bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How nestling birds acoustically monitor parents and predators
Authors: Horn Andrew G. , Leonard Martha L.
Published: October 2014

The likelihood that nestling songbirds survive until leaving the nest depends largely on how well they are fed by parents and how well they escape detection by predators. Both factors in turn are affected by the nestling's begging display, a combination of gaping, posturing, and calling that stimulates feedings from parents but can also attract nest predators. If nestlings are to be fed without being eaten themselves, they must beg readily to parents but avoid begging when predators are near the nest. Here we describe experiments to determine how nestling tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, use acoustic cues to detect the arrival of parents with food and to monitor the presence of predators, in order to beg optimally relative to their need for food. We also discuss how their assessments vary in relation to two constraints: their own poor perceptual abilities and ambient background noise. Together with similar work on other species, our research suggests that acoustically conveyed information on predation risk has been an important selective force on parent-offspring communication. More generally, how birds acoustically monitor their environment to avoid predation is an increasingly productive area of research.
Acoustic preferences of frog-biting midges in response to intra- and inter-specific signal variation
Authors: Bernal Ximena
Published: October 2014

Eavesdropping predators and parasites intercept mating signals emitted by their prey and host gaining information that increases the effectiveness of their attack. This kind of interspecific eavesdropping is widespread across taxonomic groups and sensory modalities. In this study, sound traps and a sound imaging device system were used to investigate the acoustic preferences of frog-biting midges, Corethrella spp. (Corethrellidae). In these midges, females use the advertisement call produced by male frogs to localize them and obtained a blood meal. As in mosquitoes (Culicidae), a closely related family, female midges require blood from their host for egg production. The acoustic preferences of the midges were examined in the wild in response to intra- and interspecific call variation. When responding to call variation in túngara frogs (Engystomops pustulosus), frogs producing vocalizations with higher call complexity and call rate were preferentially attacked by the midges. Túngara frog calls were also preferred by frog-biting midges over the calls produced by a sympatric frog of similar size, the hourglass frog (Dendrosophus ebbracatus). The role of call site selection in multi-species aggregations is explored in relation to the responses of frog-biting midges. In addition, the use of acoustic traps and sound imaging devices to investigate eavesdropper-victim interactions are discussed.
Association of low oxygen waters with the depths of acoustic scattering layers in the Gulf of California and implications for the success of Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas)
Authors: Cade David , Benoit-Bird Kelly J.
Published: October 2014

The ecology in the Gulf of California has undergone dramatic changes over the past century as Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) have become a dominant predator in the region. The vertical overlap between acoustic scattering layers, which consist of small pelagic organisms that make up the bulk of D. gigas prey, and regions of severe hypoxia have led to a hypothesis linking the shoaling of oxygen minimum zones over the past few decades to compression of acoustic scattering layers, which in turn would promote the success of D. gigas. We tested this hypothesis by looking for links between specific oxygen values and acoustic scattering layer boundaries. We applied an automatic layer detection algorithm to shipboard echosounder data from four cruises in the Gulf of California. We then used CTD data and a combination of logistic modeling, contingency tables, and linear correlations with parameter isolines to determine which parameters had the largest effects on scattering layer boundaries. Although results were inconsistent, we found scattering layer depths to be largely independent of the oxygen content in the water column, and the recent success of D. gigas in the Gulf of California is therefore not likely to be attributable to the effects of shoaling oxygen minimum zones on acoustic scattering layers.
Joint graduate education program: Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Authors: Stanton Timothy K.
Published: October 2014

The 40 + year history of this program will be presented, with a focus on the underwater acoustics and signal processing component. Trends in enrollment will be summarized.
Underwater acoustics education in Harbin Engineering University
Authors: Yang Desen , Li Xiukun , Li Yang
Published: October 2014

College of Underwater Acoustic Engineering in Harbin Engineering University is the earliest institution engaging in underwater acoustics education in Chinese universities, which has complete types of high education training levels and subject directions. There are 124 teachers in the college engaging in underwater acoustics research, of which there are 30 professors and 36 associate professors. The developments of underwater acoustic transducer technology, underwater positioning and navigation technology, underwater target detecting technology, underwater acoustic communication technique, multi-beam echo sounding technique, and high resolution image sonar technique new theory and technology of underwater acoustic reach the leading level in China. Every year, the college attracts more than 200 excellent students whose entrance examination marks is 80 points higher than the key fraction stroke. There are three education program levels in this specialty (undergraduate-level, graduate-level, and Ph.D.-level), and students may study underwater acoustics within any of our three programs, besides which, the college has special education programs for foreign students. Graduate employments are underwater acoustic institution, electronic institution, communication company, and IT enterprise. In this paper, descriptions of underwater acoustics education programs, curriculum systems, and teaching contents of acoustics courses will be introduced.
Graduate education in underwater acoustics, transduction, and signal processing at UMass Dartmouth
Authors: Brown David A. , Buck John , Payton Karen , Gendron Paul
Published: October 2014

