bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development of Cloud-Powered Interactive Multimedia Using Digital Storytelling Techniques on the 350th Anniversary of the Mission of Siam
Authors: Mungsoongnern Sarawut , Chuenboon Athcha , Kitiarasa Nareerat , Jiradilok Manowut , Pongprasertsin Saranyu , Boonputtikorn Chayarat , Nittayathammakul Vitsanu
Published: January 2025

The objectives of this research were to (1) develop cloud-powered interactive multimedia using digital storytelling techniques to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Mission of Siam, (2) compare participants' levels of comprehension before and after interacting with the developed multimedia, and (3) evaluate participants' satisfaction with the multimedia. The ADDIE model was employed as the framework for both the development and evaluation processes. The sample consisted of 600 undergraduate students from St. Louis College during the 2023 academic year. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a dependent t-test was conducted to determine differences in comprehension levels between the pre- and post-engagement periods. The research findings revealed that: (1) The developed cloud-powered interactive multimedia consisted of three episodes organized into a dedicated playlist on the YouTube platform, utilizing YouTube’s Media Symbol System to incorporate essential features such as symbolic formats (e.g., Play/Pause buttons, Like and Subscribe buttons, Notification Bell), visual and auditory content (including texts, graphics, images, animations, and audio elements), tags and descriptions for enhanced discoverability, a language and subtitling system to accommodate diverse audiences, and social connectivity through comments, likes, and shares; (2) Content experts rated the multimedia quality as acceptable, while media experts rated it as highly acceptable; (3) The preliminary tryout yielded an effectiveness index (E.I.) of 0.53; (4) Participants' comprehension of the Mission of Siam significantly improved after interacting with the multimedia (p < .05); (5) Participants expressed a high level of satisfaction, with an average rating of 4.20 and a standard deviation of 0.71.
Experiences of African women who migrate to a developed country and encounter intimate partner violence: a systematic review of qualitative evidence
Authors: Ogunsiji Olayide , Foster Jann , Green Heidi , Sikhosana Nqobile , Gauci Patricia , Kayesa Naomi , Fernandez Ritin
Published: January 2025

Objective:

The objective of this review was to synthesize the available evidence on the experiences of African women who migrated to a developed country and encountered intimate partner violence (IPV).

Introduction:

IPV is a significant public health issue, and migrant women living in developed countries are particularly vulnerable to IPV, experiencing disproportionately higher rates of IPV. Understanding the experiences of these women can inform health policy and decision-making in clinical practice to minimize IPV.

Inclusion criteria:

This review considered studies that included women of African descent, aged 16 years or older, who migrated from any of the 54 countries in the African continent to a developed country and who experienced IPV. Qualitative studies including, but not limited to, grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology, case studies, and action research designs, were considered for inclusion.

Methods:

A comprehensive database search of CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (OvidSP), and Scopus was conducted in February 2022 and updated in November 2022 and February 2023. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were searched for gray literature. Studies in the English language were considered, with no date limitation. Eligible studies were assessed by 2 independent reviewers for methodological quality. The findings were extracted and pooled, categorized by similarity of meaning, and synthesized using the JBI meta-aggregation method. The synthesized findings were graded using the ConQual approach.

Results:

Eleven qualitative studies were included in the review. The narratives of 234 women generated a total of 95 findings and 10 categories based on similarity of meaning, from which 4 synthesized findings were generated: i) The influence of cultural and gender norms, religion, and women’s perceptions of IPV; ii) Control and the cone of silence; iii) Psychological and emotional impact of IPV and ways of coping; and iv) Support for women who are victims of IPV.

Conclusion:

IPV is an ongoing issue for African migrant women in developed countries. The women reported that their partners continued their controlling behavior that was accepted in their country of birth, particularly regarding emotions and finances. The experience of IPV was exacerbated for women who did not have access to extended family members, and they often faced practical barriers in accessing available formal support. The synthesized findings from this review can be used to support the urgent need to address IPV in this migrant population.

Supplemental digital content:

A Yoruba-language version of the abstract of this review is available at: http://links.lww.com/SRX/A77.
Birefringence Table for Identification of Minerals in Petrographic Section
Authors: Gomes de Oliveira Isaac , Menezes Diniz Madruga Marcelo , Maia Ferro Isabelly Maria , Dos Santos Lucilene , de Oliveira Neri Tereza Falcão
Published: January 2025

