bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Partition intersections and their effect on transmission loss and apparent sound transmission class
Authors: Latour Jean-François
Published: May 2013

It is widely recognized and accepted that poorly designed intersections between partitions can significantly reduce the sound isolation that is achieved. However, the effect of specific intersection details are not widely reported and available. This presentation will focus on a case study in which different intersection details have been tested in the same conditions using the same source and receiving rooms. In terms of ASTC and transmission loss, in situ results (i.e., ASTM E 336) will be presented and compared with expected performance based upon laboratory test results (i.e., ASTM E 90) for the same partition type. Observed differences between laboratory and field performance will also be compared with results from similar previous studies.
Impacts of acoustic competition between invasive Cuban treefrogs and native treefrogs in southern Florida
Authors: Tennessen Jennifer B. , Parks Susan E. , Snow Ray W. , Langkilde Tracy L.
Published: May 2013

The natural acoustic environment has undergone substantial changes over the past century due to human activities, creating novel soundscapes. Much research has focused on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on acoustic communication, including noise from transportation, construction, energy development, and defense. The impact of acoustic invasive species has been largely overlooked in bioacoustic studies on the behavioral and ecological consequences of noise. We conducted a passive monitoring experiment and a playback experiment to quantify the impact of invasive Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) acoustic signals on the acoustic environment and on native treefrog acoustic behavior. Our results show that Cuban treefrog chorus altered the soundscape in Everglades National Park and affected the acoustic behavior of native treefrogs. Collectively, these results suggest that acoustic invasive species are important yet rarely considered sources of noise that can have ecological consequences at scales ranging from the individual to the ecosystem.
Vocal modifications in primates: Effects of noise and behavioral context on vocalization structure
Authors: Hotchkin Cara F. , Parks Susan E. , Weiss Daniel J.
Published: May 2013

During increased noise, modifications of the acoustic structure of vocalizations (amplitude, temporal, and spectral parameters) may allow release from masking, potentially conferring fitness benefits to vocally flexible signalers. Among primates, humans have demonstrated extreme vocal flexibility during noise, with modifications to all three speech parameters affected by both noise type and motivational state of the signaler. While non-human primates have also demonstrated changes to call amplitude and temporal characteristics, to the best of our knowledge spectral modifications have not been observed and the influence of behavioral context remains unknown. This experiment used playbacks of broad (10 kHz) and narrowband (5 kHz) white noise to investigate the effects of noise level and bandwidth on chirps and combination long calls (CLCs) produced by cotton-top tamarins. Noise amplitude and frequency content both influenced the structure of vocalizations; modifications included increased call amplitude (the Lombard effect), changes to call durations, and previously undocumented spectral shifts. Behavioral context was also relevant; modifications to CLCs were different from those observed in chirps. These results provide the first evidence of noise-induced spectral shifts in non-human primates, and emphasize the importance of behavioral context in vocal noise compensation.
Observing natural methane seep variability in the northern Gulf of Mexico with an 18-kilohertz split-beam scientific echosounder
Authors: Jerram Kevin , Weber Thomas C. , Beaudoin Jonathan
Published: May 2013

Underwater methane seeps support diverse biological communities on the seafloor and, in cases of bubble survival to the surface, contribute to the quantity of atmospheric methane. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Okeanos Explorer completed two research cruises for seep mapping and characterization in the northern Gulf of Mexico during August and September of 2011 and April of 2012. Seeps originating at depths of approximately 1500 m were observed during multiple transects with a 30-kHz Kongsberg EM 302 multibeam echosounder (MBES) and an 18-kHz Simrad EK60 split-beam scientific echosounder calibrated for backscatter. A methodology for determining vessel offsets for the EK60 using MBES seep observations as benchmarks is discussed as part of a larger framework for transformation of seep targets from the split-beam echosounder reference frame to the geographical reference frame. Utilizing sound speed and attitude data collected for the MBES, several EK60 observations of strong individual seeps are scrutinized for variability of seep position and target strength between 2011 and 2012.
Scattering and reverberation from fish schools in the 500–1500 Hertz band
Authors: Newhall Arthur , Lynch James , Lin Ying-Tsong , Grothues Thomas , Gawarkiewicz Glen
Published: May 2013