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth established a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Marine Acoustics in 1996, building on the strength of the existing M.S. program. Current enrollment in these programs include 26 M.S. students and 16 Ph.D. students. The program offers courses and research opportunities in the area of underwater acoustics, transduction, and signal processing. Courses include the Fundamentals of Acoustics, Random Signals, Underwater Acoustics, Introduction to Transducers, Electroacoustic Transduction, Digital Signal Processing, Detection Theory, and Estimation Theory. The university’s indoor underwater acoustic test and calibration facility is one of the largest in academia and supports undergraduate and graduate thesis and sponsored research. The university also owns three Iver-2 fully autonomous underwater vehicles. The graduate program capitalizes on collaborations with many marine technology companies resident at the university’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center (ATMC) and the nearby Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI. The presentation will highlight recent theses and dissertations, course offerings, and industry and government collaborations that support underwater acoustics research.
Characterization of an electromagnetic lithotripter using transient acoustic holography
Authors: Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Tsysar Sergey A. , Kreider Wayne , Li Guangyan , Khokhlova Vera A. , Bailey Michael R.
Published: October 2014

Shock wave lithotripters radiate high intensity pulses that are focused on a kidney stone. High pressure, short rise time, and path-dependent nonlinearity make characterization in water and extrapolation to tissue difficult. Here acoustic holography is applied for the first time to characterize a lithotripter. Acoustic holography is a method to determine the distribution of acoustic pressure on the surface of the source ("source hologram"). The electromagnetic lithotripter characterized in this effort is a commercial model (Dornier Compact S, Dornier MedTech GmbH, Wessling, Germany) with 6.5 mm focal width. A broadband hydrophone (HGL-0200, sensitive diameter 200 µm, Onda Corp., Sunnyvale, CA) was used to sequentially measure the field over a set of points in a plane in front of the source. Following the previously developed transient holography approach, the recorded pressure field was numerically back-propagated to the source surface and then used for nonlinear forward propagation to predict waveforms in different points in the focal region. Pressure signals predicted from the source hologram coincide well with the waveforms measured by a fiber optic hydrophone. Moreover, the method provides an accurate boundary condition from which the field in tissue can be simulated. [Work supported by RSF 14-15-00665 and NIH R21EB016118, R01EB007643, and DK043881.]
Renal shock wave lithotripsy may be a risk factor for early-onset hypertension in metabolic syndrome: A pilot study in a porcine model
Authors: Handa Rajash , Liu Ziyue , Connors Bret , Johnson Cynthia , Evan Andrew , Lingeman James , Basile David , Tune Johnathan
Published: October 2014

A pilot study was conducted to assess whether extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment of the kidney influences the onset and severity of metabolic syndrome (MetS)—a cluster of conditions that includes central obesity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Methods: Three-month-old juvenile female Ossabaw miniature pigs were treated with either SWL (2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min using the HM3 lithotripter; n = 2) or sham-SWL (no SWs; n = 2). SWs were targeted to the upper pole of the left kidney so as to model treatment that would also expose the pancreas—an organ involved in blood glucose homeostasis—to SWs. The pigs were then instrumented for direct measurement of arterial blood pressure via implanted radiotelemetry devices, and later fed a hypercaloric atherogenic diet for ~7 months to induce MetS. The development of MetS was assessed from intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Results: The progression and severity of MetS were similar in the sham-treated and SWL-treated groups. The only exception was arterial blood pressure, which remained relatively constant in the sham-treated pigs and rose toward hypertensive levels in SW-treated pigs. Conclusions. These preliminary results suggest that renal SWL appears to be a risk factor for early-onset hypertension in MetS.
Modeling vascular injury due to shock-induced bubble collapse in lithotripsy
Authors: Coralic Vedran , Colonius Tim
Published: October 2014