The minerals have great importance through deposits, being widely used in the more traditional fields of geology (economic geology, prospecting, sedimentology, petrology / petrography). The aim of this research was the elaboration of a birefringence table, using only the optical properties, for a faster, safer, and more succinct identification of some important minerals in a petrographic section (0.03 mm), focusing on the most efficient characteristics and using the addition and subtraction colors related to birefringence, in which most of those analyzed are heavy minerals, as well as other very common minerals. The table prepared for this paper has two differential characteristics, which make it efficient. Updated values from birefringence in several minerals; plus, each combination color that could be visualized trough the accessory of 530 millimicron. Due to its ease and precision of use, it can be used by researchers, professionals and undergraduates. The table containing 42 common minerals, with the information on each of their character of optical signal, colors with quartz accessories, pleochroism, and the most relevant characteristic was chosen to facilitate the identification of such minerals.
Five-step dynamic ultrasonographic assessment of swallowing for dysphagia
Authors: Alyanak Bülent , Akaltun Mazlum Serdar , Bağcıer Fatih , Dede Burak Tayyip
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a five-step dynamic ultrasonography (US) technique aimed at diagnosing oropharyngeal dysphagia, which encompasses the analysis of tongue-palate contact, hyoid movement, upper esophageal sphincter opening, vocal fold closure and post-swallow residue. This protocol is implemented in a sequential manner, intending to methodically evaluate the essential phases of swallowing function. By mirroring the natural process of swallowing, this sequential method may provide a full understanding of possible dysfunctions at each stage. Considering the advantages of US in dysphagia diagnosis, we believe that this method will provide clinicians with a perspective for bedside dysphagia evaluation.
Using ray tracing modeling tools for room acoustics
Authors: Jaramillo Ana M. , Olson Bruce
Published: January 2025

When designing a venue (new construction or remodel) with specific acoustics requirements, acousticians usually rely on room acoustics software for the prediction of specific parameters to match a set of predefined goals. This presentation will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using geometrical acoustics software for room acoustics and best practices for defining appropriate settings and evaluating the reliability of predictions.
Environmental noise computer modeling in CadnaA
Authors: Manley David , Ahrens Steph
Published: January 2025

To calculate environmental noise levels over large sites with complex terrain and noise environments, such as mechanical equipment, generators, industrial, and traffic noise sources, it is sensible to implement an acoustic model as a part of the evaluation. This presentation includes a review of the CadnaA Noise Prediction Software from DataKustik and how it can be used to help visualize the noise environment of a site or onto a building façade. We will discuss field measurements of existing sites, sound power data of noise sources, checking the model for accuracy, engineering assumptions, and common breaking points for inaccuracies in CadnaA.
Beginner and intermediate concepts in building systems noise predictions
Authors: Cudequest Brandon , Miller Robert D.
Published: January 2025

Predictions of building system noise are a daily task for acoustical consultants. Though each consultant may rely on a different set of tools, these calculations generally trace back to guidelines and algorithms established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Several software programs incorporate these algorithms, which can expedite the calculation process over look-up tables. This presentation will start with a survey of calculation approaches and the core assumptions on which they are based. Next, the presentation will shift to aspects of ductwork and fan design that can challenge these assumptions and how to model these intermediate concepts. Early career acousticians will come away equipped with a deeper understanding of building system noise calculation techniques.
Career roundtable--Mid career
Authors: Kloepper Laura
Published: January 2025

This session will gather participants spanning students to late career professionals to have a conversation about work in bioacoustics. Each participant will give a brief introduction on their background and career path with ample time allotted for Q&A. Topics will include professional development, the importance of mentors, work/life balance, integrating family into careers, and more!
The life and times of a comparative bioacoustician
Authors: Dent Micheal
Published: January 2025

My Comparative Bioacoustics Laboratory investigates acoustic communication in animals. We conduct psychoacoustic studies of hearing using operant conditioning techniques, we perform preference tests in naïve animals, and we record sonic and ultrasonic vocalizations from our subjects in various contexts. Current lines of investigation in the mouse lab include simple measures of auditory processing such as time and intensity perception, the perception of ultrasonic vocalizations, the role of noise in masking of simple and complex signals, and the preference for certain vocalizations over others. We also measure hearing across the lifespan in different strains of mice, including genetic knockouts for Alzheimer’s and Autism Spectrum Disorder. These studies are designed to better understand acoustic communication in animals across the lifespan and also serve as valuable tools to validate the mouse as a model for studies on aging and the environmental and genetic factors involved in hearing loss. [Work supported by NIH AG081747.]
Entrepreneurial experiences as a bioacoustician
Authors: Taft Benjamin N.
Published: January 2025

This session will gather participants spanning students to late career professionals to have a conversation about work in bioacoustics. Each participant will give a brief introduction on their background and career path with ample time allotted for Q&A. Topics will include professional development, the importance of mentors, work/life balance, integrating family into careers, and more!
Vibrato Medical: Commercialization within academia without quitting your day job
Authors: Nazer Babak
Published: January 2025

Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) increases perfusion and promotes new blood vessel growth in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease. Vibrato Medical was founded to translate these findings for PAD patients by developing a non-invasive, wearable array of TUS transducers (LimbSonic) engineered for the human calf muscles and tibial arteries. With initial support of Phase I and II NIH SBIR grants, Vibrato has grown and executed its first-in-human early feasibility study demonstrating a 180 ± 34% (p<0.001) increase in lower extremity perfusion (FlowMet; Medtronic) with TUS along with improvement in other limb perfusion and oxygenation endpoints, as well as patient-reported outcome measures. A sham-controlled randomized clinical trial in patients with advanced PAD is currently in progress. As part of the “Transitioning Technology from Idea to Industry” invited panel, Dr. Nazer will discuss his rubric to “commercialization within academia” (The Idea, The Unmet Need, The IP, Regulatory, Reimbursement, and Distribution) within the context of Vibrato. As an active academic physician-scientist, he will also share his perspective on how academic faculty and students can harness resources to commercialize their ideas without “quitting their day jobs” within academia.
Multiparametric ultrasound image-derived analysis for monitoring breast cancer response to chemotherapy
Authors: Dolui Swapnil , Dogan Basak , Wessner Corinne E. , Porembka Jessica , Machado Priscilla , Ozcan Berat Bersu , Unni Nisha , Khalaf Maysa , Forsberg Flemming , Nam Kibo , Hoyt Kenneth
Published: January 2025

A major challenge in monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is how to detect and accurately quantify tumor response at an early stage of therapy. Based on the principle of ultrasound (US) scattering from different classes of tissue, the H-scan analysis has evolved. Preclinical results have demonstrated the ability of H-scan US imaging to detect early tumor response to chemotherapy in animal models. In this research, we compared the role of both B-scan and H-scan US imaging integrated with texture analysis, envelope statistics, and tumor shape markers for assessing breast cancer response to NAC in human subjects. Twenty-two patients underwent US scans before and after 10 % NAC using a clinical US scanner equipped with a 9L-D transducer. After data acquisition, a series of Gaussian filters were employed on the US data, to determine a close match to the localized tissue scattering function, and then the matched filter order were color-coded to form H-scan US images. The filters were centered equally between 3 and 9 MHz. Other parameters, such as Nakagami, texture, and tumor convexity features, were also assessed. All possible combinations of US parameters underwent dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis and then first component was used for predictive analysis through support vector machines, and an area under the curve (AUC) was reported. The data classification indicated that using optimized US combination yielded an higher AUC when H-scan US images utilized rather than B-scan US images (0.87 vs. 0.76).
Parallel addressing of biosensing ultrasonic implants using plane wave imaging
Authors: Bhatti Anam , Guillot Hugo , Firdaouissi Ouafae , Irar Mohammed , Hébert Clément , Lafond Maxime
Published: January 2025

Ultrasonic backscatter communication allows wireless and battery-free biosensing and has been proposed to monitor various physiologic signals. These sub-mm implants serve as antennae deeply seated in tissue, and are typically addressed using external single-element transducers, preventing parallel sensing of multiple implants. Their basic principle is that their acoustic reflectivity is modulated by the electrical impedance of a transistor tuned on a specific physiologic signal. Here, we investigate plane wave imaging to simultaneously and selectively detect the modulation of multiple implants. An L11-5v ultrasound array operating at 4.4 MHz was connected to a Verasonics programmable scanner and used to observe 350-μm piezoceramic cubes connected to a variable impedance shunt load. We also observed the variation of the amplitude of the radiofrequency signals picked up by the implants and radiated acoustically (an active signal from the passive implants) after beamforming of the received signals. Accurate detection of a change in the amplitude of this emitted wave was assessed for two piezoceramic transducers separated by 5 mm in water both with a shunt load and a transistor sensitive to neural activation, and below 15 mm turkey breast. Successful detection of the signal variation validates this approach for simultaneously addressing multiple neural implants.
Blending physical and cyber infrastructures to enable seamless telematic and in-person presentations
Authors: Schedel Margaret
Published: January 2025

Connecting laptops to projectors and PAs during conferences often frustrates presenters and organizers, especially for hybrid events. Issues such as incorrect input sources, loose connections, resolution mismatches, incompatible adapters, damaged cables, outdated drivers, projector settings, HDCP incompatibility, projectors hijacking audio, and operating system discrepancies can arise. These problems are worsened by tight schedules, with back-to-back presentations involving different personal computers with unique issues. Some conferences use an on-site computer to mitigate these issues, but this approach has its own challenges. These include inconsistent presentation slide behavior (fonts, images, transitions), the absence of necessary software or plugins for interactive demonstrations, and the need to upload slides well in advance. This paper presents a system that uses standard remote conferencing software (e.g., Zoom), a simple mixer, a PA, and an Internet connection—all typically available in presentation settings—to facilitate seamless presentations without physical connections between computers and projectors. First implemented at the 2022 IRCAM Forum at NYU, this system has since been successfully deployed at the 2023 WFAE and 2024 Web Audio Conferences, proving its effectiveness in ensuring smooth and uninterrupted presentations.
Integrated digital twin of networked immersive rooms for distributed interactive telepresence in shared virtual worlds
Authors: Huang Mincong , Braasch Jonas
Published: January 2025