We report here on the preliminary results from an experiment off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to look at acoustic scattering and reverberation from fish schools in the 500–1500 Hz band. The experiment, which was performed during the period May 12–29, 2012, was a joint acoustics, biology and physical oceanography effort, with distinct, but coordinated, goals in each area. Acoustically, our goal was to examine the scattering of sound from fish schools over a full range of azimuthal angles. To do this, we employed a source mounted on an autonomous vehicle and a moored, four element hydrophone array receiver. The source traveled around the fish school and the receiver, giving the desired angular diversity. Biologically, we were interested in mapping and imaging/classifying the fish (both individually and as schools) with the sidescan sonars on the vehicles, and contrasting/verifying this information with video images from high definition cameras attached to the vehicles. Oceanographically, the correlation between the ocean temperature field and the fish species encountered was of first order interest. Results from all three areas will be presented, including some interesting video images, and directions for analysis and further research will be discussed. [ Work sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.]
Determining breast pathology in surgical margins with high-frequency ultrasound: phantom and numerical simulations
Authors: Doyle Timothy E. , Cervantes Monica , Thompson Laurel A. , Roring Joseph E. , Grover Matthew A. , Chappell J. Andrew , Curtis Bradley J. , Stiles Janeese E. , Borget Brett D.
Published: May 2013

Two parameters in high-frequency ultrasound (20–80 MHz) have been found to be sensitive to a range of pathologies in resected margins from breast conservation surgery: The number of peaks (the peak density) in the waveform spectrum and the slope of the Fourier transform of the waveform spectrum. Previous studies have indicated that peak density and slope may correlate to microscopic heterogeneity in tissue structure, which is modified by atypical and malignant processes. To test this hypothesis, through-transmission and pulse-echo measurements were acquired from gelatin-based phantoms containing polyethylene microspheres and nylon fibers (2.5–10% volume concentration). Multipole methods were also used to model through-transmission measurements of tumor progression in lobular carcinoma in situ. The simulated breast tissue contained 1000–2000 nucleated cells with random lobular cavities. The peak densities of the heterogeneous phantoms were significantly greater than those of the homogeneous control samples, whereas the slopes were less. Similarly, the models produced spectra with peak densities that increased with malignant cell proliferation. The results are consistent with breast tissue data, and provide a physical mechanism for the use of peak density and slope in the imaging of breast tissues with atypical and malignant pathologies. [Work supported by Utah Valley University.]
Molecular profiling of breast cancer using high-frequency ultrasound
Authors: Doyle Timothy E. , Sugiyama Janice E. , Curtis Bradley J. , Marvel Mandy H. , Payne Marcus J. , Stiles Janeese E.
Published: May 2013

In addition to the traditional classifications based on histopathology, breast cancer can also be classified by gene expression profiling into five molecular subtypes that have been found to be more predictive of patient prognosis and treatment response. The purpose of this study was to determine if high-frequency (HF) ultrasound (20–80 MHz) is sensitive to the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, and can differentiate between the more aggressive subtypes such as triple-negative and Her2+ from the less aggressive, more treatable subtypes. Recently, mutations associated with triple-negative and Her2+ have been discovered that are associated with the actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix (ECM), and integrin signaling. These mutations may alter the biomechanical and thus ultrasonic properties of tumor cells. This hypothesis was tested using both numerical and cell culture studies. Multipole expansions were used to simulate micro-level ultrasonic scattering from malignant cells with a range of cytoskeletal and ECM properties. Modest property changes produced large variations in simulated spectra. Cell lines of different molecular subtypes were also cultured as monolayers and tested with HF ultrasound. Results from the cell culture tests and their correlation to the models will be discussed. [Work supported by a Utah Valley University Presidential Fellowship Award.]
Collocation analysis of junction conditions for waveguides at high-frequencies
Authors: Ginsberg Jerry H.
Published: May 2013

Analyses of high-frequency transmission and scattering at junctions of waveguide segments having different cross-sectional area must account for the generation, reflection, and transmission of higher order modes. The usual analysis relies on modal orthogonality properties, which are awkward to implement if a junction does not have a regular geometrical configuration. An alternative formulation uses a collocation procedure, in which continuity and boundary conditions at the interface are enforced exactly at a set of discrete points. The viability of that approach was examined recently [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 132, 1955 (2012)], but time restrictions only permitted assessment of the technique for a waveguide whose end is excited by a discontinuous velocity distribution. It was found that the convergence and computational requirements of the collocation method are essentially the same as those of an analysis that uses modal orthogonality. The present work extends the formulation to address situations where waveguide segments having different cross-sections are joined. A least squares solution of the junction equations for the modal coefficients is described and illustrated by an example.
Characteristics of ultrasonic complex vibration for hole machining in brittle materials: Comparison of longitudinal and complex vibration sources
Authors: Asami Takuya , Miura Hikaru
Published: May 2013

