Analysis Of Acoustic Data Research Articles

計量魚群探知機によるメタンプルームの観測とメタン運搬量の見積もり

During methane hydrate exploration and research, remote and on-board acoustic surveying and monitoring of methane hydrate can be easily and economically conducted using a quantitative echo sounder. Simultaneously, the structure and the floating-up speed of methane plumes can be obtained from an analysis of acoustic data. We conducted a survey of methane plumes from 2004 through 2008 at a spur situated southwest off the coast of Sado Island (tentatively called Umitaka Spur) and at the Joetsu Knoll. In 2007 and 2008, we performed experiments by releasing methane hydrate bubbles and methane hydrate, and letting them float upward. Consequently, we demonstrated that acoustical reflection from the methane plumes correlates with water temperature and depth, that the floating-up speed is constant but depends on the conditions of methane hydrate, that the discharge of methane hydrate bubbles changes, and that there is a wide scattering of materials below the seafloor where methane plumes are located. Furthermore, the amount of methane hydrate bubbles seeping was estimated by a preliminary calculation. The method will be applied not only to basic research on methane hydrate but also to assessments of the environmental impact of methane hydrate exploitation.

The Lake Huron pelagic fish community: persistent spatial pattern along biomass and species composition gradients

Spatial patterns in the biomass of pelagic fish in Lake Huron have persisted over 10 years even though biomass decreased 86% and the fish community shifted from dominance by non-native species (rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax ) to dominance by native species (bloater, Coregonus hoyi ). Based on multivariate analyses of acoustic biomass data and abiotic variables from the years 1997, 2004, 2005, and 2007, the strength of relationships between abiotic variables (primarily bottom depth) and fish community composition gradients decreased with fish biomass, suggesting that at high biomass, the influence of the measured abiotic variables is minimal. We observed consistently higher biomass in the North Channel and Georgian Bay than in the Main Basin, and as a result, we conclude that these smaller basins are likely important contributors to lakewide fish biomass, production, and dynamics. These results suggest that at current biomass levels, efforts to understand ecology, population dynamics, and lakewide abundance need to incorporate the effects of depth and geographic variation on fish distributions and ecology.

Acoustic detection of UHE neutrinos – the ACORNE project

An interesting new possibility of detection of ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos is that of acoustic detection whereby the acoustic pressure pulse generated as a UHE neutrino interacts in a suitable medium such as water or ice is detected by an array of acoustic sensors. Recent years have seen something of a renaissance of this field and there are currently a number of activities worldwide to assess the potential of this technique. The UK-based ACORNE collaboration is one of these activities; ACORNE has access to the QinetiQ underwater acoustic range off Rona, an island off the North-West coast of Scotland. The poster will summarise ACORNE's R&D work, including simulation of the thermoacoustic emission of neutrino-induced particle cascades, reconstruction of event vertices and the effects of refraction, potential neutrino flux sensitivities from large area hydrophone arrays, a study transducer based calibration techniques and an analysis of the first acoustic data recorded by the Rona hydrophone array.

Measurement of Two-Dimensional Binding Constants between Cell-Bound Major Histocompatibility Complex and Immobilized Antibodies with an Acoustic Biosensor

Gaining insights into the dynamic processes of molecular interactions that mediate cell-substrate and cell-cell adhesion is of great significance in the understanding of numerous physiological processes driven by intercellular communication. Here, an acoustic-wave biosensor is used to study and characterize specific interactions between cell-bound membrane proteins and surface-immobilized ligands, using as a model system the binding of major histocompatibility complex class I HLA-A2 proteins to anti-HLA-A2 monoclonal antibodies. The energy of the acoustic signal, measured as amplitude change, was found to depend directly on the number of HLA-A2/antibody complexes formed on the device surface. Real-time acoustic data were used to monitor the surface binding of cell suspensions at a range of 6.0 × 10 4 to 6.0 × 10 5 cells mL −1. Membrane interactions are governed by two-dimensional chemistry because of the molecules’ confinement to the lipid bilayer. The two-dimensional kinetics and affinity constant of the HLA-A2/antibody interaction were calculated ( k a = 1.15 × 10 −5 μ m 2 s −1 per molecule, k d = 2.07 × 10 −5 s −1, and K A = 0.556 μm 2 per molecule, at 25°C), based on a detailed acoustic data analysis. Results indicate that acoustic biosensors can emerge as a significant tool for probing and characterizing cell-membrane interactions in the immune system, and for fast and label-free screening of membrane molecules using whole cells.

