bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic receiving on glider-type autonomous underwater vehicles: Advantages and challenges
Authors: Van Uffelen Lora
Published: April 2023

An ocean glider is a specific type of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that operates using a buoyancy engine rather than traditional propellors or thrusters. This method of propulsion enables a glider to be deployed for weeks or months and is relatively quiet, making the ocean glider a desirable platform for persistent acoustic monitoring. A glider typically remains submerged for several hours, during which time it can be challenging to localize the vehicle precisely. Gliders are low-power platforms that operate in the mid-water column, and therefore subsea navigation technologies implemented on other types of AUVs, such as inertial navigation systems aided by Doppler velocity logs, may not be suitable. Acoustic signals from fixed broadband sources have been used for subsea localization of Seaglider, a commercially available glider platform. Measurements of the multipath acoustic arrival structure received on Seagliders at ranges up to hundreds of kilometers from transmitting sources were used for vehicle localization in both temperate and polar underwater sound propagation environments. Methodology and results for subsea localization of the Seaglider platform will be presented and placed in the context of a broader discussion of the advantages and challenges specific to the glider as a moving acoustic receiving platform.
Acoustic beacon aided underwater vehicle navigation: Observability analysis on vehicle trajectory
Authors: Choi Jae Won , Chowdhary Girish , Singer Andrew C.
Published: April 2023

In the GPS-denied underwater environment, unmanned underwater vehicle navigation commonly depends on integrating the outputs of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and Doppler Velocity Sonar (DVS) for recursive self-localization. However, dead reckoning navigation based on only an IMU and DVS suffers from the accumulation of errors over time. Analogous to using a GPS signal from a satellite, an acoustic signal from a source from a known location can be used to measure time-of-flight (distance) and motion-induced Doppler (relative velocity) to correct for these errors. However, due to the non-linear relationship between the pose and acoustic measurements, analyzing the observability of the positioning system in a traditional sense is nontrivial. For this work, we aim to analyze and design the trajectory of a vehicle that operates in order to ensure a form of observability. This approach provides a sufficient condition for the existence of a one-to-one relationship between the state of the system and the observed series of measurements. By analyzing this form of observability over possible trajectories, our goal is to find a vehicle path plan that can yield a unique pose based on measurements from the onboard sensors and received acoustic signals.
Bayesian navigation in shallow water using passive acoustics
Authors: Jang Junsu , Meyer Florian
Published: April 2023

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation relying on active acoustic sources causes noise pollution, while dead reckoning leads to a localization error that increases with time. Therefore, AUV navigation based on passive acoustics is appealing. However, for AUV navigation, extracting location information with passive acoustics is a challenging signal processing task. Due to the small form factor of an AUV as a sensing platform, only a single hydrophone or a small aperture hydrophone array can be used as an acoustic sensor. Furthermore, the acoustic signals originate from uncooperative sources. Here, we propose a Bayesian navigation approach for an AUV that exploits acoustic signals generated from sources of opportunity (SOOs) in a shallow water environment. The waveguide invariant (WI) parameter is estimated from cross-correlation coefficients of non-linearly transformed tonal signals of an SOO. It is assumed that the location information of the SOO is transmitted by an automatic identification system. Additionally, the range rate is inferred using the spectrum of cross-correlatedacoustic fields over a time interval. The WI parameter estimate, the range rate estimate, and inertial measurements are fused in a Bayesian parameter estimation approach. The navigation capability is demonstrated using simulated and real data from the SwellEx-96 experiment.
Discussion of impacts of measurement error in architectural acoustics performance specifications
Authors: Rittmueller Steve
Published: April 2023

Customers for acoustic products need manufacturers and professionals to provide performance specifications to allow informed design decisions. Acoustic professionals rely upon standard tests and special labs to quantify products. Data published by the ASTM for E90 shows that an STC rating for a single construction can have a variability range of up to 7 points. Being logarithmic, this equates to a sound pressure range of more than 2×, larger than 100%. The log nature of many acoustical performance metrics hides this from most. This large variability causes challenges for the architectural acoustics community. The primary negative impact: customers do not trust the acoustical ratings manufacturers provide. This is not an issue of the manufacturers providing inaccurate information, it is an issue of under-reported and incomplete understanding of the uncertainty in the metrics themselves. For perspective, NRC measured the Young’s Modulus of OSB material to have a mean of 6.8 × 109 and a standard deviation of 1.5 × 108 (Ref: NRC IR-766, Table 22). This yields a measurement error of 3.8%. It is simple to account for this in the design process. If the metric has an uncertainty as large as the acoustic metrics, the standard paradigm for accounting for error not only breaks down, it incentivizes bad actors: cherry picking, lab shopping, etc. More open acknowledgement of the measurement error in architectural acoustic metrics would increase the confidence customers have in them and would allow designers to make more informed decisions.
Which number is correct? Making sense of acoustical test results
Authors: Schmidt Andrew , Phillips Austin
Published: April 2023