Ceramic materials have the advantage of abrasion resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance compared with metal materials. The combination of ultrasonic vibration and polishing slurry has been shown to be an effective method for machining holes in brittle materials. However, conventional ultrasonic methods use only longitudinal vibration. Complex vibration sources with diagonal slits have been applied to ultrasonic motors and ultrasonic welding; in contrast, few studies have been conducted on ultrasonic machining using complex vibration and polishing slurry. Removal rates and machining accuracy are expected to be improved by using ultrasonic complex (longitudinal-torsional) vibration. Therefore, we have developed a new method using polishing slurry together with ultrasonic longitudinal and torsional vibration sources with diagonal slits for hole machining of brittle materials. Torsional vibration is considered to improve the processing of the hole side of ceramic materials such that the polishing slurry can circulate more easily. We assume improvement of removal rate and machining accuracy for that reason. In experiments, soda-lime glass is used as the processing material in ultrasonic complex vibration or ultrasonic longitudinal vibration, and machining time is measured to assess the hole machining characteristics.
A trombone model emphasizing acoustic accuracy and playability
Authors: Smyth Tamara , Scott Frederick
Published: May 2013

This work contributes a physical synthesis model of the trombone, a virtual musical instrument emphasizing quality sound production, and interactivity. The focus is on modeling and coupling four parts of the trombone: the instrument bore, the bell, the vibrating lips, and the mouthpiece. The model of the instrument is made parametrically flexible by using a combination of filter elements modeled either using known theory or, for elements not well described theoretically, from acoustic measurement. In particular, acoustic accuracy of the bell reflection and transmission is explored by comparing results obtained from measurement, to those obtained from a piecewise conical model. In addition, the playability and performance characteristics of the complete sounding model—when coupled to a mouthpiece and a configurable generalized reed model—is discussed with reference to expected acoustic behavior.
Open plan office: The appropriate privacy and material metrics
Authors: Good Kenneth W.
Published: May 2013

Recent metrics for speech privacy may be misapplied to the open plan environment resulting in false and misleading conclusions. This paper will review the state of privacy and material metrics, discuss the application and perspective of “privacy” in the open plan. And present the real effects of these metrics in the open plan environment.
Noise reduction from large machineries by using sound enclosures
Authors: Kim Hyun-Sil , Kim Jae-Seung , Lee Seong-Hyun , Seo Yun-Ho
Published: May 2013

A sound enclosure is an effective measure to reduce the noise emitting from the large noise sources such as diesel engines and gas turbines. In this study, insertion loss prediction of the large enclosure is presented. Inside the enclosure, diffuse sound field is assumed, and there exist no air leakages. Insertion loss is predicted by using statistical energy analysis (SEA). From the energy equilibrium equations, sound pressure inside the enclosure is derived in terms of the acoustic power from the machinery. Insertion loss is defined as the ratio between acoustic power inside and transmitted power outside the enclosure. It is shown that sound radiation from the panel vibration can be neglected compared to that transmitted through panel. Insertion loss predictions are compared to the measurements. The enclosure size is 6.4 m x 2.65 m x 4.8 m (L x W x H) and 4.5 m x 2.5 m x 2.0 m, where panel consists of 1.5 mm steel plate and 70 mm mineral wool. The comparisons show good agreements. It is concluded that to increase the insertion loss, panel must have a large sound transmission loss and sound absorption coefficient inside the enclosure must be high.
The impact of neck material on the sound absorption performance of Helmholz resonator
Authors: Yang Dong , Zhu Min , Wang Xiaolin
Published: May 2013

Helmholtz resonator is an effective acoustic attenuation device at low frequencies and is generally used as passive damper. In this work, parallel perforated ceramics with different perforation diameters were used to improve acoustic impedance at the entry of the resonator and thus achieve better acoustic absorption coefficient and better absorption bandwidth simultaneously. With experimental measurement, ceramics with different perforation diameters are found to improve sound absorption performance of Helmholtz resonator in different extent. At the same time, a model is developed to calculate the resonator's neck mouth impedance and further to predict sound absorption coefficient. Particularly, resonance resistance is considered based on the nonlinear correction to Darcy's law. The results show that large resonance resistance with large perforation diameter materials are due to non-fully developed factor. The largest velocity oscillation amplitude in the resonator neck will lead the Reynolds number up to more than 3000 near the resonance frequency and thus make the nonlinear Forchheimer revision coefficient decrease as Reynolds number increase. Helmholtz resonator with neck filled with sound absorption materials has improved sound absorption capacity. This prediction agrees well with the experiment results and this model can be used to optimize the sound absorption system with Helmholtz resonators.
Compressed parametric difference frequency sound with chirp signal
Authors: Nomura Hideyuki , Adachi Hideo , Kamakura Tomoo , Clement Gregory T.
Published: May 2013

