bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring and modeling Gaussian noise disruption across frequency, level, and hearing status
Authors: Svec Adam , Brennan Marc , Farhadi Afagh , Maxwell Braden , Garvey Sarah , Pascua Matthew , Carney Laurel H.
Published: July 2024

Recent work suggested that older listeners with minimal hearing loss exhibit more forward masking for a highly fluctuating Gaussian noise (GN) masker relative to a low-fluctuation noise (LFN) masker. This threshold difference (GN–LFN) is referred to as GN disruption and was previously attributed to time-varying cochlear gain resulting from feedback control by the medial olivocochlear (MOC) system. However, thus far, masker conditions have been limited to 80 dB SPL at 4 kHz. The current study aims to challenge the hypothesis that the physiological basis of GN disruption is the MOC system using behavioral measures and computational models across multiple target and masker frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz), masker levels (80-, 65-, and 50-dB SPL), masker-signal delays (25- and 75-ms), participant age ranges (18–30 and 60–75), and hearing statuses (normal hearing, sensorineural hearing loss). Additionally, speech recognition using IEEE sentences will be measured with GN and LFN maskers. Although testing will not be completed until 2025, preliminary data from 20 younger participants with normal hearing suggest that GN disruption is greater for higher than lower masker and probe frequencies, that GN disruption is similar across masker levels, and that refinements to the computational model are needed to more accurately predict GN disruption.
Factors influencing the minimum audible change in head orientation of a talker
Authors: Monson Brian B.
Published: July 2024

Humans can detect changes in the head orientation (a.k.a. facing angle) of a talker using only auditory cues. Head orientation cues are beneficial for determining whether one is the intended recipient of an utterance and for segregating a target talker from background talkers. Because human talkers are directional sound sources, binaural cues and monoaural spectral cues can both contribute to talker head orientation perception. In this study, we assessed listeners’ sensitivity to talker head orientation changes using only monaural cues. We tested several factors that could influence the minimum audible change in head orientation: talker and gender (two male, two female), stimulus bandwidth (full-band versus low-pass filtered at 8 or 10 kHz), transducer (loudspeaker versus headphone), stimulus uncertainty (interleaved versus blocked presentation of four talkers), and vocal production mode (speech versus singing). Bandlimiting at 8 or 10 kHz led to worse performance, as did increasing stimulus uncertainty. The effect of transducer was very limited. Performance with speech was better than that with singing. The effect of talker was large and consistent, suggesting individual variability in speech directivity patterns may affect head orientation cues. [Work supported by NIH grant R01DC019745.]
The multichannel vibrotactile gloves: A transmodal technology to feel sound through touch
Authors: Chauvette Loonan , Leprohon Eliane , Perron-Houle Louis-Philippe , Pintat Valentin , Delnavaz Aidin , Voix Jeremie , Sharp Andreanne
Published: July 2024

Development of devices for transmitting sounds through touch is motivated by needs coming from diverse disciplines. Hard-of-hearing individuals could benefit from vibrations to overcome the limitations of existing hearing technologies. Adding tactile cues can be useful for all in contexts where the acoustic information is limited due to sounds coming from multiple sources or noise. The potential sensory augmentation provided by the technology is also interesting in an entertainment context in order to offer immersive experiences. A transdisciplinary approach based on a framework recently developed in our laboratory was used to design this technology that enables the transmission of acoustic signals through touch. Validation experiments were carried out via electro-acoustic measurements as well as behavioral measurements in human subjects (n = 5). Electro-acoustic and behavioral measures support that the system provides uniform stimulation across hands and actuators. The frequency response curve as well as the summation effect measured via behavioral threshold measurements support that the tactile receptors are accurately stimulated by the devices. The multichannel vibrotactile gloves offer the flexibility to transmit diverse acoustic features to individual actuators, making them a valuable tool for research and a prospective technology capable of substituting, compensating, or extending sensory perception.
Role of spatial positioning strategy for speech recognition in a simulated environment: Effects of age and hearing loss
Authors: Bologna William J. , Esser Katie , Ball Karina , Shaw Elaine , King Courtney
Published: July 2024

In realistic listening environments, the physical position of the listener and target talker, relative to competing talkers, affects the signal-to-noise ratio and availability of spatial cues for release from masking. While the importance of signal-to-noise ratio and spatial cues for speech recognition has been demonstrated in the laboratory, a listener’s ability to leverage these acoustic cues by manipulating their position in an environment has received less attention. This study evaluated how changes in listener position within a simulated environment effect speech recognition for four listener groups that differed in age (younger or older) and hearing status (normal or impaired hearing). The simulated environment consisted of 8–10 speech maskers, individually rendered under headphones for specific locations within the space, with target and listener positions that varied across conditions. The intensity of the target varied throughout testing to estimate the psychometric function for keyword recognition of each listener in each position. Subjective reports of preferred listening position were collected before and after testing to determine the extent to which these listener groups strategically position themselves to maximize their speech recognition in noise. Results will be discussed in terms of the potential gains in speech recognition associated with optimal positioning strategies.
A hybrid test method for measurement of airborne sound transmission loss of building partitions and elements
Authors: Tamanna Omid , Souri Nazanin , Ohm Won S. , Connelly Maureen
Published: July 2024