Acoustical consultants and designers rely on sound data published by manufacturers to make informed design decisions. Even when manufacturers make efforts to communicate these data clearly, acoustical test values can be misinterpreted or misapplied. Nuanced sample mounting methods, specific test system configurations, and variability inherent in laboratory test methods are all factors that can affect test results and how or what data are published in manufacturer literature. Since at least the early 1950s, United States Gypsum (USG) has tested and published sound data for its products and systems. A brief history of USG’s acoustical testing and sound-related publications will be presented, along with examples of variability of results, influencing factors, and how this information is communicated to different audiences.
Laboratory perspectives on the business of acoustical materials testing
Authors: Wolfram Eric P.
Published: April 2023

Eric Wolfram will share experiences from 10 years as Laboratory Manager for Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories in Geneva, IL. He will start with an overview of the typical process for acoustical materials testing, important details to consider when reviewing test reports, and common concerns raised by manufacturers regarding current industry practices. Eric will share perspectives on how acoustical test data is used for product development and marketing.
A discussion addressing the challenges to making laboratory acoustic data accurate, usable, and specifiable
Authors: Good Kenneth W.
Published: April 2023

One might think that accurately measuring and reporting acoustic data would be well established, and in many cases this is true. However, laboratories, manufactures, and other’s often face unique situations that present difficulties producing meaningful data and communicating in a useable way. A recent example involves sound absorption for discrete absorbers. This paper will discuss observations used to face these challenges.
Acoustic ceiling systems inside buildings: What we were taught and should now know instead
Authors: Madaras Gary
Published: April 2023

This presentation is an executive summary of how modular, suspended, acoustic, ceiling systems perform inside buildings as presented at meetings of the Acoustical Society of America and noise control engineering conferences between 2015 and 2022. It bridges the gap between laboratory testing of ceiling panel metrics and how complete ceiling systems perform inside buildings when combined with other building elements such as lights, air diffusers, floor slabs, plenum barriers and mechanical devices in the plenum. Ceiling system performance will be discussed from the perspectives of complying with minimum sound absorption, minimum sound isolation and maximum background noise level requirements in building design standards and guidelines. Corroboration with foundational testing conducted by the National Research Council of Canada and ASHREA will be integrated. Standards with prediction methods that should be used instead of ceiling panel metrics will be reviewed. Citations to studies will be provided for more detailed information.
“Nacho”—A willing and adventurous dolphin with diverse research accomplishments
Authors: Houser Dorian
Published: April 2023

The bottlenose dolphin, WEN (also known as “Nacho”), worked in the swimmer interdiction system of the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program (MMP) before being transferred to MMP research in the mid-2000s. During his time away from systems work, WEN participated in diverse research projects that benefited our understanding of dolphin hearing, bioacoustics, and auditory physiology. His contributions include several ground-breaking studies: (1) he demonstrated that dolphins could remain vigilant at an acoustic target detection task for days without rest or performance decrement, (2) participated in the first study matching dolphin structural (MRI) and functional imaging (SPECT, PET) with an emphasis on the anatomy of sound-reception and transmission, (3) performed open-ocean work to investigate the target strength of dolphins at depth and the potential for intravascular bubble formation during diving, (4) was instrumental in the development of auditory evoked potential (AEP) methods for use in MMP dolphins, and (5) performed the first direct comparison of AEP and behavioral thresholds to the same acoustic stimulus in a marine mammal. Not only have WEN’s contributions significantly advanced marine mammal science, but with his return to systems work, he continues to contribute to the national security of the United States.
Simultaneous acquisition of vibration and diffusion by multifrequency diffusion tensor imaging-magnetic resonance elastography (mDTI-MRE)
Authors: Klatt Dieter , Lin Shujun , Magin Richard , Anderson Aaron T. , Sutton Bradley P.
Published: April 2023

Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) are MRI techniques that provide complementary diagnostic information and utilize motion-sensitive magnetic field gradients. In MRE, tissue vibrations are encoded into the MRI signal phase, while in DTI the diffusive motion of water molecules is assessed by means of the MRI signal magnitude. Careful consideration of the motion-encoding gradient timing conditions and the mechanical frequencies allows the simultaneous acquisition of vibration and diffusion data without observable mutual interferences. We propose a multifrequency Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Magnetic Resonance Elastography (mDTI-MRE) protocol that measures the diffusive behavior along 24 directions and the full 3D displacement field at two mechanical frequencies. Using this method, mDTI-MRE provides information about the mechanical wave field and about a preferred direction, which may facilitate the accurate mechanical characterization of anisotropic biological tissues, such as brain white matter and skeletal muscle.
Quantification of liver fat and fibrosis using elastography plus composite theory
Authors: Parker Kevin J. , Poul Sedigheh , Ormachea Juvenal
Published: April 2023

There are a growing set of ultrasound and viscoelastic measures that can be correlated with fat or fibrosis in the liver. We find that fat and fibrosis jointly influence important properties of the liver and can be considered as confounding cofactors within most simple measures. For example, shear wave attenuation is sensitive to the accumulation of viscous fat, but is also influenced by the degree of fibrosis, so attenuation by itself is insufficient for accurate estimation of liver fat. However, using some robust elastography techniques to assess both the shear wave phase velocity and the shear wave attenuation in a region of the liver, these measured values are found to be sufficient information for solving for both the unknown fat percent volume and the liver stiffness related to fibrosis score. A classical theory of composite viscoelastic materials is used to solve for the unknowns. Examples from human clinical studies are shown to correspond to biopsy proven grades of steatosis and fibrosis.
Nonlinear least-squares estimation of shear modulus and shear viscosity in viscoelastic media
Authors: Bannon Nicholas A. , Urban Matthew W. , McGough Robert J.
Published: April 2023