The directivity of parametric difference frequency sound is narrower than that of linear sound with same frequency radiated from a sound source with same aperture size. In addition, the parametric difference frequency sound can propagate a long distance in a dissipative medium, because sound absorption at low frequency is less than those at usual ultrasound frequency for measurements and medical imaging. However, for applications of parametric difference frequency sound on measurements and imaging, that has the disadvantage of low spatial resolution because. In this study, we proposed the application of pulse compression technique with chirp signal to parametric difference frequency sound for the improvement of spatial resolution. Nonlinear propagation of ultrasound in water was numerically simulated to confirm the realization of compressed parametric difference frequency sound. A sound source at center frequency of 1 MHz was driven by up and down linear chirp signals to generate chirp difference frequency with band width of 100 to 400 kHz, and the autocorrelation function of generated difference frequency sound was calculate to archive pulse compression. The results indicated the realization of pulse compressed parametric difference frequency sound with desired pulse width which is inversely proportional to the band width.
Modeling detection of 500-hertz tones in reproducible noise for listeners with sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Carney Laurel H. , Mao Junwen , Koch Kelly-Jo , Doherty Karen A.
Published: May 2013

Detection of tones in reproducible noises provides detailed patterns of hit and false-alarm rates across sets of masker waveforms. Analysis of these detection patterns can identify the cues or combination of cues listeners use for detection in narrowband and wideband noise. Recent work has shown that diotic detection patterns of listeners with normal hearing (NH) are significantly correlated to energy and envelope cues; fine-structure cues also contribute for wideband maskers. Detection patterns are best predicted by an optimal cue-combination model based on signal-detection theory. In this study, listeners with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss (HL) were tested using the same waveforms. Their diotic detection patterns were best predicted by energy or envelope cues, with little contribution of fine-structure timing. Also, unlike NH patterns, predictions of HL patterns were rarely improved by an optimal combination of cues. For dichotic detection, NH patterns were better predicted by the slope of the interaural envelope difference (SIED) than by ITD or ILD cues. For HL patterns, the SIED cue, a nonlinear combination of ITD and ILD cues, generally did not predict detection patterns. These results illustrate differences between NH and HL listeners in the use and combination of cues for detection in noise.
Neural evidence for state feedback control of speaking
Authors: Houde John F. , Nagarajan Srikantan S.
Published: May 2013

An important recent development in neuroscience has been the use of models based on state feedback control (SFC) to explain the role of the central nervous system in motor control. In SFC, control is based on internal feedback of an estimate of the dynamic state of the thing (e.g., arm) being controlled. Within the internal loop, the state is predicted from outgoing motor commands and corrected by comparing the feedback expected to result from this state with actual incoming sensory feedback. SFC has received scant attention in the speech community, but the indirect role it suggests for feedback can account for much of what is known about the role of feedback in speech motor control. Our lab has been investigating how well SFC also accounts for the neural correlates of auditory feedback processing during speaking. Our principal approach has used magnetoencephalography to record the cortical activity of speakers as they hear themselves speaking, but recently, we have also completed an auditory feedback study based on electrocorticography. Many of the results of these studies have supported the SFC model, but some have posed challenges for it, which will be discussed. [Work supported by NSF grant BCS-0926196 and NIH grant R01-DC010145.]
Prosodic effects on speech gestures: A shape analysis based on functional data analysis
Authors: Mooshammer Christine , Bombien Lasse , Krivokapic Jelena
Published: May 2013

Prosodic phrasing and prominence modulate the production of speech gestures by increasing their duration and often also the amplitude. Here we investigate whether the shape of bilabial and dorsal constriction and release gestures is affected by phrase boundary strength and lexical stress. Articulatory movements of four speakers of German were recorded with 3D EMA. Eight bisyllabic test words starting with the clusters /kn, kl, ps, pl/ and either stressed on the first or on the second syllable were embedded in sentences that elicited phrase boundaries of different strengths. Vertical tongue back movements and lip aperture from the constriction onset to the release offset of the initial consonant were extracted and time and amplitude normalized. In order to investigate shape differences a functional principal component analysis [see Ramsay and Silverman (2002)] was performed. The resulting factor scores quantify gestural shape differences. The results indicate that boundary strength affects the skewness, i.e., targets are achieved later for stronger preceding boundaries. Furthermore, movement curves of initial consonants in unstressed syllables were more peaked than in stressed ones. By applying this method, global shape differences due to prosodic modulation of articulatory gestures can be extracted without recourse to specific landmarks. [Work supported by NIH DC03172.]
Durational characteristics of English by Chinese learners of English: A case of the northeast dialect speakers of Chinese
Authors: Yoneyama Kiyoko
Published: May 2013

