Showing papers on "Sound intensity published in 2013"

Influence of the pressure field distribution in transcranial ultrasonic neurostimulation.

Abstract: Purpose: Low-intensity focused ultrasound has been shown to stimulate the brain noninvasively and without noticeable tissue damage. Such a noninvasive and localized neurostimulation is expected to have a major impact in neuroscience in the coming years. This emerging field will require many animal experiments to fully understand the link between ultrasound and stimulation. The primary goal of this paper is to investigate transcranial ultrasonic neurostimulation at low frequency (320 kHz) on anesthetized rats for different acoustic pressures and estimate thein situ pressure field distribution and the corresponding motor threshold, if any. The corresponding acoustic pressure distribution inside the brain, which cannot be measured in vivo, is investigated based on numerical simulations of the ultrasound propagation inside the head cavity, reproducing at best the experiments conducted in the first part, both in terms of transducer and head geometry and in terms of acoustic parameters. Methods: In this study, 37 ultrasonic neurostimulation sessions were achieved in rats (N = 8) using a 320 kHz transducer. The corresponding beam profile in the entire head was simulated in order to investigate the in situ pressure and intensity level as well as the spatial pressure distribution, thanks to a rat microcomputed tomography scan (CT)-based 3D finite differences time domain solver. Results: Ultrasound pulse evoked a motor response in more than 60% of the experimental sessions. In those sessions, the stimulation was always present, repeatable with a pressure threshold under which no motor response occurred. This average acoustic pressure threshold was found to be 0.68 ± 0.1 MPa (corresponding mechanical index, MI = 1.2 and spatial peak, pulse averaged intensity, Isppa = 7.5 W cm−2), as calibrated in free water. A slight variation was observed between deep anesthesia stage (0.77 ± 0.04 MPa) and light anesthesia stage (0.61 ± 0.03 MPa), assessed from the pedal reflex. Several kinds of motor responses were observed: movements of the tail, the hind legs, the forelimbs, the eye, and even a single whisker were induced separately. Numerical simulations of an equivalent experiment with identical acoustic parameters showed that the acoustic field was spread over the whole rat brain with the presence of several secondary pressure peaks. Due to reverberations, a 1.8-fold increase of the spatial peak, temporal peak acoustic pressure (Psptp) (±0.4 standard deviation), a 3.6-fold increase (±1.8) for the spatial peak, temporal peak acoustic intensity (Isptp), and 2.3 for the spatial peak, pulse averaged acoustic intensity (Isppa), were found compared to simulations of the beam in free water. Applying such corrections due to reverberations on the experimental results would yield a higher estimation for the average acoustic pressure threshold for motor neurostimulation at 320 KHz at 1.2 ± 0.3 MPa (MI = 2.2 ± 0.5 and Isppa = 17.5 ± 7.5 W cm−2). Conclusions: Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation is pressure- and anesthesia-dependent in the rat model. Numerical simulations have shown that the acoustic pattern can be complex inside the rat head and that special care must be taken for small animal studies relating acoustic parameters to neurostimulation effects, especially at a low frequency.

Aeroacoustics of volcanic jets: Acoustic power estimation and jet velocity dependence

Abstract: [1] A fundamental goal of volcano acoustics is to relate observed infrasonic signals to the eruptive processes generating them. A link between acoustic power Π¯ and volcanic gas exit velocity V was proposed by Woulff and McGetchin (1976) based upon the prevailing jet noise theory at the time (acoustic analogy theory). We reexamine this approach in the context of the current understanding of jet noise, using data from a laboratory jet, a full-scale military jet aircraft, and a full-scale rocket motor. Accurate estimates of Π¯ require good spatial sampling of jet noise directionality; this is not usually possible in volcano acoustic field experiments. Typical volcano acoustic data better represent point measurements of acoustic intensity I¯(θ) at a particular angle θ from the jet axis rather than Π¯. For pure air jet flows, velocity-scaling laws currently proposed for acoustic intensity differ from those for acoustic power and are of the form I¯(θ)∼(V/c)nθ, where c is the ambient sound speed and nθ varies nonlinearly from ∼5 to 10 as a function of temperature ratio and angle θ. Volcanic jet flows are more complex than the pure air laboratory case, which suggests that we do not currently know how the exponent nθ varies for a volcanic jet flow. This indicates that the formulation of Woulff and McGetchin (1976) can lead to large errors when inferring eruption parameters from acoustic data and thus requires modification. Quantitative integration of field, numerical, and laboratory studies within a modern aeroacoustics framework will lead to a more accurate relationship between volcanic infrasound and eruption parameters.