Single-number ratings, such as sound transmission class (STC), outdoor to indoor transmission class (OITC), and weighted sound reduction index (Rw), have been widely used to indicate the sound transmission properties of the building elements. The required transmission loss values over the frequency spectrum can be obtained from the two reverberation rooms test method (ASTM E90, ISO 10140), field measurement method (ASTM E966), or intensity method (ISO 15186). The limitations of the number of testing facilities that can provide the diffused field, minimum cut-off frequency, and other standard laboratory requirements, made the sound transmission loss measurement a costly and time-consuming procedure. In this study, alternative methods to measure the sound pressure and intensity have been investigated. The main objective of this research was to eliminate the complicated requirements of the diffused field and the room absorption measurement by averaging the direct sound amplitude at several angle of incidents and using the intensity probe to measure the sound intensity. In conclusion, the sound transmission loss, STC, and OITC values of double-glazed windows obtained from the hybrid method have been compared with predictions from the existing theory and the ASTM E90 standard test results.
Active non-Hermitian complementary acoustic metamaterials for transcranial imaging
Authors: Deng Yan , Shi Chengzhi
Published: July 2024

High-frequency ultrasound has long been a safe and effective tool for medical imaging, diagnosis, and noninvasive treatments. However, the presence of the porous skull poses a challenge, impeding wave transmission and limiting noninvasive ultrasonic brain imaging due to a significant impedance mismatch and energy attenuation. In this study, we propose an innovative approach by introducing an active non-Hermitian complementary metamaterial (NHCMM) to enhance transcranial imaging. The NHCMM integrates piezoelectric elements, hydrogel materials, and a feedback control circuit. This actively modulates the effective acoustic properties of the metamaterial, ensuring precise tuning to match the impedance of the skull, thereby reducing energy loss and enhancing transmission. This design not only creates a transparent window for high-frequency ultrasound but also significantly improves brain imaging quality. The presented work establishes a foundational framework for non-invasive ultrasound-based brain imaging and high-precision ultrasonic therapies, preserving the structural integrity of the cranial barrier. We anticipate that this research holds immense potential for advancing the fields of brain imaging and ultrasonic treatments, paving the way for future innovations in medical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
The dependence of viola top plate mode frequencies and shape on string tension
Authors: Peyton Caroline P. , Hoffman Kurt R.
Published: July 2024

The normal mode vibrations of a viola’s top plate impact the tone quality of the radiated sound. Luthiers pay some attention to the body mode frequencies during fabrication of the instrument, though specific tuning of modes does not seem to be a priority over other considerations. Interestingly, the normal mode vibrations of the instrument body are modified by the downward force of the bridge feet on the top plate due to the string tension. Different string materials result in different string tensions for proper tuning, so the final body mode frequencies are not strictly predictable. We will present ESPI studies of the top plate normal mode frequencies and mode shapes of a viola as the string tension is increased from zero (strings as bridge removed) to in-tune values for all four strings. The changes of resonant frequency and mode shapes will be discussed in terms of their sensitivity to string tension and the resultant tuning of the final instrument behavior. Knowing the sensitivity of the instrument body to string tension variation may help in understanding the importance of body resonance tuning during the fabrication process.
Evaluation of a multi-function in-ear device performance in the presence of impulse noise using acoustic test fixtures
Authors: Brooks Chris , Swanson Matt , Clavier Odile
Published: July 2024

Real-time noise exposure monitoring has the potential to assess risk before damage occurs. We present on the development of an in- ear device that (1) provides hearing protection; (2) measures the noise in the ear canal to estimate exposure dose; and (3) monitors distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) over time. To validate the device’s ability to measure impulse noise under hearing protection, we measured the response in a field test. A single AR15 was shot multiple times, and four prototypes were used in multiple acoustic test fixtures (ATFs) at different relative distances from the exit of the gun. The ATFs included a G.R.A.S 45 CB in addition to a head simulator designed to detect both air- and bone-conducted sound. We evaluated the impulse peak insertion loss (IPIL) metric of the device inserted by itself or in combination with other hearing protection (“double protection” condition) to assess attenuation of impulsive noises. We also compared the device's microphone measurements to those obtained through the ATF microphones, and to the recordings of external microphones located at or near the ear of each ATF. Results demonstrate the value of testing in-ear devices in acoustic test fixtures during development phases.
Immersive auditory awareness: A smart earphones platform for education on noise-induced hearing risks
Authors: Pinsonnault-Skvarenina Alexis , Bouserhal Rachel , PINTAT Valentin , Voix Jeremie
Published: July 2024