This study examined the durational patterns of English production by Chinese learners of English. The same production experiment of Mochizuki-Sudo and Kiritani (J. Phonet. 19, 231–248) was conducted to investigate how Chinese speakers of English control the durational properties of inter-stressed intervals (ISIs) and target stressed vowels by compressing the stressed vowels when unstressed syllables are added. Five male and three female English non-proficient Chinese speakers of the northeast dialect participated in the study. They were all recruited from Changchun city in Jilin province of China. They graduated from the same high school, and they did not have any experience of oversea study in any English speaking country. Durations of the ISIs and the target vowel were analyzed. The tentative analysis revealed that the ISI durations produced by the non-proficient Chinese learners of English showed the similar durational patterns like the non-proficient Japanese learners of English did in Mochizuki-Sudo and Kiritani (1991). The analysis of stressed vowel durations showed that when they produced the vowel durations, they didn’t show the similar durational patterns like the non-proficient Japanese, but those to the American speakers. The implications from the results will be discussed in the paper. [Work supported by JSPS.]
Multi-subject atlas built from structural tongue magnetic resonance images
Authors: Woo Jonghye , Lee Junghoon , Bogovic John , Murano Emi Z. , Xing Fangxu , Stone Maureen , Prince Jerry L.
Published: May 2013

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used technology for non-invasive tongue imaging. MRI can detail tongue and muscle shapes and their variability in both healthy and diseased populations. Such detail can aid significantly in the interpretation of muscle interactions in the tongue, and their relation in normal and disordered speech production. However, the size or shape of the tongue and muscles may vary from one subject to another. In addition, there exists no comprehensive and systematic framework to assess the difference and variability of tongue and muscles in a normalized space. In the present work, we built a multi-subject atlas from 20 normal subjects that are acquired using structural MRI to offer a normalized space on which all subjects from a target population can be mapped and compared. In order to find accurate one-to-one correspondences, we bound the tongue so that each volume had the same vocal tract features. For registration, we utilize symmetric diffeomorphic image registration with cross-correlation, which is widely used in brain image analysis. The atlas facilitates a template-based segmentation in assigning anatomical labels in the images. The tongue atlas is unprecedented and opens new vistas for exploring normal and diseased oral structures and function.
Do formant frequencies correlate with Japanese accent?
Authors: Sugiyama Yukiko , Moriyama Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2013

Formant frequencies were examined as a possible acoustic correlate to Japanese accent. A perception study conducted by the first author of the present study used synthetic speech stimuli in which the harmonic structure of each spectrum (F0) was removed from speech produced in a normal manner and replaced by white noise. The stimuli created this way ensured that the only property altered from the normal speech would be the presence or absence of the F0. The result found that Japanese listeners reliably identified minimal pairs of words that differed only by accent, indicating that F0 is not the only acoustic cue to Japanese accent. Since previous studies on whispered speech report a positive correlation between the pitch height intended by speakers and formant frequencies, formant frequencies were measured as a possible correlate to accent. However, the analysis did not find any correlation between the F0 movements observed in the original normal speech and the formant frequencies measured in the synthetic speech. This result suggests that acoustic properties other than the F0 are also affected in whispered speech and claims made about the positive correlation between the intended pitch and formant frequencies in whispered speech do not hold in normal speech.
How robust are lexical effects on phonetic categorization?
Authors: Flaherty Mary M. , Sawusch James R.
Published: May 2013

Previous work has shown that lexical knowledge (whether a stimulus token makes a word or nonword) influences phonetic categorization [e.g., Fox (1984)]. Recent work in our lab examined the effect of lexical influences on speech perception using two tasks (phoneme identification and AXB discrimination) and uncovered some unexpected findings. Listeners who performed identification first showed a robust effect of lexical status on phonetic categorization. However, listeners who performed the discrimination task first showed no effect of lexical status. Since prior research has shown that the lexical effect is fairly robust [see Pitt and Samuel (1993)], the finding that the influence of lexical status can be eliminated by first placing listeners in an AXB discrimination task is the focus of the current research. The AXB task may focus attention on the prelexical, phonetic representation and differences within each phonetic category. This, in turn, eliminates the influence of higher level processes on phonetic perception in the identification task. The present study seeks to replicate this finding and investigate whether other lexical influences on perception (the influence of lexical neighborhood) are also altered by experience with AXB discrimination. Results are discussed in terms of the flow of information during phonetic perception and word recognition.
Coarticulation in a whole event model of speech production
Authors: Gick Bryan , Stavness Ian
Published: May 2013

Previous models of coarticulation have used varying combinations of advance planning and on-line calculation of weighted averages to determine how temporally overlapping speech sounds interact [see Farnetani and Recasens, Hbk. Phonet. Sci. Wiley-Blackwell (2010)]. A robust model of coarticulation should be able to predict such local interactions, as well as to describe changes resulting from rate variation, which should influence degree of temporal overlap between adjacent events. Using a model of tongue-jaw-hyoid biomechanics [Stavness et al., J. Biomech. (2012)], the present paper demonstrates that typical cases of lingual coarticulation can be attributed to the intrinsic biomechanics of the human body in an entirely feed-forward model with no additional machinery. Biomechanical modeling outcomes are compared to speech articulations at different speech rates, and show that naturalistic coarticulatory patterns emerge simply by varying degrees of temporal overlap in a biomechanically realistic model. The built-in mechanics of the human body can handle coarticulatory interactions with no extrinsic model at all, save one that identifies a) the right body parts, and b) the time-course of events. Results are interpreted in a “Whole Event” model of speech. [Research funded by NSERC.]
Speech rhythm and speech rate affect segmentation of reduced function words in continuous speech
Authors: Morrill Tuuli , Dilley Laura , McAuley J. Devin , Pitt Mark
Published: May 2013