Time-domain estimates of the shear wave speed are obtained by performing cross-correlations or by evaluating the time-to-peak for two laterally separated shear wave particle velocity waveforms, where the distance divided by the propagation time yields an approximate value for the shear wave speed. Challenges associated with these time-domain estimation approaches include increasing errors as the shear viscosity increases and the absence of an estimated value for the shear viscosity parameter which is responsible for the rapid attenuation of shear waves in soft tissue. To obtain a time-domain estimate of the shear viscosity that also provides an estimate for the shear wave speed, a nonlinear least squares estimation approach is applied to three-dimensional (3D) shear wave particle velocities computed for a shear elasticity of 1.5 kPa, shear viscosities of 1, 2, 3, and 4 Pa.s, and a realistic simulated 3D acoustic radiation force excitation. The results show cross-correlations tend to over-estimate the value of the shear wave speed, the nonlinear least squares approach tends to under-estimate the value of the shear wave speed, and the nonlinear least square approach produces more accurate estimates as the shear viscosity increases. Two-dimensional maps of each estimated parameter are also shown.
Real-time passive cavitation mapping with high spatial-temporal resolution
Authors: Yao Junjie
Published: April 2023

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and laser lithotripsy (LL) have been widely used for clinical treatment of kidney stones. Cavitation plays an important role in stone fragmentation in both SWL and LL, yet it may also contribute to renal tissue injury. It is therefore crucial to determine the spatiotemporal distributions of cavitation activities to maximize stone fragmentation while minimizing tissue injury. Passive cavitation mapping (PCM) has most practical applications in deep biological tissues and is most promising for clinical translation. We have developed a set of technologies for 2D/3D PCM that can be seamlessly integrated with ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging. Our 2D/3D PCM has achieved a spatial resolution of hundreds of micrometers and a temporal resolution of several microseconds. We also developed a transient angular spectrum approach for PCM reconstruction, which is ten times faster than the traditional delay-and-sum method. Using the 2D/3D PCM system, we imaged shockwave- and laser-induced single cavitation bubbles in both free field and constricted space, as well as on large animal models. Collectively, our results have demonstrated the high reliability and spatial-temporal accuracy of the 2D/3D PCM approach, which paves the way for future in vivo applications and human studies during SWL and LL.
Histotripsy of healthy and tendinopathic ex vivo bovine tendons
Authors: Smallcomb Molly , Simon Julianna C.
Published: April 2023

Histotripsy has successfully fractionated most soft tissues; however, highly collagenous tissues like tendon have been resistant to histotripsy fractionation. Previously, we showed that some histotripsy parameters could create mild mechanical microdamage in healthy ex vivo rat tendons. Our objective here is to evaluate whether complete histotripsy fractionation is possible in tendons. Eight bovine tendons were injected with collagenase to induce tendinopathy; an additional four tendons were unaltered. Tendons were exposed to single- or dual-frequency histotripsy at 1.07-, 1.5-, and/or 3.68-MHz with 10-ms pulses delivered at 1 Hz for 60 s. Treatments were monitored with passive cavitation detection (PCD) and samples were evaluated for damage. Results show that exposure of tendinopathic tendons to 1.5- and 3.68-MHz dual-frequency histotripsy produces a distinct, fractionated hole; 1.5- and 3.68-MHz single-frequency histotripsy produces partial fractionation without a distinct hole. No fractionation was observed in healthy tendons, or in tendinopathic tendons exposed to 1.07 MHz single- or dual-frequency histotripsy. Histologically, all tendons showed evidence of thermal necrosis independent of whether a hole was observed. PCD showsincreases in amplitude and sustainment of cavitation in exposures that successfully fractionated tendon. These results suggest histotripsy fractionation is possible in tendinopathic tendons. [Work supported by NIH R21EB027886 and R01EB032860.]
Parallelized optimization for substructured finite element structural acoustic problems
Authors: Luu Matthew , Wixom Andrew S.
Published: April 2023

This work explores the use of parallelized optimization techniques for structural acoustics problems. In particular, the underlying problems studied here utilize finite element substructuring in order to solve the objective function, though the substructuring aspect is not the primary focus of this work. Instead, several different optimization strategies were employed on a selection of problems to better understand the tradeoffs between the different algorithms. Throughout this effort, the Python library PyGMO is used due to its capabilities to wrap around many different optimization algorithms and distribute optimization tasks over multiple CPUs. The candidate algorithms studied in this work include both heuristic global optimizers and gradient based local optimizers such as the following: Extended Ant Colony (GACO), Conjugate Gradient (CG), Sequential Quadratic Programing (SLSQP), and Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA). Each method is evaluated individually as well as in combination with some or all of the others to evaluate if a mixed algorithm approach is advantageous. A range of computational resources are employed to understand the scalability and other aspects of the parallelized calculations.
Steelpan building and tuning: General basics and personal observations
Authors: Sanderson Noah M.
Published: April 2023

