bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptual categorization of and adaptation to human voice and musical instruments: A passive-listening study
Authors: Gao Zi , Oxenham Andrew J.
Published: January 2025

The human voice is a highly social and relevant auditory stimulus. Previous studies have observed a wide range of voice-sensitive effects, but less is known about the role of attention and context when categorizing sounds as either voice or non-voice. To address this gap, the current study adopted electroencephalography (EEG) passive listening tasks. In Experiment 1, vowel utterances (/a/, /o/, /u/, and /i/) and instrumental tones (bassoon, horn, saxophone, and viola) were presented with equal probability in a random sequence, and different brain responses to the two categories were observed. In Experiment 2, mismatch negativity was observed for rare instrumental tones (viola) embedded in a random sequence of four different vowels, but not vice versa, suggesting that categorization of voice and non-voice could require little to no attention but may be modulated by stimulus familiarity. In Experiment 3, ambiguous voice-instrument morphs were presented in either vocal or instrumental contexts. Logistic regression models performed above chance in predicting the type of context (voice or instrument) from the responses to ambiguous morphs. The results suggest that neural signatures of both perceptual categorization (voice/non-voice) and context effects can be observed in EEG responses under passive listening conditions. [Work supported by NIH grant R01 DC012262.]
Age-related effects on emotional reactions to sounds in individuals with misophonia
Authors: Jain Namitha , Kim Gibbeum , Choi Jae Wan , Husain Fatima T. , Berenbaum Howard
Published: January 2025

Misophonia, characterized by intolerance to specific sounds, triggers emotional reactions like disgust, anger, and distress. While misophonia typically begins in childhood/adolescence, its nature across the lifespan is understudied. Our study assesses audiological correlates and emotional reactions to sounds in misophonia across age groups. We recruited three groups: young misophonia (YM: 18–29 years, N = 14), mid-to-old misophonia (OM: 30–67 years, N = 17), and young controls (YC: 18–25 years, N = 26). All underwent hearing assessments (0.25–16kHz). Participants classified typical trigger and other affective sounds based on eliciting any misophonic reactions and rated their valence on a neutral to extremely unpleasant scale. Results show age-related effects in OM, with poorer hearing (>4 kHz) compared to YM and YC. Both groups had slower response times to trigger sounds compared to non-trigger sounds, suggesting a greater cognitive and emotional load. We found group differences on valence rating and reaction times. OM perceived sounds to be more unpleasant and responded slower to sounds relative to YM, possibly due to age or hearing loss effects. These findings suggest that misophonia may interact with auditory processing of emotions that are influenced by age and hearing acuity. Note that these results are preliminary and data collection is ongoing.
Studying fricatives with Ken Stevens and ever since
Authors: Shadle Christine H.
Published: January 2025

I began studying fricatives as Ken Stevens’ Ph.D. student at MIT, following John Heinz’ experiments and Ken’s 1971 JASA paper. Experiments with simple mechanical models allowed source location and spectra to be measured. Using these sources in transmission-line analogues showed predicted and measured far-field spectra matched, validating the use of such models for voiceless fricatives. Parameters that captured the acoustic effects of changes in model dimensions and airflow distinguished sibilant and non-sibilant cases, and the place of the constriction. In the years since, I have used aerodynamic measurements (e.g., Rothenberg mask, hot-wires) to explore the interaction of convection and acoustic velocities in the vocal tract. These phenomena are important in voiced fricatives and whistling and are ignored in classic models. Signal processing techniques (ensemble averaging, multitaper analysis, spectral decomposition) have, e.g., demonstrated the interaction of phonation and turbulence sources in voiced fricatives. Spectral parameters allowed comparison of fricatives of different languages, or phonetic contexts; of speakers of different ages and genders, and with speech disorders. My goal has shifted from improving articulatory synthesis to defining acoustic parameters that allow production parameters to be inferred. Open questions and the many links to Ken’s lab and collaborators will be described.
Neurocomputational analysis of impaired auditory-motor function for laryngeal motor control
Authors: Zanartu Matias
Published: January 2025

Recent research indicates that impaired auditory-motor function may be a significant etiological factor in the development of hyperfunctional voice disorders (VH). To investigate this hypothesis, our group has introduced Laryngeal DIVA (LaDIVA), a neurocomputational framework that currently integrates a triangular body-cover vocal fold model within the physiologically validated DIVA model of speech motor control. LaDIVA is being used to investigate laryngeal motor control in terms of pitch regulation, responses to environmental noise, and voice quality. In this study, we examined the adaptation dynamics of speaking in noise among 20 participants with typical voices and 20 with VH. Participants were instructed to utter a series of syllables under three conditions: baseline (quiet environment), Lombard (speech noise at 80 dB SPL), and recovery (quiet environment after five minutes of rest). The results revealed that participants with VH did not return to baseline after speaking under masking noise. Our model analysis indicates that participants with VH rely more heavily on auditory feedback to update the feedforward process when speaking in noise compared to those with typical voices. This increased reliance suggests that individuals with VH require more time to adapt to changes in auditory environments, which may contribute to the development of VH.
From intention to understanding and back again: How a simple message of “Catch and Pass” can build language in children
Authors: Vick Jennell , Mental Rebecca , Rollins Michael
Published: January 2025

