bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic scattering from polycrystals with transversely isotropic material texture
Authors: Matz Nathanial , Hassan Waled , Turner Joseph A.
Published: July 2024

During laser-based metal additive manufacturing (AM), the melted powder is subjected to rapid cooling and the resulting microstructures often have material texture. In many cases, the texture is uniaxial (i.e., transversely isotropic) such that one symmetry axis defines the material response. Therefore, ultrasonic inspection methods that exploit the scattering from the microstructure are complicated by the resulting texture which affects the coherent propagation and scattering. In this presentation, a generalized approach is described in which the covariance of the elastic modulus tensor for a uniaxial ensemble of cubic crystals is expressed in terms of a fundamental set of constants. These constants are determined for an arbitrary texture from synthetic polycrystals created using DREAM.3D. With this information, calculations for wave velocity, attenuation, and diffuse scattering can be made efficiently for any wave type and propagation direction relative to the material symmetry axis. Results are compared with analytical expressions for simplified cases and then more generalized textures are examined. Finally, prospects for characterization of components created using metal AM are discussed within the context of input data from electron backscatter diffraction measurements. These results are expected to provide insight regarding the inversion of measurement data for texture characterization.
Improving quantitative literacy through a general education acoustics course
Authors: Hoffman Kurt R.
Published: July 2024

Most Colleges and Universities have some form of quantitative reasoning requirement for graduation. A narrow view of this requirement is that students need to do some mathematics in the course to demonstrate some facility at calculating quantities. Additionally, students often discuss their discomfort with mathematics when discussing their anxiety about registering in a non-majors physics course. In this presentation, I will discuss strategies used in a musical acoustics course for non-science majors to address proportionalities, graphical representations, and approximations to help students get past equations to think about the underlying physical relationships. Often, I find that students actually are much better at using mathematics than their self-assessments. By giving students different contexts for mathematical thinking, the quantitative elements make more sense to them and calculations become less intimidating. The examples I will discuss focus on using classroom-based experiments to identify relationships between dependent and independent variables on topics such as musical scales, simple oscillators, and fourier analysis.
Sound and noise exposure dosimetry at large-scale music events and festivals
Authors: Van Ransbeeck Wannes , De Poortere Nele , Kok Marcel , Verhulst Sarah
Published: July 2024

Regulations governing sound exposure at amplified-music events aim to protect the audience from hearing damage. However, current level monitoring practices often rely on a single measurement position that is considered representative of individual exposure, overlooking crucial variation. This study addresses this lacking insight by analyzing individual dosimeter-based sound-level exposure at music events and its relation to existing guidelines. Dosimeters secured to 42 individual participants (19 females, aged 18–25) recorded octave bands and A/C-weighted sound levels at six large-scale music events (+20.000 visitors). Individual exposure durations varied between 4.4 and 22 hours. Comparisons of exposure were made against local, German and WHO regulations. At four out of six events, individual doses surpassed the WHO’s 100 dBA recommendation, with most subjects also exceeding the ISO1999 occupational limit and the WHO’s 100 dBA-for-4-hours threshold (16Pa2h). Equivalent exposures ranged between [85.2,104.5] dBA (LA,eq) and [97.1,119.6] dBC (LC,eq) among participants. Additionally, LC,peak values fluctuated between [133.6,143.5] dBC. These findings highlight a discrepancy between the fixed-location noise exposure monitoring, as per country-specific legislation, and the actual individual exposure experienced by event attendees. Our results can inspire safe-listening guidelines for such music events, or help in deciding which single position measure is most representative. Work supported by UGent BOF-IOP EarDiMon and dBControl
Ultrasonic scattering behavior in austenitic NiTi with varying grain size and precipitate characteristics
Authors: Cook Olivia J. , Feni Foster K. , Gonzales Mique A. , Hamilton Reginald F. , Arguelles Andrea P.
Published: July 2024

Shape memory alloys like NiTi exhibit high strain recovery due to a reversible martensitic transformation when cooled or stressed, enabling actuation and biomedical applications. The characteristics of the stress-induced martensitic transformation in Ni-rich NiTi depend on the heat treatment. For example, aging induces the precipitation of Ni;4Ti;3 and lowers the critical stress needed for martensitic transformation. However, comprehensive characterization of these nanoscale precipitates is challenging as only small areas can be inspected efficiently. Ultrasonic immersion testing may assist in developing linkages between structure and transformation behavior as ultrasonic scattering is sensitive to the microstructure and easily mapped on the bulk scale. To this end, the ability of scattering behavior to discern between different precipitation characteristics must be probed to establish the sensitivity of ultrasonic parameters to changes in precipitation. This work explores the dependence of wave speed, attenuation, and backscattered energy on varying annealing and aging heat treatments of Ni-rich NiTi. The annealing treatments result in a gradient of grain sizes, while the aging treatments result in nucleation and growth of precipitate phases with increasing hold time. Variations in the ultrasonic parameters elucidate the sensitivity to changes in the microstructure, which are more quantitatively explored through existing analytical scattering models.
Musical timbre with varied amplitude envelope improves efficacy in auditory alarms
Authors: Elizondo Lopez Andres E. , Schlesinger Joseph J. , Schutz Michael
Published: July 2024

