bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An automated mashup system with drum-bass stem swapping
Authors: Wu Xinyang , Horner Andrew B.
Published: January 2025

Music mashups have emerged as a compelling form of art, merging elements from various songs to create new auditory experiences. Our research automated the mashup generation process and analyzed listener preferences to understand what contributes to a mashup's popularity. Leveraging modern source separation technologies, we enabled the automatic creation of mashups from any two songs. Using three mixing approaches—drum swapping, bass swapping, and combined drum and bass swapping—we generated 270 mashups for evaluation. These approaches were tested with advanced beat tracking and harmonic alignment techniques to ensure musical coherence. Systematic listening tests were conducted with 50 survey participants to gauge preferences. The analysis revealed low correlations in preferences across the different approaches, indicating that each created a unique listening experience. Coupled with a comprehensive analysis of rhythm and harmony, our research sheds light on the qualities that make a mashup appealing and provides guidelines for developing more effective automated tools to assist music enthusiasts in creating popular and musically satisfying mashups.
On broadband non-synchronous measurements beamforming: A Laplacian-enhanced low-rank tensor completion approach
Authors: Chen Long , Hu Jiaxin , Liu Xiaoang , Sun Weize , Huang Lei
Published: January 2025

Due to the physical limitations of microphone arrays, there are constraints on both the frequency range and the scale of the scanning area. While a microphone array can potentially cover a wider frequency range and provide a more comprehensive view, this requires a larger and denser array configuration, achievable through non-synchronous measurements beamforming. However, localizing multiple broadband sources remains challenging without prior information about the target signal's frequency. To address this, we propose a novel approach: a non-synchronous measurements method for broadband multiple-sound-source localization using Laplacian-enhanced low-rank tensor completion. Our method dissects the tensor data structure of broadband signals and employs an alternating direction method rooted in multiplier optimization. Simulations and experimental studies show that our Laplacian-enhanced algorithm accurately captures five distinct speech signal sources, offering a superior global view compared to other convex surrogates. Moreover, our method excels in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions, significantly reducing the side-lobe level in the sound map and outperforming previous optimization techniques. This advancement is promising for applications requiring precise localization of multiple broadband sound sources.
Study on the prevention and treatment of noise induced hearing loss in mice with saturated hydrogen physiological saline
Authors: Tang JinGe
Published: January 2025

Objective: This experiment explored the preventive effect of saturated hydrogen physiological saline by establishing a mouse model of noise induced hearing loss. Methods: 24 C57/6J male mice (8W) with SPF level and normal ABR threshold were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, noise group, and saturated hydrogen physiological saline group. The saturated hydrogen physiological saline group received daily intraperitoneal injections of saturated hydrogen physiological saline (1 ml/100g) three days before receiving steady-state noise exposure (110 dB SPL, 4h). Perform ABR audiometry before and 1, 3, and 7 days after noise exposure. After completion, the animals were euthanized and samples were collected for observation under scanning electron microscopy. Results: The ABR results showed that the hearing threshold of mice in the saturated hydrogen physiological saline group was lower than that of the noise group. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the cilia morphology of cochlear hair cells in the saturated hydrogen physiological saline group was better than that in the noise group. Conclusion: Daily intraperitoneal injection of saturated hydrogen physiological saline three days before noise exposure has a certain protective effect on hearing loss caused by steady-state noise, laying the foundation for further exploration of its specific mechanism at the pathological molecular level.
A review of port noise management strategies to improve sonic cohabitation
Authors: Imani Negar , Tarlao Cynthia , Guastavino Catherine
Published: January 2025

Sonic cohabitation between port areas and the communities living nearby is a major concern for many cities worldwide. To manage port noise, city governments, port authorities, and even academic researchers have formulated various strategies at different scales. Most of these strategies have been published in a variety of formats (e.g., academic articles, acoustic reports, and governance guidelines), and to our knowledge, have never been compiled and reviewed. The present paper is a review of available documentation and literature to identify trends and practices in port noise management. A Web of Science search and additional reference list checks yielded a total of 69 documents, out of which we identified 41 documents for full review. We found that three main types of strategies are suggested or implemented, namely (1) technical solutions (e.g., noise barriers), (2) design and planning considerations (e.g., traffic calming, buffer zones), and (3) processes and operations (e.g., communication with residents, hours of operation). Few of the suggested or implemented strategies to mitigate noise port are evaluated after implementation. Nearly all of the evaluations rely on acoustic measurements and overlook resident experiences. We discuss ways to better involve residents to improve sonic cohabitation.
A customized approach to hybrid active noise cancellation system design to address auditory hyperreactivity for children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Kwong Tak Chun , Choy Yat Sze
Published: January 2025