The Audio Research Platform developed by the ÉTS-EERS Industrial Research Chair in In-Ear technologies is a digital audio processing wearable device that features a powerful Digital Signal Processor and a pair of wired earplugs featuring outer- and inner-ear microphones as well as miniaturize loudspeaker. ARP has been used since over the last 2 decades by CRITIAS to develop new algorithms for advanced hearing protection and communication in noise, as well as in-ear audio sensing. In this adaptation, the ARP enables transparent hearing of ambient sounds, simulates varying degrees of hearing loss, and includes a tinnitus simulator. ARP also functions as a personal music player, monitoring playback levels and displaying the “Age of your ears”) a metric recently proposed by CRITIAS), predicting accelerated auditory aging from excessive music playback. In the playback mode, wearers experience pre-recorded noise, prompting vocal adjustments known as the “Lombard Effect.” ARP analyzes the wearer's voice using the outer-ear microphone, illustrating level and pitch shifts in speech due to a noisy environment. This paper details ARP's technical aspects, positioning it as a powerful tool to inform the public about noise-induced hearing loss and promote awareness and prevention through enjoyable real-time demonstrations.
Infrasound propagation with deep neural operators
Authors: Millet Christophe , Noele Elodie , Lehmann Fanny
Published: July 2024

Wave propagation modeling has played a crucial role in various applications of infrasound. However, despite significant progress in recent years, solving the acoustic wave equation numerically still presents practical challenges, particularly for randomly layered media. On the other hand, while machine learning has emerged as a promising alternative, training deep neural networks requires a tremendous amount of data, which can be challenging and expensive to obtain. In this work, we combine a projection-based reduced-order model (ROM) of the wave equation with a Fourier neural operator (FNO) to learn mappings between atmospheric specifications and ground-based waveforms. The ROM is utilized to generate a comprehensive database of waveforms, taking the ECMWF ensemble reanalysis as input. Unlike traditional neural networks that are restricted to the prediction of solutions in a predefined configuration, it is shown that the FNO captures the leading order propagation operator as well as important properties of the dispersion relation. It is also demonstrated that the FNO predicts subtle effects in the waveforms that can be unambiguously associated with small-scale heterogeneities, such as turbulence and gravity waves. The feasibility of this approach is illustrated using repetitive infrasound events over the last 20 years.
At the table or on the menu: Engaging the community in research
Authors: Holt Yolanda F.
Published: July 2024

Community engaged or participatory research is a theoretical and practical framework of collaboration between a community and a research team to answer a question of mutual interest. The experimental factors from identification of the research question, identification of the group, and identification of the objects of measurement through the dissemination of the results are ideally a collaborative and iterative process between the community and the research team. This research method can be challenging to orchestrate. However, without ongoing conversations throughout the experimental process between the community of practice and the research team the data gathered may have limited practical use to the community, may misinterpret practices within the community or may inadvertently denigrate typical behavior in the community as dysfunctional or disordered. The presented work describes one approach to engage communities as active participants in the research process from problem identification through dissemination of the results. The methods used for engaging community participants in both a language and an acoustic phonetic study will be shared. Results will be discussed in terms of experimental outcomes, community perspective, and community benefit.
Inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in auditory research
Authors: Leibold Lori , Porter Heather , Buss Emily
Published: July 2024

This talk will provide an overview of the procedures, challenges, and key findings of Project INCLUDE at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Funded by a trans-NIH initiative to investigate health conditions that affect individuals living with Down syndrome, the goal of Project INCLUDE at Boys Town National Research Hospital is to characterize how speech, language, and hearing develop across the lifespan. Individuals living with Down syndrome have been inadequately represented in auditory research, which has likely contributed to health care disparities. The exclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in prior research is particularly concerning given the high prevalence of hearing loss and otologic disease observed in this population. Results from an ongoing experiment investigating masked speech recognition outcomes will be presented. Participants are school-age children and young adults with Down syndrome and age-matched participants who are neurotypical. Data collection includes clinical audiological measures and standardized assessments of speech, language, and executive function, facilitating comparisons with other cohorts affiliated with the NIH-wide initiative. Recommendations for recruitment, details on the formation of a community advisory board, and community-based testing initiatives will be discussed.
Doomed from the start, understanding the importance of boundary conditions in modal testing
Authors: Kerrian Peter , Kinney Teresa
Published: July 2024