Project ELLA (Early Language and Literacy for All) is a program of Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center (CHSC) that aims to improve language and preliteracy outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and their caregivers in Cleveland communities. Project ELLA uses a public health approach that involves employing community health workers (CHWs) to increase awareness of the impact of responsive interaction for building language in infants and toddlers using a simple message: “Catch and Pass,” CHWs are in the community to provide training and build trust with families and to identify and refer children who need clinical services. Project ELLA also provides no-cost speech-language therapy and support for caregivers at CHSC locations and through outreach programs. Project ELLA evaluates its impact by tracking the number of children and families served, the progress of children in therapy, the knowledge and skills of caregivers and teachers, and the established partnerships in the community. Project ELLA is a novel and innovative model that can transform the landscape of language and literacy development in Cleveland and beyond. It amplifies the basics of The Speech Chain in the language-building role of caregivers of young children.
Ken Stevens and motor theories
Authors: Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: January 2025

At an ASA meeting long ago, Ken Stevens said he had a confession to make, one that I wouldn’t like. “I think I’m becoming a motor theorist,” he said with a little laugh. I registered the surprise he expected and said, “Traditional Motor Theory?” He replied, “not exactly,” and described the sensory and motor components of Quantal Theory. In today’s talk, I’ll review preliminary data from a collaboration between my laboratory and neuroscientists at Washington University (Marc Raichle, Abraham Synder) and Stanford University (Anish Mitra). We are using resting state fMRI experiments to measure spontaneous infra-slow brain activity representing information flow between sensory (Wernicke’s) and motor (Broca’s) brain areas in newborns, 6-, 12-, and 24-month-old infants, as well as adults, and to link information flow in early development to a child’s emergent language skills. If supported, our hypothesis will help explain infants’ abilities to integrate sensory and motor information early in development. Moreover, our data have the potential to substantially alter current theories, creating a sensorimotor theory of speech development, one that I believe Ken Stevens (and traditional motor theorists like Al Liberman) would welcome.
VIMEO Livestream Concert: The Telematic Circle—Celebrating Free Music performed live over the internet (https://vimeo.com/event/4551097/281fe79260)
Authors: Braasch Jonas , Chafe Chris , Schedel Margaret
Published: January 2025

In the spirit of a virtual meeting, the Technical Committee Musical Acoustics hosts a telematic concert featuring freely improvised music in the classic and jazz avant-garde tradition. In 2007, we started a Telematic Circle between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Stanford University, performing free music weekly between two music seminars led by Pauline Oliveros at RPI and Chris Chafe at Stanford. This project was possible through a new low-latency INET2 internet network, Chafe’s low-latency audio software, Jacktrip, and the adequacy of free music for such collaborations. Over the years, the Telematic Circle expanded to other institutions in the US and other countries. This concert will highlight a three-way connection between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Stanford University, and Suny Stonybrook, featuring local musicians from all three institutions. The concert can be viewed via a VIMEO Livestream (https://vimeo.com/event/4551097/281fe79260).
Acoustical design and uncertainty: Can we beat the MacLeamy curve
Authors: Cudequest Brandon
Published: January 2025

The MacLeamy curve is a useful framework for identifying design milestones and counteracting the cost of uncertainty. If uncertainty is inherent in aspects of design, then the MacLeamy curve suggests that risk can be minimized by identifying these uncertainties early on in the project. Even if the details are not fully formed, a contingency budget can be established until more accurate costs are known. Despite best efforts, there are moments in construction where situations become uncertain. This presentation will discuss several acoustical recommendations in the context of the MacLeamy curve and how designers can embrace the uncertainty. The discussion will be framed around a recently completed project in northern Minnesota. Its remote location made quantifying site noise a challenge; however, its proximity to a freight train required close understanding of the environmental noise impact. Additionally, the project had a number of sound isolation assemblies where no data exists: precast enclosure, double pane exterior windows, and a sliding barn door. Finally, the project auditorium had several variable elements: retractable seating, acoustic curtains, and separate theatrical curtains. The presentation will discuss how the room acoustics were modeled for these various configurations. Uncertainty is unavoidable, but there are ways to minimize its impact.
Insights into the demographics and spatial distribution of sperm whales at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, from passive acoustics
Authors: Deans William A. , Posdaljian Natalie , Frasier Kait , Trickey Jennifer S. , Cárdenas-Hinojosa Gustavo , Baumann-Pickering Simone
Published: January 2025

