bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing LTASS across languages using natural and AI speech samples
Authors: Roy Abhijit , Bradlow Ann , Souza Pamela E.
Published: July 2024

Hearing aid prescription protocols rely on estimates of speech spectra. One such estimate, the International Long-Term Average Speech Spectrum (ILTASS), is a common reference for the distribution of spectral energy within speech signals. However, recent research has suggested differences in speech spectra between some languages and the ILTASS standard. These disparities raise questions regarding the applicability of a language-general approach to hearing aid gain application. This study presents a comparative analysis of Long-Term Average Speech Spectra (LTASS) across various languages. Utilizing speech samples from both human and AI sources, LTASS was measured for speakers of different languages. Subsequently, these LTASS profiles were contrasted with the established ILTASS reference. Results reveal that while LTASS was very similar across languages, deviations were observed between LTASS derived from the human speech and AI speech data compared to ILTASS. Specifically, measured LTASS demonstrated a reduced 500 Hz peak in contrast to ILTASS. This research underscores the importance of accounting for spectral variations introduced during the recording process in the field of speech and hearing research. It also emphasizes the importance of standardized recording protocols to enhance the precision of hearing technologies.
Lifespan anatomic and vowel acoustic studies confirm prepubertal sexual dimorphism of the human vocal tract and absence of lengthening in aging
Authors: Vorperian Houri K. , Kent Raymond D.
Published: July 2024

To study anatomic-acoustic relations across the lifespan, anatomic studies of the developing vocal tract (VT) using medical imaging studies were related to vowel acoustic space as synthesized from published data. However, the aggregate acoustic data highlighted the need to acquire sex-specific vowel acoustic data across the lifespan using controlled methodology for data collection and analysis; also, to acquire measurements of the higher formants. Lifespan anatomic and acoustic (4-to-92 years) data helped resolve two questions. First, anatomic studies revealed significant prepubertal sex differences in the oral region of the VT (3-to-7 years) that are masked by growth rate differences between males and females. Three-dimensional anatomic findings also revealed prepubertal sexual dimorphism in select regions of the mandible and pharynx. Second, anatomic findings confirmed that VT length does not increase with aging. Acoustic studies similarly confirmed sex differences in fundamental frequency emerging at age 7; and the presence of significant prepubertal sexual dimorphism of the higher formant frequencies (F3-F4) at the earliest age studied (4 years). Findings for adults showed significant age-related decreases in fundamental frequency in women only, and no changes in formant frequencies in either sex across several decades. The results underscore the importance of sex-specific and non-uniform growth of the VT structures. [NIDCD funding support R01DC006282.]
Vowels in clear and conversational speech: Intelligibility for listeners with hearing loss
Authors: Ferguson Sarah H.
Published: July 2024

While my research during the past two decades has explored numerous perceptual properties of clear versus conversational speech, it all began with vowel intelligibility. In this presentation, I review my research on vowel intelligibility in listeners with hearing loss and whether and how it changes when talkers adopt a clear speaking style. I also discuss acoustic properties that may explain these changes and the potential interaction between clear speech acoustic properties and listener hearing status.
What babies bring to our understanding of vowel perception
Authors: Polka Linda
Published: July 2024

Vowels are produced and perceived very early in infancy and occupy a central role in speech communication across the lifespan. Many phenomena first uncovered in vowel research with adults were later explored with infants. This produced important findings that inform our understanding of vowel perception and production development. In this talk, I will highlight several perception findings that were initially discovered in infants which now also direct fruitful lines of research with adults. I will focus on two perceptual biases—the focal vowel bias and the infant talker bias—each involving information conveyed by vowels. The focal vowel bias identifies a universal vowel perception bias that is germane across the lifespan. Elaborating the mechanism(s) behind this bias can lead us to a more principled understanding of basic vowel perception processes. The infant talker bias – first identified in infants and now also in adults – reveals a robust bias favoring infant conspecific vocalizations. This bias appears to impact infant development directly and also indirectly via its’ positive effect on parenting behaviors. Going forward, the interplay of research across age groups will continue to bring us a deeper understanding and appreciation of the ubiquitous role of vowels in human cognition.
How can desks and ceilings influence room acoustic criteria in classrooms? Findings from measurements and wave-based simulations
Authors: Fratoni Giulia , D'Orazio Dario
Published: July 2024