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder often exhibit heightened sensitivity to certain sounds, which is known as auditory hyperreactivity. This can manifest in aversive behaviors when these children encounter particular noises in their daily lives. To address this challenge, noise-cancelling headphones are frequently employed. However, traditional headphone designs primarily focus on simply reducing overall noise levels, without accounting for the heterogeneous and nuanced aural perceptions exhibited by autistic children. To develop a more tailored noise-control solution, a series of behavioral and electroencephalography tests were conducted to analyze the auditory responses. Participants were exposed to sounds of various frequencies and amplitudes, and their subjective perceptions were analyzed and processed to establish appropriate noise-attenuation targets, based on a function that considered both the average aural perception ratings and the corresponding noise levels. Building upon these results, a hybrid active noise cancellation system that caters to the individual auditory needs of autistic children was designed and tested. When using the customized headsets, the children's aural perception responses showed marked improvement.
Measurements of acoustic properties of synthetic 3-D printed grass blades to predict sound attenuation of tall grass-covered ground
Authors: Di Nicolantonio Christian , Bowman Emily , Crognale Christopher , Wise Ariel , Soria John , Ryan Teresa J. , Vignola Joseph , Davison Jason , Turo Diego
Published: January 2025

Tall grass covering the ground can greatly affect acoustic transmission loss over long propagation ranges. Understanding and predicting the sound attenuation introduced by this type of vegetation is of both naval and aerospace relevance. Tall grass fields are common near both shorelines and air- or spaceports. In this study, the effect of the grass blades is assumed to be decoupled from the absorption of the ground. A numerical simulation replaces the space occupied by the blades with an equivalent fluid volume that has an attenuation coefficient equal to that of synthetic grass blades. Grass blades are modelled with rectangular parallel stripes. A 5 mm thick disc frames the blades to form a sample that fits in a cylindrical impedance tube. Several samples are designed, and 3-D printed to have blades oriented at 0 or 45 degrees with respect to the propagation of the acoustic wave. The samples are stackable modular components that can be combined to create multilayered samples. Complex characteristic impedances and wavenumbers of different multilayered samples are measured through a series of impedance tube experiments. The measured wavenumber is then used as input in a parabolic equation solver to quantify the effect of a tall grassy field on acoustic transmission loss over a propagation range of 300 m.
Cloud coverage estimation for improved atmospheric acoustic predictions
Authors: Arruza Sophie , Foeller Jeff , Vignola Joseph , Ryan Teresa J.
Published: January 2025

Weather is an important factor in atmospheric acoustic transmission loss over moderate distances, 1–10 km. One critical issue is cloud cover. This work focuses on measuring the cloud coverage at a costal location that also has permanent temperature logging masts and a wind speed profiling LIDAR which characterizes the coastal meteorological conditions. Improving cloud coverage estimates improves surface heat flux estimates, which in turn supports acoustic propagation modeling. The cloud cover is determined from photos which are analyzed in MATLAB using RGB filtering. Photographic data collected on July 6, 15, and 25 of 2023 will be presented. These photos were taken at intervals of 2 min, over the course of a day, under changing weather conditions. The simple RGB filter was successful for cases without rain throughout most of the day with the exceptions primarily occurring near sunrise and sunset. [Work supported by the Robert W. Young Award for Undergraduate Student Research in Acoustics.]
Electric-acoustic force balance for sorting microparticles on a chip
Authors: Kazemipour Yasaman , Bosworth Bryan , Jungwirth Nicholas R , Enright Lucas L , Karpisz Tomasz , Bergmann Florian M , Booth James C , Maughan Annalise , Orloff Nathan , Stelson Angela C.
Published: January 2025

Electronic waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream in the world, accounting for 54 million tons of waste globally. Such waste contains valuable chemical elements, such as gold, palladium, copper, silver, tin, and nickel that could be recycled back into the economy. Here, we present a proof-of-concept device to test a new electric-acoustic force balance to separate particles based on their electrical and mechanical properties. The device applies an acoustic force and electric force simultaneously causing microparticles to move to a position where the forces are equal. We used interdigitated transducers to generate a standing acoustic wave in the channel, collimating the particles at the pressure nodes. We then applied an electric field by applying a voltage between two electrodes patterned on either side of the microfluidic channel. This electric force changed the position where the microparticles collimated. The vision is to test microparticles from new waste recovery processes and show how they separate in our force balance to inform large scale separation technology.
Modeling binaural hearing: Stimulus into ear j (j = 1, 2)
Authors: Shinn-Cunningham Barbara
Published: January 2025

The year before the presenter was born, Nat Durlach published “Equalization and Cancellation Theory of Binaural Masking-Level Differences.” The paper's elegant mathematics yielded quantitative predictions for how binaural differences can influence the ability to detect a pure tone embedded in noise. The resulting formulae accounted well for existing psychophysical data coming from a number of different binaural hearing studies (conducted by various researchers). This seminal paper still exemplifies best practices when developing models of perceptual outcomes and neural processing: clearly spelling out assumptions to produce testable, verifiable, and quantitative predictions.
A single reflective surface reveals contextual cue-weighting in spatial hearing
Authors: Stecker G. Christopher
Published: January 2025