Recent work [Dilley and Pitt, Psychol. Sci. (2010)] has demonstrated that reduced function words in speech can perceptually disappear if the rate of surrounding speech is slowed, even when the acoustic properties of the function word (FW) and its immediate phonetic environment are held constant. An experiment was conducted to determine whether this disappearing word effect could be elicited through a manipulation involving speech rhythm, realized as binary and ternary alternations of high and low tones, as well as through manipulations to context speech rate. 74 participants transcribed 32 sentences containing a FW in which the preceding speech within the utterance was resynthesized with a binary or ternary speech rhythm presented at one of three context speech rates. A binary rhythm in the preceding speech context yielded lower FW report rates than the ternary rhythm. These results suggest that listeners’ expectations about speech rhythm and/or syllable grouping affected the number of syllables and words perceived, indicating that such properties may play an important role in word segmentation and lexical access. [Work supported by NSF grant BCS-0847653.]
Tonogenesis in contemporary Korean with special reference to the onset-tone interaction and the loss of a consonant opposition
Authors: Kim Mi-Ryoung
Published: May 2013

Recent studies show that, besides their effect on the fundamental frequency (f0) contour of the following vowel, Korean stops are undergoing a sound change in which a partial or completer voice onset time (VOT) merger is taking place between aspirated and lax stops. The purpose of this study is to see whether the sound change holds across the three major dialects of Korea (Seoul, Pusan, and Gwangju). The three acoustic parameters, VOT, f0, and H1-H2, were examined. The results show that the effects of onsets on f0 (i.e., onset-tone interaction) were robust across dialects whereas the merging of aspirated and lax stops was not. With respect to H1-H2, lax consonants showed higher breathiness than aspirated counterparts whereas tense consonants did not. With respect to VOT, most aspirated and lax stops were produced with long-lag voicing whereas tense stops were produced with short-lag voicing. However, interspeaker variations were noticeable even within each dialect, indicating that the sound change is still ongoing among Korean speakers. The phenomena correspond to typical tonogenesis properties, characterized by onset-tone interaction and merging of a consonantal opposition. The findings suggest that the sound change in contemporary Korean can be viewed as undergoing tonogenesis.
An investigation of the three tone system in Tsuut’ina (Dene)
Authors: McDonough Joyce , O'Loughlin Jared , Cox Christopher
Published: May 2013

This study is part of the documentation and conservation of Tsuut’ina (formerly Sarcee, Sarsi; ISO 639-3: srs), a northern Dene (Athabascan) language by a collaboration of academic and community members. Tsuut’ina is a tone language. Contrary to Dene tonogenesis theory and unlike reports on all other Dene tone languages, Tsuut’ina is reported to have three tones, H, L, M. The tonal system in Dene family has been argued to arise from the loss of laryngealized sonorants in monosyllabic stem codas and incorporation of laryngealization into the nucleus of the stem, resulting in H and L tonal contrasts. The Dene languages additionally exhibit “tonal reversal”, a tendency for the Dene tone languages to show “reversed” tonal patterns that postdate the original tonogenesis. In this study we investigate the tonal distribution, realization patterns and tonal alignment in data collected from two fluent speakers reciting prepared wordlists and short discourses. Preliminary investigation indicates that, as reported, three tonal patterns emerge, M tone associated most often with a falling tone, with distinct distribution patterns arguably related to morphological factors. Furthermore M tone is more highly variable. We lay out distribution patterns and interactions with morphology and statistical analyses associated with the data.
Consonant harmony in Moroccan Arabic: Similarity and incomplete neutralization
Authors: Zellou Georgia
Published: May 2013

Moroccan Arabic (MA) displays a synchronic consonant harmony alternation where underlying alveolar sibilants can assimilate in place of articulation to a following palatal sibilant, e.g., seȝera ~ ∫eȝera “tree”. This study investigates the phonetic realization of the assimilated sibilant variant in consonant harmony forms. This consonant harmony process is typologically unusual since avoidance of similarity of root consonants has been proposed to be a pervasive tendency for the Semitic languages, including Arabic. Hence, it is predicted that even though a phonological change has resulted in adjacent stem consonants with identical features, similarity avoidance tendencies will act at the level of the phonetic representation to ensure that adjacent consonants are not articulatorily identical. An acoustic investigation using a center of gravity (COG) measure of MA sibilants was conducted on monolingual MA speakers to test this hypothesis. The results indicate that the harmonized palatal sibilants (i.e., ∫eȝera) are produced with a higher COG, suggesting a further front place of articulation, compared to regular (non-harmonized) palatal sibilants. In other words, the harmonized sibilants exemplify a case of incomplete neutralization, where the phonetic trace of a disappeared consonant remains. Furthermore, these results suggest that similarity avoidance in MA is maintained through sub-phonemic, gradient differences.
Using nested sampling with Galilean Monte Carlo for model comparison problems in acoustics
Authors: Goggans Paul , Henderson Wesley , Xiang Ning
Published: May 2013