Comparison of a child’s fundamental frequencies during structured and unstructured activities: A case study.

This case study investigates the difference between children’s fundamental frequency (F0) during structured and unstructured activities, building on the concept that task type influences F0 values. A healthy male child (67 months) was evaluated (31 h, 4 days). During all activities, a National Center for Voice and Speech voice dosimeter was worn to measure long‐term unstructured vocal usage. Four structured tasks from previous F0 studies were also completed: (1) sustaining the vowel /ɑ/, (2) sustaining the vowel /ɑ/ embedded in a phrase‐end word, (3) repeating a sentence, and (4) counting from one to ten. Mean F0 during vocal tasks (≈257 Hz), as measured by the dosimeter and acoustic analysis of microphone data, matched the literature’s average results for the child’s age. However, the child’s mean F0 during unstructured activities was significantly higher (376 Hz). The mode and median of the vocal tasks were respectively 260 and 259 Hz, while the dosimeter’s mode and median were 290 and 355 Hz. Results s...

Mid-frequency sound propagation through internal waves at short range with synoptic oceanographic observations

Preliminary results are presented from an analysis of mid-frequency acoustic transmission data collected at range 550 m during the Shallow Water 2006 Experiment. The acoustic data were collected on a vertical array immediately before, during, and after the passage of a nonlinear internal wave on 18 August, 2006. Using oceanographic data collected at a nearby location, a plane-wave model for the nonlinear internal wave's position as a function of time is developed. Experimental results show a new acoustic path is generated as the internal wave passes above the acoustic source.

Integrating articulatory constraints into models of second language phonological acquisition

ABSTRACTModels such as Eckman's markedness differential hypothesis, Flege's speech learning model, and Brown's feature-based theory of perception seek to explain and predict the relative difficulty second language (L2) learners face when acquiring new or similar sounds. In this paper, we test their predictive adequacy as concerns native English speakers’ mastery of French /ʁ/ and Spanish /ɾ/. Based on an acoustic analysis of the learner data, we demonstrate that these three models do not account for the full range of variability nor for the developmental sequences attested, because they do not consider the degree of difficulty involved in the simultaneous mastery of multiple phonetic parameters across prosodic positions. Consequently, models of L2 phonological acquisition must not only integrate findings from markedness theory and speech perception but also incorporate phonetic constraints on production.

Assessing bottom structure influence on fish abundance in a marine hill by using conjointly acoustic survey and geographic information system

Acoustic survey and a geographic information system (GIS) were used conjointly to estimate the significance of bottom substrate to explain fish abundance distribution in the complex topography context of a marine hill. The survey was conducted in the Hachirigase hill, off south- western Honshu Island in the Sea of Japan. Analysis of acoustic data focused on a 10-m thick layer beginning at the bottom, assuming that bottom influence does not exceed this distance. Area backscattering strength (Sa) values were rescaled in order to reflect real differences before being analyzed. Results show that the influence of the different parameters taken into account (bottom depth, bottom substrate and water temperature) varies widely from one place to another. Bottom substrate is above all important in the zone located to the west of the peak. The kriging and stratification methods were applied to the Sa distribution for estimating the total Sa in the hill. Differences between results are discussed. Conjoint use of acoustic survey and GIS is an effective method for analyzing and estimating fish abundance distribution in a marine hill.