Shock-induced collapse (SIC) of preexisting bubbles is investigated as a potential mechanism for vascular injury in shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). Preexisting bubbles exist under normal physiological conditions and grow larger and more numerous with ongoing treatment. We compute the three-dimensional SIC of a bubble using the multi-component Euler equations, and determine the resulting three-dimensional finite-strain deformation field in the material surrounding the collapsing bubble. We propose a criterion for vessel rupture and estimate the minimum bubble size, across clinical SWL pressures, which could result in rupture of microvasculature. Post-processing of the results and comparison to viscoelastic models for spherical bubble dynamics demonstrate that our results are insensitive to a wide range of estimated viscoelastic tissue properties during the collapse phase. During the jetting phase, however, viscoelastic effects are non-negligible. The minimum bubble size required to rupture a vessel is then estimated by adapting a previous model for the jet’s penetration depth as a function of tissue viscosity.
Preliminary results of the feasibility to reposition kidney stones with ultrasound in humans
Authors: Harper Jonathan D. , Lee Franklin , Ross Susan , Wessells Hunter , Cunitz Bryan W. , Dunmire Barbrina , Bailey Michael , Thiel Jeff , Coburn Michael , Lingeman James E. , Sorensen Mathew
Published: October 2014

Preliminary investigational use of ultrasound to reposition human kidney stones is reported. The three study arms include: de novo stones, post-lithotripsy fragments, and large stones within the preoperative setting. A pain questionnaire is completed immediately prior to and following propulsion. A maximum of 40 push attempts are administered. Movement is classified as no motion, movement with rollback or jiggle, or movement to a new location. Seven subjects have been enrolled and undergone ultrasonic propulsion to date. Stones were identified, targeted, and moved in all subjects. Subjects who did not have significant movement were in the de novo arm. None of the subjects reported pain associated with the treatment. One subject in the post-lithotripsy arm passed two small stones immediately following treatment corresponding to the two stones displaced from the interpolar region. Three post-lithotripsy subjects reported passage of multiple small fragments within two weeks of treatment. In four subjects, ultrasonic propulsion identified a collection of stones previously characterized as a single stone on KUB and ultrasound. There have been no treatment related adverse events reported with mean follow-up of 3 months. [Trial supported by NSBRI through NASA NCC 9-58. Development supported by NIH DK043881and DK092197.]
Nonlinear saturation effects in ultrasound fields of diagnostic-type transducers used for kidney stone propulsion
Authors: Karzova Maria M. , Cunitz Bryan W. , Yuldashev Petr V. , Khokhlova Vera A. , Kreider Wayne , Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Bailey Michael R.
Published: October 2014

A novel therapeutic application of ultrasound for repositioning kidney stones is being developed. The method uses acoustic radiation force to expel mm-sized stones or to dislodge even larger obstructing stones. A standard diagnostic 2.3 MHz C5-2 array probe has been used to generate pushing acoustic pulses. The probe comprises 128 elements equally spaced at the 55 mm long convex cylindrical surface with 41.2 mm radius of curvature. The efficacy of the treatment can be increased by using higher transducer output to provide stronger pushing force; however, nonlinear acoustic saturation effect can be a limiting factor. In this work, nonlinear propagation effects were analyzed for the C5-2 transducer using a combined measurement and modeling approach. Simulations were based on the 3D Westervelt equation; the boundary condition was set to match low power measurements. Focal waveforms simulated for several output power levels were compared with the fiber-optic hydrophone measurements and were found in good agreement. It was shown that saturation effects do limit the acoustic pressure in the focal region of the transducer. This work has application to standard diagnostic probes and imaging. [Work supported by RSF 14-12-00974, NIH EB007643, DK43881 and DK092197, and NSBRI through NASA NCC 9-58.]
Fundamental studies of zero Poisson ratio metamaterials
Authors: Magliula Elizabeth A. , McDaniel J. Gregory , Wixom Andrew
Published: October 2014

As material fabrication advances, new materials with special properties will be possible to accommodate new design boundaries. An emerging and promising field of investigation is to study the basic phenomena of materials with a negative Poisson ratio (NPR). This work seeks to develop zero Poisson ratio (ZPR) metamaterials for use in reducing acoustic radiation from compressional waves. Such a material would neither contract or expand laterally when compressed or stretched, and therefore not radiate sound. Previous work has provided procedures for creating NPR copper foam through transformation of the foam cell structure from a convex polyhedral shape to a concave “re-entrant” shape. A ZPR composite will be developed and analyzed in an effort to achieve desired wave propagation characteristics. Dynamic investigations have been conducted using ABAQUS, in which a ZPR is placed under load to observe displacement behavior. Inspection of the results at 1 kHz and 5 kHz show that the top and bottom surfaces experience much less displacement compared to respective conventional reference layer build-ups. However, at 11 kHz small lateral displacements were experienced at the outer surfaces. Results indicate that the net zero Poisson effect was successfully achieved at frequencies where half the wavelength is greater than the thickness.
Scattering by targets buried in elastic sediment
Authors: Sarkissian Angie , Dey Saikat , Houston Brian H. , Bucaro Joseph A.
Published: October 2014

