bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Summary of underwater ambient sound from wind and rain in the northeast Pacific continental margin
Authors: Schwock Felix , Abadi Shima
Published: April 2023

Analyzing underwater ambient sound from various sources such as ships, marine mammals, rain, and wind is crucial for characterizing the ocean environment. While efforts to analyze ocean ambient sounds have been ongoing since the 1940s, networks such as the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) provide modern large-scale recording setups for a more in-depth analysis. Here we will summarize results from analyzing over 11,000h of wind generated ambient sound and 280 h of ambient sound during rain collected between 2015 and 2019 by two OOI hydrophones deployed in the northeast Pacific continental margin. The hydrophones record continuously at depths of 81 and 581 m with a sample rate of 64 kHz. Meteorological data are provided by surface buoys deployed near the hydrophones. We compare our results to data obtained from a large-scale recording setup in the tropical Pacific Ocean (Ma et al., 2005). In contrast to their results, we found that sound levels during rain in the northeast Pacific Ocean are highly dependent on the wind speed over a wide frequency range. This implies that large-scale distributed sound measurements are necessary to accurately characterize underwater ambient sound from wind and rain across the globe. [Work supported by ONR.]
Understanding the mechanisms of ultrasound-targeted microbubble cavitation-mediated blood brain barrier opening
Authors: Conway Grace E. , Paranjape Anurag N. , Chen Xucai , Villanueva Flordeliza S.
Published: April 2023

Ultrasound-targeted microbubble cavitation (UTMC) transiently opens the blood brain barrier (BBB). We previously determined that UTMC induces BBB hyperpermeability through an influx of calcium. As activation of RhoA is a calcium-dependent pathway that causes cytoskeletal reorganization, leading to the breakdown of tight junctions, we tested the hypothesis that UTMC-induced activation of RhoA leads to BBB hyperpermeability. We utilized a transwell model with brain endothelial cells and astrocytes on opposite sides of a support membrane. Ultrasound (1 MHz, 250 kPa, 10 μs pulse duration, 10 ms pulse interval) was applied in the presence of lipid microbubbles for 20 s. BBB permeability was assessed using dextran flux and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measured across the membrane. Integrity of tight junctions was evaluated by staining for ZO-1. UTMC reduced TEER (p < 0.05), confirming reduced barrier integrity. One hour after UTMC, there was a significant decrease in ZO-1 mean pixel intensity (p < 0.05). Treatment of cells with Rho inhibitor II (Y16) significantly reduced UTMC-induced dextran flux across the BBB (p < 0.05) and UTMC-induced decrease in TEER. In our co-culture model of the BBB, UTMC induces hyperpermeability through modulation of tight junctions, at least in part through a RhoA-dependent mechanism.
Deep learning techniques for noise annoyance detection: Results from an intensive workshop at the Alan Turing Institute
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Brown Emmeline , Deo Ratneel , Hou Yuanbo , Kirton-Wingate Jasper , Liang Jinhua , Sheinkman Alisa , Soelistyo Christopher , Sood Hari , Wongprommoon Arin , Xing Kaiyue , Yip Wingyan , Aletta Francesco
Published: April 2023

Advancements in AI and ML have enabled us to combine automated sound source recognition and deep learning models for predicting subjective soundscape perception. We held a multidisciplinary, cross-institutional Data Study Group (DSG) to investigate how sound source information could be incorporated into deep learning models for predicting urban noise annoyance. We used a large-scale dataset of 2980 15-s recordings paired with 12 210 annoyance ratings (from 1 to 10) and sound source labels. A total of 14 neural networks and 4 conventional ML models were built. The best model was trained to simultaneously predict sound source labels and annoyance rating. It achieved an RMSE = 1.07 for annoyance prediction and AUROC = 0.88 for label classification, while a similarly structured model trained to predict annoyance ratings only (i.e., no sound source information) achieved RMSE = 1.13. Results showed that including sound source labels as a simultaneous training output, rather than as an explicit model input resulted in the best performance. Overall, these models performed very well at predicting both annoyance ratings and identifying sources, providing a starting bed for automated annoyance detection systems. This presentation will provide context for the DSG and present conclusions drawn regarding approaches to applying deep learning techniques to noise annoyance detection.
Comparing segmental and suprasegmental features in speaker gender perception: An acoustic distance approach
Authors: Merritt Brooke
Published: April 2023

Segmental (e.g., articulation) and suprasegmental (e.g., intonation) speech features provide meaningful perceptual cues to speaker gender. Yet, the relative perceptual importance of these features remains poorly understood. Further, proposed methods for quantifying these features often require labor-intensive measurement by human judges. This study used an acoustic-only method to quantify segmental and suprasegmental features among 60 speakers with varied gender identities (e.g., non-binary, transgender and cisgender men and women) and compared these acoustic measures to human perceptual judgements of speaker gender. Thirty listeners rated confidence in speaker gender and masculinity/femininity for each speaker. To obtain acoustic distance among speakers, three conditions were created that manipulated which acoustic features were present in the speech utterances. Acoustic distance was calculated in each of the three conditions between each speaker and a cisgender man and woman who were perceptually rated as most gender prototypical. Acoustic distances for the three conditions were fit to regression models to determine which was most predictive of listeners’ perceptual judgements. Both segmental and intonation features predicted perceptual measures. However, segmental cues better explained listener’s ratings, suggesting their greater perceptual weighting in listeners’ judgements of speaker gender.
Roadway noise field measurements and modeling large sites in CadnaA
Authors: Manley David , Ahrens Steph
Published: April 2023

