang Qifan , Tawfick Sameh , Vakakis Alexander F.
Published: July 2024

Wave propagation in granular media composed of contacting discrete elastic granules attracted considerable attention due to its highly tunable acoustic properties. While prior investigations focused on granular systems with natural boundaries (e.g., fixed or free), our study delves into two-dimensional nonlinear wave propagation within hybrid metamaterials composed of ordered granular media interacting with linearly elastic solids, employing discrete element modeling for the granular media and finite element analysis for the elastic solids. Challenges resulting from numerical instabilities arise from non-smooth contact nonlinearities and friction at granular and granular–solid interfaces. To tackle the numerical challenges, we developed an interrelated interpolation-iteration algorithm with a self-adaptive time scheme. Special consideration was given to the convergence of contact forces at the granular–solid interface. Specifically, to ensure robust computational modeling without numerical instabilities, we monitored the eigenvalues of appropriately defined local maps governing the iterative computations of the contact forces. We demonstrated the capacity of these hybrid metamaterials for shock mitigation and non-reciprocal acoustics with properties that are passively tuned (self-adaptive with) energy. Such results and computational methods contribute to the predictive modelling and design of 2D granular media with flexible interfaces, with diverse applications, e.g., in shock protectors and acoustic diodes.
Studying the nonlinearity effects in ultrasound-assisted water purification and treatment systems
Authors: Dubey Pooja , Declercq Nico
Published: July 2024

In light of industrial sectors' rapid and exponential growth, the deleterious specter of water pollution looms ominously over our environment. One of the significant challenges is obtaining a sustainable and energy-efficient water purification/treatment system. Since the 1990s, several research studies have been proposed to demonstrate the usefulness of ultrasound as a water purification tool. As a result, newly designed devices such as ultrasound-assisted electrochemical treatment and ultrasound-assisted heat exchanging devices are becoming more common. However, such devices' high voltage ultrasonic emission is a significant problem because the nonlinear acoustic effects are not well understood and are, therefore, not adequately integrated into the design of the devices. Furthermore, the presence of biofilms in these devices creates more complexity due to the interaction of high-amplitude ultrasonic waves with the biofilm network. To better overcome the inefficient functioning of such devices and adverse operational issues, the current study aims to investigate and explain the nonlinear ultrasonic effects in ultrasonic-assisted purification devices, with and without biofilm deposits. The obtained insight will help develop an effective design strategy for high efficiency.
Comparison of automated and manual measures of speaking rate in individuals with dysarthria
Authors: Arzbecker Lian J. , Tjaden Kris
Published: July 2024

Speech patterns in speakers with dysarthria exhibit a broad range of prosodic and articulatory variations, potentially posing a significant challenge for automated speech recognition systems. This study seeks to address a gap in the literature by exploring a fully automated approach to determine speaking rates in English-speaking individuals with dysarthria. This research aims to elucidate whether a syllable-based automated method yields results akin to manual processes when calculating speaking rates across diverse groups [i.e., individuals with dysarthria secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease (PD), and healthy controls]. Moreover, this study examines the performance of an automated method across three distinct speech tasks: isolated sentences, paragraph reading, and spontaneous speech. The methodology involves adjusting parameters within a version of a published script specifically designed for calculating speaking rate through syllable detection (Praat Script Syllable Nuclei; de Jong et al., 2021). Using a sample of 60 speakers (20 MS, 20 PD, and 20 healthy controls), this study aims to evaluate the accuracy and validity of an automated script in calculating speaking rate. Ultimately, these findings are intended to guide speaking rate measurement of dysarthria in research and clinical practice.
Subglottal resonances in healthy older adults
Authors: Lulich Steven M.
Published: July 2024

Resonances of the subglottal airways impact the vocal tract transfer function and voice production during speech through linear and non-linear acoustic coupling. It has been posited that subglottal resonances form acoustic boundaries between contrasting sets of vowels and consonants based on their coupling effects on formant frequencies. Thus far, studies of subglottal resonances have reported data almost exclusively from children and young adults; data from older adults are rare. This study investigates subglottal resonances in eight healthy older adults between 50 and 80 years of age (5 males, 3 females). Initial analyses indicate that the first and especially the second subglottal resonances are at lower frequencies than expected when compared against height-matched young adults but that the subglottal resonance frequencies are not dependent on posture, vowel acoustics, or standard measures of pulmonary function.
Modeling syllable rhythms for interactive alignment studies
Authors: Copping Brandon , Buder Eugene
Published: July 2024

Many acoustic cues have been proposed as indicators and coordinators of upcoming turn-exchanges in conversational interactions, including syllable rhythm. Rhythmic coordination can help to explain close coordination of speech during these exchanges with intervals on the order of 250 ms or less, or with fluent and non-disruptive overlaps. While general questions surrounding speech rhythm remain unanswered, investigations of syllable alignment across partners in conversation can bypass such questions by assessing directly for patterns that align across vocal exchanges. We develop models of syllable rhythm for this purpose using hand-coded syllable durations from spontaneous conversations and from turn-taking responses elicited by recorded stimuli. Our approach builds on evidence that turn-takers begin planning their utterance approximately 0.5 s prior to turn endings. Syllable duration strings from appropriately identified frames are replaced by Gaussian curves to create oscillatory waveforms, and cross-correlation functions are applied to identify rhythmic continuities across exchanges. Patterns identified using this technique are explanatory of close coordination in the spontaneous exchanges, and supra-syllabic units such as the foot and phrase are identified as well. This syllable framework can be developed further by incorporating additional acoustic measures such as f;o and amplitude to build a multidimensional construct for interactional rhythm alignment.
A new experimental design to study speech adaptations in spontaneous human-computer conversations
Authors: Gu Jetic , Wang Fenqi , Fong Ivan , To Samuel , Behne Dawn , Jongman Allard , Sereno Joan , Wang Yue
Published: July 2024

