bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging big data and deep learning to uncover the connection between biosonar sensing and flapping flight in bats
Authors: Müller Rolf , Chen Grace , Dang Brandon , Foley Joshua , Khalid Maha , Koduru Charles , Lorence Robert , Nnoka Chi , Payne Christopher , Shallbetter Rhys , Veliz Tiffany
Published: January 2025

Understanding the coupling of biosonar sensing and flapping flight in bats poses a challenge, because control of the many degrees of freedom in the flight apparatus of bats is not readily reconciled with the low-dimensional nature of the biosonar inputs. This is particularly true for bat groups that are capable of dexterous maneuvers in dense vegetation and rely on biosonar as their primary source of sensory information about their environments. To uncover how bats with sophisticated biosonar sensing and agile flight are able to control their aerial maneuvers based on the biosonar echoes, a laboratory setup with synchronized arrays of high-speed video cameras and ultrasonic microphones has been established to collected large volumes of data. The hardware setup is complemented by deep-learning methods to process the raw data from the arrays and discover informative patterns. The effectiveness of these methods opens the possibility to leverage the behavioral variability across individual and species for the discovery of common patterns and adaptations. To ensure that insight into biosonar and flapping flight of bats can be exploited for advances in bioinspired technology, biomimetic sonar and flapping-flight robots are being recorded under the same conditions as the bats to allow for side-by-side quantitative comparisons.
A method for comparing candidate materials in subjective tests of flat-panel loudspeakers
Authors: Anderson David A. , Aanonsen Lukas
Published: January 2025

Flat-panel loudspeakers are often built using a moving-coil or piezoelectric exciter attached to a bending panel that radiates sound, and such devices are finding increased use in TV screens, computer screens, and in sensitive electronics where protection from dust or moisture prevents the use of traditional speaker devices. The overall acoustic response of these speakers is dominated by resonant frequencies which can be calculated from plate parameters such as material, dimensions, and thickness, but each material still has its own unique i'sound” that arises from internal damping rates, non-homogeneity, and other effects that must be measured empirically. As such, many hobbyists and designers are interested in finding the “best-sounding” material for use in flat-panel loudspeakers. In this presentation, a method is outlined for designing plates of various materials with off-the-shelf thicknesses that have near-identical resonances and excursion such that the unique “sound” of each material can be compared in subjective tests. Simulations of and measurements on plates made from acrylic, aluminum, and foamboard demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A comparative study of flutes II
Authors: Newton Amanda , Ramsey Gordon P.
Published: January 2025

This is part two of the previous presentation on flute acoustics. This talk will expand on the individual observations of each of the six flutes to include a cross-instrument comparison. Factors used in the comparison include instrument range, material, geometry, and instrument types. Findings conclude that material had the predicted effect on tone and geometry was more significant than predicted. Additional findings and confirmation of these from the NW anechoic chamber will be discussed, as well. These comparative findings are significant as they provide insight into the physics of the sound produced in each instrument and how that contributes to the unique tone of each instrument. This is significant for musicians, including flute players and composers, as predicting and manipulating the tone of different flutes is instrumental in making music, from knowing how to make, play, and compose for flutes, including when choosing what flute instruments are applicable in certain musical settings. This talk will also discuss possible extensions of this project, including to extended members of the flute family, and more note ranges tested on each instrument.
Careers in structural acoustics and vibrations
Authors: Amirkulova Feruza
Published: January 2025

The structural acoustics and vibrations (SAV) technical committee focuses on research and industry which couple fluid acoustics to structural dynamics. The committee is made up of members from industry, academia, and government whose areas of study cover a wide range of topic areas including but not limited to metamaterials, naval applications, architectural acoustics, and nondestructive evaluation. The training and career paths for those engaged in SAV research and practice is widely varied and this panel discussion will provide insight into the types of careers available which feature SAV. The panel discussion will include panelists Kathryn Matlack (The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne), Junfei Li (Purdue University), Amanda Hanford (Applied Research Labs, Penn State University), and Matthew Craun (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division). Panelists will answer questions about their careers posed by panel moderators and the audience.
Speech feature encoding in the human brain
Authors: Chang Edward
Published: January 2025

The human superior temporal gyrus (STG) is a high-order auditory cortex area that is critical for speech perception. Over the past decade, cortical recordings directly from the human brain procedures have provided the most detailed information yet on the representations and computations that give rise to speech perception. Inspired by Ken Stevens’ theory of distinctive features, we have discovered several defining aspects of cortical processing of speech: (1) representation of acoustic-phonetic features, (2) encoding of prosodic cues that demarcate the timing and magnitude of syllables (peak derivative of the amplitude envelope) and sentence/phrasal onsets, and (3) speaker normalized representation of vowels in 2-dimensional formant space. Perceptual studies on phoneme restoration and selective attention have demonstrated that cortical processing in the STG is directly related to our conscious perception of speech sounds and not a veridical read-out of the stimulus. Our new work seeks to address phonological specialization in the STG based on language experience, and the representation of words.
The optical passive acoustic adaptive drifter system: A multisensor dynamically drifting mid-water biosurveillance platform
Authors: Thode Aaron M. , Berkenpas Eric , Shepard Mike , Bevans Dieter , Laferriere Alison B. , Souhrada Kevin , Alford Matthew , Freeman Lauren
Published: January 2025