Modal survey tests are commonly performed in the aerospace industry to validate the structural dynamics behavior of the finite element model used in the flight loads predictions for both hardware structural capability and expected crew loads. During the planning phase, great effort is spent on the selection of accelerometer locations to properly capture the modes and satisfy orthogonality conditions. The same due diligence is not always spent on the design of the test’s setup and boundary conditions. Logistical and programmatic concerns may influence the technical approach taken, which, unfortunately, may result in test modes that are strongly coupled with boundary condition fixturing. The purpose of the paper is to present case studies of modal survey tests that were performed where the boundary condition influenced the test results. Additionally, best practices will be presented.
Closure duration versus f0 perturbation as a cue to underlying stops for the American English intervocalic flap
Authors: Miklas Janalyn A. , Kelley Matthew C.
Published: July 2024

Researchers found that there are five main cues for distinguishing the voicing of these intervocalic plosives, preceding vowel duration, following vowel duration, closure duration, semantic context, and f0 perturbation, also known as consonant intrinsic f0. In American English, when /t/ and /d/ occur intervocalically, they are realized as a voiced alveolar flap [ɾ] (e.g., [ɹa͡ɪɾɪŋ] writing/riding, [liɾɚ] liter/leader). The presence of these cues indicates incomplete neutralization of these forms. To address a current gap in the literature, the present study focused on American English native speakers’ perception and use of CF0 and closure duration as independent and combined informative cues for deciding voicing contrast of /t/ and /d/ when neutralized by the flap. Participants engaged in a self-administered online forced-judgement task of a pseudoword in 30 combinations of CF0 and flap closure duration to indicate the underlying representation (/hɑtɑ/ or /hɑdɑ/) of the surface production [hɑɾɑ] they perceived. This study observed that participants are more likely to select /hɑtɑ/ when the CF0 is higher and / hɑdɑ/ elsewhere. These modest findings suggest that CF0 is a useful cue for voicing distinction. The results suggest that models of spoken word recognition and speech perception ought to include CF0 as a cue.
Political affiliation affects spoken language processing
Authors: Schutt Enengy , Campbell Machaela , Rivera Luis , Bellavance Sarah R. , Levi Susannah V.
Published: July 2024

Listeners typically perform better on intelligibility tasks with native compared to nonnative speakers (e.g., Tsurutani, 2012). Listeners from multilingual, urban locations perform better on intelligibility tasks than those from non-multilingual, rural locations (Kutlu et al. 2022). A recent study from our lab found that listeners with more liberal political affiliation also perform better, but the study did not control for a possible relationship between more liberal political affiliation and living in an urban environment. To further investigate, 54 listeners from an urban location and 27 listeners from rural locations were recruited. Listeners heard sentences from two native (US, India) and two nonnative speakers of English (Korean, French) and typed their responses. Listeners then completed a political-affiliation questionnaire. A linear mixed-effects model with fixed effects for group, speaker, and political-affiliation score, and all interactions were fit to the data. The model revealed a significant interaction between group and political affiliation score. For the urban listeners, more liberal listeners performed better overall than more conservative listeners. For the rural listeners, political affiliation did not reach significance. Taken together, this study demonstrates that political affiliation predicts performance even when exposure (urban versus rural) is controlled.
Age-related decline in hearing and emotional prosody processing: A multi-feature oddball study
Authors: Zhang Yang , Kuntz Erica , Kao Chieh
Published: July 2024

This study investigated how age and hearing loss contributed to the challenges in perceiving emotional prosody in speech. A multi-feature oddball paradigm was employed to assess mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a responses to three deviant prosodies (happy, angry and sad) against the standard neutral prosody in spoken words. The participants were 22 adults in the age range of 18 to 70 with various degrees of hearing loss as assessed with pure tone audiometry. Linear mixed effects models revealed heightened MMN response to angry voice and strongest P3a response to happy voice among the three deviants. There was a significant positive correlation between age and MMN amplitude for the angry prosody. Significant correlations were also observed between hearing loss and MMN amplitude in response to both angry and happy stimuli. In addition, negative correlations were found between P3a amplitude and hearing loss as well as aging for happy stimuli. However, aging and hearing loss did not significantly affect the processing of sadness in this paradigm. These findings showed category-sensitive age-related decline in emotional prosody processing. The intricate correlations patterns among age, hearing loss, MMN, and P3a responses called for further exploration of broader implications in cognitive aging.
Listening effort under different rates of speech
Authors: Jeong Minhong , Oh Haeun , Park Jaehan , Song Jieun
Published: July 2024