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are cosmopolitan cetaceans exhibiting sex-based differences in ecology and distribution. Sperm whales are present at Guadalupe Island (GI), Mexico, where tourism vessels employed ultrasonic antifouling (UA) devices through 2021. We investigated sperm whale presence and demographics near the island and examined their spatial distribution using signal amplitude distributions from a single-hydrophone system. Sperm whales were detected intermittently at GI between 2018 and 2022. We used inter-click intervals to determine demographic information. Male sperm whales were present year-round; social groups of females and young were generally scarce but increased in 2022. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we evaluated different spatial distributions of each demographic group to identify the typical locations that best explained observed click received levels at the recording station. On daily and weekly scales, no significant change in sperm whale acoustic presence was observed for periods with UA, contrary to findings for goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). However, because the predicted spatial distributions of sperm whale habitat indicated minimal overlap with the reach of UA, it appears that their distribution may limit their exposure. This study highlights GI as an important habitat for male sperm whales and, potentially, an emerging seasonal habitat for social groups.
Terrestrial hearing in bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus)
Authors: Packard Noah , Sills Jillian M. , Jones Ryan A. , Reichmuth Colleen
Published: January 2025

As the Arctic becomes more accessible to human activities—and thus to anthropogenic noise sources—it becomes increasingly important to understand the auditory sensitivity of sound-reliant marine mammals, such as bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus). To address knowledge gaps, the in-air hearing of one adult bearded seal was measured outdoors in ambient noise conditions using psychophysical methods. 50% detection thresholds were measured for 10 frequencies (0.04–51.2 kHz) that extended across the subject’s hearing range. For low to mid frequencies (0.04–12.8 kHz), thresholds were limited, or masked, by ambient noise. Thresholds obtained at higher frequencies (25.6–51.2 kHz) were sufficiently elevated above background noise to provide absolute measures of hearing sensitivity. These data reveal that the in-air, high-frequency roll off for bearded seals is in alignment with available data for related species despite more than 12 million years of evolutionary isolation. Furthermore, the masked data collected at low and mid frequencies enable an unconventional approach for estimating critical ratios, a key parameter in masking models. These findings highlight auditory similarities within the northern clade of phocid seals and improve our ability to predict potential noise effects for these species in a rapidly changing soundscape.
Ultrasonic vocalizations produced by a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder differ following social experience
Authors: Abdavinejad Sevda , Charlton Payton , Dent Micheal
Published: January 2025

Mice are highly effective models for studying neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by abnormal social behaviors, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because mice produce Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs) with many features like human speech, they have been proposed as a model for investigating neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social communication, including ASD. The BTBR T+T+Itpr3tf/J mouse is an inbred strain displaying social abnormalities, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors analogous to the behavioral symptoms of ASD. Here, we investigate the USVs produced by male and female BTBR mice in response to long- and short-term social experiences, including exposure to an opposite-sex mouse, a same-sex mouse, or no other mouse, for 1 h prior to the recording session. Male and female BTBR mice produce USVs which vary in features and proportions produced across social experiences compared to wild-type controls. These results add to the understanding of the BTBR mouse model for humans with ASD. Funded by NIH R01 DC016641.
Hearing across the lifespan by mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: McLaughlin Riley , Charlton Payton , Abdavinejad Sevda , Lauer Amanda M. , Dent Micheal
Published: January 2025

Although hearing loss and dementias, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), are known to be closely linked, the exact nature of the link has not yet been determined. To better understand the association, we have been measuring hearing across the lifespan by several mouse models of AD. Using behavioral operant conditioning techniques, male and female mice are trained to nose poke for a chocolate milk reinforcer when they hear a 14 kHz pure tone. Using psychophysical signal detection theory, d-prime thresholds are calculated daily for each mouse subject from about 100 days of age through two years of age. Thresholds for several AD models and their wild-type counterparts generally increase across the lifespan as the mice get older. Although there is some variability across mouse subjects, thresholds from the AD models and wild-type controls are similar across the lifespan. Thus, although older humans with AD are more prone to hearing loss than those without AD, the current mouse models of AD do not recapitulate this phenotype. These results suggest an opportunity to investigate other factors contributing to the heterogeneity in hearing across the lifespan in mouse models of AD. [Work supported by NIH AG081747.]
Unidentified sounds from the endeavour hydrothermal vent field
Authors: Barclay David R. , Smith Brendan
Published: January 2025

Hydrothermal vent sites have the potential to produce transient physical, geophysical, geological, and biological sounds. A large number of sounds of unknown origin have been captured at the Main Endeavour Vent field in the North-East Pacific by an Ocean Networks Canada monitoring hydrophone. The hydrophone sits at a depth of 2,250 m, a few meters from a vent chimney.
Simulating plane wave imaging with the fast nearfield method
Authors: Honer Jacob S. , McGough Robert J.
Published: January 2025