Sound diffusion is essential in achieving the required speech intelligibility criteria in classrooms (T;30, C;50, STI). Predictive formulas employed and recommended by international standards generally rely on the ideal diffuse-field theory, notwithstanding its applicability limitation in most feasible real-world scenarios. Yet, along with the sound-absorbing features of the surfaces, it is crucial to quantify any potential diffraction effect caused by furnishing elements and ceiling treatments. The present work uses acoustic measurements and wave-based numerical models to explore the impact of desk layouts and materials in false ceilings on sound diffusion. The single desk arrangement increases the sound diffusion, here quantified in terms of measured T;30 standard deviation, more than other furniture layouts, e.g., desks arranged in circles. Moreover, preliminary results from acoustic measurements and finite-element analysis show that inhomogeneous treatments of the suspended ceiling – porous and perforated modules – increase sound diffusion through material discontinuity even at low frequencies. The match between predictive formulas, experimental results, and simulations confirms the reliability and accuracy of the acoustic design process when involving diffraction effects.
An analysis and retrofit of the acoustics at Image Creators Health and Beauty Salon
Authors: Ellis Donna A.
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses the analysis and retrofit of the acoustics in a high-volume beauty salon in Severna Park, Md. The major issues in what was intended to be a serene environment are reverberation times of 1–1.68 s in the mid-to upper frequency range and Background noise levels ranging from 73.4 to 64.6 dB in the mid to low frequency range. Employee and customer complaints include ear pain and tinnitus due to prolonged exposure to high background levels, heightened stress, vocal strain, headaches and poor speech intelligibility. Existing analysis and the acoustical retrofit resolution will be demonstrated.
Using passive acoustic data to understand sustainable vessel operations
Authors: McKenna Megan F. , Peavey Reeves Lindsey , Rowell Timothy , Van Parijs Sofie , Wall Carrie , Hatch Leila
Published: July 2024

Marine vessels support diverse ocean economic sectors. As society works towards a sustainable ocean economy, a variety of vessel initiatives are emerging. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) offers a method to evaluate these initiatives. Here we review efforts related to vessel noise management in marine protected areas (MPA) and benefits of vessel speed reduction programs (VSRs). Monitoring marine vessel activity and related underwater noise across a network of protected areas, like the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary system, helps managers ensure the quality of habitats used by a wide range of species. Network-wide comparisons of vessel noise revealed a spectrum of conditions, providing robust metrics to help prioritize management and inform condition assessments. These same vessel noise metrics provided insight on noise reduction related to changes in vessel operations during multiple VSRs. The metrics are complementary to other noise reduction metrics currently used to evaluate VSRs. With the growth in VSRs, there is a need to communicate noise reduction at scales relevant to the targeted vessels, typically larger than individual VSRs. Coordinated efforts are advancing to meet these needs. With strategic, systematic, and sustained efforts, PAM can continue to provide key insight on efforts to realize sustainable marine vessel operations.
An in vitro investigation into Lumason's utility for subharmonic-aided pressure estimation with direct comparison to Sonazoid and Definity
Authors: Mayer Hailee , Kim Ga Won , Machado Priscilla , Eisenbrey John , Vu Trang , Wallace Kirk , Forsberg Flemming
Published: July 2024

Subharmonic-aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) with ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has shown promising results in vitro and in vivo. Most commercial UCAs show an inverse linear relationship between subharmonic signal and hydrostatic pressure. However, conflicting trends have been reported for Lumason. Thus, this study investigated the subharmonic (i.e., SHAPE) response of Lumason and directly compare to Sonazoid and Definity in a static and a dynamic in vitro system using a clinical Logiq E10 scanner. SHAPE signals were acquired (in triplicate) using a C1-6 probe (transmit/receive: 2.50/1.25 MHz) in increments of 10 mmHg from 0 to 200 mmHg in the static tank, and peak pressures of 10, 20, 30, and 45 mmHg in the dynamic system. Sonazoid and Definity maintained consistent inverse linearity in both static and dynamic conditions, with average sensitivities of −0.07 dB/mmHg (r = −0.88) and −0.04 dB/mmHg (r = −0.97) in the static tank, and −0.14 dB/mmHg (r = −0.86) and −0.10 dB/mmHg (r = −0.85) in the dynamic system, respectively. Lumason exhibited a tri-phasic behavior; from 0–90 mmHg, SHAPE increased with increasing hydrostatic pressure (0.07 dB/mmHg; r = 0.98), while from 90 to 140 mmHg, the response plateaued (r = 0.32), before decreasing with increasing pressure from 140 to 200 mmHg (−0.14 dB/mmHg; r = −0.95). The subharmonic response of Sonazoid and Definity continues to be well- understood, but further investigations into Lumason’s SHAPE response is needed before clinical translation.
Ultrasound and microbubble mediated T cell modulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Baez Ana G. , Singh Davindra , He Stephanie , Hajiaghayi Mehri , Gholizadeh Fatemeh , Darlington Peter J. , Helfield Brandon
Published: July 2024