Prominent among the factors supporting accurate sound localizatoin in reverberant scenes is the dominance of sound onsets, which carry binaural cues matching the direct sound rather than its echoes. Aspects of onset dominance can be demonstrated synthetically via localization of paired sounds separated by a brief delay (the “precedence effect”)–a rather extreme simplification of reverberation but a useful one for dissecting the roles of single reflections. In 1985, Brad Rakerd and Bill Hartmann published a precedence-like study [JASA 78(2), 524–533] using actual acoustic reflections induced by a single reflective surface positioned within an otherwise-anechoic space. Figure 3 of that paper shows that the effects on localization depend in a complex way on the direction and proximity of the sound source and its reflections. The impacts on binaural acoustic cues are similarly complex. Localization could be predicted by combinations of these cues only if each cue was weighted by its plausibility (i.e., likelihood given the sensory context). With this 1985 study, Rakerd and Hartmann, thus, revealed a second critical factor for accurate spatial hearing in reverberation: the context-dependent weighting of multiple imperfect sensory cues.
The upper frequency limit of hearing is negatively correlated with head size in mammals
Authors: Puria Sunil
Published: January 2025

My favorite graph in auditory science shows that the upper frequency limit of hearing is negatively correlated with the head size in mammals (defined as the functional interaural distance). It shows that sound localization is such an important requirement for survival that it was probably the driving factor that led to all the mammalian ear specializations required for the sensitivity and discrimination of high-frequency sounds. This was shown across 60 terrestrial mammals in several publications by Heffner and Heffner (e.g., 2016 Acoust Today). The wavelength of sound is inversely proportional to frequency. As frequency increases and the wavelength becomes shorter than a given head size, there is a level difference between the two ears. As head size decreases for smaller animals like mice, higher frequency hearing was required to exploit interaural spectral intensity differences needed to localize sounds. In order support such high frequency capabilities, the pinna, the middle ear, cochlea, and central mechanisms evolved together. Heffner and Heffner (1992) proposed that another important function of sound localization is to direct the eyes to the sound source and show a beautiful relationship between auditory and visual acuity. Hearing aids are limited to 3–4 kHz and, thus, do not make use of these high frequency capabilities. I have successfully argued to investors the importance of making wideband hearing aids and this culminated in the Earlens light driven wideband hearing aid (Levy et al. 2015 and Puria et al. 2016).
Exploring interesting effects of symmetric functionally graded unit cells for the design of nonlinear mechanical metamaterials
Authors: Ghodake Pravinkumar R.
Published: January 2025

Elastic waves at high frequencies (MHz) interact with microscopic imperfections, showing harmonic generation—where frequencies are multiples of the original wave. Elastic wave scattering by material imperfections was studied using theoretical models of circular and 1D strip-like nonlinear inclusions. Researchers (Tang et al., 2012; Kube, 2017–18; and Achenbach & Wang, 2017–18) aimed to understand how the properties of these imperfections influence the scattered waves. Expanding on this understanding, Ghodake (2023) devised a novel unit cell comprising three nonlinear layers. This metamaterial mimics nonlinear light scattering, showing ‘Raman Scattering’ effects and exhibits tunable wave manipulation. Expanding on these findings, a functionally graded nonlinear unit cell is defined by establishing a spatially continuous distribution of the nonlinear parameter in the first and last layers, symmetrically centered around the central layer. Our novel approach manipulates the spatial distribution of nonlinear parameters, central layer intensity, and unit cell width to achieve unprecedented control over the harmonic response of scattered waves. Numerical experiments reveal non-intuitive behaviors in forward and backscattered harmonics. These harmonics can mysteriously emerge or vanish entirely due to complex interactions between the scattered waves. The proposed unit cell design empowers the inverse design of nonlinear metamaterials for tailored wave harmonic control.
Impact of design variations of a micro-perforated panel on psychoacoustic metrics of transmitted sound
Authors: Zhang Jiahua , Cuenca Jacques , De Ryck Laurent , Van Belle Lucas , Deckers Elke
Published: January 2025