Conducting unobtrusive observations of the physical, acoustic, and biological properties of the mesopelagic zone remains challenging, despite the proliferation of mobile ROV, AUV, and glider platforms. Here, we discuss the Optical Passive Acoustic Adaptive Drifter System (OPAADS), a 2 m tall Lagrangian drifter platform that incorporates a CTD, stereo video cameras, vertical and tetrahedral hydrophone arrays, and acoustic vector sensors. The platform has also suspended a 91-m vertical thermistor array and acoustic doppler current profiler. The OPAADS uses a commercial buoyancy engine to dynamically adjust its target isobar via either a preprogrammed dive sequence or real-time commands relayed by an ultra-short baseline underwater tracking and communication system. Three platforms have been built and deployed over ten times since 2022, off both southern California and off the New England Seamounts, between depths of 100 and 700 m for durations between 24 and 72 h. We discuss the sensors, operations, and observations collected by OPAADS, including data useful for (1) characterizing bioacoustic chorusing, wind-driven surface noise directionality, and turbulence dynamics; (2) conducting species identification in the deep scattering layer; (3) performing marine mammal tracking; and (4) collecting pilot data studying potential approaches for long-range underwater navigation. [Work sponsored by ONR TFO.]
Uncertainty in heating ventilation and air condition equipment sound
Authors: Knight Derrick P.
Published: January 2025

Uncertainty in heating ventilation and air condition equipment sound is formally defined in each test standard. Results from an industry sponsored round robin study have been disseminated in recent years. However, the uncertainty of a specific measurement is only part of the story. Manufacturers predict sound levels of more product variations than they will ever build, let alone measure. This presentation will discuss how one manufacturer deals with uncertainty in sound power data which is intended to be used by customers to design quiet buildings.
Using bone conduction brainstem auditory evoked response tests in gray seals (Halichoerus grypus)
Authors: Moore Amanda M. , Hastie Gordon , Moss Simon , Milne Ryan , Scheifele Peter
Published: January 2025

Gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) outer ears close when sedated, requiring appropriate methods to test hearing, circumventing the outer and middle ear (air conduction). Anthropogenic noise exposure (e.g., offshore windfarms) in the marine environment is a risk to seals, requiring appropriate methods for testing hearing. Bone Conduction Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BC-BAER) was investigated in six gray seals to characterize responses elicited by different acoustic stimuli, evaluate the potential of using BC-BAER to estimate hearing sensitivity, and best placement of the bone transducer. Seals were tested in December 2023 and February 2024 during ongoing research at the Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. BC-BAER measurements in six seals using broadband click and gated tone bursts stimuli had responses from 250 to 8000 Hz, the limits of the RadioEar-B71 bone transducer. Visual identification of Wave V was used to estimate hearing thresholds. Average threshold values were 45.67 dB re 20 µPa for tone bursts at 8000 Hz, the maximum sensitivity of frequencies tested. Recording of BC-BAER is a viable means of studying hearing in gray seals with the best placement of the RadioEar-B71 bone transducer being the zygomatic process compared to the mastoid.
Application of the oddball paradigm for investigating predictive coding in the bat auditory system
Authors: Lightfoot Victoria , Smotherman Michael
Published: January 2025

Predictive coding is a theoretical framework for explaining how the auditory system efficiently codes the auditory scene by focusing on unexpected deviations. It is hypothesized that predictive coding plays a prominent role in the auditory processing of biosonar echo streams. At least two complementary biological mechanisms contribute to predictive coding: stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA), a reduced response to repetitive stimuli that emerges early in the ascending auditory pathway, and mismatch negativity (MMN), an enhanced response to low-probability stimuli mediated by the descending cortical feedback. Here, we utilized the oddball paradigm, an experimental design that measures the brain’s sensitivity to rare (deviant) stimuli, to detect and measure SSA and MMN in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of anesthetized free-tailed bats. We predicted that SSA would be detectable in the early ABR peaks, and that MMN, if present, should appear in the slower P0 waves reflecting cortical influences on auditory expectations. Stimuli consisted of paired tones, FM sweeps, and other naturalistic stimuli, and we tested the effects of varying stimulus probabilities from 50/50 to 90/10. Results show that both SSA and MMN were detectable and separable even in early peaks of the ABR waveform.
Basic hydrophone measurements for biomedical ultrasound
Authors: Wear Keith A.
Published: January 2025