Ultrasound (US)-stimulated microbubbles are emerging as a revolutionary therapeutic technique, notably within the field of cancer immunotherapy. While this approach has been shown to modify cell permeability and to trigger local anti-tumor effects, the interactions between vibrating microbubbles and T-cells is not well understood. Here, we explore the biophysical impact of microbubbles on T-cell permeability and viability, setting the stage for potential advancements in cellular immunotherapy. Following the activation of fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cells were incubated with FITC-dextran (10kDa)—used here as a surrogate drug– and exposed in the presence of DefinityTM(1:217–cell:bubble ratio) US (1MHz, N = 1000, PRF = 5 ms for 2 minutes) over a range of peak-negative pressures (208-563kPa). Viability was assessed immediately and post-treatment concurrently with FITC macromolecule uptake using flow cytometry. T-cell population was identified using CD3 and CD4 antibodies (60% CD3 + and 20% CD4+). All conditions examined resulted > 95% viability. Results indicated a significant increase in viably permeated PBMCs with higher acoustic pressures, ranging from 0% to 30% (sham-corrected). When analyzed separately both CD4 + and CD4- T-cells exhibited similar permeability rates (0%–37.5%). The 563 kPa condition yielded the highest permeability with minimal viability loss. These findings open avenues for enhancing the efficacy of cellular immunotherapy for solid tumors.
Modulating ultrasound field phase and amplitude using foam gratings as an alternative to acoustic lenses
Authors: Richards Luke A. , Stride Eleanor P. , Cleveland Robin O.
Published: July 2024

There is an increasing number of applications for therapeutic ultrasound, including high intensity focused ultrasound surgery, neuromodulation and drug delivery. For many of these applications, accurate focusing of the ultrasound field at tissue depths of several cm is essential and thus patient-specific acoustic lenses have been widely investigated as an economical alternative to phased array transducers. Lenses can be cast or 3D printed from a range of polymers offering good acoustic impedance matching to human tissue. Disadvantages of polymer lenses, however, include their relatively large size and the difficulties involved in eliminating gas bubbles during production. In this study an alternative approach is investigated using a “grating” comprising a sheet of polymer foam, perforated with a series of pores that act as wave guides. The grating is placed in front of a transducer with the pores arranged to modulate the phase and amplitude of the sound field as required. The gratings can be cheaply and rapidly fabricated, are < 5 mm thick and can achieve phase changes of more than 180° were successfully achieved while maintaining a transmission amplitude of more than 50%.
Real time cavitation monitoring during ultrasound-mediated drug delivery in normothermically perfused human tumour-bearing livers
Authors: Gray Michael , Lyons Brian , Johnson David , Nicholls Brannon , Gordon-Weeks Alex , Carlisle Robert , Coussios Constantin
Published: July 2024

In the fight against a broad spectrum of human diseases, cavitation techniques show great promise for overcoming physical barriers that lead to suboptimal uptake of passively administered therapeutics. However, small animal testing of candidate therapies remains a poor predictor of clinical success. Here we demonstrate ultrasound-mediated drug delivery in normal and tumour-bearing human livers infused with protein-based cavitation nuclei (PCaN). Whole and partial human livers were obtained immediately from hepatectomy surgeries and were normothermically sustained using a clinically approved perfusion system (OrganOx Metra). Ultrasound was applied using a 0.5 MHz focused source (Sonic Concepts H107) and was monitored with a calibrated linear array (ATS L7-4) for real time structural and cavitational imaging implemented on an array controller (Verasonics Vantage 256). Specifically, the therapy process was monitored using passive acoustic mapping (PAM) of broadband cavitation emissions, employing a non-adaptive beamformer that deconvolves the array point spread function. Levels of fluorescently labelled drugs incorporated in and co-administered with the PCaN were quantified in blood and tissue samples collected during and following treatment, respectively. This presentation highlights PAM observations of broadband cavitation persistence and drug delivery in untargeted and targeted tissues, including the first ever experiments in tumour-bearing human livers.
Latent space representation method for structural acoustic assessments
Authors: Banyay Gregory A. , Wixom Andrew S.
Published: July 2024

When targeting structural acoustic objectives, engineering practitioners face epistemic uncertainties in the selection of optimal geometries and material distributions, particularly during early stages of the design process. Models built for simulating acoustic phenomena generally produce vector-valued output quantities of interest, such as autospectral density and frequency response functions. Given finite compute resources and time we seek computationally parsimonious ways to distill meaningful design information into actionable results from a limited set of model runs, and thus aim to use machine learning to perform model order reduction. Unlike time series data for which recurrent neural networks can learn from prior time steps to inform subsequent steps, frequency-dependent data demands a different machine learning paradigm. We thus evaluate the utility of autoencoders to represent structural acoustic results with a low dimensional latent space to enable such objectives as surrogate modeling for design optimization. We demonstrate the accuracy of autoencoder based methods of constructing a manifold representation for frequency dependent functions of varying modal density and damping, and discuss the predictive capability thereof.
A hybrid formulation for determining the input power in a stiffened plate over a wide frequency range
Authors: Vlahopoulos Nickolas , Lee Sungmin , Diaz Jonmarcos
Published: July 2024