Conventional B-mode imaging suffers from limited frame rates due to compounded travel times. In contrast, plane wave imaging has emerged as a high-speed solution, offering superior frame rates while preserving resolution and contrast. Simulation plays a pivotal role in testing and refining new imaging algorithms, which is crucial for further development of plane wave imaging. However, limited support exists in current ultrasound simulation packages for plane wave imaging simulations. To address this deficiency, plane wave imaging support is incorporated into FOCUS, the “Fast Object-oriented C++ Simulator” (https://www.egr.msu.edu/∼fultras-web/). This is achieved by adopting a pulse-echo imaging model that combines received signals from individual scatterers while assuming linear propagation of acoustic pressure fields within an isotropic, homogeneous, and non-dissipative medium. The fast nearfield method is deployed for the acoustic pressure field calculations, providing superior performance in terms of speed, accuracy, and memory-efficiency compared to other methods. The pulse-echo imaging model is extended to standard plane wave imaging techniques, such as electronic steering of plane waves and beamforming of the received RF data. Simulation results with a scatterer population that mimics a soft-tissue phantom featuring 5-point targets, 5 hyperechoic regions, and 5 anechoic regions of varying sizes will be demonstrated.
Beyond audiograms: Simulating the complex reality of modern hearing loss
Authors: Bray Delbert
Published: January 2025

This presentation introduces a novel computational model designed to simulate both sensorineural and hidden hearing loss, providing a powerful tool for architects, acousticians, and researchers to better understand and address hearing disabilities. Developed using Max/MSP, the model employs a multiband downward expander to simulate sensorineural hearing loss, with thresholds adjustable based on age and common noise-induced patterns. Hidden hearing loss, an increasingly prevalent yet under-recognized condition, is modeled through the innovative manipulation of temporal envelope (ENV) and temporal fine structure (TFS) components. By allowing users to experience these hearing impairments firsthand, the model bridges the gap between audiological data and practical application in building design and acoustic engineering. This interdisciplinary approach not only enhances our understanding of hearing loss but also has potential implications for public health, incentivizing proper ear protection, and care. The model serves as a valuable educational resource, fostering empathy and driving more inclusive design practices in architecture and acoustics.
Measuring body vibrations of stringed instruments
Authors: Rau Mark , Scavone Gary
Published: January 2025

Measurements of stringed instruments are used to interpret their vibrational characteristics, notably the input admittance and mode shapes. This talk will demonstrate methods to capture, process, and analyze stringed instrument measurements, focusing on surface vibrations. First, methods of suspending and isolating the instruments are discussed. Next, excitation methods, including the impact hammer and shaker, are demonstrated. Sensors will then be presented to measure the resulting surface vibrations, including accelerometers and laser Doppler vibrometers. Methods to view the mode shapes, including the roving hammer and scanning vibrometer measurements will be discussed. Finally, once the measurements are collected, techniques to post-process and analyze them with mode fitting will be discussed. This presentation will include video demonstrations of the previously mentioned measurement methods as applied to guitars, violins, and other stringed instruments. Best practices and the pros and cons of each method will be discussed.
Acoustical measurements enabled by low cost electronics and digital oscilloscopes
Authors: Brown David A. , Bachand Corey
Published: January 2025

The advent of low-cost impedance analyzers and digital oscilloscopes have enabled the realization of cost-effective measurement systems for research, development, calibrations, and classroom/laboratory demonstrations. Traditionally, we have relied on HP/Agilent 4194 impedance anyalzers for laboratory use, but these units are heavy and expensive, originally costing about $30,000. Over the years, we have acquired and repaired many used units from ebay but recently found an alternative. Digilent offers a PC-based impedance measurement ($30) as add on to the Discovery logic Analyzer and Waveforms software, costing less than $300 that is lightweight and ideal for field or classroom use. Digital PC-based oscilloscopes and data acquisitions systems (e.g., TiePie, Cleverscope, Digilent) have also enabled the development of comprehensive low-cost acoustic calibration systems. We have developed such a system based on the TiePie Digital Oscilloscope (DIFF 1000MS/s), PC based signal generation and acquisition systems, a power amplifier, a preamplifier, and a stepper motor. The transmit signal is from a TiePie HS5-540XM 5 (500 MHz, 1-channel generator, 2-channel acquisition). The calibration and data display are controlled throught a MATLAB (GUI). Measurements of Transmit Pressure Response per Volt (TR/V or TVR), Free Field Voltage Sensitivity (FFVS), and Beam Pattern measurements and dependence on environmental pressure and temperature will be presented.
Preventing hot bearing derailments via wireless onboard condition monitoring
Authors: Tarawneh Constantine
Published: January 2025

The 2023 train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, OH, brought attention to the limitations of the detectors currently used in the industry. Typically, the health of train bearings is monitored intermittently through wayside temperature detection systems that can be as far as 40 miles apart. Nonetheless, catastrophic bearing failure is often sudden and develops rapidly. Current wayside detection systems are reactive in nature and depend on significant temperature increases above ambient, which, when detected, train operators have little time to react before a derailment occurs, as it did in East Palestine, OH. Multiple comprehensive studies have shown that the temperature difference between healthy and faulty bearings is not statistically meaningful until the onset of catastrophic failure. Thus, temperature alone is an insufficient metric for health monitoring. Over the past two decades, we have demonstrated vibration-based solutions for wireless onboard condition monitoring of train components to address this problem. Early stages of bearing failure are reliably detected via vibrations and acoustics signatures, which can also be used to determine the severity and location of failure. This talk will describe our work to develop and further these new methods and technologies for the rail industry as well as the impact of this research program on the training of hundreds of engineers from underrepresented backgrounds.
A practical approach to build an ultrasonic immersion test setup
Authors: Adepu Harshith Kumar , Kim Justin Yoosung , Birkenmeyer Jacey , Pandit Partha Pratim , Sotelo Luz D.
Published: January 2025