Current alarm standards used in safety critical environments (e.g., medical alarms used in hospitals) suffer from a myriad of complications with detectability, annoyance, and alarm fatigue affecting the wellbeing of patients and staff. To a large extent, these are based on the same simplistic, temporally invariant tones. Here we explore how insights from the acoustic properties of the musical triangle can aid in detection, reducing overall levels hence reducing annoyance ratings. Two tones are used, (1) a standard tone similar to those used in current medical devices, and (2) a tone synthesized based on the spectral-temporal structure of a concert triangle. We conducted a detection experiment where participants indicated if the auditory stimulus is heard when presented a range of signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios and a two-alternative force choice task to measure annoyance ratings. Although reductions in SNRs reduced detectability for the standard tone, similar deductions had no meaningful effect on detectability of tones modeled off the musical triangle. Crucially, we identified a number of triangle inspired tones which are both less annoying and more detectable than standard tones. This suggests that these more complex sounds can reduce annoyance without harming detection, offering useful insight to medical device sound design.
The frequency and level dependence of across-frequency binaural interference for interaural time differences
Authors: Choi Allison , Bilokon Anhelina , Goupell Matthew J.
Published: July 2024

Binaural hearing enables listeners to localize sound in the horizontal plane, even when dealing with intricate speech-like signals characterized by distributed energy across a broad range of frequencies and varying sound pressure levels. Low-frequency interaural time differences (ITDs) are the most important cue for human horizontal-plane sound localization. Across-frequency binaural interference tasks (where changes in ITD discrimination thresholds of a target signal are measured in the presence of a remote interferer signal) can be used to measure how a listener weighs different frequency regions for ITD. While it is known that low-frequency (0.5 kHz) targets experience less binaural interference from higher-frequency (4 kHz) interferers than vice versa, the impact of the relative level of the two signals has remained mostly unexplored. ITD discrimination thresholds were measured in normal-hearing listeners with target/interferer intensities of 35, 55, and 75 dB-A and frequencies of 0.5, 4, and 8 kHz. Besides the expected frequency effects, data to date show binaural interference increases with increasing interferer level. These results help better understand how sound level variation and more realistic complex sounds like speech are localized.
Classification patterns in conversational English fricatives: Between- and within- speaker analyses
Authors: Kharlamov Viktor , Brenner Daniel , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: July 2024

This study examines between- and within- speaker patterns in random forest classification models for fricatives in conversational English. Prior investigations on the categorization of fricatives have mostly focused on group-level analyses and careful speech. We use a corpus of sociolinguistic interview speech from Western Canadian English, which represents a more casual speech style, and we compare group-level results to the findings of classification models on individual speakers’ productions. The models use 23 different spectral, temporal, and amplitudinal measures to predict phonetic labels of the fricatives. Our results reveal that certain top-ranked predictors at the group level (e.g., spectral peak frequency, segment duration) are also important for fricative classification in the individual models. Other measures (e.g., midpoint kurtosis, RMS) show substantial variability in their relative prominence and play greater roles in individual- versus group-level modeling. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of individual variation in connected speech and what the findings may imply about models of production and perception.
Absorptive metasurface inaccuracies made of micropore and microslit panels in multiple structures
Authors: Chen Ziqi , Xiang Ning
Published: July 2024

Microperforated panels in forms of micropores/microslits (MPP/MSP) represent absorptive metasurfaces, which can achieve high absorption with single- or double-layer MSP/MPP absorbers. However, architectural acoustics practice usually requires broadband high absorption. Multiple metastructures in more than two layers become one of possible options. Multiple MPP/MSP metasurfaces arranged in layers inherently complicate the design process. This work applies a model-based Bayesian framework employing a potentially multilayered prediction model. The Bayesian framework involves two-levels of probabilistic inference to design a parsimonious number of layers as the higher level, quantitatively implementing Occam’s razor. Once the number of multilayers is selected, the MPP/MSP parameters are readily available within the Bayesian framework, so that the overall metastructure satisfies the design scheme. This work experimentally validates the designed prediction in comparison with the design scheme. However, manufacture inaccuracies may lead to unacceptable deviations. This work applies causation analysis based on a causal model to reveal causal uncertainties/inaccuracies. Using the causal model for causal inference, the Bayesian multilayer design can be satisfactorily validated. This paper discusses comparative investigations of metasurfaces made of micropores and microslits.
A spatiotemporal deconvolution approach for measurements of therapeutic ultrasound pressures, intensities, and beamwidths
Authors: Wear Keith A. , Howard Sam
Published: July 2024