Acoustic pressure measurements with hydrophones are critical to characterize safety and effectiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic medical ultrasound devices. This tutorial will cover (1) fundamental interactions between ultrasound and biologic tissues that determine thresholds for safety and effectiveness, (2) underlying physics of various hydrophone designs (e.g., membrane, needle, capsule, reflection-type fiber optic, Fabry-Perot interferometric fiber optic), (3) fundamental hydrophone specifications, such as sensitivity, directivity, and effective sensitive element size, all of which are frequency-dependent, (4) pros and cons of each hydrophone design for different applications, (5) how to characterize hydrophone measurement uncertainty, and (6) deconvolution methods to remove distortions in pressure measurements due to frequency-dependent sensitivity and spatial averaging artifacts.
Message in a bubble: Methods and uses of passive cavitation detection and passive acoustic mapping
Authors: Haworth Kevin J. , Gray Michael , Coussios Constantin
Published: January 2025

An ever-growing body of clinical evidence demonstrates the profound impact of cavitation-based therapies on a wide variety of human pathologies. A key part of these evolving therapeutic techniques is the ability to detect, characterize, and quantify cavitation activity. In this session, we will describe the physical principles, devices, and algorithms for passive cavitation detection and mapping, with demonstrations and specific examples drawn from preclinical and clinical data. Finally, we will discuss the concept of cavitation dose and its distinct implementations for blood brain barrier opening, abdominal organ drug delivery, and histotripsy. The tutorial will include data and MATLAB code so that all attendees may play along.
Using high-performance parallel-in-time integration to model acoustics in expanding volumes
Authors: Chapman Nathaniel W. , Piacsek Andrew A.
Published: January 2025

Initial-value problems describing physical systems have long suffered from their inablility to be parallelized. The Parareal algorithm and its variations provide a means for parallel-in-time integration of these initial-value problems, leading to significantly decreased computation time. Further parallelization and performance improvements can be achieved using distributed networks of GPUs. Due to its potential complexities, the case of expanding volumes with a temporally constant speed of sound is considered to highlight these methods.
A computational investigation of cavitation-induced traumatic brain injury as a result high-powered microwave exposure
Authors: Anderson-Zych Eleanor , Johnsen Eric
Published: January 2025

Prior work by Dagro et al. (2021) has shown that high-powered microwave exposure can lead to rapid thermal expansion of brain tissue and has a strain-focusing effect. The rapid increase in thermal strain causes pressure waves to form in the brain and reverberate as tensile waves. This study investigates the possibility of tissue damage from these tensile waves through the growth of intrinsic cavitation nuclei. Cavitation is modeled using the Keller–Miksis equation modified to incorporate viscoelastic effects. A fourth-order variable time step Runge-Kutta scheme calculates bubble radii and wall velocities from the pressure profile. Our simulations show that the maximum hoop stretch caused by high-powered microwave exposure considered in Dagro et al. (2021) is less than the threshold needed to cause morphological degeneration in neural cells, as given in Estrada etal. (2021). By performing a parameter sweep, we find that pressures 1000 times larger than those reported by Dagro et al. (2021) are needed to cause injury. These correlations can help provide safety limits against brain injury due to microwave energy.
An overview of the directivity measurement system at Brigham Young University with applications to struck percussion instruments
Authors: Shepherd Micah , Pavill Hanna , Sampson Jacob
Published: January 2025

The directivity of musical instruments has long been a topic of interest for musicians and scientists alike. Over the past 15 years, researchers at Brigham Young University have engaged in high resolution directivity measurements of musical instruments using a variety of experimental setups. The current setup, a multiple capture system designed and built by now retired professor Timothy W. Leishman, features a 36 microphone arc which rotates on a turntable around the instrument of interest. This directivity measurement system (DMS) has been used most recently to measure the directivity of percussive instruments. The details of BYU’s DMS will be outlined in this talk using a video tour format. Specific emphasis will be placed on measuring the directivity of struck percussion instruments. The details of an automatic striking device, which was developed to fit within the framework of a multiple capture DMS, will also be presented. The striking device is capable of holding multiple sized percussion mallets/sticks, making it a versatile tool for the study of struck percussion instruments.
Uncertainty and repeatability in frequency response measurements
Authors: Piacsek Andrew A.
Published: January 2025