Ultrasonic evaluation enables nondestructive defect detection and material characterization in situ and ex situ. Contact ultrasound is used for field inspections due to its portability, although it lacks resolution. Immersion testing offers higher resolution: however, these systems are more expensive and tend to be bulky. The need to balance higher resolution with portability and accessibility presents a significant gap for field testing and academic research. Our project introduces an economical and practical immersion setup. We modified a commercial 3D printer kit by incorporating plexiglass into the aluminum rails and sealing it with silicone paste to ensure watertight integrity. The original servo motors from the printer were repurposed to maneuver a custom transducer holder for precise transducer movement control. This setup achieved a resolution of 500 µm in step size for pulse-echo data collection. Constructed for about $2000 in less than a couple of days, this system exemplifies frugal engineering by delivering ultrasonic evaluations at a fraction of the cost and complexity of conventional systems. This portable setup can serve as an additional step for on-field inspections, providing greater resolution. Beyond industrial applications, it holds potential for enhancing ultrasonic education and workforce development in NDE.
Enhancing adult cochlear implant utilization with remote speech perception assessments
Authors: Berg Katelyn A. , Moberly Aaron C. , Tamati Terrin N.
Published: January 2025

Cochlear implants (CIs) enable sound awareness and improved speech perception for adults with moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. However, CI utilization among eligible adults remains low at just 2%–13% in the United States. Remote speech perception assessments may help increase adult CI utilization by helping to reduce barriers to implantation. Specifically, remote assessments may improve patient access by lessening the time and financial burden of in-person clinical visits, particularly for adults in rural or remote locations. Furthermore, remote assessments can enhance clinical efficiency by reducing the number of in-person audiology visits (typically, six visits in the first year and every 6–12 months after that), freeing up valuable clinic time for new patients. Our research group has developed a battery of robust speech perception tests intended for remote administration, including word and sentence recognition, nonword repetition, sentence comprehension, and indexical processing tasks (e.g., talker and accent perceptions). Our findings in experienced adult CI users (> 1 year of CI use) demonstrate that performance on these tasks is consistent with prior in-person testing and correlated with conventional clinical word and sentence recognition outcomes. This presentation will discuss these findings, work from other research groups, critical next steps, and clinical implications.
Production of chittagonian geminates
Authors: Ahmed Firoz , Wiltshire Caroline
Published: January 2025

This paper investigates the production of medial geminates in Chittagonian Bangla, a dialect of Bangla/Bengali, to determine the durational differences of the geminate-singleton contrast. We also aim to discover whether there is any interaction with voicing, place, and manner on singleton and geminate duration. Chittagonian Bangla is a distinct variety of Bangla, mainly spoken in Chittagong division in Bangladesh. In this study, a wordlist of 22 true medial singleton and geminate pair wordlist was prepared, selecting stops, nasals, and laterals from four places of articulation (bilabial, alveolar, retroflex, velar); the stops included voiced and voiceless pairs. Data were recorded from two Chittagonian native participants (age 27) who were PhD students at a southeastern university in the USA. Praat was used to calculate the speech duration, and R was used for the statistical analysis and plotting. The singleton-geminate pairs showed a statistically significant difference in terms of duration. Voicing is a statistically significant factor in determining the ratio between geminate and singleton pairs, while of the places, only retroflex was a statistically significant factor. We compare our results to standard Bangla (Islam, 2016) and other languages with geminates (Al-Deaibes & Jarrah, 2023).
Ultrasound observations of tongue root configuration in Japanese geminated /t/
Authors: Morimoto Maho , Mizoguchi Ai , Li Weiyu , Arai Takayuki
Published: January 2025

Previous ultrasound studies indicate that geminated stops in some languages are produced with a more advanced tongue position compared to singletons, due to fortition (Percival et al. 2018 and Alamri 2022). Possible cross-linguistic variations have also been reported (Percival et al. 2020 and Kwon & Ahn 2024). In Japanese, the view that there is articulatory strengthening for geminates is supported through electropalatography studies (Kawahara & Matsui 2017 and Kochetov & Kang 2017), but the tongue root configuration in geminate production has not been addressed. In this study, we integrate results from three comparable ultrasound experiments to examine the tongue root positions at the offset of the singleton and geminate /t/ closure in /C1ata/∼/C1atːa/ pairs produced by 18 native speakers of Japanese. C1 and the lexical status of the stimuli varied: nonce-words /pata/∼/patːa/, /bata/∼/batːa/, and real words /hata/ (surname) ∼ /hatːa/ “crawl-PAST.” Through a within-speaker comparison of tongue contour models, we observed an advanced tongue root in geminates for /pata/∼/patːa/ in all three speakers, but in five out of the 15 speakers for /bata/∼/batːa/ and /hata/∼/hatːa/. We discuss the possibility that tongue root advancement in Japanese geminates interacts with the need to control intraoral air pressure, which may be affected by the preceding consonant.
Exploring groupings of Taiwan Mandarin Vowels through ultrasound imaging and cluster analysis
Authors: Lu Yen-Chen , Chiu Chenhao
Published: January 2025