A hybrid analytical/numerical formulation is presented for determining the input power in a stiffened plate over a wide frequency range. A Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) approach is used for developing the hybrid formulation. The structure is divided into a local substructure in the vicinity of the excitation and non-local substructures representing the remaining system. It is considered that the excitation is applied at a small number of discrete locations, therefore the local substructure is a small portion of the overall system. The computational efficiency originates from using an analytical approach and periodic structure theory for determining the dynamic modes and natural frequencies for the non-local substructures. Finite elements are used for determining the static modes for the non-local substructures and also for both the dynamic and static modes of the local substructure. The CMS matrices for the non-local substructures are condensed to their common interface degrees of freedom with the local substructures. In this manner, the non-local substructures are eventually represented as boundary conditions on the local substructure. Results from the hybrid formulation are compared with results from dense finite element models in order to demonstrate the validity and the efficiency of the hybrid method.
Echo sounding with the shock wave generated by the implosion of an instrument pressure housing
Authors: Loranger Scott , Barclay David R. , Buckingham Michael
Published: July 2024

In December 2014, what was intended to be a passive-acoustic experiment at the Challenger Deep, suddenly became an active-acoustic experiment. Two free-falling, passive-acoustic instrument platforms, each with a suite of hydrophones, a CTD, a sound speed sensor and a glass-sphere pressure housing containing the electronics, were deployed from the R/V Falkor. One of the platforms imploded at a nominal depth of 9000 m. The highly energetic, broadband shock wave created by the implosion was recorded by the surviving platform. The shock wave reflected multiple times from the seafloor and the surface and the arrival times of the multiple reflections were used to obtain a highly constrained estimate of the Challenger Deep: 10 983 ± 6 m. We will discuss the signal processing methods used and propagated uncertainty in this highly constrained estimate. We will also discuss how this estimate of the depth of the deepest part of the ocean compares with other estimates of the depth of the Challenger Deep, including an update on estimates obtained following the publication of this study.
Study on the source of overtone series in a harmonica note
Authors: Li Kuiliang , Rogers Chris
Published: July 2024

The harmonica reed is a cantilever beam and therefore does not produce integer harmonics. High-speed camera video of the reed and vibrometer measurements both demonstrate this expected behavior at the reed tip when being played. However, the acoustical recording shows an integer overtone series with large amplitudes (<10 dB from the fundamental) all the way past 22 kHz. To understand this phenomenon, we eliminated resonant cavities and other possible acoustic feedback systems by plucking the reed with only the reed plate attached. The acoustical and vibrometer data showed the same discrepancy in this case, but only when the reed enters the reed slot in the reed plate. The overtones don’t show up when the reed is vibrating completely away from the reed slot. In this paper, we will present these data and show how this phenomenon could be a result of vorticity produced by the sharp edge of the plate and the small air layer gap between plate and reed.
Numerical modeling of a saxophone and comparison with experimental measurements
Authors: Jeanneteau Marie L. , Oumaziz Paul , Passieux Jean-Charles , Gibiat Vincent , Cottier Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Saxophones making has long relied on craftsmanship, associated with an empirical knowledge of their acoustic functioning. The design process is now mainly based on the study of the input impedance, accessible experimentally or computationally. The numerical approaches are currently limited either by the accuracy (analytical models) or by the computation time (numerical resolution of PDEs). The challenge is to propose a numerical method combining both, to access the acoustic pressure and velocity fields in the instrument. Our objective was to develop a high-performance parallel numerical tool based on FEM to model accurately (a few cents on the resonances) the acoustic behavior of the resonator under playing conditions. The computation time was reduced by an order of magnitude compared to the brute force approach, using different modeling strategies specific to wind instruments: First, the modeling of the visco-thermal losses at the walls; then, the reduction of the size of the linear systems and finally, the reuse and model reduction to limit the effect of the multiple resolutions imposed by the wide frequency range of interest. The model is validated by comparison with experimental measurements. An impedance measurement system allowing acquisitions under controlled flow has been developed to reproduce realistic playing conditions.
Tony F. W. Embleton in the Acoustics Section, Physics Division, of the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC)
Authors: Brammer Anthony J. , Daigle Gilles , Stinson Michael , Toole Floyd
Published: July 2024