Auditory Frequency and Intensity Discrimination Explained Using a Cortical Population Rate Code

Abstract: The nature of the neural codes for pitch and loudness, two basic auditory attributes, has been a key question in neuroscience for over century. A currently widespread view is that sound intensity (subjectively, loudness) is encoded in spike rates, whereas sound frequency (subjectively, pitch) is encoded in precise spike timing. Here, using information-theoretic analyses, we show that the spike rates of a population of virtual neural units with frequency-tuning and spike-count correlation characteristics similar to those measured in the primary auditory cortex of primates, contain sufficient statistical information to account for the smallest frequency-discrimination thresholds measured in human listeners. The same population, and the same spike-rate code, can also account for the intensity-discrimination thresholds of humans. These results demonstrate the viability of a unified rate-based cortical population code for both sound frequency (pitch) and sound intensity (loudness), and thus suggest a resolution to a long-standing puzzle in auditory neuroscience.

Sediment-generated noise and bed stress in a tidal channel

Abstract: [1] Tidally driven currents and bed stresses can result in noise generated by moving sediments. At a site in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington State (USA), peak bed stresses exceed 20 Pa. Significant increases in noise levels are attributed to mobilized sediments at frequencies from 4–30 kHz with more modest increases noted from 1–4 kHz. Sediment-generated noise during strong currents masks background noise from other sources, including vessel traffic. Inversions of the acoustic spectra for equivalent grain sizes are consistent with qualitative data of the seabed composition. Bed stress calculations using log layer, Reynolds stress, and inertial dissipation techniques generally agree well and are used to estimate the shear stresses at which noise levels increase for different grain sizes. Regressions of the acoustic intensity versus near-bed hydrodynamic power demonstrate that noise levels are highly predictable above a critical threshold despite the scatter introduced by the localized nature of mobilization events.

Surface contributions to radiated sound power.

Abstract: This paper presents a method to identify the surface areas of a vibrating structure that contribute to the radiated sound power. The surface contributions of the structure are based on the acoustic radiation modes and are computed for all boundaries of the acoustic domain. The surface contributions are compared to the acoustic intensity, which is a common measure for near-field acoustic energy. Sound intensity usually has positive and negative values that correspond to energy sources and sinks on the surface of the radiating structure. Sound from source and sink areas partially cancel each other and only a fraction of the near-field acoustic energy reaches the far-field. In contrast to the sound intensity, the surface contributions are always positive and no cancelation effects exist. The technique presented here provides a method to localize the relevant radiating surface areas on a vibrating structure. To illustrate the method, the radiated sound power from a baffled square plate is presented.

A mechanism study of sound wave-trapping barriers.

Abstract: The performance of a sound barrier is usually degraded if a large reflecting surface is placed on the source side. A wave-trapping barrier (WTB), with its inner surface covered by wedge-shaped structures, has been proposed to confine waves within the area between the barrier and the reflecting surface, and thus improve the performance. In this paper, the deterioration in performance of a conventional sound barrier due to the reflecting surface is first explained in terms of the resonance effect of the trapped modes. At each resonance frequency, a strong and mode-controlled sound field is generated by the noise source both within and in the vicinity outside the region bounded by the sound barrier and the reflecting surface. It is found that the peak sound pressures in the barrier's shadow zone, which correspond to the minimum values in the barrier's insertion loss, are largely determined by the resonance frequencies and by the shapes and losses of the trapped modes. These peak pressures usually result in high sound intensity component impinging normal to the barrier surface near the top. The WTB can alter the sound wave diffraction at the top of the barrier if the wavelengths of the sound wave are comparable or smaller than the dimensions of the wedge. In this case, the modified barrier profile is capable of re-organizing the pressure distribution within the bounded domain and altering the acoustic properties near the top of the sound barrier.