Frequency response measurements are commonly used to characterize modal behavior and predict tonal qualities of musical instruments. In the case of violin family instruments, the response can be measured as bridge admittance (sometimes called mobility), which is the frequency domain ratio of the velocity of one side of the bridge to an impulsive force applied at the opposite side. As with any measurement, it is important to characterize and minimize the uncertainty of an instrument's frequency response. This is especially true for studies that investigate subtle changes in the frequency response of a single instrument due to structural adjustments (e.g., bridge material or sound post location) or environmental conditions (e.g., humidity, age or playing time). This presentation will demonstrate a method for measuring violin bridge admittance using a laser vibrometer and small impact hammer, with a focus on how the measurement is sensitive to details of the experimental setup. Methods of quantifying the variability in frequency response will be discussed along with example applications.
The soundscape of the Grove: The acoustic environment of a campus centerpiece
Authors: Barrett Bryce M. , Woolworth David S. , Mobley Joel
Published: January 2025

A university campus is a mixed-use community where a balance between its functional and aesthetic qualities is central to its mission. The visual component of the environment is often the main concern, while the sonic component may not be carefully considered. The objective of this work was to evaluate the soundscape within the principal outdoor spaces on the University of Mississippi campus. These two spaces, known as the Grove and the Circle, are focal points of the University grounds and are relied upon to instill a positive first impression for visitors and to provide a locale for campus and community activities. In this project, the soundscape of these two spaces was evaluated through soundwalk-based surveys and sound level measurements. Five soundwalk sessions were conducted under different environmental conditions. Variations in perceptions and sound levels across the area of interest were found, and significant noise issues were identified. This study has provided meaningful information regarding the acoustic environment of the outdoor focal points of the campus and identified noise issues that should be addressed. Progress on mitigation efforts will be discussed.
Oral and nasal airflow in nasalized laryngeal consonants
Authors: Faytak Matthew , Rosés Labrada Jorge , Michael Lev , Lapierre Myriam , Schnoor Tyler T. , Yang Tianle , Quintana Godoy Mariana , Apolinario Beatriz
Published: January 2025

While it has long been known that laryngeal consonants do not block nasal harmony, it has been debated whether the velum actually remains lowered during the production of glottals in nasal harmony contexts. Using newly collected nasal and oral airflow data from two Amazonian languages, Maihki (Tukanoan, Peru) and Piaroa (Jodi¨-Sáliban, Venezuela and Colombia), we demonstrate that the laryngeals [h, ʔ] are, in fact, produced as nasalized [h̃ , ̃ ʔ] in these languages when they occur in nasal harmony spans. We observe that nasal flow is greater for both intervocalic [h] and [ʔ] in a nasal harmony context than in a non-harmony (oral) context, suggesting a lowered velum for both segments conditioned by the nasal harmony span. The glottal stops examined lack complete closure, as indicated by their non-zero oral flow; we consider the implications of this for the relationship between glottal stricture and measured nasality. [Work supported by U.S. National Science Foundation Award #1918064.]
Vocal fold vibration associated with inspiratory phonation—An acoustic and electroglottographic study
Authors: Song Xiuli , Ng Manwa L. , Chen Yang
Published: January 2025

Unlike normal phonation (EP), inspiratory phonation (IP) involves speech production using ingressive airflow. It is often used in clinical voice assessment and treatment. The present study examined the voice and glottal vibratory characteristics associated with IP by means of acoustic and electroglottographic (EGG) analyses. Acoustic and EGG signals of the vowel /i/ produced by 44 young vocally healthy adults (22 men and 22 women) using IP and EP were simultaneously recorded and later analyzed using Praat. EGG parameters included contact quotient (CQ), contact quotient perturbation (CQP), contact index (CI), relative contact rise time (RT), slope of the contacting phase (Slopecon), slope of the de-contacting phase (Slopedecon), amplitude, %JitterEGG, %ShimmerEGG, and HNREGG. Acoustic parameters included F0AC, %JitterAC, %ShimmerAC, and HNRAC. During IP, mean F0EGG, %JitterEGG, and %ShimmerEGG increased, while HNREGGdecreased. Mean F0AC, %JitterAC, and %ShimmerAC increased during IP, with no significant difference between IP and EP for HNRAC. CQP, CI, and RT increased, while Slopecon and amplitude decreased during IP, with no significant difference between IP and EP for CQ and Slopedecon. Results indicated marked differences in voices and glottal vibration between IP and EP.
The impact of telepractice on voice production in normal-hearing children
Authors: Kondaurova Maria V. , Smith Alan F. , Rodriguez Cruz Yesenia , Kondaurova Irina , Zheng Qi
Published: January 2025