Scattering results are presented for targets of various shapes buried in elastic sediment with a plane wave incident from air above. The STARS3D finite element program recently extended to layered, elastic sediments is used to compute the displacement field just below the interface. Evidence of the presence of Rayleigh waves is observed in the elastic sediment and an algorithm based on the Rayleigh waves subtracts the contribution of the Rayleigh waves to simplify the resultant scattering pattern. Results are presented for scatterers buried in uniform elastic media as well as layered media. [This work was supported by ONR.]
Response of distributed fiber optic sensor cables to spherical wave incidence
Authors: Boisvert Jeffrey
Published: October 2014

A generalized multi-layered infinite-length fiber optic cable is modeled using the exact theory of three-dimensional elasticity in cylindrical coordinates. A cable is typically composed of a fiber optic (glass) core surrounded by various layered materials such as plastics, metals, and elastomers. The cable is excited by an acoustic spherical wave radiated by a monopole source at an arbitrary location in the acoustic field. For a given source location and frequency, the radial and axial strains within the cable are integrated over a desired sensor zone length to determine the optical phase sensitivity using an equation that relates the strain distribution in an optical fiber to changes in the phase of an optical signal. Directivity results for the cable in a free-field water environment are presented at several frequencies for various monopole source locations. Some comparisons of the sensor directional response resulting from nearfield (spherical wave) incidence and farfield (plane wave) incidence are made. [Work supported by NAVSEA Division Newport ILIR Program.]
Comprehensive and practical explorations of nonlinear energy harvesting from stochastic vibrations
Authors: Harne Ryan L. , Wang Kon-Well
Published: October 2014

Conversion of ambient vibrational energies to electrical power is a recent, popular motivation for research that seeks to realize self-sustaining electronic systems including biomedical implants and remote wireless structural sensors. Many vibration resources are stochastic with spectra concentrated at extremely low frequencies, which is a challenging bandwidth to target in the design of compact, resonant electromechanical harvesters. Exploitation of design-based nonlinearities has uncovered means to reduce and broaden a harvester's frequency range of greatest sensitivity to be more compatible with ambient spectra, thus dramatically improving energy conversion performance. However, studies to date draw differing conclusions regarding the viability of the most promising nonlinear harvesters, namely, those designed around the elastic stability limit, although the investigations present findings having limited verification. To help resolve the outstanding questions about energy harvesting from stochastic vibrations using systems designed near the elastic stability limit, this research integrates rigorous analytical, numerical, and experimental explorations. The harvester architecture considered is a cantilever beam, which is the common focus of contemporary studies, and evaluates critical, practical factors involved for its effective implementation. From the investigations, the most favorable incorporations of nonlinearity are identified and useful design guidelines are proposed.
Response of infinite length bars and beams with periodically varying area
Authors: Hull Andrew J. , Cray Benjamin A.
Published: October 2014

This talk develops a solution method for the longitudinal motion of a rod or the flexural motion of a beam of infinite length whose area varies periodically. The conventional rod or beam equation of motion is used with the area and moment of inertia expressed using analytical functions of the longitudinal (horizontal) spatial variable. The displacement field is written as a series expansion using a periodic form for the horizontal wavenumber. The area and moment of inertia expressions are each expanded into a Fourier series. These are inserted into the differential equations of motion and the resulting algebraic equations are orthogonalized to produce a matrix equation whose solution provides the unknown wave propagation coefficients, thus yielding the displacement of the system. An example problem of both a rod and beam are analyzed for three different geometrical shapes. The solutions to both problems are compared to results from finite element analysis for validation. Dispersion curves of the systems are shown graphically. Convergence of the series solutions is illustrated and discussed.
On the exact analytical solutions to equations of nonlinear acoustics
Authors: Kozlov Alexander I.
Published: October 2014

Some different equations derived as second-order approximations to complete system of equations of nonlinear acoustics of Newtonian media (such as Lighthill-Westerwelt equation, Kuznetsov one, etc.) are usually solved numerically or at least approximately. A general exact analytical method of solution of these problems based on a short chain of changes of variables is presented in the work. It is shown that neither traveling-wave solutions nor classical soliton-like solutions obey these equations. There are three types of possible forms of acoustical pressure depending on parameters of initial equation: so-called continuous shock (or diffusive soliton), a monotonously decaying solution as well as a sectionally continuous periodic one. Obtained results are in good qualitative agreement with previously published numerical calculations of different authors.
Graduate education and research in architectural acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Authors: Xiang Ning , Braasch Jonas , Brooks Todd
Published: October 2014