Music, perceived arousal, and intensity: Psychophysiological reactions to Chopin's “Tristesse”

Abstract: The present study investigates the relation of perceived arousal (continuous self-rating), autonomic nervous system activity (heart rate, heart rate variability) and musical characteristics (sound intensity, musical rhythm) upon listening to a complex musical piece. Twenty amateur musicians listened to two performances of Chopin's "Tristesse" with different rhythmic shapes. Besides conventional statistical methods for analyzing psychophysiological reactions (heart rate, respiration rate) and musical variables, semblance analysis was used. Perceived arousal correlated strongly with sound intensity; heart rate showed only a partial response to changes in sound intensity. Larger changes in heart rate were caused by the version with more rhythmic tension. The low-/high-frequency ratio of heart rate variability increased--whereas the high frequency component decreased--during music listening. We conclude that autonomic nervous system activity can be modulated not only by sound intensity but also by the interpreter's use of rhythmic tension. Semblance analysis enables us to track the subtle correlations between musical and physiological variables.

Sound absorbing property of porous metal materials with high temperature and high sound pressure by turbulence analogy

Abstract: A quantitative theoretical model is presented to investigate the sound absorbing property of porous metal materials with high temperature and high sound pressure based on Kolmogorov turbulence theory in this paper. The porous materials have a large number of anomalous pores with similar scale, and these irregular pores could be considered as quasi-periodic structure that is very similar to the small-scale turbulence. Therefore, Kolmogorov turbulence theory is adopted to analyze the wave propagation inside the porous metal materials, in which the characteristic velocity and characteristic scale can be obtained by the nondimensional analysis method. Furthermore, the acoustical pressure amplitude in the porous metal materials under high temperature and high sound pressure level can be figured out with respect to metal wire diameter, porosity, and other parameters. It is shown quantitatively that the acoustic pressure amplitude goes up with an increase in the temperature and/or the sound pressure level. This model is verified by the well agreement between the theoretical and experimental results. It could provide a reliable theoretical guidance for the applications of porous metal materials in the area of vibration and noise control under high temperature and high sound pressure level.

Midbrain local circuits shape sound intensity codes.

Abstract: Hierarchical processing of sensory information requires interaction at multiple levels along the peripheral to central pathway. Recent evidence suggests that interaction between driving and modulating components can shape both top down and bottom up processing of sensory information. Here we show that a component inherited from extrinsic sources combines with local components to code sound intensity. By applying high concentrations of divalent cations to neurons in the nucleus of the inferior colliculus in the auditory midbrain, we show that as sound intensity increases, the source of synaptic efficacy changes from inherited inputs to local circuits. In neurons with a wide dynamic range response to intensity, inherited inputs increase firing rates at low sound intensities but saturate at mid-to-high intensities. Local circuits activate at high sound intensities and widen dynamic range by continuously increasing their output gain with intensity. Inherited inputs are necessary and sufficient to evoke tuned responses, however local circuits change peak output. Push-pull driving inhibition and excitation create net excitatory drive to intensity-variant neurons and tune neurons to intensity. Our results reveal that dynamic range and tuning re-emerge in the auditory midbrain through local circuits that are themselves variable or tuned.

Inner-ear sound pressures near the base of the cochlea in chinchilla: further investigation.

Abstract: The middle-ear pressure gain GMEP, the ratio of sound pressure in the cochlear vestibule PV to sound pressure at the tympanic membrane PTM, is a descriptor of middle-ear sound transfer and the cochlear input for a given stimulus in the ear canal. GMEP and the cochlear partition differential pressure near the cochlear base ΔPCP, which determines the stimulus for cochlear partition motion and has been linked to hearing ability, were computed from simultaneous measurements of PV, PTM, and the sound pressure in scala tympani near the round window PST in chinchilla. GMEP magnitude was approximately 30 dB between 0.1 and 10 kHz and decreased sharply above 20 kHz, which is not consistent with an ideal transformer or a lossless transmission line. The GMEP phase was consistent with a roughly 50-μs delay between PV and PTM. GMEP was little affected by the inner-ear modifications necessary to measure PST. GMEP is a good predictor of ΔPCP at low and moderate frequencies where PV >> PST but overestimates ΔPCP above a few kilohertz where PV ≈ PST. The ratio of PST to PV provides insight into the distribution of sound pressure within the cochlear scalae.