Phonetic structures of Montana Salish

Montana Salish is an Interior Salishan language spoken on the Flathead Reservation in Northwest Montana by an estimated population of about 40 speakers. This paper describes the basic phonetic characteristics of the language based on data from five speakers. Montana Salish contains a number of typologically unusual consonant types. Including glottalized sonorants, pre-stopped laterals, and a series of pharyngeals distinguished by secondary articulations of glottalization and/or labialization. The language also allows long sequences of obstruent consonants. These and more familiar phonetic characteristics are described through analysis of acoustic, electroglottographic, and aerodynamic data, and compared with related characteristics in other languages of the world.

Echoic Object Recognition by the Bottlenose Dolphin

Object recognition, essential to many animals, often occurs underwater and in poor visibility conditions for bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins can use sound through their ability to echolocate in order to recognize objects. Echoic object recognition is an unusual faculty that offers rich research opportunities and is the focus of this article. This review begins with a brief overview of the dolphin’s echolocation system followed by considerations of echoic object discrimination, echoic object constancy, the use of echo trains versus individual echoes for object recognition, and extraction of object feature information from echoes. The authors present new data relating the acoustic analysis of objects with a dolphin’s ability to recognize those objects. The results highlight the potential uses for simultaneous analysis of acoustic and behavioral data in order to understand better which features of echoes and echo trains allow the dolphin to recognize objects across vision and echolocation.

2D Bitmapping approach for identification and quantitation of common base flavor adulterants using surface acoustic wave arrays and artificial neural network data analysis

Arrays of polymer-coated surface acoustic wave microsensors are used in conjunction with a variety of signal-processing algorithms known as artificial neural networks (ANN). This format of data analysis has the capability to characterize complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds commonly found in base flavors. The approach described, which minimizes the number of training sets while retaining the robustness of an ANN, utilizes a 2D bitmap matrix. The matrix is obtained by converting the time domain kinetics of sensor response into a bitmap. The high data throughput of this approach enables quantitation on the order of ppm of common base flavor adulterants.

Cyberinfrastructure for the analysis of ecological acoustic sensor data: a use case study in grid deployment

The LTER Grid Pilot Study was conducted by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the University of New Mexico, and Michigan State University, to design and build a prototype grid for the ecological community. The featured grid application, the Biophony Grid Portal, manages acoustic data from field sensors and allows researchers to conduct real-time digital signal processing analysis on high-performance systems via a web-based portal. Important characteristics addressed during the study include the management, access, and analysis of a large set of field collected acoustic observations from microphone sensors, single signon, and data provenance. During the development phase of this project, new features were added to standard grid middleware software and have already been successfully leveraged by other, unrelated grid projects. This paper provides an overview of the Biophony Grid Portal application and requirements, discusses considerations regarding grid architecture and design, details the technical implementation, and summarizes key experiences and lessons learned that are generally applicable to all developers and administrators in a grid environment.

Komi-Permyak coronal obstruents: acoustic contrasts and positional variation

Komi-Permyak (Finno-Ugric) has a typologically rare contrast between palatal stops and palatal affricates; the latter are also contrastive with postalveolar affricates. In addition, the language has a relatively uncommon three-way place contrast among sibilant fricatives. This paper investigates acoustic properties of the Komi-Permyak voiceless coronal obstruents in different positional contexts. An acoustic analysis of data from six native speakers of the language revealed that the contrasts were well differentiated by a combination of duration, noise intensity, spectral shapes, and vowel transitions – consistently with previous studies of similar consonants in other languages. The results also showed some positional differences in the realization of the consonants. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of phonetic implementation of marked phonological contrasts and positional variation; it also provides an acoustic record of the endangered language.