Listening effort, the cognitive resources allocated to understand spoken language, is a critical issue in communication under adverse listening environments. The present study investigated how listening effort would be affected by differing speech tempos. The experiment involved 23 native Korean adults with normal hearing, who were presented with linguistically complex Korean sentences at five different speeds (35%∼200% of original time). The cognitive load associated with listening under various speech rate conditions was quantified employing a dual-task paradigm, where the increased listening effort would impair the performance on an additional cognitive task. Participants listened to the sentences while performing an n-back task and then repeated back the sentence they heard. The results found a significant effect of speech rate on the n-back task, with lower accuracies in the faster speech conditions. The additional task also increased the overall cognitive load of sentence recognition, leading to various speech errors, such as the omission of key content words, unnecessary additions, and substitutions with similar words. This demonstrates that increased cognitive load during listening impairs speech processing at multiple levels (e.g., semantic processing, retention of words in working memory), emphasizing the need to adjust speech tempos for better understanding and comfort in listeners.
Fundamental dimensions of real-time spoken word recognition in cochlear implant users
Authors: Colby Sarah E. , Smith Francis X. , Huffman Marissa , Jeppsen Charlotte , Muegge John B. , Kutlu Ethan , McMurray Bob
Published: July 2024

Spoken word recognition is a sophisticated cognitive process that maps incoming speech to meaning. For young, normal-hearing adults, word recognition is served by a competition process which plays out incrementally as speech unfolds. Candidates that match the input are activated and compete as mismatching candidates are suppressed. It remains unclear how this process changes in other listeners. Previous results from small-scale studies suggest three dimensions: 1) the speed of activating words (Activation Rate), affected by development and aging; 2) the degree of ultimate competitor suppression (Sustained Activation), affected by hearing loss; and 3) the delay of competition entirely (Wait-and-See), affected by severe hearing loss. To investigate these dimensions, a large, heterogenous group of cochlear implant users (N = 101) completed a Visual World Paradigm task. A principal component analysis supported these three dimensions. Each dimension was predicted by different demographic or auditory factors (onset of deafness, auditory fidelity, age), and each predicted outcomes over and above auditory fidelity. This suggests that these are orthogonal dimensions along which listeners vary, not all-or-nothing strategies. This work identifies the degrees of freedom that can extend theories of word recognition to account for a range of experiences and contexts.
Potential influences of autistic traits and perceptual acuity on lexically guided perceptual learning
Authors: Cummings Shawn N. , Duda Brooke , Medeiros Wesley , Theodore Rachel M.
Published: July 2024

Listeners overcome rampant variability in speech input, at least in part, by adapting to talker-specific speech patterns. However, most work demonstrating this type of perceptual learning has focused on group-level effects in modal populations. This approach masks potentially meaningful differences in sensory perception, social functioning, and language processing among individual listeners and/or populations. These differences—present among all listeners but particularly associated with autism—may well be expected to influence adaptation, but their role remains unclear. Previous investigations have reported absent adaptation among diagnosed autistic listeners in addition to increased adaptation among listeners with more autistic traits. The present investigation aims to clarify these potentially contradictory findings and the relationships between autistic traits, perceptual acuity, and adaptation. Listeners will hear ambiguous spectral energy between /s/ and /ʃ/ in lexical contexts designed to elicit adaptation and then categorize tokens from an ashi–asi continuum to assess learning. Autistic traits and pitch perception will also be assessed. We predict a non-linear interaction between the autism quotient and adaptation which cannot be attributed to perceptual acuity alone. These results will help explain how differences in sensory perception and social functioning associated with autism interact with lexically guided perceptual learning.
Lexical encoding of second language tones in English learners of Mandarin
Authors: Sun Kuo-Chan
Published: July 2024

The study investigates how native and non-native differences in tone perception influence lexical encoding of second language (L2) tones. Previous work shows that tone language listeners perceived tones as phonemic categories while non-tone language listeners relied more on psychoacoustic cues such as pitch height to discriminate stimulus tones. However, little is known about the influence of such differences in perception on L2 tonal encoding. In the present study, two experiments were conducted with nineteen English learners of Mandarin and 20 Mandarin native speakers. Experiment 1 was an ABX task. Results showed that while native speakers’ overall performance was superior to L2 listeners’, both groups poorly discriminated tone pairs with shared tone contours (i.e., T2-T3). Experiment 2 was a medium-lag repetition priming task. In the repetition condition, significant facilitations were observed in both language groups. In the minimal-tone-pair condition, despite T2-T3 contrasts posing greater challenge for both groups to accurately distinguish than other tonal contrasts as shown in Experiment 1, positive priming was observed only in the L2 group. The findings from the two experiments suggest that the L2 listeners, although quite proficient in Mandarin, have yet to achieve native-like competence in regard to lexical tones.
Automated zooplankton detection from in situ imagery for forward scattering predictions
Authors: Grassian Benjamin D. , Lavery Andone C. , Sosik Heidi , Ferguson Megan , Batchelder Sidney , Crockford Elizabeth T.
Published: July 2024