Infrared mapping of ultrasound fields generated by medical transducers: Feasibility of determining absolute intensity levels

Abstract: Considerable progress has been achieved in the use of infrared (IR) techniques for qualitative mapping of acoustic fields of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers. The authors have previously developed and demonstrated a method based on IR camera measurement of the temperature rise induced in an absorber less than 2 mm thick by ultrasonic bursts of less than 1 s duration. The goal of this paper was to make the method more quantitative and estimate the absolute intensity distributions by determining an overall calibration factor for the absorber and camera system. The implemented approach involved correlating the temperature rise measured in an absorber using an IR camera with the pressure distribution measured in water using a hydrophone. The measurements were conducted for two HIFU transducers and a flat physiotherapy transducer of 1 MHz frequency. Corresponding correction factors between the free field intensity and temperature were obtained and allowed the conversion of temperature images to intensity distributions. The system described here was able to map in good detail focused and unfocused ultrasound fields with sub-millimeter structure and with local time average intensity from below 0.1 W/cm2 to at least 50 W/cm2. Significantly higher intensities could be measured simply by reducing the duty cycle.

Principles of Musical Acoustics

Abstract: Sound, Music, and Science.- Vibrations 1.- Vibrations 2.- Instrumentation.- Sound Waves.- Wave Properties.- Standing Waves.- Standing Waves in Pipes.- Fourier Analysis and Synthesis.- Sound Intensity.- The Auditory System.- Loudness Perception.- Pitch.- Localization of Sound.- Sound Environments.- Audio Transducers.- Distortion and Noise.- Audio Systems.- Loudspeakers.- Digital Audio.- Broadcasting.- Speech.- Brass Musical Instruments.- Woodwind Instruments.- String Instruments.- Percussion Instruments.- Electronic Music.

Bim-based acoustic simulation framework

Abstract: A simulation system based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) software can speed the prediction of the acoustic performance of an indoor space during the schematic building design stage. This claim is demonstrated by a software prototype that is composed of four modules: BIM data extraction module, frequency analysis module, sound effect simulation module, and auralization/visualization module. After giving a BIM of a room additional custom parameters to express acoustic qualities of materials, the BIM data extraction module retrieves necessary information such as room dimensions, and absorption coefficients of surfaces. The frequency analysis module identifies dominant frequencies in a sample sound track file. The sound effect simulation module reads extracted BIM data and the frequency composition information and calculates reverberation time and sound intensity level (SIL). The auralization/visualization module applies the results from the previous step to modify the sound track with the calculated reverberation and SIL. It also maps these effects on the plans to help visualize the performance of the room. By repeating the analysis, the software can generate different sound tracks to simulate different listening positions or the effects of different finish materials, providing information to support design decisions about the size, shape, and finishes of a room. The software is intended for relatively simple spaces, such as conference rooms, lecture halls, lobbies and offices, while more complex and sophisticated software is appropriate for concert halls, theaters and other performance spaces. The prototype software shows that integration of acoustic analysis into BIM could enable architects to easily simulate acoustic performance during schematic design stage, achieving better designs more quickly.

Sound amplification by means of a horn-like roosting structure in Spix's disc-winged bat

Abstract: While sound is a signal modality widely used by many animals, it is very susceptible to attenuation, hampering effective long-distance communication. A strategy to minimize sound attenuation that has been historically used by humans is to use acoustic horns; to date, no other animal is known to use a similar structure to increase sound intensity. Here, we describe how the use of a roosting structure that resembles an acoustic horn (the tapered tubes that form when new leaves of plants such as Heliconia or Calathea species start to unfurl) increases sound amplification of the incoming and outgoing social calls used by Spix's disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor) to locate roosts and group members. Our results indicate that incoming calls are significantly amplified as a result of sound waves being increasingly compressed as they move into the narrow end of the leaf. Outgoing calls were faintly amplified, probably as a result of increased sound directionality. Both types of call, however, experienced significant sound distortion, which might explain the patterns of signal recognition previously observed in behavioural experiments. Our study provides the first evidence of the potential role that a roost can play in facilitating acoustic communication in bats.

Acoustic metrology – an overview of calibration methods and their uncertainties

Abstract: The paper gives a brief description of the principles and the uncertainty of the acoustic calibration methods that today are applied by National Metrology Institutes and calibration service centers Even if some of the calibration principles have been applied over more than half a century, the methods and the instrumentation are still being refined in order to minimize their uncertainty, to extend their frequency ranges, to include extra parameters and to speed up slow processes In addition to the traditional methods for microphone sensitivity and frequency response calibration, new development areas, like for example wind power, has created needs for low-frequency and infra-sound calibration, down to 01 Hz Other high-tech areas have lead to the development of methods for phase response comparison calibration of microphones for large arrays, for sound intensity measurement and for verification of dynamic linearity of microphones at very high sound pressure levels, up to about 174 dB that corresponds to 10 kPa