In this presentation, I will share the steps I use to build and tune steelpans, as well as some insights and observations from my experience as a builder/tuner. Building includes welding, sinking (stretching the steel into a concave surface), note shaping, and steel smoothing. After that, the steelpan is burned and then tuned. Tuning is done using hand hammering and occasional heating. It involves tuning multiple modes of vibration independently in a single note panel, adjusting the timbre, and getting the desired interactions between notes. Oftentimes, the tuning experience and final product is somewhat unpredictable. Small differences in the steel shape can result in large changes to the sound, and operations that will work on one note might not for another. Furthermore, there are many problems that arise from detrimental note-note interactions and note-skirt interactions. All this results in a seemingly mysterious nature to steelpans, requiring a degree of trial and error to get the desired qualities. My hope is that a dialogue between tuners and researchers can strengthen our understanding of the instrument from both viewpoints.
Modeling the sound radiation of gamelan gongs using closed-form rigid spherical models
Authors: Bellows Samuel D. , Harwood Dallin T. , Shepherd Micah , Gee Kent L. , Leishman Timothy W.
Published: April 2023

The structural modes of gamelan gongs have clear connections with the gongs' far-field radiated patterns. However, the instruments' unique geometry and modal characteristics limit the applicability of simple theoretical closed-form models, such as a radially vibrating cap on a sphere, for understanding their radiation. This work develops and applies two different models, a vibrating cap on a spherical shell with a circular aperture and a vibrating cap with imposed mode shapes, to better understand the gongs' directional characteristics. The models agree with acoustical measurements, predicting dipole and cardioid-like patterns and lobes formed from constructive and destructive interference.
A comparison of the timbral characteristics of steel and wooden drum sets
Authors: Malloy Colin
Published: April 2023

Although it is quite common to construct snare drum shells from various metals, it is still rare for full drum sets to have shells made from metal. Several manufacturers have produced metal drum sets intermittently since the 1970s. However, they still remain a niche version of the instrument that has received less attention than their wooden counterparts. This paper compares the timbral characteristics of a drum set made from steel against a maple drum set. Audio samples of the two drum sets are meticulously recorded in a recording studio with high grade equipment. The configurations of the two drum sets are made to match as closely as possible. Then the recorded audio samples are analyzed using computational methods—looking at both time-domain and spectral features for both instruments. In this way we observe how the different construction material and methods result in contrasting timbral characteristics.
Utility and transportation noise modeling
Authors: Keefe Joseph
Published: April 2023

A few case studies regarding public utility and transportation noise are presented. These address concerns regarding the prediction and attenuation of noise from electrical transformers, gas regulators, and interstate highways. Our approach to computer modeling, model adjustments to match measured conditions, and before/after measurements will be presented.
The effect of explicit and implicit voice training on speech-on-speech intelligibility and listening effort
Authors: Bicer Ada , Baskent Deniz , McGettigan Carolyn , Koelewijn Thomas
Published: April 2023

Listening to familiar voices might improve intelligibility of target speech in multiple-talker situations. In addition to personally familiar voices, voice training—through implicit exposure or explicit learning of a previously unheard voice—can improve speech intelligibility. However, there is no consensus on which method is more effective. We investigated the effect of explicit and implicit voice training on speech-on-speech perception and listening effort (pupillometry), among normal hearing listeners. There was no significant difference in speech intelligibility performance between trained and untrained voices, with either voice training method. However, an interaction between voice training method and target-to-masker ratio (TMR) on accuracy scores showed that the benefit of increased TMR on accuracy scores was significantly larger when voice training was implicit compared to explicit. Pupillometry results showed that explicit voice training significantly reduced listening effort for most disadvantageous TMR (−6dB), but not for more advantageous TMRs (0 and + 6 dB), and not for implicitly trained voices. Our results may imply that explicit voice training is more effective than implicit voice training in reducing listening effort. Still, implicit voice training, perhaps via procedural learning, might be more beneficial on the performance level when TMR becomes more advantageous.
Localization of novel reduced-annoyance audio interface sounds
Authors: Macpherson Ewan A. , Schutz Michael
Published: April 2023

Foley et al. [JASA 151, 3189–3196 (2022)] have demonstrated that annoyance of auditory interface sounds can be reduced both by shortening the duration of upper harmonics and by applying percussive rather than flat amplitude envelopes. However, sounds in that study had a maximum frequency of 2400 Hz, which would likely affect localization based on spectral cues. In a setting with multiple interface devices (e.g., a multi-patient hospital ward), localization of interface sounds is a concern. We characterized normally hearing listeners' ability to localize a variety of candidate reduced-annoyance interface sounds (flat or percussive envelopes; durations between 360 and 1600 ms; all but one with uppermost harmonic limited to 2400 Hz) in quiet or at + 4-dB and −11-dB SNR in spatially diffuse multi-talker babble. Listeners stood at the center of a 360-degree loudspeaker array in a darkened anechoic chamber and used a head-pointing response to report the perceived location of each target. Decreasing SNR increased response variability and the rate of front/rear confusions. For all sounds with restricted bandwidth, front/rear confusions were frequent in the absence of head movements, but when head movements were initiated before target offset, confusions were substantially reduced. The results highlight the need to consider localizability when designing improved auditory interface sounds.
Passive underwater Acoustic IDentification (AID) tags for enhancing Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) navigation during docking or homing operations
Authors: Somaan Nizar , Bhardwaj Ananya , Sabra Karim G.
Published: April 2023