Telepractice is increasingly being used to evaluate voice quality and speech signal processing in children with and without hearing loss. The study examined whether telepractice (referred to as tele) affects voice production in normal-hearing children. Ten children (mean age = 10.4 years, age range 8–12 years) participated in four (2 in-person, 2 tele) weekly visits, order counterbalanced. At each visit, the clinician asked children to read sentences, hold a standardized conversation, and provide subjective measures of vocal effort. Fundamental frequency (Hz) and smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) (dB) were significantly higher in the children’s utterances during tele compared to in-person communication irrespective of the task type or visit number. For intensity (dB SPL), a significant interaction for session type (in-person, tele) and visit number (first, second) was found regardless of the task type. Thus, intensity was higher in tele compared to in-person conditions during the first in-person versus tele visits only. A positive relationship between intensity and CPPS was found. No effect of telepractice on subjective measures of vocal effort was identified. The results suggest that vocal characteristics in normal-hearing children were affected during remote compared to in-person communication. This may impact the telepractice delivery of therapeutic intervention in children.
Impact of stimulus difficulty on forced alignment performance in L2 English learners: A focus on L1 Mandarin
Authors: Mobétie Gabin M. , Aalto Eija , Carsodo Walcir , Menard Lucie , Laporte Catherine
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the performance of forced alignment algorithms and tools for second language (L2) English speech, more specifically L2 English speech produced by L1 Mandarin speakers. A recent study has shown that while the aligner's performance is less consistent with L2 speakers than with native speakers, current forced alignment methods are still accurate enough to be useful for studies of L2 English speech. However, no previous study has investigated whether the difficulty of the spoken content influences accuracy. In the present study, sentences designed to present different levels of difficulty to L1 Mandarin speakers were recorded. Participants included four L1 Mandarin speakers and one L1 English speaker as a control. All participants were associated with a subjective accentedness rating scale by two experienced listeners. A dataset containing recordings was created, which underwent preprocessing, including noise filtering and segmentation by silent periods. Statistical analysis revealed that alignment performance is correlated with accentedness but not with sentence difficulty. The study identified specific phonemic errors and possible differences in variance at different difficulty levels, highlighting the challenges faced by non-native speakers. Forced alignment methods appear to be well suited for phonetic analysis included with L1 Mandarin and L2 English contexts.
Asymmetrical effects of speaking rate on Japanese vowels and consonants
Authors: Katsuda Hironori , Kang Yoonjung
Published: January 2025

Previous research suggests that vowels are more responsive to speaking rate variation than consonants in production. However, this tendency often derives from limited stimuli or broad comparisons that may overlook differences among subcategories like stops and fricatives. Additionally, how listeners adapt to the asymmetrical effects of speaking rate remains largely unknown. We conducted an online experiment with production and perception tasks using Japanese, where many segments have phonemic length. We examined whether different segmental targets, specifically five vowels (/i, e, a, o, u/) and five consonants (t, k, s, m, n/), differ in their sensitivity to speaking rate changes. In the production task, participants produced minimal pairs of nonce words contrasting in length (e.g., /kempina/, /kempiːna/) within a carrier sentence both at fast and slow speaking rates, following production prompts. In the perception task, they categorized duration continua embedded in fast and slow speech as phonemically short or long. Converging evidence suggests a distinction between vowels and stops versus fricatives and nasals, with the former group exhibiting greater sensitivity to speaking rate changes in production. This production pattern was also generally reflected in the perception results. We discuss potential reasons behind this asymmetry and explore its implications.
Tongue bracing for improved control of vocal-tract model
Authors: Arai Takayuki , Nakagawa Chisaki , Suzuki Ryohei , Earp Chandler , Tsuji Shinya
Published: January 2025

We have developed a series of physical models of the human vocal tract and sound sources for different purposes, including education, speech and language pathology, scientific studies, and many other applications. Some of the models have dynamic aspects of speech production and can simulate articulatory movements. When the tongue of a dynamic model approaches the palate, tongue bracing helps to form a midline groove on the surface of the tongue, especially for high vowels. Recently, we have fine-tuned the design of our version of Umeda and Teranishi’s (UT) model to simulate continuous speech production. For the series of UT models, a set of plates or blocks line up next to each other to simulate the lower lip and tongue. The movements of these plates/blocks simulate the articulatory gestures. In the new model, the lateral and midline portions of each block for the tongue can be controlled independently. This allows us to achieve tongue bracing and eventually minimizes errors between the target and the actual positions of the blocks with quick motions.
Whistling in alveolar fricatives: Evidence from two speech modes
Authors: Jesus Luis M.
Published: January 2025