Tony completed his PhD in three years at Imperial College (London) studying under Dr. R.W.B. Stephens. He then joined George Thiessen and Edgar Shaw at NRCC to form the core of what became arguably the most influential and productive research group in acoustics in Canada from the 1960s to the 1980s. An important activity was service to industry, a role Tony embraced by collaborating with industry associations, participating in committees and directing his research activities. Working with George Thiessen, he succeeded in reducing the noise of couch rolls, a major source of noise in paper making, by randomizing the pattern of holes through which air was sucked to dry the paper. Other successful noise control projects included staggered stator blades for gas turbine engines and mufflers for rock drills. Tony made seminal contributions to outdoor sound propagation and refined condenser microphone calibration. In addition to his research and outreach, he found time for professional service to the ASA and CAA, including serving as founding editor of what is now Canadian Acoustics, and to develop standards and mentor younger scientists, He is remembered for his cheerfulness and willingness to provide advice and engage in conversation on any and all topics.
Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy for textured materials
Authors: Maynard Julian D.
Published: July 2024

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) is a method in which the least-squares fitting of a sample's measured resonance frequencies is used to determine the sample material's elastic constants. Difficulties arise when RUS is applied to textured materials, which are composed of crystallites that are neither completely aligned nor randomly oriented; such materials would have effective elastic tensors with 21 independent elastic constants, and this would overburden the conventional RUS analysis process. In any case, the elastic nature of some textured materials may be represented as the weighted average of the elastic tensors of the constituent crystalline material rotated in the directions of the individual crystallites. The collection of weights is the orientation distribution function (ODF). Now the least-squares fitting of a sample's measured resonance frequencies may be used to determine not the sample's elastic constants but instead its ODF. This is not trivial since the weights must be positive and sum to one, but it may be done with a simple modification of the conventional RUS software.
Breathers for nonlinear energy management in acoustic waveguides
Authors: Bukhari Mohammad A. , Barry Oumar , Vakakis Alexander F.
Published: July 2024

Recent investigations of nonlinear metamaterials have revealed interesting wave propagation phenomena with no counterpart in linear systems. One of the appealing phenomena is traveling discrete breathers. Breathers are traveling oscillatory wavepackets with spatially localized envelopes and energy-dependent speeds. These nonlinear waves were reported in lattices with purely (or nearly purely) nonlinear neighbor interactions (possessing zero speed of sound as defined in the classical acoustics sense, and, hence, designated as sonic vacua). However, the effect of local resonators on breather propagation is elusive to date. In this work, we aim to fill this gap by studying 1D grounded strongly nonlinear lattices with linear local resonators (SNLRMs) under impulsive force excitation. Numerical simulations have demonstrated that SNLRMs support the generation of new families of breathers. These families resulted from the opening of a new optical propagation zone (PZ) in the spectrum, which is associated with the linear dynamics of the local resonators. These families are characterized by the local resonator parameters and can support multiple fast frequencies or a single frequency that belongs to either the optical or acoustical PZs. Further aspects of the nonlinear acoustics are also demonstrated using the complexification averaging method. The newly reported breathers open the venue to employ SNLRMs in passive nonlinear energy management applications. Examples are presented through acoustics waveguides and frequency filtering.
Using a leaky-wave antenna as an acoustic prism for speech-separation
Authors: Willson Abigail D. , Wixom Andrew S. , Hanford Amanda
Published: July 2024

Leaky-wave antennas (LWA) are an acoustic metamaterial comprised of an array of unit cells. For a 1D line array, the output ranges from 0° to 180° relative to the direction of the axis of the array. The direction of the output is dependent on the frequency of the input; a single frequency input will produce a highly directive output beam at a specific angle. Much like an optic prism, which can be used to split a complex optic wave into its components, a LWA can be used to split a complex input audio wave into its components. This work explores the capabilities of LWA to separate transient signals like human speech into different output directions. This is accomplished by way of an equivalent circuit model of the LWA that enables simulations in both the time and frequency domains. The frequency domain performance of the model is validated against previously published results, and then the transient response is shown to recover these as well once steady-state is reached
Design and analysis of a compact sound absorber made of multiple parallel Helmholtz resonators
Authors: Laly Zacharie , Mechefske Chris , Ghinet Sebastian , Kone Tenon Charly
Published: July 2024

In this paper, a compact sound absorber material is proposed and studied for noise attenuation at multiple frequencies using finite element method. The global cylindrical cavity of the material is partitioned into twelve sub- cavities where four are located in the center and one extended neck is connected to each sub-cavity. Each sub-cavity with the associated neck represents a Helmholtz resonator and thus the proposed material design is made of twelve parallel Helmholtz resonators. The sound absorption coefficient and the transmission loss present twelve resonant peaks at different frequencies where the surface impedance is close to the air impedance. The resonant frequencies can be adjusted by the geometrical parameters of the necks and the sub-cavities volumes. The proposed sound absorber can be used in multiple engineering applications to attenuate noise simultaneously at twelve different frequencies.
Examining the maintenance of dialect features in colloquial urban Armenian speech via variationist analysis of vowels in Gavaṛ, Armenia
Authors: Portugal Emma L.
Published: July 2024