The rapid pace of change in the fields of architectural-, physical-, and psycho-acoustics has constantly advanced the Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics from its inception in 1998 with an ambitious mission of educating future experts and leaders in architectural acoustics. Recent years we have reshaped its pedagogy using “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) methods, including intensive, integrative hands-on experimental components that fuse theory and practice in a collaborative environment. Our pedagogy enables graduate students from a broad range of fields to succeed in this rapidly changing field. The graduate program has attracted graduate students from a variety of disciplines including individuals with B.S., B.A., or B.Arch. degrees in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electronic Media, Sound Recording, Music, Architecture, and related fields. RPI’s Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics has since graduated more than 100 graduates with both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Along with faculty members they have also actively 0contributed to the program’s research in architectural acoustics, psychoaoustics, communication acoustics, signal processing in acoustics as well as our scientific exploration at the intersection of cutting edge research and traditional architecture/music culture. This paper shares the growth and evolution of the graduate program.
Graduate studies in acoustics, Speech and Hearing at the University of South Florida, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Authors: Rogers Catherine L.
Published: October 2014

This poster will provide an overview of programs and opportunities for students who are interested in learning more about graduate studies in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Florida. Ours is a large and active department, offering students the opportunity to pursue either basic or applied research in a variety of areas. Current strengths of the research faculty in the technical areas of Speech Communication and Psychological and Physiological Acoustics include the following: second-language speech perception and production, aging, hearing loss and speech perception, auditory physiology, and voice acoustics and voice quality. Entrance requirements and opportunities for involvement in student research and professional organizations will also be described.
Graduate programs in Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University
Authors: Stecker G. Christopher , Diedesch Anna C.
Published: October 2014

The Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University is home to several graduate programs in the areas of Psychological and Physiological Acoustics and Speech Communication. Programs include the Ph.D. in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Hearing or Speech Science, Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), and Master’s programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Education of the Deaf. The department is closely affiliated with Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Program in Neurobiology. Several unique aspects of the research and training environment in the department provide exceptional opportunities for students interested in studying the basic science as well as clinical-translational aspects of auditory function and speech communication in complex environments. These include anechoic and reverberation chambers capable of multichannel presentation, the Dan Maddox Hearing Aid Laboratory, and close connections to active Audiology, Speech-Pathology, Voice, and Otolaryngology clinics. Students interested in the neuroscience of communication utilize laboratories for auditory and multisensory neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, human electrophysiology and neuroimaging housed within the department and at the neighboring Vanderbilt University Institute for Imaging Science. Finally, department faculty and students engage in numerous engineering and industrial collaborations, which benefit from our home within Vanderbilt University and setting in Music City, Nashville. Tennessee.
Underwater acoustics graduate study at the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington
Authors: Odom Robert I.
Published: October 2014

With faculty representation in the Departments of Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering, the School of Oceanography, and the Department of Earth and Space Sciences within the College of the Environment, underwater acoustics at APL-UW touches on topics as diverse as long range controlled source acoustics, very low frequency seismics, sediment acoustics, marine mammal vocalizations, and noise generated by industrial activities such as pile driving, among other things. Graduate studies leading to both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are available. Examples of projects currently being pursued and student opportunities are highlighted in this poster.
Graduate acoustics at Brigham Young University
Authors: Leishman Timothy W. , Gee Kent L. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Sommerfeldt Scott D. , Blotter Jonathan D. , Strong William J.
Published: October 2014

Graduate studies in acoustics at Brigham Young University prepare students for jobs in industry, research, and academia by complementing in-depth coursework with publishable research. In the classroom, a series of five graduate-level core courses provides students with a solid foundation in core acoustics principles and practices. The associated lab work is substantial and provides hands-on experience in diverse areas of acoustics: calibration, directivity, scattering, absorption, Doppler vibrometry, lumped-element mechanical systems, equivalent circuit modeling, arrays, filters, room acoustics measurements, active noise control, and near-field acoustical holography. In addition to coursework, graduate students complete independent research projects with faculty members. Recent thesis and dissertation topics have included active noise control, directivity of acoustic sources, room acoustics, radiation and directivity of musical instruments, energy-based acoustics, aeroacoustics, propagation modeling, nonlinear propagation, and high-amplitude noise analysis. In addition to their individual projects, graduate students often serve as peer mentors to undergraduate students on related projects and often participate in field experiments to gain additional experience. Students are expected to develop their communication skills, present their research at multiple professional meetings, and publish it in peer-reviewed acoustics journals. In the past five years, nearly all graduate students have published at least one refereed paper.
Biomedical research at the image-guided ultrasound therapeutics laboratories
Authors: Holland Christy K. , Mast T. Douglas , Haworth Kevin J. , Bader Kenneth B. , Shekhar Himanshu , Radhakrishnan Kirthi
Published: October 2014