The tongue constriction observed in alveolar fricatives, forming an unstable jet and boundary layer at the teeth, can be accompanied by a front cavity feedback mechanism that reinforces this instability, generating a narrow-bandwidth peak as observed in whistling. This study presents new evidence of a generalised use of this mechanism in speech, based on acoustic recordings of eight female speakers from the same dialectal region in Portugal. Sustained fricatives /s, z/, six disyllabic words, six sentences and a phonetically balanced text, were produced in voiced and whispered speech modes. Variation of the multitaper Power Spectral Density of not whistled/ whistled fricative pairs was assessed using Functional Principal Component Analysis. The first of two principal components explained 93.3% of the /s/ variance and 90.4% of the /z/ variance. Results also revealed the following regarding the first shape descriptor used to model the curves: /s/ – sd = 969.55, R2 = 0.170, p = 0.000, /z/ – sd = 931.41, R2 = 0.105, p = 0.000; and the second shape descriptor: /s/ – sd = 257.32, R2 = 0.009, p = 0.248, /z/ – sd = 299.57, R2 = 0.051, p = 0.007. Whistled fricatives were observed both in voiced and whispered speech, so this does not seem to be a mechanism used to compensate for a weaker source strength as typically observed in whispered speech. Nevertheless, reconstructed not whistled/whistled curve pairs were significantly different.
Metamers in deep learning for synthetic aperture sonar image classification and their significance in understanding deep networks
Authors: Gerg Isaac
Published: January 2025

Metamers in deep learning are images that appear different but elicit the same feature vector response at the penultimate layer. These images can be easily discovered using optimization methods built into existing deep learning training frameworks. Typically, metamers look nothing like the training data, despite having feature vectors that match exactly with existing training samples. This phenomenon emerges as a function of network layer depth, where initially dissimilar representations converge to a representation of an existing training image. Conversely, simple transforms like image despeckling may have the opposite effect: initial representations similar to a training sample diverge as a function of layer depth until they diverge so much that they become misclassified. In this discussion, we explore this phenomenon, provide practical examples, and aim to stimulate conversation about this intriguing behavior of deep networks.
Passive hearing abilities of dyslexia children: Investigating the rumble frequency of skull bones
Authors: Elnoshokaty Ibrahim Y. , Elgabaly Howida , Omar Manal
Published: January 2025

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder characterized with impairment of auditory frequency discrimination, impaired perception of amplitude, and modulation. The relation between sound discrimination and the passive hearing and sound conduction through the skull bone resonance cavities is still unclear. Methodology: 31 children diagnosed by dsm-5 as Dyslexia, sample collected from the dyslexia unit in( snsc) affiliated to, Asu.,along July 2022 to July 2023 with age range from 6 to 14 years, and both sexes were included. Material and apparatus: A calibrated 8 microphones for record and analysis at 63 Hz to 16 kHz via customised skull bone resonance cavity helmet. while seated in a room with RC25 chamber in a quiet laboratory Results: 31 dyslexic children age range 6_14, 22 males, and 9 females. normal bone resonance resulted in 8 children, while abnormal bone resonance was in 23 children. Two categories of abnormalities of the sound: (a) damping frequency, at a low/mid frequency ranging between 120 and 1000 Hz in 8 children. (b)rumble frequency, damping at a frequency ranging between 120 and 500 Hz, and further increase to range 1000 to 8000 Hz in 15 children. The sinuses sound abnormalities were in frontal and mastoid equally n = 21(67.7%), followed by maxillary n = 19(61.29%), more dominant on the right side. Conclusion: Investigating the skull bone resonance cavities can have good reflection on the sinuses condition, where further investigations will be mandatory and clinical intervention of the sinuses disease is to be essential.
Binaural echo error detection gives self-supervised learning to improve landmark classification
Authors: Kuc Roman
Published: January 2025

Binaural processing is typically associated with source localization using interaural time and level differences. This paper describes its role for improving landmark classification from an echo sequence. A brain-inspired system explores the blind human echolocation problem of differentiating two foliage targets with different sized leaves using audible echoes. A biomimetic sonar views each target by producing left and right-ear monaural echo waveforms whose target-specific frequency power spectra are classified using template matching. Binaural processing implements error detection by ignoring views that give contradictory monaural classifications. Binaural classification using consistent monaural classifications also produces self-labeled data that update monaural template estimates to continually improve target classification accuracy through additional target encounters. Monaural classification error probability starts at 0.225 after supervised learning with 10 encounters with each known target and reaches 0.134 after an additional 90 self-supervised template updates. The binaural classification error probability starts at 0.032 with an average of 1.49 binaural views required to achieve consistent monaural classifications and reaches 0.019 with an average of 1.32 views.
LabTAU: Laboratory of therapeutic applications of ultrasound
Authors: Lafond Maxime , Rohfritsch Adrien , Payen Thomas , Lafon Cyril
Published: January 2025

The LabTAU is a household name in the history of biomedical ultrasound. Our philosophy is to transfer our research from the bench to the patient. As such, we are striving to be at the forefront of emerging techniques while nurturing clinical and industrial partnerships. Our research focuses on four main areas: high-energy ultrasound, low-energy ultrasound, bubbles cells and particles, and wave and instrumentation. After briefly presenting the geographical context of the laboratory, we tour the facility, showcasing our main experimental platforms by using examples of active research across the spectrum from fundamental physics and technology to clinical developments.
Advancing neuroscience with cutting-edge ultrasound technology
Authors: Chin Yu Xuan , Chen Hong
Published: January 2025