This study examines the maintenance of previously described local dialect vowels in the regional city of Gavaṛ, Armenia. The dialect vowel system contains additional phonemic and allophonic distinctions not found in supralocal Armenian varieties. As such, adherence to this system was conceptualized through the presence or absence of various vowel mergers. F1 and F2 were measured from picture and word list data collected from sociolinguistic interviews with 31 participants. Mergers were assessed for each participant via Pillai scores and Euclidean distances between clusters of words where different vowels were predicted to appear based on previous descriptions of the dialect. Countering previous claims about dialect leveling in regional cities, some participants were found to maintain some aspects of the dialect vowel system. Fixed effects linear models assessed the effect of demographic predictors (self-reported gender, birth year, education level) on maintenance of dialect vowels. There was an effect of gender, such that men were found to maintain some dialect vowels to a greater degree than women. Participants’ commentary suggested that the most salient aspects of the dialect vowel system are the same ones in relation to which this demographic variation was uncovered, indicating a relationship between salience and maintenance of dialect vowels.
Stories and words online regional dialect corpus collection
Authors: Lilley Kevin D. , Ross Jory P. , Bissell Marie , Clopper Cynthia G.
Published: July 2024

Online data collection allows for access to diverse populations. In the current study, we used online recruitment and data collection methods to obtain a corpus of read short stories, real English words, and nonwords from adult talkers representing three authentic regional dialects of American English and one novel accent. The authentic dialects are New England, Northern, and Southern American English and are each represented by 8–10 talkers, ranging in age from 22 to 75 years old. The novel accent was produced by five Spanish-English bilinguals with training in linguistics, who were asked to produce Spanish /o/ in an otherwise English segmental context. The four target varieties each contain one vowel pair of interest, in which the vowels within the pair are relatively more ambiguous than in the other varieties. Each talker produced one familiar short story (e.g., Goldilocks and the Three Bears) with 40 tokens of each vowel within the target pair for their dialect, as well as a set of real words and nonwords that represent both the target vowel pair for their dialect and the other three vowel pairs for comparison across dialects. All corpus materials are available to the scholarly community.
Vowel space expansion following alcohol intoxication
Authors: Shamei Arian , Liu Xinglei , Seiilova Rima , Gick Bryan
Published: July 2024

Alcohol intoxication is characterized by hypermetric movements (overshoot) in manual fine motor skills [Phillips et al., (2009). Hum. Movement Sci,. 28(5), 619–632]. It remains unknown whether hypermetric movements manifest in speech following alcohol intoxication. Recent work on a small population (n = 15) revealed vowel space area (VSA) expansion following intoxication [Chang et al., 2023. Proc. ICPhS ‘23 ]. To validate these findings, we made use of the publicly available Alcohol Language Corpus [Schiel et al., 2012. Lang. res. and eval. 46, 503–521]. VSAs were compared across 162 speakers (85 male, 77 female) while sober (n = 162) and intoxicated (blood alcohol level > 0.08%, n = 97) using an unsupervised method based on cluster center detection of normalized vowel formants [Sandoval et al. JASA. 134(5), EL477-EL483]. Substantial VSA expansion was observed for males (10.8%), while a smaller expansion was observed for females (3.6%). These results support recent observations of VSA expansion and suggest hypermetric tongue movement following alcohol intoxication. Further evaluations are ongoing and employ hierarchical linear modeling to compare the effects of specific blood-alcohol concentrations and speech tasks (free speech, tongue-twisters, repetition) on VSA expansion. [Research funded by Tenvos Incorporated for the development of commercial speaker state-detection algorithms.]
Comparison of conventional and adaptive acoustic beamforming algorithms using a tetrahedral microphone array in noisy environments
Authors: Ewers Megan B. , Edwards Adina , Siderius Martin
Published: July 2024

In situ acoustic measurements are often plagued by interfering sound sources that occur within the measurement environment. Both adaptive and conventional beamforming algorithms, when applied to the outputs of a microphone array arranged in a tetrahedral geometry, are able to capture sound sources in desired directions and reject sound from unwanted directions. Adaptive algorithms may be able to measure a desired sound source with greater spatial precision, but require more calculations and, therefore, computational power. A conventional frequency-domain phase-shift algorithm and a modified adaptive frequency-domain Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) algorithm were applied to simulated and recorded signals from a tetrahedral array of omnidirectional microphones. The algorithms are described mathematically and demonstrated on both deterministic and real-world sound data, to quantitatively validate and compare their performance and to provide listening examples of their outputs in a variety of acoustically replicated environments. [Work supported by Portland State University.]
Geoacoustic inversion using 3D modal rays on the New England Shelf Break
Authors: DeCourcy Brendan J. , Bonnel Julien
Published: July 2024