The Image-guided Ultrasound Therapeutic Laboratories (IgUTL) are located at the University of Cincinnati in the Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute, a key component of efforts to align the UC College of Medicine and UC Health research, education, and clinical programs. These extramurally funded laboratories, directed by Prof. Christy K. Holland, are comprised of graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, principal investigators, and physician-scientists with backgrounds in physics and biomedical engineering, and clinical and scientific collaborators in fields including cardiology, neurosurgery, neurology, and emergency medicine. Prof. Holland’s research focuses on biomedical ultrasound including sonothrombolysis, ultrasound-mediated drug and bioactive gas delivery, development of echogenic liposomes, early detection of cardiovascular diseases, and ultrasound-image guided tissue ablation. The Biomedical Ultrasonics and Cavitation Laboratory within IgUTL, directed by Prof. Kevin J. Haworth, employs ultrasound-triggered phase-shift emulsions (UPEs) for image-guided treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially thrombotic disease. Imaging algorithms incorporate both passive and active cavitation detection. The Biomedical Acoustics Laboratory within IgUTL, directed by Prof. T. Douglas Mast, employs ultrasound for monitoring thermal therapy, ablation of cancer and vascular targets, transdermal drug delivery, and noninvasive measurement of tissue deformation.
Graduate acoustics education in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin
Authors: Haberman Michael R. , Hall Neal A. , Hamilton Mark F. , Isakson Marcia J. , Wilson Preston S.
Published: October 2014

While graduate study in acoustics takes place in several colleges and schools at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), including Communication, Fine Arts, Geosciences, and Natural Sciences, this poster focuses on the acoustics program in Engineering. The core of this program resides in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Acoustics faculty in each department supervise graduate students in both departments. One undergraduate and seven graduate acoustics courses are cross-listed in ME and ECE. Instructors for these courses include staff at Applied Research Laboratories at UT Austin, where many of the graduate students have research assistantships. The undergraduate course, taught every fall, begins with basic physical acoustics and proceeds to draw examples from different areas of engineering acoustics. Three of the graduate courses are taught every year: a two-course sequence on physical acoustics, and a transducers course. The remaining four graduate acoustics courses, taught in alternate years, are on nonlinear acoustics, underwater acoustics, ultrasonics, and architectural acoustics. An acoustics seminar is held most Fridays during the long semesters, averaging over ten per semester since 1984. The ME and ECE departments both offer Ph.D. qualifying exams in acoustics.
Graduate studies in Ocean Acoustics in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program
Authors: Lavery Andone C.
Published: October 2014

An overview of graduate studies in Ocean Acoustics within the framework of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Program is presented, including a brief history of the program, facilities, details of the courses offered, alumni placing, funding opportunities, and current program status, faculty members and research. Emphasis is given to the key role of the joint strengths provided by MIT and WHOI, the strong sea-going history of the program, and the potential for highly interdisciplinary research.
Graduate study in Architectural Acoustics within the Durham School at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln
Authors: Wang Lily M. , Blevins Matthew G. , Peng Zhao , Hong Hyun , Lee Joonhee
Published: October 2014

Persons interested in pursuing graduate study in architectural acoustics are encouraged to consider joining the Architectural Engineering Program within the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL). Among the 21 ABET-accredited Architectural Engineering (AE) programs across the United States, the Durham School’s program is one of the few that offers graduate engineering degree programs (MAE, MS, and PhD) and one of only two that offers an area of concentration in architectural acoustics. Acoustics students in the Durham School benefit both from the multidisciplinary environment in an AE program and from our particularly strong ties to the building industry, since three of the largest architectural engineering companies in the United States are headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Descriptions will be given on the graduate-level acoustics courses, newly renovated acoustic lab facilities, the research interests and achievements of our acoustics faculty and students, and where our graduates are to date. Our group is also active in extracurricular activities, particularly through the University of Nebraska Acoustical Society of America Student Chapter. More information on the “Nebraska Acoustics Group” at the Durham School may be found online at http://nebraskaacousticsgroup.org/.
Pursuing the M.Eng. in acoustics through distance education from Penn State
Authors: Russell Daniel A. , Sparrow Victor W.
Published: October 2014