Ocean midwaters—the vast region between the sunlit surface layers and seafloor—comprise the largest habitat on Earth but are among the least understood marine environments. This project aims to combine concurrently collected imaging and acoustic measurements in the epi and mesopelagic environment to interpret zooplankton scattering from mixed assemblages and determine in situ zooplankton distributions within their local environments. We have trained a machine learning model for the automated detection of 13 zooplankton functional groups from a 1000m rated towed shadowgraph imaging system. The zooplankton detection model currently achieves 80% F1 scores on our validation image set and was trained using adversarial methods. We have derived biometric measurements from the zooplankton image data necessary to generate forward scattering predictions. We compare the distributions of scattering layers detected acoustically with zooplankton distributions from the imagery. We will compare forward scattering predictions derived from sparse geometric representations of the zooplankton and full 3D model volumes using the distance transform of the zooplankton images. This work will further enable the use of optical techniques for midwater surveys and the interpretation of acoustic scattering returns from mixed zooplankton populations.
Fast deconvolved beamforming For arbitrary arrays based on beam-domain sparse Bayesian learning
Authors: Huang Jianli , Wang Yu , Gong Zaixiao , Wang Jun , Wang Haibin
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the problem that the conventional deconvolved beamforming methods cannot be directly applied to the specific array with a shift-variant point spread function and also have considerable computational workload, a deconvolved beamforming method for arbitrary arrays based on beam-domain sparse Bayesian learning(SBL) is proposed. First, generalized convolution model for arbitrary arrays in beam-domain is derived. Conventional beamforming is used to obtain several complex output beams. Then, to improve the accuracy of direction of arrival(DOA) estimation, the off-grid SBL method which adopts a coarse grid and takes the sampled positions in the coarse grid as the adjustable parameters is applied to achieve deconvolution of complex output beams. Controlling the number of output beams from the conventional beamforming can accelerate the off-grid SBL method while maintaining reasonable accuracy. The simulation results show that the proposed method provides enhanced recovery performance and higher DOA estimation accuracy comparable to the traditional SBL beamforming method in element domain at the same grid interval. Especially for short and dense arrays, it can achieve a decrease in computational complexity by one to two orders of magnitude with the same accuracy.
Numerical predictions of underwater radiated noise from a non-cavitating model-scale propeller
Authors: McIntyre Duncan , Pendar Mohammad-Reza , Islam Shameem , Oshkai Peter
Published: July 2024

Propeller-induced acoustic noise from marine vessels is the largest source of anthropogenic underwater radiated noise (URN) and a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Under typical operation, cavitation dominates the URN emissions. Cavitation, which is a pressure-driven phase-change process that results in the violent formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in the wake of the propeller, is often unavoidable during realistic, full-scale operating conditions. However, at a model scale, inducing cavitation requires a depressurized flow facility that makes acoustic measurements difficult due to confinement effects. Numerical simulation is, therefore, appealing as a tool for predicting URN, but the simulation of the cavitation phenomenon and the associated acoustics involves considerable uncertainty and a range of potential sources of error. In propeller operation, cavitation frequently occurs in the core of the vortices shed from the tips of propeller blades. In the present work, we developed a delayed detached-eddy simulation (DDES) of a model-scale ship with the focus on predicting fluctuating pressure due to shed vorticity. The solution is compared to hydrophone measurements from non-cavitating tow-tank experiments. Finally, we numerically introduce cavitation at model scale in the numerical solution and examine its effects.
Effect of oceanographic fluctuations on geo-acoustic inversions and source localization using ships of opportunity
Authors: Escobar-Amado Christian D. , Badiey Mohsen
Published: July 2024

Several merchant ship-radiated noise events were recorded in two separate seabed characterization experiments in the New England Mudpatch region in 2017 (SBCEX17) and 2022 (SBCEX22). These shallow water acoustic experiments were conducted under different oceanographic conditions, resulting in fluctuations in sound propagation. Several statistical inference approaches are used to invert geo-acoustic parameters such as sound speed and density in a mud over sand sediment (See https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0008419). In this work, we explore the effect of sound speed profile fluctuations in the water column on geo-acoustic inversions in the 360–1100 Hz frequency band. Inversions based on measured and simulated data using acoustic models are provided to support our findings. The results demonstrate that sediment parameters become more sensitive to oceanographic variations as the frequency increases and, therefore, sound speed profile fluctuations in the water column need to be taken into close consideration for more accurate geo-acoustic inversions. [Work supported by ONR].
Measurements using three methods
Authors: Hoover K. Anthony , Ashburn Henry
Published: July 2024

Room responses of various spaces were measured using three methods in each: interrupted pink noise using full-range loudspeakers, impulse using balloon pops, and sine sweep using dodec loudspeaker array. Our primary interest was to compare the results from each, as well as to better understand their relative advantages and disadvantages. Results will be shown and discussed.
Connecting separate monitoring programs through the SoundCoop
Authors: Wall Carrie , Hatch Leila , Van Parijs Sofie , Bochenek Rob , Berchok Catherine , Davis Genevieve , Dugan Peter , Frasier Kait , Haver Samara , McKenna Megan F. , Miksis-Olds Jennifer , Parcerisas Clea , Ponirakis Dimitri , Rowell Timothy , Ryan John P. , Thomisch Karolin
Published: July 2024