Modeling roadway automobile traffic noise in CadnaA prediction software offers the opportunity to extrapolate larger site information from a small sample of field measurements. This presentation will discuss two case studies where multiple short term field measurement locations were used to calibrate large site noise analyses. Using publicly available Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) counts from local municipalities as the basis for site calculations was attempted but found to not correlate well with field measurements. A review and discussion of the differences will be presented.
Turbulence effects on shaped booms: Central composite design of modeled atmospheric turbulence parameters for sonic boom propagation
Authors: Doebler William , Parker Peter A. , Downs Robert , Loubeau Alexandra
Published: April 2023

Propagation of sonic booms through turbulence reduces mean sonic boom perception metric levels and also causes considerable variability. NASA's PCBoom suite of sonic boom acoustic propagation modules includes an approximate method for accounting for the effects of turbulence on traditional N-wave sonic booms. The current implementation is ineffective for shaped sonic booms or low-booms, and it also has limited values for turbulence and ambient input parameters. NASA's future X-59 low-boom community noise surveys require an accurate estimate of the effects of turbulence in regions across the USA, so the module must be improved. This work presents the methods of selecting which ambient and turbulence parameters should be included in an improved PCBoom turbulence module. Turbulence and ambient data were collected from two atmospheric model databases, the Climate Forecast System Version 2 and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Reanalysis Version 5 (ERA5), hourly from 7 AM to 7 PM local time for 10 years at 19 locations across the USA. A fully-factorial propagation analysis using these parameters would be exceedingly computationally expensive. Instead, a central composite design was chosen resulting in 45 combinations of ambient and turbulence parameters. These 45 cases effectively sample the space balancing computational burden.
Benefits of long-term music training for segregation of competing speech by tonal language speakers
Authors: Li Yang-wenyi , Cheng Xiaoting , Ding Chenru , Galvin John J. , Chen Bing , Fu Qian-Jie
Published: April 2023

Extended experience with meaningful pitch information has been shown to benefit music perception as well as speech perception where pitch cues are important, such as segregation of competing speech and tonal language perception. Interestingly, pitch perception has been shown to be similar between non-musicians who speak a tonal language and musicians who speak a non-tonal language, both of which outperform non-musicians who speak a non-tonal language. However, it is unknown whether extensive music training can further benefit pitch perception in tonal language speakers. In this study, melodic contour identification, spectro-temporal pattern perception, and masked speech recognition was measured in 16 adult normal-hearing musicians and 16 non-musicians; all were Chinese native speakers of Mandarin. Melodic contour identification, spectro-temporal pattern perception, and masked speech recognition all were significantly better for musicians than for non-musicians. Compared to non-musicians, musicians better utilized talker sex cues to segregate competing speech; utilization of talker sex cues by musicians was associated with the onset and extent of music training. Across all participants, spectro-temporal pattern perception was associated with better masked speech understanding. The data suggest that early and extensive music training may further benefit tonal language speakers’ perception and utilization of pitch cues.
Exploring the parameter space of the modified rhyme test to improve efficiency
Authors: Ellis Gregory M. , Brungart Douglas S.
Published: April 2023

The modified rhyme test (MRT) is a words-in-noise test that is used as a part of screening and testing procedures within the United States military. Each trial has a carrier phrase followed by a target word (“Please select the word CAT”). Listeners choose the target from a set of six options. Competing words differ only in the starting or ending consonant sound (e.g., “BAT,” “VAT,” “SAT,” “RAT,” and “THAT”). The present study had two goals. The first goal was to improve the efficiency of the MRT by eliminating the carrier phrase and providing only the test word. This should quicken data collection. The second goal was to determine the effect of reducing the number of alternatives. Reducing the number of alternatives should reduce response time, but may affect data quality. Aside from the primary goals, other parameters were adjusted: signal-to-noise ratio, presentation level, noise type, and filtering condition. Over 3000 service members participated in the study from multiple sites. The MRT was administered on calibrated tablet and headphones. Findings will be discussed. [The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.]
Study of nonlinearity in a tapered, viscous cochlear model
Authors: Agarwal Vipin , Grosh Karl
Published: April 2023