Since 1987, the Graduate Program in Acoustics at Penn State has been providing remote access to graduate level education leading to the M.Eng. degree in Acoustics. Course lecture content is currently broadcast as a live-stream via Adobe Connect to distance students scattered throughout North America and around the world, while archived recordings allow distance students to access lecture material at their convenience. Distance Education students earn the M.Eng. in Acoustics degree by completing 30 credits of coursework (six required core courses and four electives) and writing a capstone paper. Courses offered for distance education students include: fundamentals of acoustics and vibration, electroacoustic transducers, signal processing, acoustics in fluid media, sound and structure interaction, digital signal processing, aerodynamic noise, acoustic measurements and data analysis, ocean acoustics, architectural acoustics, noise control engineering, nonlinear acoustics, outdoor sound propagation, computational acoustics, flow induced noise, spatial sound and 3D audio, marine bioacoustics, and acoustics of musical instruments. This poster will summarize the distance education experience leading to the M.Eng. degree in Acoustics from Penn State showcasing student demographics, capstone paper topics, enrollment statistics and trends, and the success of our graduates.
Study of free reed attack transients using high speed video
Authors: Henessee Spencer , Wolff Daniel M. , Cottingham James P.
Published: October 2014

Earlier methods of studying the motion of free reeds have been augmented with the use of high-speed video, resulting in a more detailed picture of reed oscillation, especially the initial transients. Displacement waveforms of selected points on the reed tongue image can be obtained using appropriate tracking software. The waveforms can be analyzed for the presence of higher modes of vibration and other features of interest in reed oscillation, and they can be used in conjunction with displacement or velocity waveforms obtained by other means, along with finite element simulations, to obtain detailed information about reed oscillation. The high speed video data has a number of advantages. It can provide a two-dimensional image of the motion of any point tracked on the reed tongue, and the freedom to change the points selected for tracking provides flexibility in data acquisition. In addition, the high speed camera is capable of simultaneous triggering of other motion sensors as well as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers. Some examples of the use of high speed video are presented and some difficulties in the use of this technique are discussed. [Work partially supported by US National Science Foundation REU Grant PHY-1004860.]
Temporal analysis, manipulation, and resynthesis of musical vibrato
Authors: Zhang Mingfeng , Ren Gang , Bocko Mark , Beauchamp James
Published: October 2014

Vibrato is an important music performance technique for both voice and various music instruments. In this paper, a signal processing framework for vibrato analysis, manipulation and resynthesis is presented. In the analysis part, music vibrato is treated as a generalized descriptor of music timbre and the signal magnitude and instantaneous frequency is implemented as temporal features. Specifically, the magnitude track shows the dynamic variations of audio loudness, and the frequency track shows the frequency deviations varying with time. In the manipulation part, several manipulation methods for the magnitude track and the frequency track is implemented. The tracking results are manipulated in both the time- and the frequency-domain. These manipulation methods are implemented as an interactive process to allow musicians to manually adjust the processing parameters. In the resynthesis part, the simulated vibrato audio is created using sinusoidal resynthesis process. The resynthesis part serves three purpose: to imitate human music performance, to migrate sonic features across music performances, and to serve as creative audio design tools, e.g., to create non-existing vibrato characteristics. The source audio from human music performance and the resynthesize audio is compared using subjective listening tests to validate our proposed framework.
Shaping musical vibratos using multi-modal pedagogical interactions
Authors: Zhang Mingfeng , Ke Fangyu , Beauchamp James , Bocko Mark
Published: October 2014

The music vibrato is termed a “pulsation in pitch, intensity, and timbre” because of its effectiveness in artistic rendering. However, this sonic trick is largely still a challenge in music pedagogy across music conservatories. In classroom practice, music teachers use demonstration, body gestures, and metaphors to convey their artistic intentions and the modern computer tools are seldom employed. In our proposed framework, we use musical vibrato visualization and sonification tools as a multi-modal computer interface for pedagogical purpose. Specifically, we compare master performance audio with student performance audio using signal analysis tools. Then, we obtain various similarity measures based on these signal analysis results. Based on these similarity measures we implement multi-modal interactions for music students to shape their music learning process. The visualization interface is based on audio features including dynamics, pitch and timbre. The sonifications interface is based on recorded audio and synthesized audio. To enhance the music relevance of our proposed framework, both visualization and sonification tools are targeted to serve a musical communicating to convey musical concepts in an intuitive manner. The proposed framework is evaluation using subjective ratings from music students and objective assessment of measurable training goals.
Absolute memory for popular songs is predicted by auditory working memory ability
Authors: Van Hedger Stephen C. , Heald Shannon L. , Koch Rachelle , Nusbaum Howard C.
Published: October 2014