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data collection has been growing exponentially, resulting in petabytes of data that document ocean soundscapes, how they change over time, and what animals use these ecosystems at varying timescales. Efficiently extracting this critical information and comparing it to other datasets in the context of ecosystem-based management is a Big Data challenge that traditional desktop processing methods cannot address. The curation, management, and dissemination of PAM datasets is another challenge in need of collaborative progress. To meet these exigencies, a multi-agency funded Sound Cooperative (SoundCoop) project is building community-focused, national cyberinfrastructure capability for PAM data to promote improved, scalable and sustainable accessibility and applications for management and science. Driven by partnerships and framed by four case studies, the SoundCoop has established guidance on the standardized processing of sound level metrics using free software toolkits and begun developing core cyberinfrastructure components that future PAM projects can leverage. U.S. and international scientists contributed PAM data collected across 10 long-term monitoring projects to operationalize the production of hybrid-millidecade spectra across a diversity of labs/instruments. Collectively, the contributed data demonstrate the value of standardized processing that enables the creation of comparable results from disparate monitoring efforts.
Learnings from developing a Scientific Writing Certification program at IIT Gandhinagar
Authors: Mercado- Shekhar Karla Patricia
Published: July 2024

Effective written communication is essential to an impactful career. The Certification in Scientific Writing initiative at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar was developed to encourage researchers to work on scientific writing from an early stage in their careers and to promote skill development. This program serves as a milestone for gauging students’ skills and knowledge in scientific writing. Since the certification program was established in July 2020, over 200 Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows from all departments at IIT Gandhinagar passed the program with approximately a 60% success rate. This program spans 2 months throughout the semester and offers training, evaluation, and feedback to students on their scientific writing competencies. In this talk, I will share the development of the program from inception to implementation and the feedback received from the IIT Gandhinagar community.
Pitch change of the stopped French horn
Authors: Pyle Robert
Published: July 2024

Composers sometimes ask for a form of muting on the French horn called “hand stopping,” where the player closes the bell with the heel to the right hand as completely as possible. This alters the timbre of the instrument and its pitch as well. Players are taught to compensate for the pitch change by transposing down a semitone on the F horn. Stopping thus appears to have raised the pitch of the F horn by a semitone. However, if the heel of the hand is gradually closed from its normal “open” position to full stopping while the horn is played, the pitch falls smoothly. So does hand stopping raise the pitch, or lower it? This has been the topic of sometimes heated discussion among hornplayers for perhaps 250 years. An experiment shows that both viewpoints can be considered correct. A mouthpiece was fitted with an earphone and a microphone so that the acoustical round-trip time through the horn can be determined from the response to a click emitted by the earphone. As the hand is closed, the round-trip time increases (“pitch falls”) but as the hand approaches full stopping, an earlier reflection appears and eventually dominates (“pitch rises”).
Multiphonics in the recorder: Some observations on the effects of selective basis tone removal induced by localized perturbations of window-region air flow
Authors: Saenger Katherine L. , Giordano Nicholas
Published: July 2024

Multiphonic tones in the recorder are readily produced with certain fingerings and pressure/flow conditions. These tones typically comprise two strong basis tones that do not have a harmonic relationship, along with weaker tones whose frequencies are linear combinations of the basis tone frequencies. In this work, an artificial blower was used to generate multiphonic tones in three recorder body types (each attached to the same Yamaha soprano recorder head): (i) a forked fingering for G5 in a standard tapered body; (ii) a C5 in a cylindrical body; and (iii) a C5 in a capped cylindrical body. It was found that a thin post placed in the recorder's window region could selectively remove one of the basis tones (as well as the combination tones) with little effect on the sound power of the other basis tone. Navier-Stokes simulations were performed to help understand why a post in this position can have these effects. [Work supported by NSF under Grant No. PHY2306035.]
Dealing with wind noise on resource constrained acoustic sensors
Authors: Alberts W. C. K. , Lyons Gregory W.
Published: July 2024

Single and multiple microphones in small or hand-held devices, i.e., mobile phones, are often single port and without windscreens. In a typical outdoor situation, this configuration can be subject to strong impulsive wind noise events and wind-induced tones. Smart mobile phones can sometimes utilize their significant computational power to employ sophisticated signal processing to reduce or remove wind-associated noise. However, in systems where battery conservation is paramount and computational processing resources are severely limited, alternative strategies must be employed. This presentation will discuss exemplar wind noise data from a single channel, resource-constrained system, methods for wind noise reduction, and results.
Enhanced viscous dissipation of sound in phononic supercrystal
Authors: Krokhin Arkadii , Ibarias Martin , Sánchez-Dehesa José
Published: July 2024