The mammalian cochlea is responsible for transforming incoming acoustic energy into neural signals. Efficient modeling of the cochlear response is extremely challenging, because of the length scales, which vary from the sub-micron to centimeters, and time scales, which vary from microseconds to seconds, that must be resolved. In the current work, we predict the stationary nonlinear response of a base-to-apex cochlear model to a harmonic input, considering the taper of the cochlear scalae. We seek to understand the influence of bulk fluid viscosity and geometric fluid-duct tapering on the nonlinear response of the system. Coupled equations are derived from a kinematically constrained Langrangian dynamics formulation. To solve these equations, we have used an iterative algorithm, the alternating frequency-time method. The algorithm swaps between frequency and time domains using the Fourier and inverse Fourier transforms, and is based on a fixed-point iteration. We analyzed the solutions for nonlinear models where the frequencies and stimulus levels are varied from 6 kHz to 20 kHz, and 10 dB SPL to 90 dB SPL, respectively. We show that our model predicts previously unexplained responses in the cochlea, including so-called hypercompression (when increasing sound levels produce a reduced cochlear response).
Quantifying impacts of hearing protection devices on sound localization in azimuth and elevation: Refinement of acoustic predictors
Authors: Brown Andrew D. , Greene Nathaniel , Audet David J. , Hunsaker Aoi A. , Sammeth Carol A. , Butler Mallory A. , Podolski Alexandria , Jerding Jennifer , Anderson David A. , Rule Gregory T. , Argo Theodore F.
Published: April 2023

Modern hearing protection devices (HPDs) mitigate the risk of noise-induced hearing loss when used as intended, but negative auditory perceptual side-effects continue to limit usability in critical settings. Dozens of studies have shown that HPDs lead to significant errors in sound source localization. Several studies, including previous studies by our group, have linked such errors to distortions of the spectra of transmitted signals. Here we provide an update on a multi-site effort to develop acoustic predictors and summary metrics to quantify HPD impacts on sound source localization. At two independent study sites, human listeners localized brief broadband signals with open ears and during use of passive and active earplug and earmuff-style devices. Sources spanning 360° in azimuth and −30° to + 60° in elevation enabled measurement of two-dimensional localization error across a broad range of source locations. An initial set of parallel acoustic measurements was obtained using a standardized acoustic test fixture. Present efforts are focused on evaluating prospective advantages of (1) incorporating binaural acoustic data in the prediction of errors and (2) accounting for individual HPD-impacted acoustic variability. The long-term goal of this work is to support application-specific selection of existing HPDs and inform the design of new HPDs.
Tutorial on vibration and sound
Authors: Hambric Stephen
Published: April 2023

Over the years I have written many tutorials on vibroacoustics. This tutorial summarizes much of the material in those articles, starting with structural flexural vibrations and how they radiate sound. I explain structural modes of vibration, how they sum into structural mobilities, and how to use infinite plate theory to estimate the means of those mobilities. I also show that as structural damping increases, the mobilities of finite structures converge to that of an infinite structure. Next, you will see how structural flexural waves radiate sound into adjacent acoustic spaces. The radiated sound power may be normalized to a nondimensional radiation efficiency. Next we will examine fluid loading effects on structures, including loading from exterior and internal acoustic regions. I will show how exterior heavy fluid loading (from water) significantly mass loads and radiation damps structural vibrations. I will also show how internal air cavities can stiffen low order structural modes, and in some cases cause coupled oscillator behavior when structural and cavity mode resonance frequencies coincide. Finally, I will explore the fundamentals of sound transmission loss through structural barriers. My complete tutorial series on vibroacoustics is available at hambricacoustics.com.
Acoustic characteristics of English/n, l, t, k/ produced by native speakers of American English and Japanese at and near the word boundary
Authors: Nozawa Takeshi , Wayland Ratree
Published: April 2023

The acoustic characteristics of English /n, l, t, k/ produced by native speakers of American English and Japanese at and near the word boundary are compared. The phonemes are produced in two-word sequences in sentence contexts, /n/ or /l/ appears at the end of the first word (e.g., an earth, you'll earn) or at the beginning of the second word (e.g., a nurse, you learn), while /t/ or /k/ appears at the beginning of the second word (e.g., stops talking, ice cream) or as the second segment of the initial cluster /sk/ of the second word (e.g., stop stalking, I screamed). Acoustic analysis revealed that English speakers' /n/ in coda position is shorter and creakier, while Japanese speakers' /n/ is as long as in onset. In addition, English speakers' vowels in /Vl#/ context are more velarized than vowels in /V#l/ context, whereas Japanese speakers' vowels in /Vl#/ context are less /l/-colored. English speakers produced initial /t/ and /k/ with much longer VOT than in /st/, /sk/ conditions, but because Japanese voiceless stops are weakly aspirated, Japanese speakers /t/ and /k/ not significantly different in VOT between the two contexts, leading potentially to syllable misparsing by English listeners
The acoustics of the alignment of focus prosody and lexical stress: A production study of native speakers and second language learners of English
Authors: Baek Hyunah
Published: April 2023