While most individuals do not possess absolute pitch (AP)—the ability to name an isolated musical note in absence of a reference note—they do show some limited memory for absolute pitch of melodies. For example, most individuals are able to recognize when a well-known song has been subtly pitch shifted. Presumably, individuals are able to select the correct absolute pitch at above-chance levels because well-known songs are frequently heard at a consistent pitch. In the current studies, we ask whether individual differences in absolute pitch judgments for people without AP can be explained by general differences in auditory working memory. Working memory capacity has been shown to predict the perceptual fidelity of long-term category representations in vision; thus, it is possible that auditory working memory capacity explains individual differences in recognizing the tuning of familiar songs. We found that participants were reliably above chance in classifying popular songs as belonging to the correct or incorrect key. Moreover, individual differences in this recognition performance were predicted by auditory working memory capacity, even after controlling for overall music experience and stimulus familiarity. Implications for the interaction between working memory and AP are discussed.
Linear-response reflection coefficient of the recorder air-jet amplifier
Authors: Price John C. , Johnston William , McKinnon Daniel
Published: October 2014

Steady-state oscillations in a duct flute, such as the recorder, are controlled by (1) closing tone holes and (2) adjusting the blowing pressure or air-jet velocity. The acoustic amplitude in steady-state cannot be controlled independent of the jet velocity, because it is determined by the gain saturation properties of the air-jet amplifier. Consequently, the linear-response gain of the air-jet amplifier has only very rarely been studied [Thwaites and Fletcher, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 74, 400–408 (1983)]. Efforts have focused instead on the more complex gain-saturated behavior, which is controlled by vortex shedding at the labium. We replace the body of a Yamaha YRT-304B tenor recorder with a multi-microphone reflectometer and measure the complex reflection coefficient of the head at small acoustic amplitudes as a function of air-jet velocity and acoustic frequency. We find that the gain (reflection coefficient magnitude) has a maximum value of 2.5 at a Strouhal number of ≈0.3 (jet transit time divided by acoustic period), independent of jet velocity. Surprisingly, the frequency where the gain peaks for a given blowing pressure is not close to the in-tune pitch of a note that is played at the same blowing pressure.
A perspective on wind farm complaints and the Acoustical Society of America's public policy
Authors: Schomer Paul D. , Hessler George
Published: October 2014

Worldwide, hundreds of wind farms have been built and commissioned. A sizeable fraction of these have had some complaints about wind farm noise, perhaps 10 to 50%. A smaller percentage of wind farms have engendered more widespread complaints and claims of adverse health effects, perhaps 1 to 10%. And in the limit (0 to 1%), there have been very widespread, vociferous complaints and in some cases people have abandoned their houses. Some advocates for potentially affected communities have opined that many will be made ill, while living miles from the nearest turbine, and some, who are wind power advocates, have opined that there is no possibility anyone can possibly be made ill from wind turbine acoustic emissions. In an attempt to ameliorate this frequently polarized situation, the ASA has established a public policy statement that calls for the development of a balanced research agenda to establish facts, where “balanced” means the research should resolve issues for all parties with a material interest, and all parties should have a seat at the table where the research plans are developed. This paper presents some thoughts and suggestions as to how this ASA public policy statement can be nurtured and brought to fruition.
Balancing the research approach on wind turbine effects through improving psychological factors that affect community response
Authors: Schulte-Fortkamp Brigitte
Published: October 2014

There is a substantial need to find a balanced approach to deal with people’s concern about wind turbine effects. Indeed, the psychological factors that affect community response will be an important facet in this complete agenda development. Many of these relevant issues are related to the soundscape concept which was adopted as an approach to provide a more holistic evaluation of “noise” and its effects on the quality of life. Moreover, the soundscape technique uses a variety of investigation techniques, taxonomy and measurement methods. This is a necessary protocol to approach a subject or phenomenon, to improve the validity of the research or design outcome and to reduce the uncertainty of relying only on one approach. This presentation will use recent data improving the understanding about the role of psychoacoustic parameters going beyond equivalent continuous sound level in wind turbine affects in order to discuss relevant psychological factors based on soundscape techniques.
Vibration isolation of mechanical equipment: Case studies from light weight offices to casinos
Authors: Pettyjohn Steve
Published: October 2014

Whether to vibration isolate HVAC equipment or not is often left to the discretion of the mechanical engineer or the equipment supplier. Leaving he isolators out saves money in materials and installation. The value of putting them is not so clear. The cost of not installing the isolators is seldom understood nor the cost of installing them later and the loss of trust by the client. Vibration is generated by all rotating and reciprocating equipment. The resulting unbalanced forces ares seldom known with certainty nor are they quantified. This paper explores the isolation of HVAC equipment on roof, penthouses and roofs without consideration for the stiffness of the structures or resonances of other building elements. The influence of horizontal forces and the installation of the equipment to account for these forces is seldom considered. The application of restraining forces must consider where the force is applied and what the moment arm is. A quick review of the basic formulas will be given one-degree and multi-degree systems. Examples of problems that arose when the vibration isolated was not considered will be presented for a variety of conditions. The corrective actions will be given also.