Previous studies have not reached a consensus on the number of phonemic vowels in Mandarin, with proposed systems ranging from four to six vowels. Since traditional top-down approaches have not led to a unified conclusion, this study employs a novel method using cluster analysis on ultrasound lingual images of Taiwan Mandarin vowels, hoping this bottom-up approach offers new insights into the debate. A total of 2700 tokens of consonant-vowel (CV) and isolated vowel (V) syllables were recorded from a female native speaker of Taiwan Mandarin. Preprocessed ultrasound images from vowel midpoints were analyzed using K-means clustering. To determine the optimal number of clusters, the elbow method and KneeLocator from the kneed package were used. Although KneeLocator suggested four clusters as optimal, the elbow plot did not show a clear elbow point. This mirrors the inconclusive results of previous studies on the Mandarin vowel system. Similar to the elbow plot, the clustering visualization using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) did not show distinct clustering patterns, indicating potential limitations of K-means clustering for our data. Future research may benefit from exploring alternative clustering algorithms and preprocessing techniques, such as noise reduction in ultrasound images. This preliminary study shows the potential of using cluster analysis on ultrasound images for phonetic research and highlights on the challenges in defining Mandarin vowel inventory.
Emerging themes in microbial stress response and mechanistic insights: key findings from the fall 2024 ASM Theobald Smith Society meeting
Authors: Sant Duhita , Mateen Akilah I. , Sullivan Raymond F. , Boyd Jeffrey M. , Carabetta Valerie J. , Yadavalli Srujana S. , Sun Jennifer S.
Published: January 2025

The annual fall meeting for the Theobald Smith Society was held in November 2024 on the campus of Rutgers University—New Brunswick. Eighty-six branch members from across New Jersey attended the meeting, composed of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees, faculty members, and government and industry professionals. This report highlights the breadth and diversity of research conducted by American Society for Microbiology members in the Theobald Smith Society and celebrates their groundbreaking discoveries.
Supplemental Material: Revising the late Cambrian time scale and the duration of the SPICE event using a novel Bayesian age modeling approach
Authors: Farrell Thomas P. , al. et
Published: January 2025

S1: CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb zircon geochronologic methods and results. S2: CONOP compilation methods and results. S3: Bayesian age modeling sensitivity testing. S4: Defining onset and termination of SPICE. S5: Biostratigraphy of MacPherson Canyon.
Concurrent leiomyosarcoma causing small bowel obstruction in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Sealey Andrew , Davis Sean Stuart , Naidu Krishanth
Published: January 2025

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a leading cause of general surgery inpatient admissions. SBO is most commonly associated with postoperative adhesions; however, neoplastic SBO is an important differential. Here, we present a case of neoplastic SBO secondary to leiomyosarcoma in a patient with known mature B cell lymphoma. This case highlights the importance of avoiding early diagnostic closure and adherence to oncological principles of resection for small bowel tumours.
Slimmer’s paralysis in a physical trainer with drastic weight fluctuations
Authors: Shankar Vivek , Jyoti Nitish Jagdish , Dash Swayam Prakash , Sampath Kumar Venkatesan
Published: January 2025

Slimmer’s paralysis is a peripheral mononeuropathy of the common peroneal (fibular) nerve (CPN/CFN), typically associated with rapid weight loss resulting in loss of subcutaneous fat pad and subsequent neural compression at the fibular head. Here, we describe a young man with a 1-year history of right-sided foot drop, which developed following a rapid intentional weight loss of 11 kg over a period of 15 days. This weight loss was preceded by rapid weight gain over 2 days owing to binge eating. Laboratory parameters for systemic/metabolic disorders were unremarkable. Radiology of the lumbosacral spine was unremarkable. Confounding risk factors included high-intensity training, frequent squatting and stretching. Electrophysiological studies revealed common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy at the fibular head with persistent denervation. This case highlights the diagnostic dilemma between lumbosacral plexopathy/radiculopathy and common peroneal (fibular) neuropathy. Electrophysiological studies and radiological assessment of the lumbosacral spine suggest that neither CPN nor lumbosacral surgical decompression would be beneficial, emphasising the need for tendon transfer.
Primary spinal conus medullaris germinoma
Authors: Chen Yang , Li Chia-Wen , Tseng Wei-Lung
Published: January 2025

A woman in her early 20s presented with progressive low back pain, leg weakness and sphincter dysfunction. MRI revealed a 5 × 1.5 cm intramedullary tumour at the T12–L2 level. Elevated preoperative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were noted. Surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis of a germinoma. Postoperative MRI showed no additional lesions. The patient underwent localized radiation therapy, but recurrence was noted 10 months later.
Self-reported contraceptive method use at conception among patients presenting for abortion in England: a cross-sectional analysis comparing 2018 and 2023
Authors: McNee Rosie , McCulloch Hannah , Lohr Patricia A , Glasier Anna
Published: January 2025

Background

Recent media attention has been given to an apparent shift away from hormonal methods of contraception. While an increase in fertility awareness-based or ‘natural’ family planning methods is reported in the grey literature, there are no robust data to determine any such trend in the UK.