Recent work reveals that sound travelling through metamaterials can lead to changes in sound perception [L. De Ryck et al., Proceedings of ISMA and USD, pp. 1147–1162 (2018)]. As a starting point unravelling the impact of intricate vibro-acoustic design on perception, this study investigates the relationship between the intrinsic physical properties of micro-perforated panels (MPP) and several psychoacoustic metrics (loudness, sharpness, prominence ratio, and speech intelligibility index) in sound transmission conditions. A Sobol global sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify the impact of variations in MPP design parameters—panel thickness, perforation rate, hole diameter, and air cavity depth between panels—on these sound quality metrics [I. M. Sobol, MATCOM 55, 271–280 (2001)]. The analysis is conducted using both broadband and narrowband noise stimuli. The data trends suggest that the psychoacoustic effects of MPP acoustic treatments exhibit a non-trivial dependence on specific parameters of the panel setup. This also provides a framework towards innovative material design, where desired psychoacoustic metrics can help guide the manufacturing of metamaterials in order to meet specific sound quality targets. [The European Commission is gratefully acknowledged for its support of the Marie Sklodowska Curie program through the Horizon Europe DN METAVISION project (GA 101072415).]
Acoustic black hole effect due to variation in duct wall impedance
Authors: Rouse Jerry W. , McCormick Cameron A. , Treweek Benjamin C.
Published: January 2025

This presentation explores the acoustic black hole (ABH) effect achieved through variation of duct wall impedance. Unlike the method of Mironov and Pislyakov, which utilizes tapered annular rings within the duct to achieve the ABH effect, this approach leverages mechanical impedance variation to create the desired acoustic behavior. By engineering the impedance profile along the duct wall, an axially decreasing local phase speed results that mimics the event horizon of a black hole, causing sound waves to be significantly attenuated and trapped. Governing equations are derived and solved using both the WKB approximation and numerical methods. The solutions reveal that specific impedance profiles can effectively decelerate and absorb acoustic waves, resulting in substantial reduction in sound transmission. Verification is performed using the fully coupled structural acoustic finite element algorithm Sierra/SD. This research further paves the way for the development of innovative acoustic materials and devices which utilize ABH principles to achieve enhanced noise control and acoustic wave manipulation. [Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-NA-0003525.]
Analyzing acoustic data with Bayesian finite mixture models: A practical introduction
Authors: Perry Scott J.
Published: January 2025

Acoustic correlates of speech can present empirical distributions that create issues for the linear models we often use to analyze them. In some such cases, we have reason to believe that there are multiple distributions responsible for producing the data. One example is the distribution of voice onset time (VOT) in the phonologically voiced stop series /b,d,g/ in North American English. While more often produced as a short lag stop with a VOT near zero, it can also be produced with prevoicing. This leads to a bimodal distribution of VOT values for these segments. The first study of VOT by Lisker and Abramson (1964) wisely decided to report descriptive statistics for each of these pronunciation variants separately, recognizing that listing a single mean and range would have been a poor characterization of the data and potentially misleading to readers. This tutorial introduces Bayesian finite mixture models, which can model a dependent variable using a combination of two or more distributions. This is useful in situations like the one described above for English VOT, as having two distributions allows us to model both short-lag and prevoiced VOT values together in the same model. The tutorial begins with a brief conceptual explanation of these models, followed by a walkthrough of an analysis of simulated English VOT data using the package “brms” (Bürkner, 2017). An emphasis is placed on setting priors, especially setting informative priors for the intercepts of the two distributions.
What is possible with speecollectr
Authors: Thomas Abbey L.
Published: January 2025

The need for remote speech data collection during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the development of the open-source software speechcollectr, an R package for building speech experiment interfaces. This package relies on Shiny, an R package for web development. Experiments built with speechcollectr can be run from a local machine or distributed over the Internet for web-based protocols. Designed primarily for researchers familiar with R, this tutorial will demonstrate some foundational concepts of reactive programming in R. This type of programming allows researchers to construct interfaces that respond to participant inputs. Such interfaces include surveys or audio recording and playback interfaces, all of which may be created and displayed to participants with speechcollectr functions. A key feature of the package is its suite of functions for recording uncompressed WAV files from the participant's browser. Recordings created with speechcollectr are uploaded automatically to the experimenter's server and may be subjected to the automated acoustic evaluation performed by speechcollectr's evalWav function. This tutorial will include a brief walkthrough of a speech production task to demonstrate the speechcollectr protocol for audio recording and, more broadly, to show how speech data may be collected using R.
Target-direction sound extraction using a hybrid DSP/deep learning approach
Authors: Yang Jingya , Hsu Yicheng , Fan Jiaxuan , Lin Jiahsin , Shih Hsuanyu , Wu Zongen , Liu Tingyu , Bai MingSian
Published: January 2025

The goal of Target Sound Extraction (TSE) is to isolate sound signals of interest from a mixture of overlapping sounds. In learning-based TSE approaches, the cues, such as sound embedding, which provide information about the sound characteristics, are used as auxiliary features for the Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) to extract the target sound signals. However, in the presence of strong interference, the extraction performance is reduced when the model relies solely on the sound embedding. To this end, this study proposes an efficient Target-Direction Sound Extraction (TDSE) system by integrating DSP-based spatial feature extraction and a DNN backend. In spatial feature extraction, the spatial blocking technique is used to analyze the signals out of the target direction. The DNN backend is based on the Waveformer backbone, which has shown promising results and real-time capability on single-channel TSE tasks. Experimental results show that the proposed TDSE system can achieve 2–3 dB improvement over the Waveformer baseline. In addition, the proposed system performs well on a variety of array setups, including those not included in the training set.
A multichannel audio tagging and localization system for home surveillance
Authors: Lai Yuhsin , Hsu Yicheng , Fan Jiaxuan , Lin Jiahsin , Shih Hsuanyu , Wu Zongen , Liu Tingyu , Bai MingSian
Published: January 2025