In English, the tonal target of a pitch accent is aligned with lexical stress. Therefore, the phonetic realization of contrastive focus prosody, phonologically marked by a H*/L + H* pitch accent, is expected to vary depending on the stress pattern of the focused word. This study explored acoustic effects of the alignment of lexical stress and focus prosody and examined how it is learned by Korean learners of English, whose first language lacks lexical stress. Ten native English speakers (L1) and 19 Korean learners of English (L2) participated in a read-aloud task, in which they produced nine trisyllabic words with primary stress on one of the three syllables with contrastive focus (e.g., Animal, vaNILla, engiNEER). For each syllable, three acoustic measures were extracted: the height of pitch peak, periodic energy mass, and the direction of pitch movements (Albert et al., 2021; Cangemi et al., 2019). Results revealed that the height of pitch peak, a conventional measure of both lexical stress and contrastive focus, did not properly demonstrate their alignment. Instead, the stressed syllable of the focused words was marked by its overall prominence (mass) or the direction of pitch movements, depending on the stress pattern. The L2 speakers’ productions were similar to the L1 productions, but there were indications of an influence of their L1 prosody and English proficiency. [This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2022S1A5A8052482).]
Improving passive acoustic target detection using machine learning classifiers
Authors: Bhardwaj Ananya , Somaan Nizar , Galloway Tillson , Sabra Karim G.
Published: April 2023

The ocean covers 70% of the Earth surface area, yet over 80% of it remains unexplored despite the advances in underwater acoustics and oceanography. Ocean exploration is critical for accurate climate model development, renewable energy applications, and in understanding the marine habitat. Further exploration necessitates improvements in underwater navigation with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Utilizing acoustic landmarks can enhance AUV localization performance [Fula et al., Oceans IEEE/MTS (2018)]. Passive markers called Acoustic Identification (AID) Tags have unique and identifiable acoustic reflection signatures designed to function as landmarks [Satish et al., JASA  149 (2021)]. These targets can be detected by Match Filtering returns with template signals. Match Filtering performance is limited in the presence of strong interfering signals, and with changes in sound speeds that alters the temporal structure of these signatures. The application of a Machine Learning classifiers for detecting AID tag signatures can improve the localization performance. Through implementation of Logistic Regression, Deep Neural Networks, and Convolutional Neural Networks, the generalizability and superiority of these models is demonstrated. We report high accuracies (>90 %) in a multilabel (8 classes) classification task with signals with low SNR (–6 dB) and strong interference (+12 dB).
A rigorous optimization of noise control with natural ventilation in an office with high-end sustainability goals
Authors: van der Harten Arthur W. , Capra Stefano , Gallou Irene
Published: April 2023

The Bloomberg London headquarters, designed by Foster + Partners and built by Sir Robert McAlpine, espouses some of the world's loftiest sustainability goals for a large office building (more than 4000 employees). It is said to have achieved a 98.5% score against BREEAM sustainability assessment methodand was the winner of the 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture. This talk will cover the design and implementation of the natural ventilation systemand discuss the delicate multi-disciplinary collaboration that was required in order to operate the natural ventilation effectively while still meeting requirements for background noise in an open office space in the heart of London.
Sound transparent assemblies in concert halls: Using simulation to balance acoustics and design aesthetic
Authors: van der Harten Arthur W. , Kahn David
Published: April 2023

Variable acoustics finishes are often incorporated into concert halls to allow adjustment to the liveness of the space. Therefore. the visual appearance of the hall changes, depending on the settings of those variable acoustics finishes. Architects often prefer a consistent visual appearance, regardless of the positioning of those variable acoustics finishes. Acoustic Distinctions has made an effort to determine the relationship between visual opacity and sound transparency in order to facilitate a more successful collaboration between architect and acoustician without any compromise or guesswork in the acoustical impact of these finishes. This paper discusses several concert halls that incorporate sound transparent surfaces to hide variable acoustics finishes behind. We cite previous work done by Acoustic Distinctions and the University of Hartford to test and verify sound transparent construction and introduce more recent work using the Finite Volume Method to determine acceptability of sound transparent construction, and to inform application to larger geometrical acoustics models.
Acoustical design prototyping with photo-enabled sound intensity
Authors: Miller-Klein Erik
Published: April 2023

This session will explore options to prototype and mock-up acoustical systems, assemblies, and materials to help optimize and right-size the design for your performance needs. Through years of use with a photo-enabled sound intensity wand, some of the commonly held beliefs about the root causes of acoustical performance defects have been shown to be over-designed. Project examples and observations from case studies are discussed in-depth to highlight some of these key conditions and ways for the industry to provide more efficient design solutions.
Assuming an engineering mindset in acoustical design: Helping clients get the most for their money
Authors: Scarbrough Paul H. , Blair Christopher
Published: April 2023

Acoustical design for performance spaces is generally considered to be both an art and a science. Part of the science involves assuming an engineering mindset when deciding where to draw the line with respect to criteria for room acoustics, sound isolation, HVAC noise control, and other issues. When does sound from the outside truly become intrusive? How quiet is quiet enough when it comes to HVAC noise? Renovation projects often impose practical constraints that preclude aiming for extreme degrees of sound isolation or HVAC noise control. Even well-funded new construction projects sometimes require careful consideration of how to expend project resources to best effect. This paper will explore the authors' experiences making such decisions on a range of projects involving new construction (Las Vegas’ Smith Center for the Performing Arts), historic restoration (Cincinnati Music Hall), adaptive re-use (Milwaukee’s Bradley Symphony Center), and substantial reconstruction (David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center).
A preliminary numerical investigation of convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques for filtering high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) noise in images
Authors: Farbin Grace
Published: April 2023