Complete characterization of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) systems includes measurements of transmitted pressure at the focal plane with a hydrophone. However, highly focused, nonlinear HIFU beams can result in considerable spatial averaging artifacts due to finite area of the hydrophone active element. Spatiotemporal deconvolution (STD) can correct for hydrophone spatial averaging (Wear, IEEE Trans. UFFC 69, 1243–1256 (2021)]. The objective of the present work is to extend validation of STD from diagnostic levels (6 MPa) to therapeutic levels (49 MPa). Three HIFU transducers (1.45 MHz F/1, 1.53 MHz F/1.5, and 3.91 MHz F/1) were driven in tone bursts (Agilent HP3314A function generator, ENI 240L amplifier) to generate HIFU fields in a degassed, deionized water tank with focal compressional pressures of 49, 16, and 29 MPa. Fields were measured in focal planes with two hydrophones (Onda HFO 100-μm fiber-optic; Onda HNA-0400 400-μm robust needle). STD reduced inter-hydrophone differences from −18 ± 11% to 0 ± 8% (peak compressional pressure), −8 ± 4% to −5 ± 5% (peak rarefactional pressure), −20% ± 7% to −3 ± 8% (pulse intensity integral), and 21 ± 12% to −2 ± 3% (beam FWHM). STD reduces dependence of measurements on hydrophone active element size. STD reduces reliance on fiber optic hydrophones, which can be expensive, difficult to use, and prone to radiation-force-induced sensor misalignment.
Plasticity in nonlinear elastic metamaterials: Low-order dynamic modeling
Authors: Wallen Samuel P. , Haberman Michael R. , DeLima Washington
Published: July 2024

Nonlinear elastic metamaterials have been shown to admit a variety of rich, dynamical features that can be leveraged to tailor the propagation of mechanical waves. Since these materials derive their properties from intricate, subwavelength geometries, direct numerical simulations are often prohibitively expensive at scales of interest. To overcome this limitation, reduced-order models, typically in the form of effective continua or discrete lattices that capture the essential features of the material at sufficiently long wavelengths, have been developed. While many prior studies have implemented these models successfully, the vast majority have considered only recoverable elastic deformations with linear damping and neglected history-dependent effects, such as plasticity and friction. In this presentation, we introduce an effective lattice modeling framework for nonlinear elastic metamaterials undergoing plastic deformation. Due to the history-dependent nature of plasticity, this framework generally yields a system of differential-algebraic equations whose computational cost is significantly greater than a purely elastic system of similar size. We apply the method to several examples of interest and explore means to obtain phenomenological elastic-plastic models for general material architectures.
Predicting second-harmonic generation in shear wave beams in tissue-mimicking phantoms
Authors: Kaufinger Philip G. , Cormack John M. , Spratt Kyle S. , Hamilton Mark F.
Published: July 2024

Planar nonlinear shear waves in isotropic media are subject to only cubic nonlinear effects and generate only odd harmonics during propagation. However, wavefront curvature in shear wave beams breaks the symmetry and yields quadratic nonlinear effects, and therefore, a second harmonic may be present in shear wave beams depending on the polarization of the wave. Focused radially polarized shear wave beams have been generated in tissue-mimicking phantoms [Cormack et al., IEEE TBME (2024)], and it is postulated that the second harmonic may be used to estimate the quadratic nonlinearity in such a medium as an additional biomarker for diseased tissue. Here, an analytical solution obtained in the paraxial approximation for nonlinear propagation of a shear wave beam in an absorbing medium [Spratt et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1685, 080007 (2015)] is used to characterize the strength of second-harmonic generation. Feasibility of measuring the second harmonic experimentally in a weakly nonlinear, radially polarized focused shear wave beam propagating in a tissue-like medium is explored. Second-harmonic generation in focused shear wave beams with other polarizations is discussed. [P.G.K. was supported by the ARL:UT Chester M. McKinney Graduate Fellowship in Acoustics.]
Acoustic source localization on finite structures using remote sensors
Authors: King Allison M. , Dowling David R.
Published: July 2024

Acoustic waves are well-suited for remote sensing applications and structural health monitoring purposes because they convey information about their source and can be measured using non-contacting methods. Source localization is an important structural health monitoring task; however, traditional time-of-flight array signal processing techniques used to localize acoustic sources are ill-suited for many structural engineering applications due to the potential for complicated propagation paths, the dispersive propagation of acoustic waves in structures, and the coupling of the vibrating structure and the surrounding medium. Thus, source localization experiments were conducted using matched field processing (MFP) for a 0.9-m diameter round aluminum plate excited by the impact of a 1.3-cm stainless-steel ball bearing dropped from 7.6-cm. A 14-sensor linear remote acoustic array placed 8.9-cm above the plate measured the sound radiated by the 0.64-cm thick plate. MFP array signal processing localization techniques were used along with a physics-based finite element acoustic model to localize the excitation on the structure. Source localization results in both a quiet environment and environment with additive white Gaussian noise are discussed, and these results are compared to those from an acoustic model where plate edge reflections are neglected. [Work was sponsored by a SMART Scholarship and the NEEC.]
How nasal airflow can affect Nasalance magnitude
Authors: Oren Liran
Published: July 2024