Housed in one of the largest neuroscience buildings in the United States, the Chen Ultrasound Lab is at the forefront of technology innovation that bridges neuroscience with ultrasound engineering. The Chen Ultrasound Lab has pioneered technologies, including sonodelivery, sonobiopsy, and sonogenetics. Our lab has designated areas for the development, calibration, and production of ultrasound transducers, ensuring accuracy and precision for our in-house manufactured transducers. Our ability to rapidly prototype is attributable to our mature 3D printing technology. The Chen Ultrasound Lab is also equipped with preclinical and clinical ultrasound systems, including neuronavigation-guided and MR-guided focused ultrasound devices, crucial to our large animal studies with pigs and non-human primates as well as on-going clinical studies. Our dedicated animal surgery and behavior testing suite strengthens our research capability. Experience firsthand how our ultrasound crib contributes to pioneering discoveries in the field of neuroscience and medicine by joining us in our video tour that explores our state-of-the-art lab.
Surface acoustic wave-driven enhancement of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays: ELISAW
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liu Yuxiong , Zhang Shuai , Floer Cecile , Singamaneni Srikanth , Friend James
Published: January 2025

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are widely used in biology and clinical diagnosis. Relying on antigen–antibody interaction through diffusion, the standard ELISA protocol can be time-consuming, preventing its use in rapid diagnostics. We present a time-saving and more sensitive ELISA without changing the standard setup and protocol, using surface acoustic waves (SAWs) to enhance performance. Each step of the assay is improved principally via acoustic streaming-driven advection. Using SAWs, the time required for one step of an example ELISA is reduced from 60 to 15 min to achieve the same signal intensity. By extending the duration of SAW exposure to 20 min, the binding amount can be significantly improved over the 60 min, 35 °C ELISA without SAWs. When introducing SAWs to the bead-based ELISA, the time required for binding can be further reduced to 2 min due to increasing depletion zone by acoustic streaming on beads surface. The sensitivity of ELISA can be significantly increased with lower LoD by combination of SAW stimulation and ultrabright fluorescent nanoscale labels. By significantly increasing the speed and sensitivity of ELISA, its utility may be improved for a wide range of point-of-care diagnostics applications.
An inexpensive teaching laboratory apparatus for measuring the speed of sound and more
Authors: Morrison Andrew C.
Published: January 2025

One of the laboratory experiments in our general education acoustics class is a measurement of the speed of sound activity. The apparatus for this activity consists of a pair of ultrasonic transducers, a signal generator, and an oscilloscope. Each transducer is mounted on a custom base that is designed to rest on top of a standard meter stick which lays flat on the lab bench. The bases are arranged on the meter stick such that the transducers face each other. One of the transducers is driven by the signal generator at its resonance frequency, creating a sound wave which is detected by the other transducer. By monitoring the relative phase of the transmitted and detected sound wave signals, an accurate measurement of the wavelength of the sound can be obtained. From the wavelength measurement and the drive frequency students easily calculate the speed of sound in the room. With the advent of 3D printing and the availability of inexpensive signal generators and oscilloscopes, this apparatus is affordable not only for colleges but also to many high schools. Furthermore, the apparatus can be also used to explore other wave phenomena, such as reflection, absorption, and interference.
Applying physics education research to teaching
Authors: Dostal Jack A.
Published: January 2025

A fundamental paper that guides my thinking about teaching is Lillian McDermott’s 2001 Oersted Medal Lecture entitled “Physics Education Research - The Key to Student Learning.” It was published in AJP and given at the American Association of Physics Teachers meeting that year. It highlights the value of taking a scientific approach to improve student learning. It also demonstrates the benefits of active engagement in the classroom and the limits of traditional instruction. Teaching effectively can be trained; it is more than just an art. McDermott highlights core principles of physics education research and puts those principles in context of physics examples (simple electric circuits and single/double slit diffraction). Her phrase, “Teaching by telling is an ineffective mode of instruction for most students,” is a mantra that I have always kept in mind when making decisions about how to proceed in a course.
Acoustic characteristics of Parasaurolophus crest: Experimental results from a physical model
Authors: Lin Hongjun
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the acoustic characteristics of the Parasaurolophus crest through the construction and experimental analysis of a simplified anatomical model. Motivated by the potential correlation between the crest and sound production and perception, a model was developed consisting of two open pipes connected at specific points to mimic the crest's structure. Inspired by previous models of resonating chambers, the experimental setup involved exciting the model with a small speaker, collecting data via a minimally invasive microphone, and suspending the model with cotton threads to minimize energy dissipation. Verification experiments ensured the stability and repeatability of the setup, while a control group comprising a simple open pipe was used for calibration. Frequency sweeps generated response data, revealing a fundamental frequency of 800 Hz, with peaks present at its multiples. Some peaks were shifted compared to the control group, notably at 1300 and 5100 Hz, with the experimental group displaying non-linear behavior at specific frequency ranges. The results suggest that the crest structure could have functioned as a resonating chamber, supporting the hypothesis that it played a role in sound production and perception, potentially facilitating communication among Parasaurolophus individuals.
Estimating the power law exponent of shear waves in soft tissue with a time-domain parametric model
Authors: McGough Robert J. , Urban Matthew W.
Published: January 2025