Challenges and Regulatory Considerations in the Acoustic Measurement of High-Frequency (>20 MHz) Ultrasound

Abstract: This article examines the challenges associated with making acoustic output measurements at high ultrasound frequencies (>20 MHz) in the context of regulatory considerations contained in the US Food and Drug Administration industry guidance document for diagnostic ultrasound devices. Error sources in the acoustic measurement, including hydrophone calibration and spatial averaging, nonlinear distortion, and mechanical alignment, are evaluated, and the limitations of currently available acoustic measurement instruments are discussed. An uncertainty analysis of acoustic intensity and power measurements is presented, and an example uncertainty calculation is done on a hypothetical 30-MHz high-frequency ultrasound system. This analysis concludes that the estimated measurement uncertainty of the acoustic intensity is +73%/-86%, and the uncertainty in the mechanical index is +37%/-43%. These values exceed the respective levels in the Food and Drug Administration guidance document of 30% and 15%, respectively, which are more representative of the measurement uncertainty associated with characterizing lower-frequency ultrasound systems. Recommendations made for minimizing the measurement uncertainty include implementing a mechanical positioning system that has sufficient repeatability and precision, reconstructing the time-pressure waveform via deconvolution using the hydrophone frequency response, and correcting for hydrophone spatial averaging.

High-intensity sound increases the size of visually perceived objects

Abstract: The effect of audiovisual interactions on size perception has yet to be examined, despite its fundamental importance in daily life. Previous studies have reported that object length can be estimated solely on the basis of the sounds produced when an object is dropped. Moreover, it has been shown that people typically and easily perceive the correspondence between object sizes and sound intensities. It is therefore possible that auditory stimuli may act as cues for object size, thereby altering the visual perception of size. Thus, in the present study we examined the effects of auditory stimuli on the visual perception of size. Specifically, we investigated the effects of the sound intensity of auditory stimuli, the temporal window of audiovisual interactions, and the effects of the retinal eccentricity of visual stimuli. The results indicated that high-intensity auditory stimuli increased visually perceived object size, and that this effect was especially strong in the peripheral visual field. Additional consideration indicated that this effect on the visual perception of size is induced when the cue reliability is relatively higher for the auditory than for the visual stimuli. In addition, we further suggest that the cue reliabilities of visual and auditory stimuli relate to retinal eccentricity and sound intensity, respectively.

Scan and Paint: Theory and Practice of a Sound Field Visualization Method

Abstract: Sound visualization techniques have played a key role in the development of acoustics throughout history. The development of measurement apparatus and techniques for displaying sound and vibration phenomena has provided excellent tools for building understanding about specific problems. Traditional methods, such as step-by-step measurements or simultaneous multichannel systems, have a strong tradeoff between time requirements, flexibility, and cost. However, if the sound field can be assumed time stationary, scanning methods allow us to assess variations across space with a single transducer, as long as the position of the sensor is known. The proposed technique, Scan and Paint, is based on the acquisition of sound pressure and particle velocity by manually moving a P-U probe (pressure-particle velocity sensors) across a sound field whilst filming the event with a camera. The sensor position is extracted by applying automatic color tracking to each frame of the recorded video. It is then possible to visualize sound variations across the space in terms of sound pressure, particle velocity, or acoustic intensity. In this paper, not only the theoretical foundations of the method, but also its practical applications are explored such as scanning transfer path analysis, source radiation characterization, operational deflection shapes, virtual phased arrays, material characterization, and acoustic intensity vector field mapping.

LED induction lamp

Abstract: The utility model discloses an LED induction lamp which comprises a lamp body with a built-in LED light source. The lamp body is provided with a human infrared sensor, a sound transducer, an optical sensor and a singlechip processor. When a light intensity induction value of the optical sensor is lower than a certain value and simultaneously a sound intensity induction value of the sound transducer or an infrared induction value of the human infrared sensor reaches a certain value, the singlechip processor controls the LED light source to shine. When a light intensity induction value of the optical sensor reaches a certain value, the singlechip processor controls the LED light source to go out. As the human infrared sensor, the sound transducer and the optical sensor are adopted for many-sided inductive control and the infrared sensor, the sound transducer and the optical sensor are arranged on the central portion of the lamp body in a reasonable manner so as to make left and right induction range and distance equal, sensitivity of the induction lamp can be raised, spurious triggering or insensitive triggering is reduced, and convenience is brought to users.