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation requires accurate positioning information from the surrounding environment, especially for tasks such as AUV homing or docking operations. Previous literature has introduced a class of low-cost passive underwater acoustic markers, termed Acoustic IDentification (AID) tags [Satish and Sabra, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 149(5), 3387–3405 (2021)] built of multi-layer shells with different acoustic properties and thicknesses to generate a uniquely engineered acoustic signature, composed of the multiple reflections created by the layer interfaces. These passive AID tags can be detected by an AUV instrumented with a high-frequency sonar transducer at significantly greater distances than conventional optical methods, especially in turbid waters. Additionally using AID tags as navigation-aid can also alleviate the need of relying on active acoustic transponders. An implementation of a constellation of AID tags enabling fine underwater positioning an AUV towards a docking station or for homing purposes will be presented to provide proof of concept. Furthermore, the optimization of the design of the AID tags for this application aswell as specific signal processing detection methodologies to improve thedetectability of AID tags in the presence of interfering signals (e.g., clutter) will be discussed. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research].
Application of a 2D interpolation technique to reduce the number of steering angles required for high-quality ultrasound images in plane-wave compounding
Authors: Afrakhteh Sajjad , Jalilian Hamed , Iacca Giovanni , Demi Libertario
Published: April 2023

Plane wave imaging (PWI) can reach frame rates in the kHz range. However, PWI suffers from reduced image quality due to the lack of focusing. To tackle this limitation, plane wave compounding (PWC) was introduced. PWC is based on recombining multiple PWI images generated using different steering angles. However, the number of steering angles required to achieve reasonable image quality significantly reduces the frame rate. In this study, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) interpolation technique, based on radial basis functions, which allows reducing the number of steering angles in PWC without degrading image quality. The idea is to reduce the number of steering angles and then apply 2D interpolation, along the angle dimension and directly to the RF data, to reconstruct the data related to those angles for which data were not collected. The full dataset is then utilized to generate an image. To compare this technique with standard PWC, we utilized the dataset from the Plane-wave Imaging Challenge in Medical UltraSound (PICMUS). The results show that the number of steering angles can be reduced by factor 3, thus tripling the frame rate, while achieving comparable performance with standard PWC (with 75 angles) in terms of contrast and spatialresolution.
Wave phenomena andthe high school AP physics classroom
Authors: Vongsawad Cameron T.
Published: April 2023

Though a staple for modeling natural phenomena in much of modern science, oscillatory motion consists of at best 14% of any high school AP Physics exams focus and at most 6% in AP Physics 1. With such a minimal emphasis, wave phenomena can easily be quickly skipped over at the end of the school year for a typical AP Physics classroom rushing to wrap up before the exam in May. This presentation will share fun and simple ways to more fully incorporate major wave phenomena such as sound into an AP Physics curriculum, while supporting the College Board AP Physics units on Simple Harmonic Motion and Oscillations, with interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities. These demonstrations and activities provide for a deeper understanding of major curriculum ideas of oscillations as well as energy transfers in various systems, which the modern high school student can get excited about and easily relate to. With these small changes students have often reported this unit to be the most interesting and easily understood units of the year.
The causal properties of sounds predict their recognition and misidentification
Authors: Heller Laurie M. , Oszczapinska Urszula , Smith Jessica M.
Published: April 2023

One way to study human sound recognition is to investigate the reasons why sounds are sometimes misheard as coming from the wrong source. Understanding this cognitive process can not only help prevent undesirable sound confusions (e.g., auditory display design) but can also promote useful confusions (e.g., Foley effects, cognitive reappraisal for misophonia). We tested the hypothesis that sounds are more confusable if their source events share causal properties. In Expi.1, listeners assessed causal properties of everyday sounds (ESC-50 Dataset) by judging their actions (e.g., tapping), materials (e.g., metal), and causal agents (e.g., machines). Causal similarity between sounds was measured by the distance between their causal properties. In Exp. 2, new listeners identified these sounds with 90% accuracy. Using the distances obtained in Exp. 1, misidentifications were predicted with 91% sensitivity and 89% specificity. The causal properties that had the largest effect on recognition accuracy were predominantly actions (according to a Ridge regression). Additional experiments with our own recorded and synthesized sounds show that spectral degradation and temporal manipulation can cause significant changes in causal properties and source assignment. Altogether, these findings show that causal properties provide unique explanatory power for sound recognition and misidentification. [Work supported by REAM.]
The genetic determinants of recurrent somatic mutations in 43,693 blood genomes
Authors: Weinstock Joshua S. , Laurie Cecelia A. , Broome Jai G. , Taylor Kent D. , Guo Xiuqing , Shuldiner Alan R. , O’Connell Jeffrey R. , Lewis Joshua P. , Boerwinkle Eric , Barnes Kathleen C. , Chami Nathalie , Kenny Eimear E. , Loos Ruth J. F. , Fornage Myriam , Redline Susan , Cade Brian E. , Gilliland Frank D. , Chen Zhanghua , Gauderman W. James , Kumar Rajesh , Grammer Leslie , Schleimer Robert P. , Psaty Bruce M. , Bis Joshua C. , Brody Jennifer A. , Silverman Edwin K. , Yun Jeong H. , Qiao Dandi , Weiss Scott T. , Lasky-Su Jessica , DeMeo Dawn L. , Palmer Nicholette D. , Freedman Barry I. , Bowden Donald W. , Cho Michael H. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Johnson Andrew D. , Yanek Lisa R. , Becker Lewis C. , Kardia Sharon , He Jiang , Kaplan Robert , Heckbert Susan R. , Smith Nicholas L. , Wiggins Kerri L. , Arnett Donna K. , Irvin Marguerite R. , Tiwari Hemant , Correa Adolfo , Raffield Laura M. , Gao Yan , de Andrade Mariza , Rotter Jerome I. , Rich Stephen S. , Manichaikul Ani W. , Konkle Barbara A. , Johnsen Jill M. , Wheeler Marsha M. , Custer Brian S. , Duggirala Ravindranath , Curran Joanne E. , Blangero John , Gui Hongsheng , Xiao Shujie , Williams L. Keoki , Meyers Deborah A. , Li Xingnan , Ortega Victor , McGarvey Stephen , Gu C. Charles , Chen Yii-Der Ida , Lee Wen-Jane , Shoemaker M. Benjamin , Darbar Dawood , Roden Dan , Albert Christine , Kooperberg Charles , Desai Pinkal , Blackwell Thomas W. , Abecasis Goncalo R. , Smith Albert V. , Kang Hyun M. , Mathias Rasika , Natarajan Pradeep , Jaiswal Siddhartha , Reiner Alexander P. , Bick Alexander G. ,   NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Consortium
Published: April 2023