Nested sampling is increasingly being used to calculate the evidence for competing models in Bayesian model comparison problems arising in acoustics applications. Use of nested sampling offers advantages in robustness over alternative methods of evidence calculation and enables evidence calculation for models with many parameters. The most challenging aspect of implementing nested sampling is sampling from the prior for the parameters constrained by a threshold likelihood value. For models with just a few parameters, sampling from the constrained prior can be accomplished with a simple Monte Carlo algorithm implementing a random walk, however, this simple method is inefficient and fails as the number of model parameters increases. John Skilling, the originator of nested sampling, has proposed the “Galilean” Monte Carlo method for efficiently sampling from the constrained prior when there are many parameters. Unlike the random walk method, the Galilean Monte Carlo method moves samples with a vector velocity, reflecting them from the likelihood constraint surface when necessary. This directed sampling gives the method its greater efficiency. In this paper we discuss our experience in implementing Galilean Monte Carlo in nested sampling and compare Galilean and random walk Monte Carlo for a model comparison problem in room acoustics.
Geoacoustic inversion via trans-dimensional sampling over seabed and error models
Authors: Steininger Gavin , Dettmer Jan , Dosso Stan E. , Holland Charles W.
Published: May 2013

This paper develops an efficient Bayesian sampling approach to geoacoustic scattering and reflection inversion based on trans-dimensional (trans-D) sampling over both the seabed model (number of sediment layers) and error model (autoregressive order to represent residual correlation). Sampling is carried out using a population of interacting Markov chains employing a range of sampling temperatures (parallel tempering). The approach is applied to both simulated and measured data. The advantages of trans-D autoregressive model sampling over alternative methods of error model selection is explored in terms of the reduction in posterior uncertainty of geoacoustic parameters and evaluation of residual correlation. The seabed is modeled as a stack of homogeneous fluid sediment layers overlying an elastic basement. Including elastic (shear) parameters in the basement makes this layer distinct from the overlying sediment layers and requires a novel formulation of the partition prior distribution for trans-D sampling. [Work supported by ONR.]
Nested sampling-based design of multilayer microperforated panel sound absorbers
Authors: Fackler Cameron , Xiang Ning
Published: May 2013

A model-based design approach for microperforated panel absorbers comprised of multiple panel layers is developed. Microperforated panels (MPPs) are becoming increasingly popular as sound absorbers, capable of providing broadband absorption with high absorption coefficients, without the use of traditional porous materials. To increase the bandwidth of the intrinsically peaked narrowband absorption of a single MPP, multiple such panels can be combined into composite sound absorbers. We propose a method based on Bayesian inference to design multilayered MPP absorbers capable of producing a user-specified absorption profile. Using nested sampling to accumulate Bayesian evidence and to implement Occam's razor, the method produces a design requiring the fewest number of MPP layers while meeting the specified design requirements.
Reweighted sparse source-location acoustic mapping in shallow water
Authors: Forero Pedro A. , Baxley Paul A.
Published: May 2013

Various applications for monitoring and surveillance in littoral waters rely on passive sonar for localizing acoustic sources in shallow-water environments. Although adaptive matched-field processing (MFP) has been successfully used for localization, its performance is degraded when localizing multiple sources at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and in the presence of model mismatch. Robust MFP using, e.g., the white-noise constraint offers an alternative to cope with the mismatch issue but remains ineffective in the multisource and low SNR setup. This work capitalizes on sparsity for constructing a source location map for shallow water environments. Sparsity naturally arises since only locations corresponding to acoustic sources are expected to appear in the map (nonzero entries), while the remaining map locations are empty (zero entries). A high-resolution map is constructed via a two-step approach that capitalizes on a model for the acoustic propagation environment while being robust to model mismatch. During the first step the robust map is obtained by solving a regularized least-squares (LS) problem. Then, the map coefficients are used to devise a modified criterion with a weighted regularizer yielding a lower-ambiguity map, facilitating detection of quiet sources in the presence of loud interferers.
Bayesian sequential sparse sampling
Authors: Gerstoft Peter , Mecklenbrauker Christoph
Published: May 2013