We present an integrated digital twin for room-oriented immersive systems (ROIS) that facilitates spatially distributed multi-user remote telepresence. This work, built upon prior development of game-based virtual collocation systems in immersive rooms, further addresses synchronous communication and spatially distributed interactivity between remote participants through a distributed audio spatialization system. This digital twin allows its users in physically disjoint locations to navigate through the virtual worlds with virtual sound source information transmitted through remote procedure calls (RPC). Precisioned user location tracking data is broadcast directly through in-game sessions. For each virtual sound source, generated procedurally or through non-invasive microphone inputs, real-time reverberation is synthesized and encoded based on proximity-modulatedperceptual parameters. These virtual sound sources are rendered in each ROIS facility through Open Sound Control (OSC). This approach offloads the otherwise expensive computational resources for physically based acoustic rendering techniques unsuited for networked applications. We demonstrate this by evaluating the system using latency metrics informed by round-trip-time measures. Taken as a whole, the integrated digital twin in this work also considers broader scalability so that researchers and content creators can deploy it for any immersive rooms alike in the future. [Work supported by NSF IIS-1909229 & CNS-1229391.]
Sound, computers, and all the rest—A career in acoustics
Authors: Vorlaender Michael
Published: January 2025

After studying physics and completing his doctorate in 1989 on room acoustic computer simulations, Michael Vorlaender worked from 1989 to 1996 in various areas of acoustics, such as psychoacoustics, electroacoustics and building acoustics at the PTB in Braunschweig. He moved from the position of research officer back to his academic home (“alma mater”) RWTH Aachen University in 1996 and still works there today as Professor of Acoustics. His research focuses on auralization and acoustic virtual reality for perception research and application, particularly in architectural acoustics and noise control. Michael Vorlaender has been involved in several organizations as board member and president. The presentation will give a brief overview of the points at which the career steps included planned or unexpected turning points.
Linear analysis of sound velocity and attenuation in bubbly liquids
Authors: Nakamura Akihiro , Kanagawa Tetsuya
Published: January 2025

Owing to a dispersion effect induced by bubble oscillations, the change of phase velocity and attenuation of waves in bubbly liquids is important. Based on a set of volumetric averaged equations in a two-fluid model with bubble dynamics equation and temperature gradient models, we theoretically investigate linear propagation of pressure (or ultrasonic) waves in mono- and poly-disperse bubbly liquids. By incorporating the dissipation effects, the stop band (i.e., frequency range where the waves cannot propagate) appears a moderate high frequency region in a linear dispersion relation. From the comparison of sound velocity and attenuation with previous experimental data, the effect of acoustic radiation and thermal conduction is discussed. We found that, when using a two-fluid model, even if dissipation effects are considered, the inconvenience of infinite divergence of wave numbers at resonant frequency cannot be solved. However, based on the classical dispersion relation, we discuss how to solve this problem. Furthermore, thermal conduction and acoustic radiation should be appropriately set up to accurately predict the sound velocity and attenuation except in the high-frequency region, the sound velocity in the resonant frequency region, and the attenuation in the high-frequency region.
Fiftieth anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency's “noise levels” monograph
Authors: Fink Daniel
Published: January 2025

In 1974, as mandated by Congress in the Noise Control Act of 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published Levels of Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with an Adequate Margin of Safety. The Foreword stated, “not all of the scientific work that is required for basing such levels of environmental noise on precise objective factors has been completed…Nonetheless, there is information available from which extrapolations are possible and about which reasoned judgments can be made.” Based on then-available science, the EPA calculated that the noise level to prevent hearing loss was Leq(24) =< 70 dB; to prevent outdoor activity interference and annoyance Ldn =< 55 dB for areas in which quiet is a basis for use and Leq(24)=< 55 dB for areas in which people spend limited amounts of time; for indoor residential areas Ldn=<45 dB and Leq(24)=<45 dB for other indoor areas. The monograph specified that these numbers were not federal standards. Remarkably, subsequent research published in thousands of peer-reviewed articles, and analyses leading to noise exposure recommendations from the World Health Organization, have largely confirmed the accuracy of the EPA’s fifty-year old calculations. They got it right! This milestone anniversary should be celebrated.
Indicators of noise damage: Association between lifetime noise-exposure questionnaire, high-frequency audiogram, and categorical loudness scaling
Authors: Vinceslas Leny , Drga Vit , Verhey Jesko , Yasin Ifat
Published: January 2025