Concordant molecular and phenotypic data delineate new taxonomy and conservation priorities for the endangered mountain yellow‐legged frog

AbstractThe mountain yellow‐legged frogRana muscosa sensu lato, once abundant in the Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada, and the disjunct Transverse Ranges of southern California, has declined precipitously throughout its range, even though most of its habitat is protected. The species is now extinct in Nevada and reduced to tiny remnants in southern California, where as a distinct population segment, it is classified as Endangered. Introduced predators (trout), air pollution and an infectious disease (chytridiomycosis) threaten remaining populations. A Bayesian analysis of 1901 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA confirms the presence of two deeply divergent clades that come into near contact in the Sierra Nevada. Morphological studies of museum specimens and analysis of acoustic data show that the two major mtDNA clades are readily differentiated phenotypically. Accordingly, we recognize two species,Rana sierrae, in the northern and central Sierra Nevada, andR. muscosa, in the southern Sierra Nevada and southern California. Existing data indicate no range overlap. These results have important implications for the conservation of these two species as they illuminate a profound mismatch between the current delineation of the distinct population segments (southern California vs. Sierra Nevada) and actual species boundaries. For example, our study finds that remnant populations ofR. muscosaexist in both the southern Sierra Nevada and the mountains of southern California, which may broaden options for management. In addition, despite the fact that only the southern California populations are listed as Endangered, surveys conducted since 1995 at 225 historic (1899–1994) localities from museum collections show that 93.3% (n=146) ofR. sierraepopulations and 95.2% (n=79) ofR. muscosapopulations are extinct. Evidence presented here underscores the need for revision of protected population status to include both species throughout their ranges.

Preliminary acoustic data analysis from Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center 2007 (LADC07) passive acoustic experiment

The Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center conducted a passive acoustic experiment in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, about 120 nmi south of the Mississippi delta between July 5 and July 17, 2007. The primary objective of the experiment was to make probably the first passive acoustic recordings of beaked whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Six environmental acoustic recording system (EARS) buoys were deployed in two triangular configurations in about 1,500 m water with the hydrophones located at a 1,000 m depth. The distance between the two triangles was about 20 nmi. Each EARS buoy recorded in the frequency band of 100 Hz–96 kHz for ten consecutive days, with a total data amount collected of about 3 Tbytes. More than ten different marine mammal species were identified in the vicinity of the buoys during visual observations, which supported the experiment including three different types of beaked whales. Preliminary environmental and acoustic data analysis, including average noise curves and different species identification by using newly developed frequency‐domain detectors, is presented. Assessment of the density of recorded acoustic phonations of different species is discussed. [Research supported through SPAWAR PMW‐180 PE63207N.]

Empirical comparisons of survey designs in acoustic surveys of Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank Atlantic herring

Three different hydroacoustic survey designs (parallel, zigzag, and stratified random) were used to survey Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) on Georges Bank during 2000 and 2001. The surveys covered the pre-spawning distribution of herring from the northern edge of Georges Bank to Nantucket Shoals, spanning a linear distance of roughly 300 km. The goal was to establish a practical survey design and methods for analysis of population estimates of herring in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Analyses of acoustic transect data using a classical (design based) approach and a model based (geostatistical) approach were completed, so that the properties of the three survey designs could be compared. Herring were distributed across the entirety of the western side of Georges Bank between the 50–150 m isobaths in all surveys during both years. Mean herring backscatter (sA) was similar for the three surveys during 2000 and 2001; the mean from the parallel design was the highest in both years, due to a few very large observations and also the timing of the surveys. Coefficients of variation for the three surveys ranged from 23% for the zigzag design in 2001 to 44% for the stratified random design in 2000 using design based estimators and between 10% for the parallel design in 2001 to 17% for the stratified random design in 2000 using model-based methods. Herring biomass (geostatistical estimates) analyzed using meta-analysis, ranged between 1.27 and 1.58 million mt during 2000 and between 1.60 and 2.14 million metric tons during 2001. Bootstrap results suggest that herring biomass is generally well estimated by all three designs. The zigzag design provided the lowest average CV over the two years, while the parallel design in 2001 produced the lowest CV for the six surveys. Overall, the systematic designs were robust in capturing the relatively strong spatial signal in the herring distribution data, while the stratified random design performed relatively poorly in this regard in both years.