Interest is growing for how human interlocutors make phonetic adaptations during spontaneous conversations. Given the increasing popularity of AI chatbots, research also needs to account for adaptations in human–computer interactions, an area under-investigated presumably due to methodological challenges in generating controlled conversational responses. Most studies involve scripted computer output, which may obstruct the dynamicity and the oral–aural medium of a natural conversation. To circumvent these constraints, we present a new experimental design that generates unscripted audio computer responses in human–computer conversations during a collaborative game played on Zoom. This design is unique in several aspects. First, the game (Escape Room) requires discussions on placing pictures (depicting target words/sounds) in specific locations, where misperceptions of target words between interlocutors may cause confusions, thus motivating natural adaptations. Second, to enable real-time computer responses, we adopt the wizard-of-oz paradigm typically used in the field of human–computer interaction, where a human confederate inputs text responses behind-the-scenes. Third, a programmable text-to-speech synthesizer converts the text input to audio output. The design demonstrated in this presentation opens the door to new analyses, tracking the dynamicity of speech adjustments over time. Moreover, it is generalizable to studying speech adaptations across interlocutor backgrounds.
Modeling the neural encoding of vowel formants in the midbrain
Authors: Pyskaty Daniel D. , McDonough Joyce M. , Carney Laurel H.
Published: July 2024

The first (F1) and second (F2) formants of a vowel determine its identity, making it essential to understand how these formant regions are encoded in the brain. We investigated the neural encoding of vowel formants using computational model responses of the auditory nerve and midbrain to natural vowel tokens [Hillenbrand et al., JASA 97, 3099 (1995)]. The first formant peak can be difficult to identify based on model population responses. Responses in the F1 region are more affected by the surrounding harmonic structure, whereas F2 often has a more straightforward representation in the model response. This result is surprising given the sensitivity of listeners for F1 discrimination compared to F2, reflecting Vowel Dispersion Theory [Liljencrants & Lindblom, Language 48, 839 (1972)], which favors the F1 dimension over F2. While peaks are difficult to identify, complex patterns of neural discharge rates observed across low-frequency midbrain responses may work to encode F1. These results suggest revisiting assumptions of the neural representations of formants and highlight the need for a system that evaluates overall response trends to formant regions instead of searching for formant peaks. Neural models can play an important role in understanding the structure of vowel systems. [Work supported by NIDCD-R01-010813.]
The effects of three-way consonant distinction in Northern Saami
Authors: Posson Emily , Geissler Christopher
Published: July 2024

Of the world’s languages, very few have been attested to possess a three-way consonant length distinction, among them Northern Saami (Uralic). However, the effects of this rare contrast on adjacent segments remain unexplored. This study reports on dialectal variation within Northern Saami and sheds light on the relationship between consonant length and the duration of preceding vowels. Three speakers were recorded: one Western Guovdageaidnu speaker and two Eastern Kárášjohka speakers. Target words were bisyllabic of the form CVV(C), with a medial short, long, or extra-long consonant, and were elicited in frame sentences. Results show dialectal differences in the number of consonant length distinctions, as well as the effects on preconsonantal vowels. The Western dialect exhibits three surface consonant lengths, while the Eastern dialect only has the longest and shortest. Interestingly, the Eastern speakers’ extra-long C are systematically longer than their Western counterparts. Preconsonantal vowels vary with consonant length in the Western dialect, while Eastern preconsonantal vowels present a broader range of contrasts. These findings suggest that the Western dialect resembles other Saami languages with three consonant lengths (e.g., McRobbie-Utasi 2007). In comparison, the Eastern dialect may instantiate some of this contrast on the preceding vowel instead.
Analysis of potential influencing factors for acoustic quality in patients with ectodermal dysplasia
Authors: Semmler Marion , Tur Bogac , Schlautmann Ludger , Wolfsteiner Sophie , Ziller Laura , Hellmann Ann-Katrin , Eckhardt Maximilian , Wendler Olaf , Schützenberger Anne
Published: July 2024

Subjects with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) suffer from an inherited disorder in the development of ectodermal structures. They show a significantly reduced formation of teeth, hair, and a reduced number and activity of sweat and salivary glands. Recently, the voice of ED subjects has come into focus. It is assumed that the generally reduced glandular function is responsible for the altered vocal sound, although no specific cause has been identified. Previous findings included significant changes in the acoustic quality, the parameters derived from high-speed videoendoscopy, the laboratory analysis and rheological analysis of saliva samples as a substitute for laryngeal mucus. Based on these findings, we performed an extended statistical analysis directed towards the correlations between the different affected domains in order to reveal the contributing factors for the resulting acoustic voice quality. Although there were distinct statistical differences between ED males and male controls in the individual domains, only few statistical correlations were found between the subdomains i.e., acoustics, vocal fold vibrations and saliva composition/consistency. These results do not yet allow any definitive conclusions on the influencing factors of voice quality. A larger group of test subjects and analyses of the laryngeal mucus are required.