Some effects of noise-induced hearing loss may be evident at the neural level, such as cochlear synaptopathy but not necessarily manifest at the audiogram level (0.25–8 kHz); although indicators of early noise-induced hearing loss may be observable at higher audiometric frequencies. The current study compares two populations; both populations have normal hearing up to 8 kHz; however, one population has minimal lifetime exposure history for high-level noise, and the second population has previous and ongoing significant noise-exposure history. The individual‘s experience of noise exposure is assessed with a structured interview approach eliciting the level and duration across a range of noise exposure activities. Categorical loudness scaling (CLS) is used to quantify individual loudness perception. The slope of the low-level portion of the CLS function may be associated with increasing audiometric threshold. Different fitting procedures for the CLS were evaluated. The CLS slopes were compared with audiograms (0.25-16 kHz) as well as two evaluations of uncomfortable loudness levels (ULL); one using the traditional audiometric tonal stimuli and the second using the CLS broadband noise stimuli. This study investigates the extent to which noise damage can be deduced from a lifetime noise-exposure questionnaire, high-frequency audiogram, and categorical loudness scaling data.
Towards the detection of Alzheimer’s disease through eye movement changes using a hearable
Authors: Boutros Miriam , Shamei Arian , Niemczak Christopher , Bouserhal Rachel
Published: January 2025

Hearables are wearable devices with in-ear microphones that utilize the occlusion effect to detect amplified low-frequency signals propagated by tissue and bone conduction, such as eardrum oscillations caused by eye movements [Greuters et al., 2018, PNAS, 115(6)]. Saccades, which are rapid and simultaneous movements of both eyes, provide valuable insight into a person's motor abilities and can be used to assess cognitive dysfunction. Research indicates that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease exhibit delayed, slow, and hypometric (i.e., undershooting) saccades, along with less fixation stability [Fletcher & Sharpe, 1986. An. Neuro. 20(4)]. In this project, 35 patients with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, along with 35 matched control participants, will undergo various experiments, such as a picture description task, while wearing an eye tracking device and a hearable. The objective is to correlate recorded eardrum oscillations from the hearable and the amplitude and trajectory of horizontal and vertical saccades from the glasses. In addition, we aim to predict AD group inclusion based on data collected from the hearable. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a wearable, non-intrusive, and easy-to-use device capable of identifying Alzheimer’s disease and potentially predicting it earlier than the standard diagnosis timeframe.
An overview of two vibration laboratories at Brigham Young University
Authors: Shepherd Micah , Jensen Peter K. , Mills Joshua T. , Allen Matthew S. , Behling Marcus , Gilbert Suzanna , Black Jonathan , Wolfley Karl
Published: January 2025

A virtual tour will be given of two research laboratories at Brigham Young University. In the first laboratory, an experimental apparatus for measuring the internal damping of thin beams will be shown. Here, a beam specimen is placed in a vacuum chamber. After pulling a vacuum, the beam is excited with an automatic force hammer and the response is measured with a single-point laser vibrometer. The velocity data is recorded using a data acquisition system controlled with a custom python script. In the second laboratory, three types of tests will be highlighted. In the first, several small shakers are used to study methods for reproducing the vibration environments that components experience in launch vehicles, and this is compared with traditional, single-axis testing. The second type of experiment is used to characterize structures with weak nonlinearities. The structures are excited impulsively and accelerometers are used to measure the effective natural frequency and damping. This is used to characterize structures with bolted or riveted joints as well as additively manufactured beams with pockets of unfused powder. Finally, an apparatus for inferring the stress in the Achilles tendon is demonstrated. Waves are excited in the tendon and the wave speed is measured by calculating the time delay between two accelerometers that are pressed on the surface of the skin.
Virtual tour of MDAcostics LLC Lab
Authors: Dickerson Michael L.
Published: January 2025

MD Acoustics will provide a virtual tour of our commercial anechoic and reverberate chambers where we design, test, and experiment on products for industry and the government. We may show things like Pickleball paddle and ball development, car wash blowers development, IC vibration isolation development, and how to quiet buildings that have perforated aluminum panels. This is different than many labs taht just measure the acoustic performance of a product.
The connection between articulatory skill and higher-level executive function in monolinguals and bilinguals
Authors: Lyte Imani , Jahangir Tanzeela , Spinu Laura
Published: January 2025

While the existence of a bilingual advantage in higher-level executive function remains controversial, recent studies showed bilinguals consistently outperform monolinguals in learning new patterns of pronunciation (in both natural or artificially constructed novel dialects). Since audition and articulatory control are involved in this type of learning, the question arises to what extent these lower-level functions are enhanced in people with superior performance on phonetic learning tasks. Dugaillard & Spinu (2019) found that sequential bilinguals outperformed monolinguals and simultaneous bilinguals on a tongue-twister task (Goldrick & Blumstein 2006, McMillan&Corley 2010), suggesting an advantage in articulatory skill. In the current study, we aim to replicate the original findings with a new group of bilinguals and further explore the connection of articulatory skill with one aspect of executive function (i.e. interference/conflict resolution). The experimental tasks include (1) reading artificially constructed tongue-twisters such as “kifkivkivkif” three times in succession, matching a 150 bps rhythm on a metronome, and (2) a classic Simon task asking participants to react or inhibit their response to congruent and incongruent stimuli. We expect the findings to shed more light on the bilingual advantage phenomenon and the connection between lower- and higher-level cognitive functions in both populations.
Implementing artificial intelligence models for automatic vocal tract image segmentation
Authors: Ng Kyle , Qureshi Ameen , Hsu Haley , Byrd Dani , Iskarous Khalil
Published: January 2025