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive medical procedure that uses ultrasonic waves to ablate or heat tissue with the aim of treating tumors and tremors. Diagnostic ultrasound imaging is the primary mode of imaging during HIFU treatments due to its real-time capabilities. However, HIFU noise, produced from therapeutic ultrasound components, interfere with the diagnostic ultrasound components and cause difficulty in monitoring changes to tissue during treatment. In a multitude of HIFU treatments, deep learning has been used as a tool to detect coagulation, monitor temperature, and segment tumors. Convolutional neural network (CNN) models are a series of deep learning algorithms that can assign importance to aspects of an inputted image and differentiate one from the other. Based on previous methods of filtering, CNNs too can be trained to filter raw RF signals received by an ultrasound probe for subsequent real-time treatment feedback with HIFU. Here, we were able to present a preliminary investigation of a CNN approach for HIFU noise reduction. To do this, we used acoustic wave simulations from k-Wave, a time-domain, full-wave model for ultrasound wave propagation, in combination with the Deep Learning Toolbox from MATLAB. Subsequent analyses studied the performance of noise reduction via the proposed regression model.
Evaluating postpartum cervical remodeling with quantitative ultrasound technology
Authors: Villegas-Downs Michelle , McFarlin Barbara L. , O'Brien William D. , Simpson Douglas G. , Peters Tara , Schlaeger Judith M. , Han Aiguo
Published: April 2023

Having a history of a previous spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is the strongest risk factor for recurrent sPTB. It is unknown if there are differences in postpartum cervical remodeling between women who have delivered spontaneous preterm (sPT) and full-term. No studies have evaluated the role of postpartum remodeling between the two groups. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is a noninvasive ultrasound technology used to quantify tissue microstructure and function. QUS biomarkers were used to evaluate postpartum cervical microstructure in women who delivered sPT and full-term. Data were collected from 54 women:14 who delivered sPT and 40 who delivered full-term. Transvaginal QUS scans were performed at 6 weeks (±2 weeks) after delivery. Attenuation coefficient (AC), backscatter coefficient (BSC), and shear wave speed (SWS) QUS biomarkers were collected. BSC was significantly higher at six weeks postpartum in women who delivered sPT versus full-term (p = 0.01), while the AC approached statistical significance (p = 0.09). QUS biomarker BSC was able to identify cervical microstructure differences at six weeks postpartum between women who delivered sPT and full-term. QUS technology may improve our understanding of postpartum cervical remodeling and has the potential to noninvasively direct precision-health approaches for recurrent sPTB. [Work supported by NIH 5F31NR019716.]
Holography-based measurement of sound speed and attenuation coefficient values for small samples of tissue phantoms
Authors: Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Nikolaev Dmitry A. , Tsysar Sergey A. , Khokhlova Vera A. , Kreider Wayne
Published: April 2023

For therapeutic ultrasound applications, design and planning of treatments often involve simulations to predict the in situ acoustic field, and these simulations rely on estimates of the acoustic properties of soft tissues. As defined in simulation models, these properties describe how a plane wave propagates in a homogeneous medium. However, because soft tissues inherently contain inhomogeneities, measurements are most appropriately performed on small, relatively homogeneous samples. In addition, mostly small samples of human tissue, either autopsy or post-surgical, are typically available for characterization. As published in a recent paper [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 2021, 149(1): 386–404], we have proposed a holography-based technique to extract plane-wave measurements from ultrasound beams passing through small (cm-sized) material samples. Here, we seek to adapt this technique for measuring small samples of deformable materials using an apparatus that holds such samples with two plane, parallel surfaces that can be interrogated by an incident ultrasound beam having a diameter smaller than that of the sample. Initial testing over a range of frequencies from 0.5 to 10MHz is performed utilizing well characterized materials, such as hydrogels and silicone rubber. [Work supported by NIH grant R01EB025187.]
Articulation differences of /s/ observed using inverse tongue atlas modeling
Authors: Maity Ursa , Xing Fangxu , Stone Maureen , Zhuo Jiachen , El Fakhri Georges , Prince Jerry L. , Woo Jonghye , Fels Sidney
Published: April 2023