Nasometry is a method for evaluating the function of the velopharyngeal valve. This technique provides a measure of Nasalance, calculated from acoustic energy captured with a device (nasometer) that can separate the oral and nasal acoustic signals using a sound separation plate. We previously observed that the presence of nasal emission can dramatically increase nasalance magnitude. The unintended elevation of nasalance occurs because airflow from the nares impinges on the nasometer’s nasal microphone. We aim to quantify this effect using a customized nasometer in patients diagnosed with nasal emission. The customized nasometer has six microphones (three pairs) placed in a radial configuration on the top and bottom of the separation plate. Ideally, all microphones on the same side (i.e., top or bottom) should measure the same Nasalance value. A difference in the measurement of the nasal microphones would be attributed to flow interference. Preliminary results show that the airflow can artificially elevate the Nasalance magnitude by as much as 15 points depending on the produced syllable. These findings can help explain the common discrepancy observed in speech clinics between the Nasalance magnitude and the perceived severity of nasal emission.
Real-time speech adaptations in conversations between human interlocutor and AI confederate
Authors: Wang Fenqi , Gu Jetic , Durana Meagan , Mabohang Chihiro , Behne Dawn , Jongman Allard , Sereno Joan , Wang Yue
Published: July 2024

Compared to human-directed adaptations, less is known about how humans adjust their speech for intelligibility benefits while interacting with an AI-powered voice interface. In this study, we investigate human speech adaptations in human-to-human versus human-to-AI unscripted conversations. Specifically, we examine the production of words containing intervocalic /t-d/ in a conversation between a speaker who distinguishes these two stops (e.g., metal–medal) and a speaker (“flapper”) who merges the two stops into a flap /ɾ/. We predict that misperceptions of intervocalic /t-d/ may cause confusions, thus motivating adaptations. We record native Canadian-English speakers (flappers) while playing a video game on Zoom in two conversation settings: with (1) a human non-flapper and (2) an AI non-flapper (computer-generated speech). Acoustic analyses of the productions by human flapper speakers include features specific to stop-flap distinctions as well as global features (e.g., overall duration). In both human- and AI-directed speech, we expect human interlocutors to change flapped productions to stops to enhance intelligibility, particularly late in the conversation. Moreover, we expect differences between human- and AI-directed adaptations, with the former dominantly employing sound-specific features and the latter relying more on global hyperarticulation. Understanding these interlocutor-oriented adaptations may inform the technology behind human-computer interfaces.
Personality perception in synthetic versus natural speech: The effects of voice quality and prosody
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Park Jaehan , Jeong Minhong , Song Jieun
Published: July 2024

Synthetic speech technology, now approaching human-like naturalness due to advancements in deep learning, has turned to focusing on personality or persona design as a common practice in the industry. The present study aimed to identify speech characteristics affecting personality impressions in synthetic and natural speech. Thirty native Korean speakers participated in a personality rating experiment in which they evaluated natural Korean sentences and their synthetic counterparts in terms of the Big-Five personality model. Acoustic analyses were performed to examine voice quality and prosody, including Intonational Phrase (IP) boundary tones. The results revealed that scores of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability increased overall when the voices contained greater aperiodicity in the harmonics (i.e., were likely breathier) and were weaker in energy. The results also demonstrated that different prosodic features affected personality perception in synthetic and natural speech; synthetic speech with a wider F0 range received higher scores on extroversion, openness, and emotional stability. In contrast, the effect of IP boundary tones was most frequently found for female natural speech, which contained a wider range of tones, including multitonals (e.g., LHL%). Our findings suggest that intonation is one of the key factors which can be adjusted to generate synthetic speech with various personalities.
Automatic detection of nasal closure and nasal release landmark acoustic cues
Authors: Park Janette , Choi Jeung-Yoon , Shattuck-Hufnagel Stefanie
Published: July 2024

This study describes the detection of nasal closure and nasal release landmarks, as part of a larger system for speech recognition based on acoustic cues. Landmarks are produced as a result of closures and releases in the oral region and are indicated by abrupt changes in the speech signal. Nasal closure and release landmarks have proven particularly challenging to detect and are the focus of this report. The process for implementing the nasal detection module includes extracting and processing a set of speech-related measurements, such as formant frequencies, spectral band energies, and their derivatives, from a large database of labeled speech files, and determining which of these measurements are potentially effective, using ANOVA analysis. Next, Gaussian mixture models are trained and tested on these measurements to classify nasal closures, nasal releases, and all other landmark cues. The resulting nasal closure and release landmark detection module will be used with other landmark modules for vowels, glides, fricative closures/releases, and stop closures/releases, as well as other acoustic cues to place and voicing, in the overall speech recognition system. The current performance of the module will be assessed and discussed.
Effects of motor practice on the temporal coordination of articulatory movements for non-native onset clusters: Kinematic and acoustic evidence using electromagnetic articulography
Authors: Shamsi Allen , Masapollo Matthew , Meyer Rachel , Wayland Ratree
Published: July 2024