Modeling articulatory representations is critical to the scientific study of speech production and has been addressed by quantifying dynamical movements of the vocal tract. However, modeling dynamic articulatory data has proven time-consuming and computationally taxing. For example, real-time imaging data of the vocal tract has been assessed using contour-tracking methods for image segmentation that require manually creating vocal tract templates and human supervision to correct image segmentation (e.g., Bresch & Narayanan 2009). Recently, new work has introduced multimodal approaches to model articulatory data (Jain et al., 2024), but these approaches still require manual initiation/correction. We combine previous segmentation methods such as the Chan-Vese Segmentation algorithm (Getreuer 2012) with AI models like the Segment Anything Model (SAM) (Kirillov et al. 2023) to test means for optimizing image segmentation of vocal tract articulators in real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) data. We deploy non-linear filtering and parameter optimization so as to prioritize desirable image processing features, such as smoothing the image while sharpening the edges. Processing these optimized images into SAM allows for segmentation of critical vocal tract articulators and the airway. In sum, the goal of this work is to automatically segment without manual intervention moving articulators in rtMRI speech production data. [Work supported by NSF.]
Accented sentence and word recognition: Humans versus whisper automatic speech recognition
Authors: Chen Junrong , Kwong Jan , Creel Sarah C.
Published: January 2025

Despite advancements in speech recognition technology, questions remain about model generalizability and how much models mirror human perception. These questions are addressed by comparing OpenAI's Whisper model and 75 human transcribers on 300 English sentences (20 speakers, half F, half M, half US-accented, half [Mexican-]Spanish-accented). Sentences ended in 100 target words, with ⅓ high-predictability sentences (The farmer milked the cows) and ⅔ varying degrees of low-predictability (The farmer/barmer milked the nose). Target-word error rate (WER) was examined for final words in sentences and for isolated final words (recordings excised from same sentences). WER decreased with increasing model size, but was higher for Spanish-accented than US-accented speech, suggesting imperfect generalizability. Both models and humans benefited from more-predictable vs. less-predictable sentences. However, using isolated-word WERs as a baseline revealed that sentence context affected models and humans differently: humans benefited only from high-predictability sentences, while models benefited somewhat from any sentence context. Humans outperformed models on isolated words, suggesting that Whisper may have a restricted distribution of single-word utterances or may need lengthier acoustic context than humans. Findings suggest that more inclusive, varied training data may yield more generalizable ASR. Potential for using ASR to model human speech adaptability is discussed.
On the temporal aspect of post-consonantal fundamental frequency perturbation in English voicing perception
Authors: Chang Chiung-Yu , Sanders Lisa D.
Published: January 2025

The fundamental frequency (F0) after English voiceless obstruents is generally higher than their voiced counterparts. This difference is usually largest at the vowel onset and diminishes before the vowel ends. Past research has established that the F0 perturbation influences English listeners' voicing perception. While many studies have highlighted the effect of F0 onset height, the temporal extent of the F0 perturbation is less investigated. In the present study, listeners categorized bilabial stops as voiced or voiceless. We manipulated the voice onset time (VOT), the F0 contour, and the presence of background noise. Except for one level contour at the baseline F0 value, all other F0 contours started at 20 Hz higher than the baseline. Critically, these contours fell to reach baseline at different times, rendering them different slopes. The experimental results revealed an interaction between VOT, F0, and noise. Specifically, when the stimuli were presented in noise and had VOTs near the category boundary, listeners were more likely to categorize F0 falling at slower rates as voiceless than those at faster rates. These results suggested that the duration of F0 perturbation also affects voicing perception in English and might play a role in developing tonal languages.
Acoustic comparison of rhotic acquisition in biofeedback versus motor-based treatment for residual speech sound disorder
Authors: Lara Marcela , Benway Nina , Leece Megan , Liang Wendy , Hitchcock Elaine , Preston Jonathan L. , McAllister Tara
Published: January 2025