Methods

We compared self-reported contraceptive use at conception among patients presenting for abortion at British Pregnancy Advisory Service from January to June 2018 (N=33 495) and January to June 2023 (N=55 055) using chi-square (χ2) tests of association.

Results

Reported use of fertility awareness-based methods of contraception around the time of conception increased from 0.4% in 2018 to 2.5% in 2023 (p<0.001). In contrast, use of hormonal methods of contraception decreased from 18.8% in 2018 to 11.3% in 2023 (p<0.001) and use of long-acting reversible contraception fell from 3% to 0.6% (p<0.001). Those reporting using no contraception at the time of conception significantly increased by 14% (p<0.001) when comparing data from 2018 (55.8%) with data from 2023 (69.6%).

Conclusions

Significantly fewer abortion patients report using effective methods of contraception around conception while also reporting an increased use of fertility awareness-based methods. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for this change.
Retinal vascular fingerprints predict incident stroke: findings from the UK Biobank cohort study
Authors: Yusufu Mayinuer , Friedman David S , Kang Mengtian , Padhye Ambhruni , Shang Xianwen , Zhang Lei , Shi Danli , He Mingguang
Published: January 2025

Objective

To investigate the associations between a comprehensive set of retinal vascular parameters and incident stroke to unveil new associations and explore its predictive power for stroke risk.

Methods

Retinal vascular parameters were extracted from the UK Biobank fundus images using the Retina-based Microvascular Health Assessment System. We used Cox regression analysis, adjusted for traditional risk factors, to examine the associations, with false discovery rate adjustment for multiple comparisons. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess their predictive values.

Results

During a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 749 incident strokes occurred among 45 161 participants. The analysis identified 29 significant parameters associated with stroke risk, with a notable dominance of density parameters (over half). Each SD change in these parameters increased stroke risk by 9.8% to 19.0%. For identified calibre parameters, each SD change was associated with an increased risk (ranging from 10.1% to 14.1%). For identified complexity parameters and arterial inflection count tortuosity, each SD decrease was linked to an increased risk (ranging from 10.4% to 19.5%). The introduction of retinal vascular parameters improved the area under the ROC curve to 0.752, significantly outperforming the model using only traditional risk factors (0.739, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Retinal vascular analysis, a non-invasive screening approach for stroke risk assessment, performed better than traditional risk stratification models. The 29 novel retinal indicators identified offer new avenues for stroke pathophysiology research.
ON THE HEWITT–STROMBERG DIMENSION OF THE GRAPHS OF SUMS AND PRODUCTS OF CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS
Authors: ACHOUR RIM , LI ZHIMING , SELMI BILEL , WANG TINGTING
Published: January 2025

In this paper, for a typical function [Formula: see text] defined in an uncountable compact metric space [Formula: see text], we give the lower Hewitt–Stromberg dimension of graphs [Formula: see text] of the function [Formula: see text]. Moreover, we investigate the decomposition of functions within [Formula: see text] based on the lower box dimension and the lower Hewitt–Stromberg dimension, revealing significant disparities compared to the context of the packing dimension. Second, we present some results on the lower Hewitt–Stromberg dimension of graphs of sums and products of continuous functions. The main proof is that for a given real number [Formula: see text], some real-valued continuous functions in [Formula: see text] can be decomposed into the sum and product of two continuous real-valued functions, and the lower Hewitt–Stromberg dimension of the graph for each function is [Formula: see text].
Spatial Correlations Based Fault Tolerant Source Localization Using Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Hussain Akram , Luo Yuan
Published: January 2025

The source localization is a process to determine the location of a signal source based on measurements from sensor nodes or receivers that are spatially distributed in the area around the source. Localizing intruders and mobile users are some of the utilizations of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) based source localization problem. However, sensor faults and channel noise are the important issues that degrade the source localization performances of the systems. In this paper, we significantly study and improve our recent results; the representative fault tolerant hitting set and feature selection approaches for localizing a source in a decentralized WSN using the faulty sensor nodes and channel noise. First, we propose a technique to place some active sensor nodes in the sleep state such that the source localization performances of the hitting set and feature selection approaches do not significantly degrade. The proposed technique takes advantage of spatial correlations among sensor nodes, where nearby sensor nodes provide same decisions to the fusion center with a high probability. We observe that the performance gap for the results with and without sleeping sensor nodes decreases by increasing total sensor nodes. In addition, we improve our recent results by proposing a technique based on spatial correlations among sensor nodes to minimize the impact of channels’ noises, especially for a higher fault probability of sensor nodes. Finally, extensive simulations on synthetic and real-world data sets validate our theoretical results.
Examination Process Modeling for Intelligent Patent Management: A Multi-aspect Neural Sequential Approach
Authors: Wu Han , Zhang Le , Zhu Hengshu , Liu Qi , Chen Enhong , Xiong Hui
Published: January 2025