Nononcogenic somatic mutations are thought to be uncommon and inconsequential. To test this, we analyzed 43,693 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine blood whole genomes from 37 cohorts and identified 7131 non-missense somatic mutations that are recurrently mutated in at least 50 individuals. These recurrent non-missense somatic mutations (RNMSMs) are not clearly explained by other clonal phenomena such as clonal hematopoiesis. RNMSM prevalence increased with age, with an average 50-year-old having 27 RNMSMs. Inherited germline variation associated with RNMSM acquisition. These variants were found in genes involved in adaptive immune function, proinflammatory cytokine production, and lymphoid lineage commitment. In addition, the presence of eight specific RNMSMs associated with blood cell traits at effect sizes comparable to Mendelian genetic mutations. Overall, we found that somatic mutations in blood are an unexpectedly common phenomenon with ancestry-specific determinants and human health consequences.
The features underlying the memorability of objects
Authors: Kramer Max A. , Hebart Martin N. , Baker Chris I. , Bainbridge Wilma A.
Published: April 2023

What makes certain images more memorable than others? While much of memory research has focused on participant effects, recent studies using a stimulus-centric perspective have sparked debate on the determinants of memory, including the roles of semantic and visual features and whether the most prototypical or atypical items are best remembered. Prior studies have typically relied on constrained stimulus sets, limiting a generalized view of the features underlying what we remember. Here, we collected more than 1 million memory ratings for a naturalistic dataset of 26,107 object images designed to comprehensively sample concrete objects. We establish a model of object features that is predictive of image memorability and examined whether memorability could be accounted for by the typicality of the objects. We find that semantic features exert a stronger influence than perceptual features on what we remember and that the relationship between memorability and typicality is more complex than a simple positive or negative association alone.
Coupling of protein condensates to ordered lipid domains determines functional membrane organization
Authors: Wang Hong-Yin , Chan Sze Ham , Dey Simli , Castello-Serrano Ivan , Rosen Michael K. , Ditlev Jonathon A. , Levental Kandice R. , Levental Ilya
Published: April 2023

During T cell activation, the transmembrane adaptor protein LAT (linker for activation of T cells) forms biomolecular condensates with Grb2 and Sos1, facilitating signaling. LAT has also been associated with cholesterol-rich condensed lipid domains; However, the potential coupling between protein condensation and lipid phase separation and its role in organizing T cell signaling were unknown. Here, we report that LAT/Grb2/Sos1 condensates reconstituted on model membranes can induce and template lipid domains, indicating strong coupling between lipid- and protein-based phase separation. Correspondingly, activation of T cells induces cytoplasmic protein condensates that associate with and stabilize raft-like membrane domains. Inversely, lipid domains nucleate and stabilize LAT protein condensates in both reconstituted and living systems. This coupling of lipid and protein assembly is functionally important, as uncoupling of lipid domains from cytoplasmic protein condensates abrogates T cell activation. Thus, thermodynamic coupling between protein condensates and ordered lipid domains regulates the functional organization of living membranes.
Monitoring AKT activity and targeting in live tissue and disease contexts using a real-time Akt-FRET biosensor mouse
Authors: Conway James R. W. , Warren Sean C. , Lee Young-Kyung , McCulloch Andrew T. , Magenau Astrid , Lee Victoria , Metcalf Xanthe L. , Stoehr Janett , Haigh Katharina , Abdulkhalek Lea , Guaman Cristian S. , Reed Daniel A. , Murphy Kendelle J. , Pereira Brooke A. , Mélénec Pauline , Chambers Cecilia , Latham Sharissa L. , Lenthall Helen , Deenick Elissa K. , Ma Yuanqing , Phan Tri , Lim Elgene , Joshua Anthony M. , Walters Stacey , Grey Shane T. , Shi Yan-Chuan , Zhang Lei , Herzog Herbert , Croucher David R. , Philp Andy , Scheele Colinda L.G.J. , Herrmann David , Sansom Owen J. , Morton Jennifer P. , Papa Antonella , Haigh Jody J. , Nobis Max , Timpson Paul
Published: April 2023