Around 2%-5% of speakers aged 8 and up experience Residual Speech Sound Disorder (RSSD), which can persist despite years of intervention and may negatively impact a child’s social and academic outcomes. Previous studies have investigated visual biofeedback as an alternative intervention for RSSD affecting the English rhotic /ɹ/. These studies have been inconclusive because of study design limitations and small sample sizes. Furthermore, most previous studies have focused on generalization gains at the end of a period of treatment, but theories of motor learning suggest that any differences between biofeedback and treatment will be most apparent early in treatment. Data for this study were sourced from an ongoing project, Correcting Residual Errors with Spectral, ULtrasound, Traditional Speech therapy Randomized Controlled Trial (C-RESULTS RCT), which aims to compare biofeedback and non-biofeedback interventions for RSSD affecting /ɹ/ using a well-powered randomized controlled trial design. In this study, eighty children with /ɹ/ misarticulation were randomized to receive traditional motor-based treatment or biofeedback treatment (with ultrasound and visual-acoustic biofeedback subtypes). We hypothesized that acoustic measures of /ɹ/ production accuracy would show faster gains in the first three intervention sessions (acquisition phase) for children who received biofeedback rather than motor-based treatment.
Propagation of uncertainty in HVAC noise prediction
Authors: Underwood Samuel H.
Published: January 2025

Predictions of noise generated by Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems bear uncertainty that can be estimated from the uncertainty associated with each input variable in the source-path-receiver calculation. In this study, the propagation of uncertainties from the measurement of source sound power levels, empirically modeled attenuation, regenerated noise from duct path elements, and receiver room corrections are estimated for a simple duct system example. Additional attention is given to other “known unknowns” in HVAC noise prediction which still remain unaddressed decades after they were first identified. Practical implications of uncertainty are also discussed.
When noise mitigation of rooftop units does not work as expected
Authors: Manley David , Krapfl Blake
Published: January 2025

A duct silencer was installed in the return air ductwork of a rooftop unit as part of noise mitigation in an existing building. After installation, the resulting noise levels had only been reduced by approximately half of what was calculated. This presentation will discuss the strategies the team took to investigate why the results did not match the calculations and how the team ultimately discovered the outdoor air damper settings of the rooftop unit were the cause of the noise problem.
Virtual tour of Kloepper ecological acoustics and behavior lab
Authors: Kloepper Laura
Published: January 2025

Our lab conducts bioacoustic research with bats, frogs, penguins, terns, moose, and more! This tour, taken from a student's perspective, will show our lab's working spaces and highlight active research projects with our group.
Implementation and application of complete radiation boundary conditions: A demonstration
Authors: Hagstrom Thomas
Published: January 2025

The radiation of energy to the far field is a fundamental feature of many problems in acoustics. Efficient numerical algorithms for simulating sound propagation in the time domain must therefore include convergent near-field domain truncation procedures. For problems modeled by uniform or stratified far fields, complete radiation boundary conditions provide a provably optimal domain truncation algorithm. In particular, they are spectrally convergent in boundary condition order and can be placed quite close to scatterers or other inhomogeneities. However, the mathematical description of the radiation conditions looks complicated in comparison with less-efficient methods, such as perfectly matched layers or simple damping. In this demonstration, we show how complete radiation conditions can be implemented in a standard discontinuous Galerkin code as easily as other schemes. In fact, the implementation is shown to simply involve a single extra element with a nonstandard differentiation matrix.
Numerical investigations on a portable outdoor waste heat-driven standing-wave thermoacoustic engine
Authors: Guo Lixian , Zhao Dan
Published: January 2025

The present study focuses on developing a portable outdoor waste heat-driven thermoacoustic engine (TAE) with the capability to harness waste heat from commonly used camping gas stoves, enabling energy storage and acoustic power generation. To conserve space while enhancing heat-driven acoustic power output, the developed thermoacoustic system is composed of two quarter-wavelength standing-wave TAEs sharing a common closed end, forming a U-shaped configuration with two stacks symmetrically distributed on both sides. The numerical study simulates the combustion of an outdoor gas stove (primarily fueled by liquefied butane) to derive its temperature function. This function is then applied to the two-dimensional full-scale U-shaped TAE to yield self-excited thermoacoustic oscillations. To improve energy efficiency and acoustic power output, the study investigates the impact of the (1) temperature function generated by combustion, (2) working gas/medium, and (3) operating pressure. Additionally, nonlinear phenomena within the system are explored. The generated acoustic power can be further converted into electricity using piezoelectric elements or electric generators, serving as an emergency power source for mobile phone charging, car engine ignition, and emergency lighting. This research unveils significant potential for utilizing low-grade thermal energy to pioneer innovative outdoor thermoacoustic power sources.
Two levels of Bayesian Dissipation Analysis in impedance tube measurements
Authors: CHEN ZIQI , Xiang Ning
Published: January 2025

Accurate impedance tube measurements are often compromised by additional absorption due to air dissipation, particularly at high frequencies. Various effects contribute to air dissipation in a tube, and numerous models have been developed to describe the dissipation. This work explores different dissipation models and estimates the dissipation accurately using Bayesian inference. The exploration involves two levels of Bayesian inference: the higher level of inference addresses the model selection and the lower level of inference estimates critical parameters in models, such as sound speed and dissipation factor. The experimental data are derived from impedance tube measurements of the empty tube, and the comparison is extended to high frequency. Based on the analytical results and experimental validation, Bayesian inference is able to estimate and select dissipation models for the impedance tube measurements at high frequencies.
A study of the application of global optimization for the arrangement of absorbing materials in multi-layered absorptive fluid silencer
Authors: PARK HONGMIN , Seong Woojae
Published: January 2025