Sound wave propagating in a homogeneous viscous medium decays due viscous losses with decay coefficient γ;0∼ηω2, where η is shear viscosity. Presence of a hard wall strongly increases viscous losses which now occurs mainly within a narrow boundary layer δ. Viscous losses in a 2D phononic crystal are analytically calculated in the low-frequency limit for arbitrary Bravais lattice. The decay coefficient is expressed through series over reciprocal lattice vectors. If the phononic crystal possesses less than 3-fold rotational symmetry it behaves as anisotropic viscous medium. Otherwise, the decay coefficient is isotropic. Depending on the crystal structure and the filling fraction of solid cylinders the decay coefficient γ;ph may exceed γ;0 by two-four orders of magnitude. The decay coefficient may be further enhanced in a supercrystal – a structure with doubly periodicity. The supercrystal is a 2D structure of two sets of aluminum cylinders in air. A periodic set of larger cylinders is imbedded in another set of smaller cylinders arranged in a lattice with smaller period. We present analytical, numerical, and experimental results for decay of sound in a hexagonal supercrystal of aluminum cylinders in air. [This work is supported by the NSF under EFRI Grant No. 1741677.]
A vowel research retrospective
Authors: Fox Robert A.
Published: July 2024

One of the earliest attempts at describing/characterizing vowel quality was Daniel Jones’ Cardinal Vowel system (1918) representing the total range of vowel quality in languages. It was based on auditory quality (evaluated by a trained phonetician). Much later, Ladefoged (1967) demonstrated that despite auditory equivalence, vowels were acoustically different—a function of physiological and production among speakers. The acoustic nature of vowel quality was elaborated through the introduction of easy spectral analysis (using the sonograph) exemplified by the seminal work by Peterson and Barney (1952). In the past five decades we have seen how vowels differ as a function of speaker sex, speaker size, age, speech disorder and dialect group and development of vowel spaces in second-language acquisition (much of the research through contributions of speakers in this session). In concert with these acoustic studies, we have better understanding of the nature of the perception of vowels through multidimensional scaling studies, adaptation/perceptual magnet/categorical perception studies, cross-linguistic studies, and developmental studies. Most recently, we have seen work done with regard to brain mapping and neural models of vowel perception. This talk will provide a review of past vowel research (voluminous as it is) and possible future trends.
Modeling vowel-inherent spectral change in varying consonant context
Authors: Kiefte Michael
Published: July 2024

A wide variety of experimental evidence has shown that vowel inherent spectral change (VISC) is important in vowel identification. This evidence is drawn from production data, statistical pattern recognition, and perceptual experiments with both synthetic or manipulated naturally produced speech. Experimental studies often consider vowels in a constant consonant context which makes it difficult to factor out context effects from the VISC itself. In order to examine the magnitude of these consonant effects, we developed a statistical procedure inspired by Broad and Clermont [(2014). J. Phon. 47, 47–80] in which vowel formant frequencies are approximated by a linear combination of vowel and consonant influences which vary as a function of time. Vowels extracted from a database of both spontaneous and read speech were analyzed to produce context-normalized vowel-formant tracks. Results show that vowel formant frequencies vary systematically across their duration in both spontaneous and read speech and that all consonants in both onset and coda position show significant effects on vowel production across their entire duration. Although these formant patterns are seemingly complex, perceptual evidence suggests that listeners may only attend to onsets and offsets and that deviations from a straight-line interpolation between onset and offset must be relatively large for listeners to discriminate them.
American English monophthong tenseness
Authors: McGowan Richard
Published: July 2024

In General American English, the point vowels of the F2 – F1 verus F1 quadrilateral, [i], [u], and [ɑ] are tense. More generally, Lindau noted the connection between acoustic peripherality and vowel tenseness [Lindau, M. (1975). “Vowel Features.” Working Papers, Phonetics Laboratory, Lund University, 11, p. 1]. In the case of [ae], it is the tensing of this point vowel that initiated the Northern Cities Chain Shift [Labov, W. (1994). Principles of Linguistic Sound Change: Internal Factors. Blackwell Publishers, Malden, MA]. The theses of this talk are firstly that a high degree of acoustic sensitivity to area function change is the reason that peripherality is highly correlated with tenseness. However the reason for the acoustic sensitivity of [ae] is different than it is for the other three point vowels. Second, a more fundamental characterization of tenseness is in its articulatory kinematics during production. The reason for this has to do with the persistence of tenseness with diachronic sound change away from the periphery. Perhaps, though, tense/lax changes appear to be more likely on the periphery than elsewhere.