Audio Tagging (AT) is a critical technique in smart home applications, enabling continuous monitoring of specific sound events for subsequent surveillance systems. Although Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) can provide promising tagging results, the performance degrades significantly in adverse acoustic environments. In addition, if the AT system can provide both the tagging and the location results, it can greatly enhance the system’s ability to capture sound events. To this end, a multichannel audio tagging system based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is proposed to simultaneously tag and localize the sound event. Interchannel Phase Differences (IPDs) between each pair of microphones are used as the spatial feature for the input to the model. Instead of predicting the angle or zone index, the proposed system outputs a unit vector pointing to the sound event for localization. A novel loss function is introduced that computes the square of the cosine similarity between the ground truth and the estimated unit vector, allowing for more accurate localization performance. Experimental results show that the proposed system outperforms the single-channel baseline under strong interference, making it well suited for real-world applications. In addition, the model trained with the proposed loss function can greatly improve the localization accuracy.
Designing beyond the acoustical requirements of sustainable design
Authors: Clements Jessica S. , Lopez Richey Danna
Published: January 2025

LEED, WELL, GreenGlobes, and The Living Building Challenge. There are many sustainable design guidelines now being used and developed that include goals related to architectural acoustics and noise control. How can we as consultants bring value to our clients and design partners? Beyond meeting the specifically outlined requirements to achieve points, there are ways we can help our design partners improve the sustainability of the projects. This presentation will review ways to get started on a sustainable design, to start discussions on meeting the specific acoustical goals, and ways to look beyond meeting STC, RT, or NC requirements and bring more to the table.
Investigating embodied carbon of common floor ceiling assemblies and low carbon buildups to meet new requirements
Authors: Callaghan Aedan
Published: January 2025

The buildings and construction sector is known to be the largest global emitter of greenhouse gasses, representing 37% of all emissions. International building regulations are poised to incorporate embodied carbon targets for new building construction, with restrictions expected to become stricter over time. California became the first state to add embodied carbon emission control as part of the California Green Building Standards Code. Some cities are also enacting policies like Toronto where new city owned buildings must demonstrate less than 350kg/CO2/m2. With this increased focus and requirements, whole building life cycle assessments will become an important tool in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) design process. These evolving environmental regulations demand a deeper understanding of the relationship between the acoustic performance and embodied carbon of common assemblies. This work compares this relationship in several construction types, including concrete, mass timber, and wood frame assemblies. This relationship is evaluated by using environmental product declarations (EPDs) and acoustic testing of various assembly types to offer a holistic comparison of the performance metrics. The findings will support development of best practices for selecting materials and acoustic design approaches to balance low embodied carbon with high acoustic performance and support the construction industry to meet future environmental standards.
Ocean acoustics education in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program
Authors: Bonnel Julien , Lavery Andone C. , Colosi John A.
Published: January 2025

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Program (JP) is a five-year doctoral program conferring a PhD degree awarded by both institutions. It is organized in five disciplines: Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (AOSE), Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology and Geophysics, and Physical Oceanography. Because the MIT-WHOI JP is so broad in scope, it is an ideal place for advanced studies in acoustical oceanography. The MIT-WHOI acoustic curriculum falls mostly under the AOSE umbrella. Students can take classes both at WHOI and MIT and can do research on a variety of topics covering acoustic propagation and scattering, undersea navigation/communication, remote sensing and environmental inversion, bioacoustics, robotics, and high latitude acoustics. JP students have access to courses, programs and resources at one of the top oceanographic research institutions in the world (WHOI) and one of the top research universities in the world (MIT). By benefiting from the best of these two institutions theoretical and sea going strengths, JP students can become part of the next generation of ocean science leaders, allowing them to pursue careers all over the world in diverse areas including universities, research institutions, government, private industry or NGOs.
Acoustics for all at UNH
Authors: Lyons Anthony P. , Miksis-Olds Jennifer , Kloepper Laura
Published: January 2025