During the Seabed Characterization Experiment in 2021 (SBCEX21), hydrophones deployed on the seabed of the New England Shelf Break recorded acoustic signals from SUS charge explosions. Acoustic data from one of these TOSSIT hydrophones displays evident modal structures which cannot be fully captured with 2D propagation models. In this presentation, 3D acoustic modal ray tracing is shown to provide a stronger match for recorded modal travel times, and is used to invert for geoacoustic parameters of the seabed. Performance of 2D and 3D modal propagation models are presented, and limitations of the methods are shown in the context of large parameter space inversion efforts. [This research is supported by The Office of Naval Research.]
Ambisonic recordings of sound fields from commonly occupied built environments
Authors: George Hezekiah , Wang Lily M.
Published: July 2024

There is growing use of simulated soundscapes to study human perception, such as for testing hearing aids or cochlear implants. Ambisonics is one method to record and then simulate three-dimensional sound fields with more accurate directional information. In this project, our aim has been to expand the currently available database of ambisonic recordings of soundscapes in built environments. To this end, we have made recordings of sound fields in frequently occupied spaces in the built environment such as classrooms and food courts, using a commercially available ambisonic microphone capturing up to first-order spherical harmonics. While databases of such recordings are available online, many recorded samples are short in duration, typically less than 5 min. long. Furthermore, there are fewer samples taken from occupied spaces in the built environment which are of interest in architectural acoustics. We will review recordings that are already available online and describe our acquired recordings which sample additional spaces and are longer in length. We will share a link to where these can be accessed and downloaded. An ultimate goal is for researchers to utilize these recordings to generate more ecologically valid sound fields when testing human responses in more controllable, simulated test environments.
A virtual reality method for assessing human responses to soundscapes
Authors: Fiebig Andre , Meier Niklas , Dreier Christian
Published: July 2024

Virtual realities and simulations are becoming increasingly popular due to constant technological advancement offering more and more realistic scenarios. However, cases of VR being used to assess soundscape-related aspects of perception still appear to be rare. Here, a method for conducting auditory perception experiments in a virtual urban environment is presented and discussed. Participants are exposed to virtual scenarios simulating an urban green area with nearby traffic noise sources, whose visualization draws on physically-based visual renderings. The acoustic scenario is auralized in real-time using geometrical acoustic approaches including simulated and recorded sounds. The virtual environment is presented via head-mounted display and headphones. In this setting, evaluation and behavioural experiments are conducted, with the environment’s acoustic and visual characteristics being experimentally manipulable or controllable. The presented method allows for perception experiments with a high degree of ecological validity while maintaining a controlled laboratory setting. As a practical application, the method is used to determine the impact of road traffic configurations on the restoration quality in an urban green area. Proceeding from the applied method, general opportunities and limitations of experiments performed in virtual urban environments to study noise effects in urban soundscapes are discussed.
One size does not fit all: Three tools and approaches for soundscape simulations
Authors: Fraisse Valérian , Tarlao Cynthia , Yanaky Richard , Guastavino Catherine
Published: July 2024

We present a reflection on three prototypes of real-time interactive soundscape simulators aimed at supporting participatory urban sound planning and interventions. These prototypes were developed as part of the Sounds in the City cross-sectoral partnership through an iterative process involving various stakeholders. Each prototype enables different ways to manipulate soundscapes through tailored interfaces and audio/visual outputs, targeting different types of users. The first version is audio-only and uses live music tools for Ambisonics spatialization, with limited environmental modeling for co-design exercises with urban and sound professionals. The second version builds on the idea of the first and adds acoustic modeling. It was used to assess the impact of sound installations in public spaces through research-creation involving sound artists and residents. The last version utilizes (desktop or head-mounted) virtual reality with binaural rendering, immersing the user in an audio-visual city to raise sound awareness and support urban soundscape design. We emphasize that there is no one-size-fits-all tool. Rather, we highlight how different tools are needed for different auralization tasks and target user groups. These tools are presented through examples of early-stage conceptualization, educational components, creative processes, laboratory-based soundscape assessments, and both individual and participatory design sessions.
Architectural acoustics continuing education course—Presenter registration and reporting
Authors: Good Kenneth W. , Brooks Bennett M.
Published: July 2024

The Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA) is a Registered Provider in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES). The TCAA has developed a standardized introductory short course for architects called “Architectural Acoustics,” for which attendees can earn one continuing education unit (CEU). This paper will cover the administrative requirements of the ASA/CES, to prepare potential presenters. These requirements include the proper handling of paperwork so that AIA members may receive credit for the course. The manner in which the course is given is also dictated by AIA requirements. TCAA membership and attendance at this workshop are required to qualify as an authorized presenter for this AIA/CES short course. Of course, anyone is free to register with the AIA to provide their own CEU program. However, the advantages of participating in this program are that the TCAA short course is already prepared, it is pre-approved by the AIA, and the registration fees are paid by the Acoustical Society of America.
Ontogeny of vocalizations in Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chicks from West Antarctica
Authors: Adams Michele L. , Fradet Danielle T. , Cimino Megan A. , White Easton , Kloepper Laura
Published: July 2024