Aberrant AKT activation occurs in a number of cancers, metabolic syndrome, and immune disorders, making it an important target for the treatment of many diseases. To monitor spatial and temporal AKT activity in a live setting, we generated an Akt-FRET biosensor mouse that allows longitudinal assessment of AKT activity using intravital imaging in conjunction with image stabilization and optical window technology. We demonstrate the sensitivity of the Akt-FRET biosensor mouse using various cancer models and verify its suitability to monitor response to drug targeting in spheroid and organotypic models. We also show that the dynamics of AKT activation can be monitored in real time in diverse tissues, including in individual islets of the pancreas, in the brown and white adipose tissue, and in the skeletal muscle. Thus, the Akt-FRET biosensor mouse provides an important tool to study AKT dynamics in live tissue contexts and has broad preclinical applications.
Rapid shallow megathrust afterslip from the 2021 M8.2 Chignik, Alaska earthquake revealed by seafloor geodesy
Authors: Brooks Benjamin A. , Goldberg Dara , DeSanto John , Ericksen Todd L. , Webb Spahr C. , Nooner Scott L. , Chadwell C. David , Foster James , Minson Sarah , Witter Robert , Haeussler Peter , Freymueller Jeffrey , Barnhart William , Nevitt Johanna
Published: April 2023

The shallower portions of subduction zone megathrust faults host Earth’s most hazardous tsunamigenic earthquakes, yet understanding how and when they slip remains elusive because of challenges making seafloor observations. We performed Global Navigation Satellite System Acoustic seafloor geodetic surveys before and ~2.5 months after the 29 July 2021
M
w
(moment magnitude) 8.2 Chignik, Alaska, earthquake and determine ~1.4 meters cumulative co- and post-seismic horizontal displacement ~60 kilometers from the megathrust front. Only for the 2011
M
w
9 Tohoku event have closer subduction zone earthquake displacements been observed. We estimate ~2 to 3 meters of megathrust afterslip shallower than 20 kilometers, a portion of the megathrust on which both inter- and co-seismic slip likely had occurred previously. Our analysis demonstrates that by 2.5 months, shallower and deeper moment had effectively equilibrated on the megathrust, suggesting that its tsunamigenic potential remains no more elevated than before the earthquake.
Alkynone β-trifluoroborates: A new class of amine-specific biocompatible click reagents
Authors: Teng Shenghan , Ng Elvis Wang Hei , Zhang Zhenguo , Soon Chee Ning , Xu Hailun , Li Ruifang , Hirao Hajime , Loh Teck-Peng
Published: April 2023

Amine-targeting reactions that work under biocompatible conditions or in water are green processes that are extremely useful for the synthesis of functional materials and biotherapeutics. Unfortunately, despite the usefulness of this reaction, there are very few good amine-specific click methods reported thus far. Here, we report an amine-specific click reagent using alkynone β-trifluoroborates as the electrophiles. These boron-containing alkynyl reagents exhibit extremely high chemoselectivity toward amines even in the presence of thiols. The resulting oxaboracycle products are bench-stable, displaying the reactivities of both organoborates and enaminones. Intrinsic advantages of this methodology include benign reaction conditions, operational simplicity, remarkable product stability, and excellent chemoselectivity, which satisfy the criteria of click chemistry and demonstrate the high potential in bioconjugation. Hence, this water-based chemical approach is also applicable to the modification of native amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Ultimately, the essential role of water during the reaction was elucidated.
Charge transfer engineering to achieve extraordinary power generation in GeTe-based thermoelectric materials
Authors: Liu Chengyan , Zhang Zhongwei , Peng Ying , Li Fucong , Miao Lei , Nishibori Eiji , Chetty Raju , Bai Xiaobo , Si Ruifan , Gao Jie , Wang Xiaoyang , Zhu Yanqiu , Wang Nannan , Wei Haiqiao , Mori Takao
Published: April 2023