Recently, the booming growth of patent applications has brought an unprecedented challenge in performing efficient intellectual property management. Therefore, intelligent approaches are urgently needed to analyze intrinsic patterns of patents. However, a long-standing obstacle is the lack of effective methods for modeling the dynamic and diverse examination process of patent applications, which can benefit a wide range of downstream tasks for patent management. In fact, the major challenges lie in how to discover and integrate domain-specific properties from large-scale unlabeled examination data. To this end, in this paper, we propose a Self-supervised Examination Process Modeling (SEPM) framework to learn the contextualized embedding for patents through modeling their examination processes. Specifically, we first design a multi-aspect event embedding layer, which leverages the fine-tuned language model, frequent-pattern embedding, and time encoding to capture the semantic, frequent-pattern and temporal information of examination events, respectively. Then, a mutual-information-aware integration layer is applied to fuse the extracted features into multi-aspect embedding considering their mutual interactions. Further, we develop a multi-objective sequential neural network for learning the contextualized patent representation, which is achieved through jointly learning two self-supervised objectives, namely event code and event lag auto-regression. To explore the application potential of SEPM, we fine-tune the well-trained model for three important downstream tasks of patent management, including the prediction of next events, patent classification, and grant prediction. In the end, extensive experiments with real-world data from the US Patent and Trademark Office verify the effectiveness and application prospects of the proposed framework.
CO2 Electrolysis Using Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Cells with Infiltrated Pr0.5Sr0.4Mn0.2Fe0.8O3−δ Catalyst
Authors: Hu Boxun , Park Ka-Young , Sarycheva Asia , Kostecki Robert , Chen Fanglin , Tucker Michael C.
Published: January 2025

Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO is demonstrated with symmetric-structured metal supported solid oxide cells (MS-SOC). Perovskite Pr0.5Sr0.4Mn0.2Fe0.8O3−δ
(PSMF) and Pr6O11 catalysts were infiltrated into the MS-SOC cathode and anode, using 3 cycles with firing at 850 °C and 8 cycles with firing at 800 °C, respectively. Upon reduction during operation, the perovskite PSMF was transformed to Ruddlesden–Popper structure with a highly efficient electrocatalytic activity. The impact of operating temperature (600–800 °C) and overpotential (0–1.8 V) on the CO2 conversion was investigated. The highest CO2 conversion of 57.2% was achieved at 750 °C and 1.8 V. During extended operation for 150 h at 750 °C and 1.2 V, a cell demonstrated relatively stable performance, with initial current density of 535 mA cm−2 and CO2 conversion of 23%. Degradation mechanisms were studied by posttest characterization.
Review—Carbon-Based Multi-Functional E-Inks for Full Printed Tattoo-Like Sensing Systems
Authors: Shakil Shihzad , Akmal Muhammad , Zahid Rukhshan , Azeem Muhammad , Bari Alina , Asghar Rizwana
Published: January 2025

This review explores the advancements in carbon-based multifunctional electronic inks (CMFEIs) for the development of fully printed, tattoo-like sensing systems. CMFEIs, comprising materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and carbon black, offer a unique combination of biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility, and electrical conductivity, making them ideal for wearable electronic applications. We highlight the synthesis, properties, and applications of these inks in creating sensors for monitoring physiological parameters, such as heart rate, temperature, and sweat composition. Notably, the work emphasizes the development of scalable, low-cost production methods that enable the mass production of these sensors without compromising performance. Additionally, it introduces novel fabrication techniques, such as inkjet printing and roll-to-roll processing, that enhance the resolution and flexibility of the sensors, ensuring their seamless integration with the skin. This review also addresses the environmental impact of CMFEIs, emphasizing their potential for sustainable healthcare and flexible electronics. The findings reveal CMFEIs potential to revolutionize wearable technologies by enabling the creation of highly sensitive, low-cost, and flexible sensors that could be widely used in biomedical monitoring, environmental sensing, and smart healthcare systems. This work presents a transformative outlook on the future of wearable electronics and the integration of CMFEIs in next-generation sensing technologies.
Supplementary Figures and Tables from The Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Koganemaru Shigehiro , Koyama Shohei , Suto Fumitaka , Koga Makito , Inaki Koichiro , Kuwahara Yusuke , Arita Takeo , Hirata Tsuyoshi , Goto Hiroki , Wada Naoya , Kobayashi Maki , Shibutani Tomoko , Okabayashi Tatsuya , Nakamaru Kenji , Kawazoe Akihito , Togashi Yousuke , Nishikawa Hiroyoshi , Shitara Kohei
Published: January 2025

Supplementary Figures and Tables.