Specialized education in acoustics is critical for students at all levels, from undergraduates to those already graduated and doing basic research in academia or more applied work in academia, state and federal agencies, or industry. A three-component plan has been designed and is being implemented to improve acoustics education and training at all levels by the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The three components are specifically designed to serve (1) residential university students seeking formal degrees and graduate certificates, (2) non-residential students seeking formal degrees and graduate certificates, and (3) non-traditional students seeking continuing education and professional development opportunities in ocean acoustics. For non-residential and continuing education students, graduate level courses are being transitioned to blended formats in support of distance education efforts. These courses also allow for new degree options for in-residence students, such as a graduate certificate in acoustics or for students in an undergraduate minor in acoustics that is in development. Continuing education and professional development opportunities consist of specialized short courses, micro-credentials, and digital badges, which provide flexibility to non-traditional students or those seeking continuing education or professional development opportunities. This talk will discuss in detail the ongoing development of programs at UNH to address all levels of education in acoustics.
Comparing the delivery of free and liposomal-encapsulated doxorubicin across the blood-brain barrier with microbubble-mediated focused ultrasound
Authors: Fletcher Stecia-Marie , Zhang Yongzhi , Mashburn Ma'Kaya , Martinez Sofia , Chisholm Amanda , McDannold Nathan J.
Published: January 2025

This work investigates the effect of drug formulation (free, small molecule drug or liposomal-encapsulated nanoparticle) on Focused Ultrasound (FUS) and microbubble-mediated delivery of doxorubicin (Dox) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in healthy and F98 tumor-bearing rats. Dox is auto-fluorescent (Ex: 470 nm; Em: 560 nm). 1, 4, and 24 h after FUS and the administration of Dox, brain samples were collected and homogenized, and the concentration of Dox was measured using a fluorometer. In healthy brains, at 1, 4 and 24 h, FUS significantly increased the delivery of both formulations (p<0.05). At 1 h, the mean concentration of Dox was 47% more in the striatum (p = 0.010) and 51% more in the hippocampus (n.s.; p = 0.072) compared to Lipo Dox. No differences in Dox versus Lipo Dox delivery were observed at 4 and 24 h. In F98 tumors, at 1 and 24 h, FUS significantly increased the concentrations of both formulations (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the concentrations of Dox and Lipo Dox at 1 h (p = 0.291). However, at 24 h, 96% higher drug concentrations were measured in tumors in animals that received Lipo Dox compared to Dox (p = 0.045). The results of this study may have important implications for drug selection in clinical applications of FUS-mediated BBB opening.
Ultrasound-guided activation of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Khorsandi Sina , Wang Yifan , Huntoon Kristin , Woodward Adam , Endlsey Connor , Hafeez Nazia , Jiang Wen , Lux Jacques
Published: January 2025

Recent studies have shown that the activation of the innate immune sensor cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) promotes antigen presentation and T-cell activation, thus transforming cold tumors to immunologically responsive tumors. However, because STING is a cytosolic protein and a key mediator of inflammation, activation of STING needs to be specific to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in tumor tissues. To address this technical challenge and meet the clinical need, we developed a technology termed MUSIC (Microbubble-assisted Ultrasound-guided Immunotherapy of Cancer) that utilizes gas-filled microbubbles (MBs) conjugated with APC-targeting antibodies, and loaded with the STING activator cGAMP. Our results show that, upon exposure to US, MUSIC produces robust STING activation and type I interferon responses in APCs and more efficiently primes antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. These immune stimulatory effects of MUSIC directly translated into antitumor responses in vivo, where we showed that the MUSIC was able to generate antitumor effects against syngeneic orthotopic primary (EO771) and metastatic (4T1) murine breast cancer models as well as against two syngeneic murine melanoma models (B16-F10 and D4M). We also confirmed the establishment of systemic immune memory following MUSIC treatments as mice rejected tumor cells upon re-challenge.
Effect of shell on the stability, radial dynamics, and acoustic characteristics of phase-shift droplets
Authors: Chaudhary Sugandha , Abeid Bachir A. , Fabiilli Mario L. , Aliabouzar Mitra
Published: January 2025

Shell-stabilized, phase-shift droplets of a perfluorocarbon liquid have been investigated for a wide range of applications. The shell plays a key role in maintaining droplet stability and impacting the acoustic responses of generated bubbles via acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). While shell behavior under ultrasound exposure is well-studied with contrast microbubbles, it is not fully explored for phase-shift droplets during and post ADV. By integrating ultra-high-speed microscopy and time-lapse confocal imaging, we investigated the radial dynamics during ADV and the growth rate post-ADV for monodisperse, micron-sized perfluorohexane droplets with three different shells: lipid, polymer, and albumin. Droplet size distribution was not significantly different for each formulation for up to three weeks. The expansion ratio during ADV was significantly lower (∼26%) for lipid-coated droplets compared to the other shells under similar acoustic parameters (2.5 MHz and 5 MPa). The growth rate post-ADV, recorded up to 2 min, showed an initial fast rate constant followed by a slow rate constant for all ADV-bubbles, which were significantly different among the droplets, highlighting the effect of shell. We will also discuss the acoustic characteristics of droplets with varying shell formulation. The findings will help optimize shell composition, benefiting both diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ADV.
An ex vivo investigation on the potential of catheter-assisted pulsed focused ultrasound ablation for arterial plaques
Authors: Samaddar Abhirup , Singh Rohit , Ebersole Koji C , Forrest M.Laird , Yang Xinmai
Published: January 2025