The role of vowel transitions and frication noise in the perception of Polish sibilants

Polish is one of the few languages that contrast sibilant fricatives and affricates at three different places of articulation (dental, retroflex and alveopalatal). This paper examines the relative contribution of the information contained in the fricative noise and in the adjacent vowels to the recognition of these consonants by native speakers of the language. It is shown that while isolated fricatives of all types are identified reliably, the removal of transitional cues in the second vowel in VCV words makes alveopalatals and retroflexes very confusable. In addition, a detailed acoustic analysis of data from one native speaker is presented.

An Overcomplete Signal Basis Approach to Nonlinear Time-Tone Analysis with Application to Audio and Speech Processing

Although a beating tone and the two pure tones which give rise to it are linearly dependent, the ear considers them to be independent as tone sensations. A linear time-frequency representation of acoustic data is unable to model these phenomena. A time-tone sensation approach is proposed for inclusion within audio analysis systems. The proposed approach extends linear time-frequency analysis of acoustic data, by accommodating the nonlinear phenomenon of beats. The method replaces the one-dimensional tonotopic axis of linear time-frequency analysis with a two-dimensional tonotopic plane, in which one direction corresponds to tone, and the other to its frequency of modulation. Some applications to audio prostheses are discussed. The proposed method relies on an intuitive criterion of optimal representation which can be applied to any overcomplete signal basis, allowing for many signal processing applications.

A new tool for real-time acoustic species identification of delphinid whistles

Acoustic species identification studies generally focus on postprocessing of field recordings using multivariate statistics such as classification tree analysis (CART). When CART was used to classify whistles of nine delphinid species recorded in the eastern tropical Pacific ocean (n=908), 51% were correctly classified to species (versus 11% expected by chance). These results led to the development of a new automated system to allow real-time acoustic species identification in the field. This matlab-based tool automatically extracts variables from whistles manually selected from a real-time scrolling spectrograph (ishmael software) and runs classification statistics (CART and discriminant function analysis). Output includes predicted species identification with a certainty score and alternate identifications with certainty scores. The original CART results were based on classification of one whistle at a time. With the new system, identification decisions are based on multiple whistles, resulting in higher classification success. This new tool allows species distribution data to be collected using a towed hydrophone array when visual efforts are compromised (e.g., darkness, high sea states). It may also prove valuable for studies utilizing bottom-mounted recorders, where visual species identification is not possible. Additionally, through automation, this tool reduces the time required for analysis of voluminous acoustic data.

Lexical representation of novel L2 contrasts

There is much interest among psychologists and linguists in the influence of the native language sound system on the acquisition of second languages (Best, 1995; Flege, 1995). Most studies of second language (L2) speech focus on how learners perceive and produce L2 sounds, but we know of only two that have considered how novel sound contrasts are encoded in learners’ lexical representations of L2 words (Pallier et al., 2001; Ota et al., 2002). In this study we investigated how native speakers of English encode Japanese consonant quantity contrasts in their developing Japanese lexicons at different stages of acquisition (Japanese contrasts singleton versus geminate consonants but English does not). Monolingual English speakers, native English speakers learning Japanese for one year, and native speakers of Japanese were taught a set of Japanese nonwords containing singleton and geminate consonants. Subjects then performed memory tasks eliciting perception and production data to determine whether they encoded the Japanese consonant quantity contrast lexically. Overall accuracy in these tasks was a function of Japanese language experience, and acoustic analysis of the production data revealed non-native-like patterns of differentiation of singleton and geminate consonants among the L2 learners of Japanese. Implications for theories of L2 speech are discussed.