Research on cross-language speech production has shown that part of the challenge of producing non-native clusters arises from difficulties with temporally coordinating the successive consonantal gestures within a cluster. However, it remains unclear whether the application of practice-based motor learning paradigms can improve or stabilize this aspect of non-native cluster production. This study uses electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to measure the effects of motor practice on the temporal coordination of articulatory movements for non-native onset clusters. Monolingual speakers of American English intensively practiced producing monosyllabic sequences containing non-native onset clusters (e.g., MGAT) over two consecutive days. EMA was used to capture lingual, labial, and jaw motion during successive repetitions. For properly-sequenced cluster repetitions, analysis of the EMA sensor trajectories showed that, over the course of practice, there was a general reduction in inter-gestural timing variability and increased overlap between adjacent consonantal gestures. Furthermore, some of these improvements were maintained to the second day, indicating that subjects started forming durable performance gains. Acoustic analyses also showed a reduction in the duration of epenthetic vowel errors (/mgæt/ → /məgæt/) produced throughout practice. Collectively, the findings suggest that motor practice can improve the temporal coordination of articulatory gestures affiliated with non-native clusters.
Feature generalizability for speaker-dependent detection of alcohol intoxication
Authors: Liu Xinglei , Shamei Arian , Seiilova Rima
Published: July 2024

Impairments to speech motor control from alcohol intoxication are variable across individuals, making speaker-dependent approaches ideal for speech-based intoxication detection [Schiel et al., 2010. Proc. INTERSPEECH 2010]. Here, we evaluated whether individual acoustic features have high generalizability across speaker-dependent models. We selected 97 speakers (54 male, 43 female) from the Alcohol Language Corpus [Schiel et al., 2012. LRE. 46, 503-521] who had sufficient sober and intoxicated (>0.08% blood-alcohol concentration) recordings for speaker-dependent modeling. For each speaker, we extracted 9 features from vowels (F0–F3, jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio, duration, and duration variability) and 7 from consonants (spectral skewness and kurtosis, center of gravity, duration and duration variability, harmonics-to-noise ratio), and fitted these to speaker-dependent random forest models with 5-fold cross-validation to evaluate feature importance from the associated mean decrease in Gini impurity (GI). Across all speakers, consonant-based features tended to have stronger generalizability than vowel-based features, with spectral skewness and kurtosis being the most generalizable (GI: 0.11 and 0.09), and vowel duration and F2 being the least generalizable (GI: 0.04 and 0.03). Further experiments to explore additional features and evaluate sex-specific generalizability are ongoing. [Research funded by Tenvos Incorporated for the development of commercial speaker state-detection algorithms.]
Respiratory laryngeal coordination during vowel-plosive-vowel transition in shouted speech
Authors: Zhang Zhaoyan
Published: July 2024

This study investigates differences in respiratory-laryngeal coordination between normal and shouted speech in the production of a vowel-plosive-vowel utterance, with the goal toward synthesis of such utterances in loud speech. The results showed that compared to normal condition, shouted speech produced higher intraoral pressure during vocal tract closure, higher airflow at the release of vocal tract closure, increased fundamental frequency and increased duration of glottal closure during the following vowel, and increased respiratory activities. For unvoiced plosives, shouted speech also produced increased voice onset time of the following vowel, but its importance to the perception of shouted speech was small. Computational simulations further showed that such increased voice onset time is likely due to increased maximum vocal fold abduction and/or delayed initiation of vocal fold adduction, which are necessary to avoid voice onset immediately after the release of vocal tract closure in conditions of high subglottal pressure.
Extraction of comprehensive feature for active target detection using two hand-crafted acoustic features
Authors: Hwang YoungSang , Kim Geunhwan , Hong Wooyoung , Choo Youngmin
Published: July 2024

We propose a model for creating a new feature suitable for classifying targets and non-targets using a small active sonar data. The proposed model extracts a comprehensive feature from two different hand-crafted features using deep-learning (DL). To extract comprehensive feature, we contrived a complementary learning module (CLM), which consists of two stages. In the first stage, a transformer encoder was adopted to reinforce the input features and then complementarily learned through attention mechanism in the following stage. The output features from the CLM are passed through a shallow CNN to classify targets and non-targets. In addition, an uncertainty quantification method is proposed using two CLMs to quickly add new samples acquired in the real ocean dataset. Using the decisions from two CLMs, we calculate the variance and determine which samples from the entire dataset are worthy of prioritized addition. Two real-ocean datasets were used to examine the model generalization and compare the classification results with conventional DL models. The generalization performance of the proposed model was comparable or superior to other DL models and uncertainty quantificaion method improved the generalization performance. [Work supported by Korea Research Institute for defense Technology planning and advancement(KRIT)—Grant funded by the Korea government (DAPA—Defense Acquisition Program Administration) (No. KRIT-CT-23-026, Integrated Underwater Surveillance Research Center for Adapting Future Technologies, 2024)]
Passive acoustic localization using dictionary learning
Authors: Rodriguez-Pinto Ivan I. , Lim Raymond
Published: July 2024