Existing medications and interventional procedures for removing arterial plaques might cause vessel injuries or hemorrhages, leading to post-treatment complications. To reduce these risk factors, this study developed a minimally invasive technique by combining focused ultrasound (FUS) with an acoustically reflective hard surface. FUS with 500 kHz frequency was focused on the interface between a Nitinol catheter and soft tissue. Cavitation threshold was determined by monitoring the peak amplitude values of the broadband signals in experiments with agar phantoms and pork belly fat samples using a 10 MHz passive cavitation detector. It was observed that an early onset of cavitation event occurred when FUS was targeted at the tissue-catheter interface. Treatment was performed on pork belly fat and carotid artery plaque samples attached with and without a 3 mm diameter catheter. FUS bursts of 2500-cycle and 10% duty-cycle with peak-negative-pressure of 2 and 4 MPa were applied on pork belly fat and plaque samples, respectively, for 3 min. Catheter-assisted FUS treatment resulted in the enhanced fragmentation of lipid contents from pork belly and plaque samples. In contrast, FUS-only treatment showed negligible amount of plaque depletion. This study demonstrated the potential of catheter-assisted FUS therapy for plaque ablation.
Assessment of an image-guided histotripsy system for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Singh Muskan , Schade George R. , Shekhar Himanshu , Maxwell Adam D. , Bader Kenneth B.
Published: January 2025

Renal cell carcinoma cancer (RCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the United States. Although surgery remains the primary choice for the initial treatment, the number of patients who qualify decreases annually due to an aging population with multiple comorbidities. Histotripsy, a non-thermal focused ultrasound technique that ablates tissue through the generation of bubble clouds, has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment for RCC. In this study, an image-guided histotripsy system for targeting RCC was build and characterized. A focused histotripsy transducer was developed with an elliptical geometry (12/9.6-cm major/minor dimensions), 8-cm focal length, and 1-MHz fundamental frequency. The acoustic field of the transducer was assessed in the linear and nonlinear regimes. Histotripsy pulses with a 10-cycle duration were capable of generating bubbles for peak negative pressures greater than 20 MPa. The transducer was equipped with a port for a curvilinear imaging probe to facilitate therapy guidance. Bubble detection was performed in a scattering phantom with ultrafast imaging. An image processing pipeline was developed that achieved a bubble-to-tissue ratio greater than 19 dB. Overall, this system has the capacity to serve as a prototype tool for both preclinical and clinical investigations into histotripsy treatment of RCC.
The notion of berry phase in classical quantum analogous system
Authors: Mahmood Kazi Tahsin , Hasan M. Arif
Published: January 2025

The geometric or Berry phase has become essential in bridging the classical and quantum fields. These phases arise from the cyclic change of the system in a specific path. A quantum analogous classical system is considered to analyze the Berry phase through the evolution of the superposition of states. A classical granular system driven harmonically can create an elastic bit equivalent to a quantum bit, which is manipulated through the driver's frequency, amplitude, and static precompression. The granular system is adaptable to harmonic excitation due to the Hertz-type contact, resulting in different responses, from nonlinear to linearized. We analyze the Berry phase in both cases, where the elastic bit can be manipulated by varying the external excitation, and in a nonlinear system, time changes the superposition of states in the Hilbert space. This results in the accumulation of the Berry phase in time. We show the accumulation of the Berry phase both theoretically and experimentally. This study is important, as the Berry phase accumulation in a classical system shows its uses in topological computing. The Berry phase proves that the linearized and nonlinear systems are decoherence-free, resulting in a powerful tool for information processing.
Preliminary testing for ASHRAE research project 1919: The effects of duct size and aspect ratio on flow noise in elbows
Authors: Stewart Raine , Peterman Karl
Published: January 2025

The goal of RP-1919 is to investigate the regenerated noise and breakout noise of elbow fittings, eventually resulting in an algorithm for a variety of flow rates that considers a duct’s size and aspect ratio. This algorithm is intended for more accurate noise prediction of elbow fittings, to better inform building design. The practical application of this project necessitates a test method that is applicable to real-world building systems. Sound intensity measurements are a logical choice to investigate the elbow fittings, with one notable challenge: differentiating airflow noise from elbow fitting noise, especially at high flow rates that an intensity probe would not typically accommodate. Preliminary testing has been done to investigate the use of a blimp style windscreen and faux-fur muff with intensity scanning; this windscreen configuration can be seen used in film and TV production to get high quality audio where extreme conditions may affect sound. This presentation will discuss initial findings from the windscreen investigation.
Vertebrate bioacoustics: A tale of three theories
Authors: Fitch W Tecumseh
Published: January 2025