Depending on the vowel context, the consonant /s/ can be articulated by engaging different functional units of the tongue. An inverse finite element (FE) tongue model comprising hexahedral elements generated from a 4D statistical MRI atlas of 22 speakers performing the speech tasks “a geese” (tongue moving forwards) and “a souk” (tongue moving backwards) is used to study this articulatory behavior. The model uses a state-of-the-art inverse tracking controller to simulate the motion of internal tissue points of the different speakers deformed into the atlas space. Motion tracking is successfully carried out by minimizing the L2-norm of velocity error of FEM nodes using the Cottle–Dantzig algorithm. The results show that for “a-geese,” the utterance of /s/ in context of vowel /i/ showed increase in activation of tongue protruder muscles such as genioglossus posterior, floor muscle geniohyoid by ∼5% more than in the case of “a-souk.” In “a-souk” relative activity increased in the tongue retractor muscles mid- and anterior-genioglossus, and superior longitudinal by ∼4%. Our findings are consistent with subject-specific state-of-the-art models and with articulatory expectations. The inverse atlas tongue model can be further used to estimate such articulation behavior on extended datasets of subjects performing more variations of speech tasks.
Auditory feedback control of inter-articulator speech coordination: Evidence from tongue and jaw movements
Authors: Masapollo Matthew , Oberle Grant , Burge Kayleigh , Lebedeker Abigail , Salazar Nicholas , Ferdowsiepour Kiana , Rodriguez Ana , Nittrouer Susan
Published: April 2023

In order to test whether and how immediate auditory feedback is involved in the coordinated action of sets of speech articulators, the current research quantified changes in the temporal and spatiotemporal relations between jaw and tongue tip movements in response to noise masking. Normal-hearing talkers recorded /tV#Cat/ utterances using electromagnetic articulography, with alternative V (/ɑ/-/ɛ) and C (/t/-/d/), across variation in production rate (fast-slow) and stress (first syllable stressed-unstressed). Approximately 240 utterances were produced in two conditions: normal listening and auditory feedback masking. Two kinematic measures were obtained: (1) timing of tongue-tip raising onset for medial C, relative to jaw opening-closing; and (2) angle of tongue-tip raising onset, relative to the jaw phase plane. In the normal listening condition, any manipulation that shortened the jaw opening-closing cycle reduced both the relative timing and phase angle of tongue-tip movement onset. In the masking condition, specific changes were observed in how consistently the phase angle of tongue-tip movement onset scaled with jaw opening–closing across rate and stress variation, but not in the relative timing of tongue-tip movement onset. Collectively, these findings suggest that the spatiotemporal phasing between articulator movements relies more on immediate auditory feedback than the relative timing between ongoing articulator movements.
Acoustic distance effect on the perception of sibilants mergers between retroflexes and alveolars in Taiwan Mandarin
Authors: Du Baichen
Published: April 2023

Studies in speech production and perception have found a tight link between the two processes. Sound properties in speakers' production repertoire strongly influence their perceptual spaceand exposure to another variant also shifts speech patterns in shadowing tasks. This suggests that diachronic sound change might be a result of it. Therefore, we tested whether categorical perception of sibilants is influenced by acoustic distance in the production of ongoing sibilants mergers in Taiwan Mandarin, where retroflexes are merging towards alveolars. Twenty-three native speakers produced 46 mono- or disyllabic Tone 1 words with onsets of /ts/, /ʈʂ/, /tsh/, /ʈʂh/, /s/, and /ʂ/, listened to 23 eight-step continuums of synthesized sibilants from retroflexes to alveolars pre-appended to vowels and codas, and answered a sociolinguistic questionnaire. As predicted, closer acoustic distances between categories predicted more high-CoG stimuli to be identified as retroflexes (more tolerance for high-frequency retroflexes). Step, sound, and social effects were significant. Sibilants' frequencies were lower than previously reported. Overall, this suggests that sibilant mergers diffuse to speakers with closer acoustic distances first, and the categories will collapse on language level in production before perception. They spread among speakers asynchronously and variably, depending on dialectal background and social attitude as well.
The role of the tongue back on contrasting voicing properties of English coda consonants: Evidence from an ultrasound imaging technique
Authors: Kim Daejin
Published: April 2023

This study explores how voicing properties of stop consonants at the coda of a syllable are reflected in the articulation of the tongue back in American English. The association between the laryngeal control of the voicing property of consonants and the positioning of the tongue back has been increasingly reported (e.g., Ahn, 2018; Coretta, 2020). A recent study (Coretta, 2020) reported that longer vowel duration indicating the following voiced stop consonant corresponds to greater tongue root advancement at the offset of the vowel in Italian and Polish. Since the vowel with a following voiced stop consonant has a longer duration than that with a voiceless stop consonant, the later offset of TB movement should be correlated with the offset of vocal folds vibration in American English as well. The preliminary result suggests that the later offset of TB advancement is positively correlated with the longer vowel duration of voiced consonants at the coda of a syllable; therefore, contrasting voicing property of coda consonants in English is phonological and phonetically evidenced in the articulation of the tongue back. Articulatory data from ultrasound images of the tongue from three native speakers of American English will be presented.
Evaluating normalization accounts against the dense vowel space of Stockholm Swedish
Authors: Persson Anna , Jaeger T. Florian
Published: April 2023