Ray-trace simulations are used to demonstrate the use of Dictionary Learning to improve passive localization of a source monitored with a vertical linear acoustic array. The learned dictionary, generated using historical sound velocity profile (SVP) data from a region of interest, is an over complete, sparse representation of the SVP training set. By minimizing an objective function that measures the differences between multipath reception intervals detected at a receiver for propagation through candidate and baseline SVP profiles, we show that an optimal SVP match to the “unknown” baseline can be reconstructed by an efficient dictionary search. Ray traces back-propagated through the reconstructed SVP according to beamformed receive angles computed with the baseline SVP are then found to well estimate the source position as the centroid of a cluster of multipath signal intersections. The accuracy for small unit-sparsity dictionaries of size up to 50 was evaluated on a randomly sampled, 30 SVP testing set obtained from an area close to that of the training set, demonstrating mean location errors less than 5% in both distance and depth. Five representative profiles spanning the range of observed sound speed variations were used to assess localization performance at source depths from 50 to 450 m and at source ranges from 2000 to 4500 m. Compared to using the average sound speed profile to estimate source position, using the learned dictionary produced a general performance increase in position accuracy.
Characterization and impact of dissolved gases in a high-frequency flow reactor
Authors: Huang Yihao , Sinhmar Pankaj , Nerson Tristan , Wong Cherie , Usadi Lillian N. , Raymond Jason L. , Kwan James
Published: July 2024

Addressing the growing demands for sustainable green technology in chemical processes, we aim to develop a novel high-frequency ultrasonic flow reactor that utilizes converting ultrasound waves, resulting in intense localized acoustic pressure fields. Our hypothesis that our design of converging waves will establish a uniform spatial distribution of cavitation activity with high energy density, thereby augmenting the rate of radical formation and significantly enhancing overall reactor performance. To validate the hypothesis, KI and terephthalic acid dosimetry were performed. A comprehensive calorimetric study was employed for acoustic power, yielding valuable insight into the energy dynamics of the system. Furthermore, our research systematically assesses the impact of dissolved gases and varying flow rates on reactor performance. Notably, we observe that dissolved gases in the reaction medium exert a substantial influence on reactor efficiency. Additionally, an increased flow rate beyond the optimum decelerates hydroxyl radical generation due to a lower residence time. The detailed characterization, facilitated by dosimetry techniques, unveils the potential of the sonochemical reactor for industrial applications.
Characterization, understanding, and mitigation of underwater noise radiated by ships in the St. Lawrence Estuary
Authors: Cauchy Pierre , Mercure-Boissonnault Pierre , Perrier de la Bathie Cécile , Rabetoandro Faniry , Gervaise Cédric , Lafrance Sylvain , St-Onge Guillaume
Published: July 2024

Underwater noise generated by commercial traffic is the main source of anthropogenic noise pollution at low frequencies, increasingly present at a global scale and of critical interest in the St. Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada), where a rich biodiversity meets the shipping corridor linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The Marine Acoustic Research Station (MARS, www.projet-mars.ca/en) is an applied research project dedicated to characterizing, understanding, and mitigating underwater traffic noise, contributing to the global effort of improving cohabitation between human activities and marine life. A cutting edge marine acoustic observatory has been specifically designed to collect high-quality measurements of the underwater noise radiated by ships. It is deployed yearly since 2021, operating during the ice-free season. A database of over 2000 measurements representative of the underwater noise radiated by the fleet operating in the St Lawrence Estuary has been collected, with a demonstrated repeatability of less than 1.5 dB which confirms the ability of the observatory to effectively assess the efficiency of noise reduction measures. The MARS database supports the development of a noise prediction model and provides feedback to shipowners and relevant information regarding the St. Lawrence fleet to the government for future underwater vessel noise reduction targets.
Deep-water ambient sound on near-bottom receivers in the New England Seamount Chain
Authors: Godin Oleg A. , Walters Matthew W. , Tan Tsu Wei , Joseph John E.
Published: July 2024

Ambient sound was recorded for about two months by three synchronized, single-hydrophone receivers that were moored at depths of 2573, 2994, and 4443 m on seamount flanks. Hydrophones were located within 5 m from the seafloor. The data reveal the power spectra and intermittency of the ambient sound intensity in a 13-octave frequency band from 0.5 to 4000 Hz. Statistical distribution of pressure amplitude exhibits much heavier tails than the expected Rayleigh distribution throughout the frequency band of observations. Spatial variability of the observed ambient sound is controlled by the seafloor properties, bathymetric shadowing, and nonuniform distribution of the noise sources on the sea surface due to the Gulf Stream and its meanders. Interferometry of the ambient sound recorded by the receivers with the horizontal separations of 7.0 km shows strong variations of the acoustic travel time between the receivers along a surface-reflected path due to the evolution of the Gulf Stream position. The magnitude of the variations of the passively measured acoustic travel time is consistent with the available contact measurements of the sound speed profiles. Environmental inferences derived from the ambient, shipping, and flow noise data will be discussed. [Work supported by the ONR TFO DRI.]
Temporally resolved proteomics identifies nidogen-2 as a cotarget in pancreatic cancer that modulates fibrosis and therapy response
Authors: Pereira Brooke A. , Ritchie Shona , Chambers Cecilia R. , Gordon Katie A. , Magenau Astrid , Murphy Kendelle J. , Nobis Max , Tyma Victoria M. , Liew Ying Fei , Lucas Morghan C. , Naeini Marjan M. , Barkauskas Deborah S. , Chacon-Fajardo Diego , Howell Anna E. , Parker Amelia L. , Warren Sean C. , Reed Daniel A. , Lee Victoria , Metcalf Xanthe L. , Lee Young Kyung , O’Regan Luke P. , Zhu Jessie , Trpceski Michael , Fontaine Angela R. M. , Stoehr Janett , Rouet Romain , Lin Xufeng , Chitty Jessica L. , Porazinski Sean , Wu Sunny Z. , Filipe Elysse C. , Cadell Antonia L. , Holliday Holly , Yang Jessica , Papanicolaou Michael , Lyons Ruth J. , Zaratzian Anaiis , Tayao Michael , Da Silva Andrew , Vennin Claire , Yin Julia , Dew Alysha B. , McMillan Paul J. , Goldstein Leonard D. , Deveson Ira W. , Croucher David R. , Samuel Michael S. , Sim Hao-Wen , Batten Marcel , Chantrill Lorraine , Grimmond Sean M. , Gill Anthony J. , Samra Jaswinder , Jeffry Evans Thomas R. , Sasaki Takako , Phan Tri G. , Swarbrick Alexander , Sansom Owen J. , Morton Jennifer P. , Pajic Marina , Parker Benjamin L. , Herrmann David , Cox Thomas R. , Timpson Paul ,   Australian Pancreatic Cancer Matrix Atlas (APMA),   Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative (APGI)
Published: July 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by increasing fibrosis, which can enhance tumor progression and spread. Here, we undertook an unbiased temporal assessment of the matrisome of the highly metastatic KPC (
Pdx1-Cre
,