In soft tissue, the attenuation of shear waves satisfies a power law. However, the values of power law exponents for shear waves in various soft tissues remain unknown due to windowing artifacts that limit the effectiveness of present methods that are based on two-dimensional fast Fourier transforms. To solve this problem, a time-domain signal processing approach is proposed. Robust shear wave parameter estimates are obtained by minimizing the least-squares error between measured time-domain shear wave data and stable probability density functions that describe the solution to a closely related fractional-order diffusion equation. Assessments are performed with measured shear wave data collected from ex vivo pig liver using a Verasonics system with an L7-4 linear array transducer. Power law exponents are obtained from measured shear wave data at the focal depth between 1.2 and 13.9 mm from the center of the push beam. The mean estimated power law exponent for these locations is 0.74, and the standard deviation is 0.05. The results suggest that fractional calculus models that support power law exponents less than one are needed for shear waves in pig liver.
Conditional requirement for dimerization of the membrane-binding module for BTK signaling in lymphocyte cell lines
Authors: Eisen Timothy J. , Ghaffari-Kashani Sam , Hung Chien-Lun , Groves Jay T. , Weiss Arthur , Kuriyan John
Published: January 2025

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a major drug target in immune cells. The membrane-binding pleckstrin homology and tec homology (PH-TH) domains of BTK are required for signaling. Dimerization of the PH-TH module strongly stimulates the kinase activity of BTK in vitro. Here, we investigated whether BTK dimerizes in cells using the PH-TH module and whether this dimerization is necessary for signaling. To address this question, we developed high-throughput mutagenesis assays for BTK function in Ramos B cells and Jurkat T cells. We measured the fitness costs for thousands of point mutations in the PH-TH module and kinase domain to assess whether dimerization of the PH-TH module and BTK kinase activity were necessary for function. In Ramos cells, we found that neither PH-TH dimerization nor kinase activity was required for BTK signaling. Instead, in Ramos cells, BTK signaling was enhanced by PH-TH module mutations that increased membrane adsorption, even at the cost of reduced PH-TH dimerization. In contrast, in Jurkat cells, we found that BTK signaling depended on both PH-TH dimerization and kinase activity. Evolutionary analysis indicated that BTK proteins in organisms that evolved before the divergence of ray-finned fishes lacked PH-TH dimerization but had active kinase domains, similar to other Tec family kinases. Thus, PH-TH dimerization is a distinct feature of BTK that evolved to exert stricter regulatory control on kinase activity as adaptive immune systems gained increased complexity.
HSPG-binding peptide Pep19-2.5 is a potent inhibitor of HPV16 infection
Authors: Mikuličić Snježana , Massenberg Annika , Döring Tatjana , Brandenburg Klaus , Lang Thorsten , Florin Luise
Published: January 2025

Peptide-based therapeutics are gaining attention for their potential to target various viral and host cell factors. One notable example is Pep19-2.5 (Aspidasept), a synthetic anti-lipopolysaccharide peptide that binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and has demonstrated inhibitory effects against certain bacteria and enveloped viruses. This study explores, for the first time, the effectiveness of Pep19-2.5 against a non-enveloped virus, using pseudoviruses of the oncogenic human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) as a model. HPV16 infects epithelial cells of the skin and mucosa by using multiple cell surface receptors with initial attachment to HSPGs. Pharmacological inhibition with Pep19-2.5 in HeLa and HaCaT cells resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction of HPV16 PsV infection, with near-complete blockade observed at higher concentrations. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) was determined to be 116 nM in HeLa cells and 183 nM in HaCaT cells, highlighting its potent antiviral activity. Our results demonstrate that Pep19-2.5 not only inhibits HPV16 PsV binding to the cell surface but also significantly reduces infection when administered post-binding. Imaging analyses revealed Pep19-2.5-dependent release of large cell-associated crowds of viral particles, suggesting interference with the transfer to secondary receptor molecules. This was corroborated by the effectiveness of Pep19-2.5 in an HSPG-negative cell line, indicating that the peptide disrupts virus binding to both primary and secondary interaction partners. Based on these findings, we propose that the antimicrobial effect of Pep19-2.5 is not limited to HSPG-dependent infections. Additionally, Pep19-2.5 may be a valuable tool for dissecting specific steps in the viral entry process.