Examining auditory kappa effects through manipulating intensity differences between sequential tones

Abstract: The auditory kappa effect is a tendency to base the perceived duration of an inter-onset interval (IOI) separating two sequentially presented sounds on the degree of relative pitch distance separating them. Previous research has found that the degree of frequency discrepancy between tones extends the subjective duration of the IOI. In Experiment 1, auditory kappa effects for sound intensity were tested using a three-tone, AXB paradigm (where the intensity of tone X was shifted to be closer to either Tone A or B). Tones closer in intensity level were perceived as occurring closer in time, evidence of an auditory-intensity kappa effect. In Experiments 2 and 3, the auditory motion hypothesis was tested by preceding AXB patterns with null intensity and coherent intensity context sequences, respectively. The auditory motion hypothesis predicts that coherent sequences should enhance the perception of motion and increase the strength of kappa effects. In this study, the presence of context sequences reduced kappa effect strength regardless of the properties of the context tones.

Optimizing stepwise rotation of dodecahedron sound source to improve the accuracy of room acoustic measures.

Abstract: Dodecahedron sound sources are widely used for acoustical measurement purposes as they produce a good approximation of omnidirectional radiation. Evidence shows that such an assumption is acceptable only in the low-frequency range (namely below 1 kHz), while at higher frequencies sound radiation is far from being uniform. In order to improve the accuracy of acoustical measurements obtained from dodecahedron sources, international standard ISO 3382 suggests an averaging of results after a source rotation. This paper investigates the effects of such rotations, both in terms of variations in acoustical parameters and spatial distribution of sound reflections. Taking advantage of a spherical microphone array, the different reflection patterns were mapped as a function of source rotation, showing that some reflections may be considerably attenuated for different aiming directions. This paper investigates the concept of averaging results while changing rotation angles and the minimum number of rotations required to improve the accuracy of the average value. Results show that averages of three measurements carried out at 30° angular steps are closer to actual values and show much less fluctuation. In addition, an averaging of the directional intensity components of the selected responses stabilizes the spatial distribution of the reflections.

Sound intensity and particle velocity based three-dimensional panning methods by five loudspeakers

Abstract: In this paper, we present two new 3D panning methods. One method guarantees that time-average sound intensity and sound pressure of a virtual sound source at the receiving point are the same as time-averaged sound intensity and sound pressure of five loudspeakers at the receiving point. Another method maintains the direction of particle velocity and sound pressure. These methods can realize using five loudspeakers to replace a virtual sound source. These approaches relies on the assumption that the virtual sound source and five loudspeakers are on the same sphere and the virtual sound source needs to be in the area of a spherical pentagon that consists of the five loudspeakers. In the situation of five loudspeakers replacing a virtual source, these new methods do not need to undertake loudspeakers grouping. Compared with traditional 3D panning methods, these new methods are more convenient.

Measurement of complex acoustic intensity in an acoustic waveguide

Abstract: Acoustic intensity is normally treated as a real quantity, but in recent years, many articles have appeared in which intensity is treated as a complex quantity where the real (active) part is related to local mean energy flow and the imaginary (reactive) part to local oscillatory transport of energy. This offers the potential to recover additional information about a sound field and then to relate this to the properties of the sound source and the environment that surrounds it. However, this approach is applicable only to multi-modal sound fields, which places significant demands on the accuracy of the intensity measurements. Accordingly, this article investigates the accuracy of complex intensity measurements obtained using a tri-axial Microflown intensity probe by comparing measurement and prediction for sound propagation in an open flanged pipe. Under plane wave conditions, comparison between prediction and experiment reveals good agreement, but when a higher order mode is present, the reactive intensity field becomes complicated and agreement is less successful. It is concluded that the potential application of complex intensity as a diagnostic tool is limited by difficulties in measuring reactive intensity in complex sound fields when using current state of the art acoustic instrumentation.

Mapping underwater sound noise and assessing its sources by using a self-organizing maps method

Abstract: This study aims to provide an objective mapping of the underwater noise and its sources over an Adriatic coastal marine habitat by applying the self-organizing maps (SOM) method. Systematic sampling of sea ambient noise (SAN) was carried out at ten predefined acoustic stations between 2007 and 2009. Analyses of noise levels were performed for 1/3 octave band standard centered frequencies in terms of instantaneous sound pressure levels averaged over 300 s to calculate the equivalent continuous sound pressure levels. Data on vessels' presence, type, and distance from the monitoring stations were also collected at each acoustic station during the acoustic sampling. Altogether 69 noise surveys were introduced to the SOM predefined 2 × 2 array. The overall results of the analysis distinguished two dominant underwater soundscapes, associating them mainly to the seasonal changes in the nautical tourism and fishing activities within the study area and to the wind and wave action. The analysis identified recreational vessels as the dominant anthropogenic source of underwater noise, particularly during the tourist season. The method demonstrated to be an efficient tool in predicting the SAN levels based on the vessel distribution, indicating also the possibility of its wider implication for marine conservation.