LSL-Kras
G12D/+

,

LSL-Trp53
R172H/+

) and poorly metastatic KP
fl
C (
Pdx1-Cre
,

LSL-Kras
G12D/+

,

Trp53
fl/+

) genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer using mass spectrometry proteomics. Our assessment at early-, mid-, and late-stage disease reveals an increased abundance of nidogen-2 (NID2) in the KPC model compared to KP
fl
C, with further validation showing that NID2 is primarily expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Using biomechanical assessments, second harmonic generation imaging, and birefringence analysis, we show that NID2 reduction by CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in CAFs reduces stiffness and matrix remodeling in three-dimensional models, leading to impaired cancer cell invasion. Intravital imaging revealed improved vascular patency in live NID2-depleted tumors, with enhanced response to gemcitabine/Abraxane. In orthotopic models, NID2 CRISPRi tumors had less liver metastasis and increased survival, highlighting NID2 as a potential PDAC cotarget.
Targeting IL-1 controls refractory pityriasis rubra pilaris
Authors: Schmauch Eloi , Severin Yannik , Xing Xianying , Mangold Aaron , Conrad Curdin , Johannsen Pål , Kahlenberg J. Michelle , Mellett Mark , Navarini Alexander , Nobbe Stefan , Sarkar Mrinal K. , Satyam Abhigyan , Tsoi Lam C. , French Lars E. , Nilsson Jakob , Linna-Kuosmanen Suvi , Kaikkonen Minna U. , Snijder Berend , Kellis Manolis , Gudjonsson Johann E. , Tsokos George C. , Contassot Emmanuel , Kolios Antonios G. A.
Published: July 2024

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare inflammatory skin disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. Through a molecularly driven precision medicine approach and an extensive mechanistic pathway analysis in PRP skin samples, compared to psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, healed PRP, and healthy controls, we identified IL-1β as a key mediator, orchestrating an NF-κB–mediated IL-1β–CCL20 axis, including activation of CARD14 and NOD2. Treatment of three patients with the IL-1 antagonists anakinra and canakinumab resulted in rapid clinical improvement and reversal of the PRP-associated molecular signature with a 50% improvement in skin lesions after 2 to 3 weeks. This transcriptional signature was consistent with in vitro stimulation of keratinocytes with IL-1β. With the central role of IL-1β underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target, our findings propose a redefinition of PRP as an autoinflammatory keratinization disorder. Further clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy of IL-1β antagonists in PRP.
Extreme dependence of dynamics on concentration in highly crowded polyelectrolyte solutions
Authors: Landfield Harrison , Kalamaris Nicholas , Wang Muzhou
Published: July 2024

Charge-carrying species, such as polyelectrolytes, are vital to natural and synthetic processes that rely on their dynamic behavior. Through single-particle tracking techniques, the diffusivity of individual polyelectrolyte chains and overall system viscosity are determined for concentrated polylysine solutions. These studies show scaling dependences of
D
~
c
−6.1
and η ~
c
7.2
, much stronger than theoretical predictions, drawing the applicability of power law fits into question. Similar trends are observed in concentrated solutions prepared at various pH and counterion conditions. These hindered system dynamics appear universal to polyelectrolyte systems and are attributed to the large effective excluded volumes of polyelectrolyte chains inducing glassy dynamics. The framework of the Vrentas-Duda free-volume theory is used to compare polyelectrolyte and neutral systems. Supported by this theory, excluding counterion mass from total polymer mass results in all environmental conditions collapsing onto a common trendline. These results are applicable to crowded biological systems, such as intracellular environments where protein mobility is strongly inhibited.
Characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in retail dairy products in the US
Authors: Spackman Erica , Jones Deana R. , McCoig Amber M. , Colonius Tristan J. , Goraichuk Iryna V. , Suarez David L.
Published: July 2024