We consider the sequential reconstruction of source waveforms under a sparsity constraint from a Bayesian perspective. We assume that the wave field that is observed by a sensor array is from a spatially sparse source distribution. A spatially weighted Laplace-like prior is assumed for the source distribution and the corresponding weighted LASSO cost function is derived. We demonstrate the sequential sparse sampling using a line array and track the direction of arrival. In a real world example we track a source using a 2D array.
Optimal design of a sound reflector by particle swarm optimization
Authors: Tachioka Yuuki
Published: May 2013

For room acoustic design, the shape of the room and the materials need to be well considered. Designing such rooms requires extensive experience. Numerical analyses can minimize designers’ burdens by the automatic generation of many room candidates and the selection of an optimized one on the basis of objective measurements. Research on both numerical analysis methods and optimal design methods is required, but few studies are done regarding the latter. This paper proposes an optimal method by combining geometrical acoustic simulation with an optimization technique known as “particle swarm optimization.” Although the final aim is to achieve a global acoustic design, this paper is limited to local shape design, which is still important, considering that local shapes affect the characteristics of the global sound field. The proposed method is used for designing sound reflectors, whose aim is to scatter first reflected sound waves across the entire field. Hence, the optimization variables are sound reflectors shapes and materials, and the objective function is to evaluate the uniformity of a sound field in terms of room acoustic indices (T20, C80, and Ts). Compared with the initial reflectors, the optimized sound reflectors exhibited a higher uniformity in the room acoustic indices.
Determination of bone properties from Lamb type of waves
Authors: Minonzio Jean-Gabriel , Foiret Josquin , Laugier Pascal , Talmant Maryline
Published: May 2013

Our domain of interest is cortical bone characterization, i.e., determination of structural and material properties by means of ultrasound waves. The frequency spectrum of Lamb type of waves are the input data of the method of parameters identification, based on a least mean square algorithm. Specificities of clinical measurements of long bones require first to address the issue of measurements with limited access [Minonzio et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (2010)] and second, to develop methods for a combined determination of structural and elastic properties. The first physical model was the free plate under plane strain assumption for transverse isotropic materials with four elastic parameters and one structural (thickness). Experiments on flat plates and tubes of circular cross section are used as test case and the method was validated by comparison to independent techniques dedicated to material properties [Bernard et al. (2012)]. The same method was applied on in vitro experiments on cortical bone samples. Here, the bone thickness was measured independently by x-ray technique. This study opens the perspective of updating the physical model to determine additional relevant parameters, the tube diameter and/or the soft tissue properties in case of in vivo measurements.
Development and validation of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy for the measurement of cortical bone elasticity on small cylindrical samples
Authors: Bernard Simon , Grimal Quentin , Laugier Pascal
Published: May 2013

Documentation of cortical bone elastic properties is important for orthopedic applications and fracture risk prediction. Cortical bone is heterogeneous and anisotropic. Ideally, measurements should be performed on cylindrical samples of characteristic size of a few millimeters, which are adapted to the native geometry and size of bones. Our objective was to measure bone with resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS), which is a powerful method to determine the elastic constants of a sample from a set of its resonant frequencies. Application of RUS to bone is difficult due to viscoelasticity, which causes resonance peaks to overlap. Some of the resonances in the investigated frequency band cannot be observed. The formulation of the inverse problem, which requires pairing measured and predicted frequencies, must be adapted in the case of bone. We developed dedicated signal processing methods to retrieve resonant frequencies from overlapping peaks. A probabilistic approach was used, which allows an automated pairing based on a Bayesian criterion. The method was validated on isotropic (PMMA) and anisotropic (bone phantom) calibrated materials. The adapted RUS method allows the automated assessment of bone elasticity with a precision of a few percents, which is a significant improvement over traditional methods based on velocity measurements.
Dynamics of a constrained bubble
Authors: Maksimov Alexey , Polovinka Yuri
Published: May 2013

In recent studies [Bostwick and Steen (2009), Prosperetti (2012), Ramalingam et al. (2012)], the shape oscillations of constrained drops and bubbles have been analyzed and the difficulty of possible singularity in the pressure and the curvature of the free surface at the location of the constraint has been identified. This result indicates the need for a small cutoff length scale, as well as some more input from the physics at smaller length scales. The method of restraining the bubble against rising by attaching it to a wire is a common procedure in conducting precision acoustic measurements. The dynamics of the tethered bubble differs from those of free bubble due to variation in inertial mass. The objective of this study is to obtain a closed-form, leading order solution for the dynamics of the constrained bubble. It was shown that, by using the invariance of the Laplace equation to conformal transformations and the geometry of the problem, the toroidal coordinates provide separation of variables and are most suitable for analysis of this problem. Thus, the dynamics of the constrained bubble in toroidal coordinates can be investigated by using analytical approach and by analogy to the dynamics of a free spherical bubble.