In naval ships and submarines, silencers are installed to reduce pipe flow noise. Due to limited space, the size of the silencers is restricted, requiring them to have excellent acoustic performance. In this study, to improve the acoustic performance of a multi-layer absorptive fluid silencer, the physical properties of the absorbing material, mesh, and design parameters were reviewed in detail compared to previous studies. A global optimization algorithm was introduced to find the optimal layering of the absorbing materials. The acoustic performance of the silencer was evaluated through transmission loss. To calculate the transmission loss, a finite element method-based numerical analysis program (COMSOL) was used along with genetic algorithm and simulated annealing for global optimization. The absorbing material used was polyurethane, a porous elastic material, and five practically applicable absorbing materials were selected. The placement and thickness of these materials in each layer were optimized, and the reliability of the global optimization techniques was verified through comparison with solutions from a brute force algorithm. Additionally, an application method was proposed to find the optimal solution in a short time, even for silencers with more than ten layers.
Analysis of quadrupolar frequencies of the spherical gravitational wave detector by finite element modeling: A study case
Authors: Vanelli Natan , Magalhaes Nadja Simao , Souza Sergio Turano , Vanelli Fabio da Silva , Frajuca Carlos
Published: January 2025

The Schenberg detector is a spherical resonant antenna gravitational wave detector with a solid sphere with a diameter of 65 cm and a weight of approximately 1.15 metric tons. It is made of a copper–aluminum alloy with 94% Cu and 6% Al. This work aims to verify the natural frequencies of the Schenberg detector structure. The authors used the finite element method to calculate the quadrupole frequency band and compare it with the value measured in tests during the construction of the antenna at University of Sao Paulo, which was 67.3 Hz. In the modal simulation with the homogenous material, the frequency band of the quadrupole modes was around 35 Hz. Many trials to improve this result were made with no significant improvement. The improvement came when the sphere was considered not homogenous, as to the cooling process of the sphere casting, the alloy that cooled faster (close to the surface sides and in the bottom) can reach a hardness 20% higher than the material that cooled slower (in the center and on the top). Including these characteristics, the band value obtained was close to the one measured during the construction of the antenna, a value of 63.2 Hz was obtained.
Flow measurements in a bass recorder using particle image velocimetry
Authors: Lasickas Titas , Caridi Giuseppe , Soldati Alfredo , Chatziioannou Vasileios
Published: January 2025

The timbre of wind instruments is determined by the generation of standing waves inside the instrument. These can be studied by analyzing the acoustic pressure and flow oscillations of the air column. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is a powerful tool capable of non-intrusively measuring air flow inside a tube. However, only a few studies have considered the application of time-resolved PIV to measure air flow inside a wind instrument. In this study, flow is measured inside a custom-made transparent recorder tube under natural playing conditions, during steady state. By collecting detailed flow measurements, this work aims to investigate the complex interactions between the air flow and the tone hole geometry of the instrument. The tone hole geometry is varied in diameter, height, and shape during the experiments. These findings have potential implications for wind instrument makers and could lead to a deeper understanding of sound production and articulation mechanisms in wind instruments. The study presents observations and discusses the broader relevance of PIV in wind instrument acoustics research.
Two cues are better than one: Adding interaural time differences improves spatial hearing for bilateral cochlear-implant listeners
Authors: Mayo Paul G. , Goupell Matthew J.
Published: January 2025

Bilateral cochlear-implant (BI-CI) listeners show limited sensitivity to interaural time differences (ITDs), the dominant localization cue for acoustic-hearing listeners, and mainly rely on interaural level differences (ILDs) for localization. Studies utilizing bilaterally synchronized direct stimulation capable of conveying ITDs have investigated sensitivity to ITDs or ILDs in isolation. It is, however, unclear how these two cues interact in controlled and bilaterally synchronized electrical stimulation. Therefore, this study performed an ITD-ILD cue-weighting lateralization experiment with BI-CI listeners using direct stimulation of single electrodes. Preliminary results show that BI-CI listeners display sensitivity only to ILDs with unsynchronized stimulation and equal sensitivity to both ITDs and ILDs with synchronized stimulation. Additionally, providing ITDs and ILDs together via bilaterally synchronized stimulation resulted in increased lateralization ranges and slopes, thus improved spatial hearing acuity compared to either cue alone. These results suggest providing both ITDs and ILDs via bilaterally synchronized sound processors has the potential to improve spatial hearing in BI-CI listeners. The data have implications for clinical sound processor design and stimulation strategies.