The field of vertebrate bioacoustics has made great progress in understanding how animals produce vocalizations in the last two decades. Much of this progress has involved models originally developed in the context of human speech production, which were later applied to nonhuman animals. I will provide a broad semi-historical overview of this field, highlighting three prominent theories that originated in speech science and then were generalized to other species. My talk will focus on common features that are used by most vertebrates (including humans) to produce their communicative sounds, but also calls attention to numerous interesting exceptions to these general rules.
Bio-duck and bio-goose: Mysterious sounds from the Southern Oceans
Authors: Chapman Ross
Published: January 2025

This paper revisits recordings of curious sounds that were heard in waters around Australia and New Zealand some years ago. The sounds provided the New Zealand surveys were recorded on a low-frequency towed horizontal line array operating in the South Fiji Basin. They were thought to be generated by marine animals at distance from the array, but the type of creature was not identified at sea or in subsequent analysis. Owing to the limited bandwidth of the recordings, the sound was accordingly dubbed as Bio-Duck. Similar sounds recorded with higher bandwidth in Australian marine surveys were called Bio-Goose. Further characteristics of the sound waveform and spectrum are presented, along with evidence of a probable conversation between several speakers.
Hybrid VR and physical kiosks for soundscape design in urban planning
Authors: Chung Andy W. , To Wai Ming
Published: January 2025

In response to the challenge of urban noise pollution, innovative noise mitigation measures, such as acoustic windows and balconies, have been developed to effectively reduce traffic noise while allowing natural ventilation. To engage stakeholders and demonstrate the effectiveness of these innovations, a physical kiosk equipped with an acoustic window was created, along with a complementary Virtual Reality (VR) experience. This setup aims to create a near-real perception of the sonic environment, allowing users to experience noise reduction capabilities along with other sensory effects. Through this case study, we explore the practical application of VR and physical models as powerful tools for soundscape interventions and stakeholder engagement. By showcasing the integration of these technologies in urban planning, we provide insight into their potential to shape the future of soundscape design and policy development, emphasizing their role in creating healthier and more pleasant urban environments.
Comparison of Oldenburg matrix test results in laboratory and a remote testing applification
Authors: Schwarz Thomas , Kollmeier Birger , Saak Samira , Bruns Tobias , Schell-Majoor Lena
Published: January 2025

The relevance of remote testing in audiology and acoustics is increasing, particularly due to the need for large datasets and ecological validity. The Virtual Hearing Clinic (VHC) is being developed as a platform to facilitate such large-scale online studies in audiological and acoustic research. This study aims to investigate the impact of using individual, uncalibrated hardware in remote testing in an unknown testing environment on the results of the Oldenburg Matrix Test. To this end, the Oldenburg Matrix Test was conducted in a pilot study with 10 otologically normal-hearing participants in a randomized order, once in the lab and once using the participants’ mobile devices and headphones via the VHC outside of the lab, with an additional retest for the VHC measurement. Preliminary results show a test–retest correlation of r = 0.58 for the two VHC measurements. There is a deterioration in speech intelligibility scores of 2.70 dB from lab to VHC measurements. This difference appears to be a fairly constant offset with a standard deviation of 1.10 dB, indicating good validity for the remote testing approach via the VHC. However, the participant pool needs to be expanded both in number and in the range of different hearing impairments.
Acoustic and neural representation of recognizing different pragmatic intentions from speech prosody in high-functioning ASD children
Authors: Jiang Xiaoming , Li Yi , Ma Xiquan , Zhang Shuyi , Zhao Yilin , Li Yuanhui , Chen Jinyang , Wu Zhuyun , Zhu Yixuan
Published: January 2025

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties detecting others’ intentions and attitudes from nonverbal cues in social communication. However, their ability to detect pragmatic functions from speech is less understood. This study involved high-functioning ASD children and typical controls listening to speech with different prosodies conveying attitudes towards discussion content (e.g., confident or desired speech) or the listener (e.g., dominant or friendly speech). Participants judged the attitudinal prosodies while their cortico-hemodynamic responses were monitored with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Analysis showed enhanced cortical activity in the middle/superior temporal gyrus (MTG/STG) and dorsolateral prefrontal areas during content-oriented prosody, and in the dlPFC, inferior frontal gyrus, frontopolar area, and orbitofrontal regions during listener-oriented speech in ASD children compared to the typical development (TD) group. Behaviorally, ASD children showed higher accuracy than TD when hearing listener-oriented speech but similar performance for content-oriented speech. Representational similarity analysis (RSA) indicated that ASD children used both pitch and intensity cues for listener-oriented prosodies but only intensity for content-oriented prosody. This study highlights the altered neurobehavioral profiles of speech perception in children with ASD and underscores the importance of fNIRS in assessing pragmatic functions in high-functioning ASD children.