By the fine manipulation of the exceptional long-range germanium-telluride (Ge─Te) bonding through charge transfer engineering, we have achieved exceptional thermoelectric (TE) and mechanical properties in lead-free GeTe. This chemical bonding mechanism along with a semiordered zigzag nanostructure generates a notable increase of the average
zT
to a record value of ~1.73 in the temperature range of 323 to 773 K with ultrahigh maximum
zT
 ~ 2.7. In addition, we significantly enhanced the Vickers microhardness numbers (
H
v
) to an extraordinarily high value of 247
H
v
and effectively eliminated the thermal expansion fluctuation at the phase transition, which was problematic for application, by the present charge transfer engineering process and concomitant formation of microstructures. We further fabricated a single-leg TE generator and obtained a conversion efficiency of ~13.4% at the temperature difference of 463 K on a commercial instrument, which is located at the pinnacle of TE conversion.
Role of Spillover and Spillback in SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and the Importance of One Health in Understanding the Dynamics of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sparrer McKenzie N. , Hodges Natasha F. , Sherman Tyler , VandeWoude Susan , Bosco-Lauth Angela M. , Mayo Christie E.
Published: April 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is notable both for its impact on global public health as well as its well-publicized transmissibility to other species of animals. Infection of incidental animal hosts is concerning because of possible emergence of novel variants due to viral mutation. Species that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 include domestic and nondomestic cats, domestic dogs, white-tailed deer, mink, and golden hamsters, among others.
Diverse Murine Vaccinations Reveal Distinct Antibody Classes to Target Fusion Peptide and Variation in Peptide Length to Improve HIV Neutralization
Authors: Sastry Mallika , Changela Anita , Gorman Jason , Xu Kai , Chuang Gwo-Yu , Shen Chen-Hsiang , Cheng Cheng , Geng Hui , O'Dell Sijy , Ou Li , Rawi Reda , Reveiz Mateo , Stewart-Jones Guillaume B. E. , Wang Shuishu , Zhang Baoshan , Zhou Tongqing , Biju Andrea , Chambers Michael , Chen Xuejun , Corrigan Angela R. , Lin Bob C. , Louder Mark K. , McKee Krisha , Nazzari Alexandra F. , Olia Adam S. , Parchment Danealle K. , Sarfo Edward K. , Stephens Tyler , Stuckey Jonathan , Tsybovsky Yaroslav , Verardi Raffaello , Wang Yiran , Zheng Cheng-Yan , Chen Yuling , Doria-Rose Nicole A. , McDermott Adrian B. , Mascola John R. , Kwong Peter D.
Published: April 2023

The HIV-1 fusion peptide has been identified as a site for elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies, with prior studies demonstrating that priming with fusion peptide-based immunogens and boosting with soluble envelope (Env) trimers can elicit cross-clade HIV-1-neutralizing responses. To improve the neutralizing breadth and potency of fusion peptide-directed responses, we evaluated vaccine regimens that incorporated diverse fusion peptide-conjugates and Env trimers with variation in fusion peptide length and sequence.
Culex tarsalis Is a Competent Host of the Insect-Specific Alphavirus Eilat Virus (EILV)
Authors: Joseph Renuka E. , Urakova Nadya , Werling Kristine L. , Metz Hillery C. , Montanari Kaylee , Rasgon Jason L.
Published: April 2023

The recent discovery of insect-specific alphaviruses presents opportunities both to study the biology of virus host range and to develop them into tools against pathogenic arboviruses. Here, we characterize the host range and transmission of Eilat virus in five mosquito species.
Complete Genome of “
Candidatus
Phytoplasma rubi” RS, a Phytopathogenic Bacterium Associated with
Rubus
Stunt Disease
Authors: Duckeck Dominik , Zübert Christina , Böhm Jan W. , Carminati Gaia , Schneider Bernd , Kube Michael
Published: April 2023

The phytoplasma “
Candidatus
Phytoplasma rubi” is associated with
Rubus
stunt disease. The complete genome was determined by assembling Oxford Nanopore Technologies system-derived long reads, with short-read polishing with Illumina reads. The genome of strain RS, from Germany, is organized in one circular chromosome with a length of 762 kb.
Metagenomic and Genomic Sequences from a Methanogenic Benzene-Degrading Consortium
Authors: Toth Courtney R. A. , Molenda Olivia , Nesbø Camilla , Luo Fei , Devine Cheryl , Guo Shen , Chen Xu , Edwards Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2023

Draft and complete metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) were created from multiple metagenomic assemblies of DGG-B, a strictly anaerobic, stable mixed microbial consortium that degrades benzene completely to methane and CO
2
. Our objective was to obtain closed genome sequences of benzene-fermenting bacteria to enable the elucidation of their elusive anaerobic benzene degradation pathway.
Three-dimensional mineral dendrites reveal a nonclassical crystallization pathway
Authors: Hou Zhaoliang , Woś Dawid , Tschegg Cornelius , Rogowitz Anna , Rice A. Hugh N. , Nasdala Lutz , Fusseis Florian , Szymczak Piotr , Grasemann Bernhard
Published: April 2023

Manganese (Mn) dendrites are a common type of mineral dendrite that typically forms two-dimensional structures on rock surfaces. Three-dimensional (3-D) Mn dendrites in rocks have rarely been reported, and so their growth implications have largely escaped attention. Here, we combined high-resolution X-ray and electron-based data with numerical modeling to give the first detailed description of natural 3-D Mn dendrites (in clinoptilolite tuffs) and elucidate their growth dynamics. Our data show that 3-D dendrite growth occurred by accretion of Mn-oxide nanoparticles formed when Mn-bearing fluids mixed with oxygenated pore water. The geometry of the resulting structures is sensitive to ion concentrations, the volume of infiltrating fluid, and the number of fluid pulses; thus, 3-D dendrites record the hydrogeochemical rock history.
Erratum to: The SPIN Setup at U-70: Description of the Equipment
Authors: Antonov N. N. , Viktorov V. A. , Gapienko V. A. , Gapienko G. S. , Gres’ V. N. , Prudkoglyad A. F. , Romanovskii V. A. , Semak A. A. , Solodovnikov I. P. , Terekhov V. I. , Ukhanov M. N.
Published: April 2023

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020441223010293