Talkers vary in the phonetic realization of their vowels. One influential hypothesis holds that listeners overcome this inter-talker variability through pre-linguistic auditory mechanisms that normalize the acoustic or phonetic cues that form the input to speech recognition. Dozens of competing normalization accounts exist —including both vowel-specific (e.g., Lobanov, 1971; Nearey, 1978; Syrdal and Gopal, 1986) and general-purpose accounts applicable to any type of phonetic cue (McMurray and Jongman, 2011). We add to the cross-linguistic literature by comparing normalization accounts against a new database of Swedish, a language with a particularly dense vowel inventory of 21 vowels differing in quality and quantity. We train Bayesian ideal observers (IOs) on unnormalized or normalized vowel data under different assumptions about the relevant cues to vowel identity (F0-F3, vowel duration), and evaluate their performance in predicting the category intended by talker. The results indicate that the best-performing normalization accounts centered and/or scaled formants by talker (e.g., Lobanov), replicating previous findings for other languages with less dense vowel spaces. The relative advantage of Lobanov decreased when including additional cues, indicating that simple centering relative to the talker’s mean might be sufficient to achieve robust inter-talker perception (e.g., C-CuRE).
Hadza liquid production and acoustics
Authors: Coburn Jeremy R. , Charles Sherman D.
Published: April 2023

Liquid systems in the world’s languages are relatively poorly understood. This study employs 3D/4D ultrasound methods to investigate articulatory characteristics of Hadza liquids produced by a single male speaker in a laboratory, analyzing simultaneously collected acoustic signals to determine relations between articulation and acoustics. Articulatory-acoustic relations are then compared to acoustic data obtained from other speakers collected in the field. Hadza is a language isolate spoken by approximately 1200 people (Brian Wood, pc.) in north-central Tanzania. Hadza is reported to have a single liquid phoneme which varies allophonically between a lateral approximant [l] occurring word-initially, and a tap [ɾ], occurring intervocalically (Tucker et al., 1977; Sands et al., 1996; Sands, 2013). The results of the current study confirm the production of both lateral approximant [l] and tap [ɾ] allophones; however, the results also show substantial variation between speakers. Furthermore, some speakers exhibit a categorical distinction between the allophones in given phonological environments, while others indicate a very similar articulation in both, and demonstrate no such distinction.
Durational variations in Raleigh and Ocracoke vowel production: Methods for analyzing undershoot
Authors: Lowry Griffin
Published: April 2023

Dialectal and generational differences in undershoot between speakers from Raleigh and Ocracoke, North Carolina, are examined. Undershoot occurs when a speaker fails to reach the target formant values of a certain sound, especially for vowels. While this is commonly due to duration, other factors can cause undershoot (coarticulation, stress, speaking style). Through comparing these speakers, this paper aims to evaluate new and old ways of analyzing undershoot, including an examination of formant ranges and calculations of absolute undershoot values. Formant ranges are the difference between the maximum and minimum frequency values of a particular formant throughout the duration of the vowel. Absolute undershoot is a formula developed by Oh (2007, J. Phon. 36:361–384) that attempts to quantify the amount of undershoot a speaker shows in order to conduct inter- and intra-speaker comparisons. Furthermore, analysis of undershoot may illuminate causes of sound changes. For example, the older speaker from Raleigh showed undershoot in /u/—longer durations resulted in backer realizations. The younger Raleigh speaker, conversely, showed no undershoot but consistent /u/-fronting. /u/-fronting possibly began with undershoot in one generation, and then became a hypocorrected norm in the next generation.
Palatalization and tongue root harmony in Mongolian
Authors: Sims Joshua
Published: April 2023

Khalkha Mongolian exhibits Tongue Root harmony, in which vowels in a word share specification of root features, as well as vowel fronting in the environment of palatalized consonants. This paper examines the interaction of the two processesof interest because the acoustic cues for tongue root harmony and palatalization oppose one another. Vowels in tongue root harmony systems are categorized by tongue root position, which triggers changes in F1. Advanced Tongue Root (ATR)corresponds to a decreased F1 (see Starwalt, 2008), while Retracted Tongue Root (RTR), active in Mongolian, corresponds to increased F1 (Svantesson, 1985). Meanwhile, a primary cue of palatalization is raised F2. In Mongolian, palatalized consonants contrast only in RTR words. Palatalized consonants front adjacent vowels, which exhibit increased F2 and decreased F1. These adjacent vowels are therefore targets for both F1 raising attributable to RTR and F1 lowering due to palatalization. The specific correlates of such vowels have not been previously reported, however. Thus, using data from a corpus of six Khalkha Mongolian speakers recorded in a laboratory setting, this paper reports on the acoustic correlates of RTR in Mongolian vowels in the context of palatalization.
The influence of co-speech gesture presence on the timing of F0 peaks in a tonal language
Authors: Franich Kathryn
Published: April 2023

The timing of co-speech gestures has been shown to correlate with the location of pitch peaks in speech in several non-tonal languages. While little research has examined this relationship in tonal languages, existing work suggests that pitch peak timing does not show the same synchronous alignment with manual gesture timing. In this paper, we examine whether the presence of a gesture can have an influence on timing of pitch peaks in Medʉmba, a tonal Grassfields Bantu language. Manual gesture data were analyzed from spontaneous interview speech of six Medʉmba speakers. In line with prior findings on tonal languages, manual gesture apexes and pitch peaks did not align, and gesture-accompanied vowels were not realized with higher or more dynamic pitch profiles (though they were realized with longer duration and greater intensity; ps < .01). The findings did indicate, however, that f0 peaks—particularly for high, falling, and low tone syllables—were realized earlier in gesture-accompanied vowels than non gesture-accompanied vowels (p < .05). We interpret these findings in the context of an integrated model of speech and manual gesture in which tonal gestures and manual gestures are both crucially timed to vowels, but timed to occur sequentially with one another.
Quantifying tongue tip visibility in ultrasound images of /r/ tongue shapes using numerical ultrasound simulations
Authors: Li Sarah R. , Mast T. Douglas , Boyce Suzanne
Published: April 2023