Quantitative Assessment of Acoustic Intensity in the Focused Ultrasound Field Using Hydrophone and Infrared Imaging

Abstract: With the popularity of ultrasound therapy in clinics, characterization of the acoustic field is important not only to the tolerability and efficiency of ablation, but also for treatment planning. A quantitative method was introduced to assess the intensity distribution of a focused ultrasound beam using a hydrophone and an infrared camera with no prior knowledge of the acoustic and thermal parameters of the absorber or the configuration of the array elements. This method was evaluated in both theoretical simulations and experimental measurements. A three-layer model was developed to calculate the acoustic field in the absorber, the absorbed acoustic energy during the sonication and the consequent temperature elevation. Experiments were carried out to measure the acoustic pressure with the hydrophone and the temperature elevation with the infrared camera. The percentage differences between the derived results and the simulation are

Experimental Acoustic Flow Analysis Inside a Section of an Acoustic Waveguide

Abstract: Noise propagation within ducts is of practical concern in many areas of industrial processes where a fluid has to be transported in piping systems. The paper presents experimental data and visualization of flow in the vicinity of an abrupt change in cross-section of a circular duct and on obstacles inside where the acoustic wave generates nonlinear separated flow and vortex fields. For noise produced by flow wave of low Mach number, laminar and turbulent flows are studied us- ing experimental sound intensity (SI) and laser particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique adopted to acoustics (A-PIV). The emphasis is put on the development and application of these methods for better understanding of noise generation inside the acoustic ducts with different cross-sections. The intensity distribution inside duct is produced by the action of the sum of modal pressures on the sum of modal particle velocities. However, acoustic field is extremely complicated because pressures in non-propagating (cut-off) modes cooperate with particle velocities in propagating modes, and vice versa. The discrete frequency sound is strongly influenced by the transmission of higher order modes in the duct. By under- standing the mechanism of energy in the sound channels and pipes we can find the best solution to noise abatement technology. In the paper, numerous methods of visualization illustrate the vortex flow as an acoustic velocity or sound intensity stream which can be presented graphically. Diffraction and scattering phenomena occurring inside and around the open-end of the acoustic duct are shown.

Cast saw noise does not reach occupational hazard levels.

Abstract: Background The purpose of our study was to measure the sound level generated by selected commercially available cast saws. These levels were then compared with the level of everyday sounds and to accepted intensities by Safety Administrations to see whether the mandatory use of hearing protection should be recommended to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Methods We assessed the sound levels generated by the Quiet Cast Removal System (QCR; OrthoPediatrics Corp., Warsaw, IN), Stryker 986 Cast Vac (Stryker Corp.), and the Stryker 840 Cast Cutter (Stryker Corp.). The sound generated by these saws was measured with a sound level meter at the source and at 6, 12, and 36 inches. The sound level from each device was assessed both while operating alone and while cutting casts for a total of 3 repetitions at each of the distances tested and analyzed statistically. Results The maximal mean sound intensity of the Stryker 986 and Stryker 840 saws was 90.7 and 88.6 dBA at 36 inches, respectively while cutting a cast, whereas the QCR System produced 50.1 dBA at this distance. At 6 inches, the mean sound intensity was 99.4, 96.4, and 64.5 dBA for the Stryker 840, 986, and QCR, respectively. Statistically significant differences in sound intensity between Stryker and QCR saws were noted under all testing scenarios (P Conclusions None of the cast saws produced intensities exceeding recommended standards for a single exposure or intensities reaching occupational hazard levels. The QCR saw was significantly quieter than both the Stryker 840 and 986 under all scenarios. The need for a recommendation of mandatory usage of hearing protection for patients and office personal could not be demonstrated. Clinical relevance Cast saw noise is common in orthopaedic clinics. Our study demonstrates sound levels from commercially available saws do not reach occupational hazards but are sufficiently high that practical methods to reduce intensity may be warranted.