Acoustic indices are an efficient method for monitoring dense aggregations of vocal animals but require understanding the acoustic ecology of the species under examination. The present understanding of avian behavior and vocal development is primarily derived from the research of songbirds (Passeriformes). However, given that behavior and environment can differ greatly among bird orders, passerine birdsong may be insufficient to define the vocal ontogeny of non-passerine birds. Like many colonial nesting seabirds, the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is adapted to loud and congested environments with limited cues to identify kinship within aggregations of conspecifics. In addition to physical or geographical cues to identify offspring, adult P. adeliae rely on vocal modulation. Numerous studies have been conducted on mutual vocal modulations in mature P. adeliae, but limited research has explored the vocal repertoire of the chicks and how their vocalizations evolve over time. Using the deep learning-based system, DeepSqueak, this study characterized the vocal ontogeny of P. adeliae chicks in the West Antarctic Peninsula to aid in autonomously tracking their age. Understanding the phenological communication patterns of vocal-dependent seabirds can help measure the impact of climate change on this indicator species through non-invasive methods.
Humpback whale song vocalization behavior and temporo-spatial distributions in the Norwegian and Barents Sea observed with a coherent hydrophone array
Authors: Samantray Saunak , Ghosh Arpita , Seri Sai Geetha , Mohebbi-Kalkhoran Hamed , Godoe Olav R. , Makris Nicholas C. , Ahonen Heidi , Makris Purnima R.
Published: July 2024

The vocalization behavior of humpback whales in the Norwegian and Barents Seas is examined based on recordings of a large-aperture, densely-populated coherent hydrophone array system. The passive ocean acoustic waveguide remote sensing (POAWRS) technique is employed to provide detection, bearing-time estimation, time-frequency characterization and classification of the humpback whale vocalizations. The song vocalizations, composed of highly structured and repeatable set of phrases, were detected throughout the diel cycle between February 18 to March 8, 2014. The beamformed spectrograms of the detected humpback vocalizations are classified as song sequences based on inter-pulse intervals and time-frequency characteristics, verified by visual inspection. The song structure is compared for humpback whale vocalizations recorded at three distinct regions off the Norwegian coast, Alesund, Lofoten and Northern Finmark. Multiple bearing-time trajectories for humpback songs were simultaneously observed indicating multiple singers present at each measurement site. Humpback whale received call rates and temporo-spatial distributions are compared across the three measurement sites. Geographic mapping of humpback whale calls from their bearing-time trajectories is accomplished via the moving array triangulation technique.
Unraveling biological responses to oceanographic equipment: Insights from forward-facing active acoustics and low-light imagery using small boats
Authors: Sapiie Rendhy M. , Freeman Lauren , Roman Chris , Casagrande David , Phillips Brennan
Published: July 2024

Over six decades, extensive research has delved into the intricate interactions between marine animals and oceanographic sampling equipment, recognizing the impactful influence of light and sound emissions on mobile fauna behavior during surveys. This study, conducted through three mid-water experiments in the Solomon Islands (2019) and Bermuda (2021 and 2023), utilizing small boats, aims to unravel the effects of light on the distribution of biological scattering layers. Employing broadband active acoustics, dimmable lights, and low-light imaging on an observation-class ROV and a custom-made instrument frame, the experiments dynamically adjusted light intensity to track changes in volume backscattering strength. Amidst challenges encountered along the way, the study notably succeeded in observing avoidance behaviors from mesopelagic animals in response to the presence of our equipment. This study provides valuable insight for fisheries acoustics and echosounder applications, particularly in coral reef environments where small boats play a crucial role. This paper reviews the system setup, data processing, and presents fused backscatter data over depth, concluding with lessons learned, recommendations, and future study goals, contributing to the broader understanding of marine animal interactions with sampling equipment.
Considering the role of the phononic dispersion relations in understanding the performance of phononic pseudocrystals and similar structures
Authors: Swift S. Hales
Published: July 2024

Dispersion calculations have been an essential tool for investigating and predicting the performance of conventional phononic crystals because they offer the opportunity to accurately characterize the behavior of a structure based on the smallest characteristic piece of that structure. For phononic pseudocrystals—in which translational symmetry is replaced by cyclic symmetry and radial self similarity—the scaled dispersion relations of the unit pseudocell provide useful information; however, the behavior of a completed article comprised of multiple pseudocells is less completely articulated than for conventional phononic crystals. This paper will explore the uses of dispersion-type calculations applied to characteristic wedges of phononic pseudocrystals in an effort to evaluate what additional information they can potentially provide. [SNL is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.]