In March 2024, clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was detected in dairy cattle in the US, and it was discovered that the virus could be detected in raw milk. Although affected cow’s milk is diverted from human consumption and current pasteurization requirements are expected to reduce or eliminate infectious HPAIV from the milk supply, a study was conducted to characterize whether the virus could be detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qrRT-PCR) in pasteurized retail dairy products and, if detected, to determine whether the virus was viable. From 18 April to 22 April 2024, a total of 297 samples of Grade A pasteurized retail milk products (23 product types) were collected from 17 US states that represented products from 132 processors in 38 states. Viral RNA was detected in 60 samples (20.2%), with qrRT-PCR-based quantity estimates (non-infectious) of up to 5.4log
10
50% egg infectious doses per mL, with a mean and median of 3.0log
10
/mL and 2.9log
10
/mL, respectively. Samples that were positive for type A influenza by qrRT-PCR were confirmed to be clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HPAIV by qrRT-PCR. No infectious virus was detected in any of the qrRT-PCR-positive samples in embryonating chicken eggs. Further studies are needed to monitor the milk supply, but these results provide evidence that the infectious virus did not enter the US pasteurized milk supply before control measures for HPAIV were implemented in dairy cattle.

IMPORTANCE

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infections in US dairy cattle were first confirmed in March 2024. Because the virus could be detected in raw milk, a study was conducted to determine whether it had entered the retail food supply. Pasteurized dairy products were collected from 17 states in April 2024. Viral RNA was detected in one in five samples, but infectious virus was not detected. This provides a snapshot of HPAIV in milk products early in the event and reinforces that with current safety measures, infectious viruses in milk are unlikely to enter the food supply.
Onverwacht Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa: 300 m.y. development of a Paleoarchean stagnant lid
Authors: Lowe Donald R.
Published: July 2024

The 3.55–3.26 Ga Onverwacht Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa and Eswatini, records nearly 300 m.y. of Paleoarchean history dominated by basaltic, komatiitic, and felsic volcanism. It provides the oldest well-preserved record of crustal development and the nature and evolution of associated surface environments, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere on early Earth. Sedimentary layers within this 10- to 12-km-thick sequence represent a range of proximal to distal sedimentary environments relative to the centers of volcanism. Proximal deposits include coarse felsic breccias, conglomerates, and sandstones and mafic to komatiitic lapillistones that often show evidence for deposition in relatively shallow water. Distal deposits are composed of fine pyroclastic debris, chemical sediments, and biogenic materials deposited under subaqueous conditions during local volcanic quiescence. They show abundant current-produced features and are interpreted to have formed at water depths of a few hundred meters or less under the influence of tidal and/or ocean-circulation currents. Terrigenous clastic sediments formed by the weathering and erosion of older rocks are essentially absent. The Onverwacht Group was deposited under marine conditions on what appears to have been a water world with little evidence of large land areas and no evidence of active tectonism. It is interpreted to represent the upper part of a Paleoarchean stagnant lid overlying but decoupled from an active mantle. The Barberton Greenstone Belt and other Paleoarchean terranes offer a view of this lid over the past 300 m.y. of its development and during the early stages of its fragmentation and disruption.
Brain 3T magnetic resonance imaging in neonates: features and incidental findings from a research cohort enriched for preterm birth
Authors: Sullivan Gemma , Quigley Alan J , Choi Samantha , Teed Rory , Blesa Cabez Manuel , Vaher Kadi , Corrigan Amy , Stoye David Q , Thrippleton Michael J , Bastin Mark , Boardman James P
Published: July 2024

Background and objectives

The survival rate and patterns of brain injury after very preterm birth are evolving with changes in clinical practices. Additionally, incidental findings can present legal, ethical and practical considerations. Here, we report MRI features and incidental findings from a large, contemporary research cohort of very preterm infants and term controls.

Methods

288 infants had 3T MRI at term-equivalent age: 187 infants born <32 weeks without major parenchymal lesions, and 101 term-born controls. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and susceptibility-weighted imaging were used to classify white and grey matter injury according to a structured system, and incidental findings described.

Results

Preterm infants: 34 (18%) had white matter injury and 4 (2%) had grey matter injury. 51 (27%) infants had evidence of intracranial haemorrhage and 34 (18%) had punctate white matter lesions (PWMLs). Incidental findings were detected in 12 (6%) preterm infants.Term infants: no term infants had white or grey matter injury. Incidental findings were detected in 35 (35%); these included intracranial haemorrhage in 22 (22%), periventricular pseudocysts in 5 (5%) and PWMLs in 4 (4%) infants. From the whole cohort, 10 (3%) infants required referral to specialist services.

Conclusions

One-fifth of very preterm infants without major parenchymal lesions have white or grey matter abnormalities at term-equivalent age. Incidental findings are seen in 6% of preterm and 35% of term infants. Overall, 3% of infants undergoing MRI for research require follow-up due to incidental findings. These data should help inform consent procedures for research and assist service planning for centres using 3T neonatal brain MRI for clinical purposes.