Midsagittal ultrasound images provide important articulatory information about tongue shape by showing much of the tongue surface from the root to the tip. However, portions of the tongue tip are often obscured due to shadowing from the mandible bone and the sublingual airspace. Information about tongue tip position can be important for understanding tongue movement patterns, e.g., classification of a retroflex or bunched shape for the American English rhotic /r/. Here, numerical simulations of acoustic wave propagation in tissue were performed using the open-source k-Wave toolbox to recreate ultrasound images of the tongue for a range of retroflex and bunched tongue shapes segmented from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Extent of the tongue tip visibly missing from the simulated ultrasound images is quantified by comparison with the known tongue shape from MRI. The fraction of the tongue surface visible in ultrasound images is compared between tongue shapes that appear retroflex versus bunched in MRI. Implications for ultrasound biofeedback therapy are discussed, including possible ambiguity of retroflex versus bunched classification.
The phrasal organization in speech gestures and co-speech head and eyebrow beats
Authors: Lee Yoonjeong , Krivokapić Jelena , Lindsey McLaren , Tatineni Vikas , Yambaye Lynn
Published: April 2023

Non-referential, beat-like gestures that accompany speech are often recruited as coparticipants for marking prosodic structure, especially signaling prominence. Only few studies have examined the coordination between vocal tract and co-speech gestures in relation to phrasal boundaries. Our recent study with eight Korean speakers (5F, 3M) has revealed that co-speech manual beat gestures and speech are synchronous with both phrase-edge segment and tone gestures [Lee et al., JASA 152, A199 (2022)]. Building on this, the present study examines different gesticulators, namely, co-speech head and eyebrow movement using the same eight speakers. We specifically test how the spatiotemporal patterning of vocal tract actions and cooccurring body movements systematically varies at phrasal boundaries and under prominence. We hypothesize that co-speech head and eyebrow movement are also temporally coordinated with prosodic phrases in Korean. The movements of the lips, tongue, eyebrows, and head were point-tracked using EMA. Measurements taken included the duration of intervals from the timepoint of concurrent beat gesture onset and target to various phrasal landmarks. The results on inter-articulator organization of prosody will be discussed. [Work supported by NSF.]
The Effect of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Elements on Academic Performance in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Yongjin , Lin Nan , Wu Chunchun , Wen Xu , Zhong Fei , Yu Kehong , Shu Li , Huang Cong
Published: April 2023

Purpose: We investigated the effects of classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) interventions on academic performance and assessed the impact of different CBPA elements on academic performance. Methods: Relevant experimental studies in four databases were searched from their inception to September 2022. Random effects models were used to compute standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 13 studies were included. CBPA interventions could improve academic performance in children and adolescents (SMD = 0.17, p = .02). For the CBPA elements, low frequency (no more than three times per week; SMD = 0.19, p = .01), moderate intensity (SMD = 0.19, p = .01), long time (more than 20 min in each intervention; SMD = 0.14, p = .05), integrated physical activity (SMD = 0.18, p = .04), no more than 400 metabolic equivalents of energy-min/week (SMD = 0.33, p = .001), and more than 8-week interventions (SMD = 0.19, p = .04) tended to improve academic performance. Conclusions: CBPA may improve academic performance in children and adolescents. CBPA elements also have an impact on academic performance.
“Soul on Ice”: Black Commodification, Race, and the National Hockey League
Authors: Cummings Kia , Burroughs Benjamin
Published: April 2023

The NHL has a long-standing, problematic relationship with race. The North American sporting and racial climate have brought even more attention to this reality. A notable tactic to counter the accusation of reinforcing racism within sports corporations, including the NHL, is publicly associating themselves with minoritized organizations. This often occurs through formal partnerships or the acquisition of minoritized-founded entities, initiatives, and organizations. This paper considers how salient discourses of race and Blackness are articulated by the hosts and contributors of NHL Studio’s Soul on Ice: The Podcast (SOIP) as an acquired NHL entity. The NHL aims to reposition itself on issues of race and the portrayal of Black members within hockey through SOIP. The podcast gives a platform to empower Black voices within White hockey culture but also problematically enmeshes the NHL within the commodification of Black culture and hardship. The acquisition of Soul on Ice: The Podcast by the NHL is used to sanitize and shield the league while reinforcing the normative Whiteness of hockey. Further, the consequences of the leagues’ commodification of Blackness and the nuanced experiences of Black NHL players and community members shared via the podcast are unpacked.