Decibel Levels Research Articles

Converting performance spaces into lecture halls

Identifying classroom spaces able to accommodate students consistent with social distancing guidelines is a major logistical concern for Academic institutions attempting to have in-person instruction during the pandemic. The solution to this problem is to adapt larger campus spaces such as gymnasiums, public spaces, or performance venues, for classroom usage. This work focuses on measuring important acoustical parameters in these planned lecture spaces such as reverberation time (T20), speech clarity (C50), background noise decibel level, and sound pressure level differences in a grid pattern in the room. We studied existing classrooms as well as the target spaces for comparison and to optimize the parameter values for the new lecture spaces. Acoustic measurements were taken and analyzed using a sine sweep method with a calibrated microphone. The T20 of the rooms were calculated using a Sabine model to compare with the measured values and to guide plans for reducing T20 to transform the spaces to host lectures and discussion. Because the gymnasiums will also revert to the normal function, the proposed solutions must be temporary and easily added or removed.

Noise levels in an academic veterinary intensive care unit.

To quantify the noise levels in a veterinary Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ascertain how they compare to current recommendations in the human literature. A Larson Davis SoundTrack LXT Sound Meter device measured noise levels in a veterinary ICU for 41 days. Specialty referral academic small animal teaching hospital ICU. Passive involvement of dogs and cats housed in the ICU during the study period of 41 days. No alterations to the hospital environment or patient care were made. A-weighted average (LAeq) and maximum decibel measurements (LFmax) were recorded. The data were analyzed to look for correlations in elevated noise levels with the number and type of patients hospitalized, the time of day, and whether it was a weekday or weekend. The average, median, and maximum decibel levels measured in our ICU were 76.97dB(A), 76.13dB(A), and 86.54dB(A), respectively, for the duration of this study. The time frames of 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm were associated with higher decibel levels in this study. The noise levels recorded in this study exceed the World Health Organization recommendations for noise levels in hospital care settings and are higher than the previously reported elevated noise levels in 2 veterinary referral private practice ICUs. Increased noise levels in veterinary ICUs may have adverse effects on our veterinary patients and staff and warrant further investigation.

Influence of distance from traffic sounds on physiological indicators and subjective evaluation

This study examined the influence of different distances of traffic noise and sea sounds on physiological indicators and subjective evaluation. Scene re-creations employed three types of distance: actual close sounds (close to the sound source recorded on site), actual distant sounds (distance attenuation recorded on site) and artificial distant sounds (reduction of the same decibel level across frequencies). Participants displayed higher heart rate, amplitude of the R-wave (ΔR), heart rate variability, respiration rate, and skin conductance level (SCL) when close to the sound source. Actual distance attenuation affected most subjective evaluation factors (except for Familiarity and Excitement). The ΔR, electroencephalography alpha reactivity, and electroencephalography beta reactivity with actual distant sounds were lower and SCL was higher, relative to those with artificial distant sounds. These findings provide a reference for governments and urban planners when working to improve quality of life in urban areas.

Objective measurement of acoustic intensity of coughing for clearance of penetration and aspiration on video-fluoroscopy

Purpose This preliminary, exploratory study evaluated the acoustic intensity of effective and ineffective clearance of penetrated and aspirated material from the laryngeal vestibule in patients with dysphagia. Method A lapel microphone was attached anterior to participants’ tragus and recorded coughing in decibels during their videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Result Eighty-eight patients were recruited. Thirteen patients, with visible airway invasion and coughing were included in the final analysis. No coughs were effective at expelling aspirated material from the airway (n = 10). Both effective (4/7) and ineffective (3/7) coughing to penetration were recorded. The mean acoustic intensity of effective coughing to penetration was –44.0 dBFS (decibel level relative to full scale) [SD = 7.3, 95% CI = −51.14, −36.86], and ineffective coughing to penetration was only marginally lower at –42.9 dBFS [SD = 2.0, 95% CI = −45.21, −40.59]. Conclusion No coughs were effective at expelling aspirated material from the airway. Some coughs effectively expelled penetrated material from the airway. However, the relationship between acoustic intensity and cough effectiveness is unclear due to the limited number of observations. Given that perceptual evaluation of coughing is widely used in dysphagia clinical practice to determine cough effectiveness, this is an important area for future research.

Acoustic Analysis of Counter-Rotating Open Rotors with a Locked Blade Row

Counter-rotating open rotors (CRORs) have the potential to reduce environmental emissions thanks to their high propulsive efficiency. However, there are a number of concerns surrounding their acoustic emissions. This contribution presents a novel multiconfiguration CROR that offers considerable noise reductions. In particular, locking either the fore or aft rotor during takeoff is considered, with the running rotor providing the required thrust. During cruise, both rotors are operated to retain the high efficiency of the CROR. A coupled computational fluid dynamics/computational aeroacoustics analysis has shown the potential of this multiconfiguration concept to offer substantial noise reductions when compared to a baseline CROR. During a simulated constant-altitude flyover at takeoff conditions, reductions of 3.5 and 7.9 dBA have been demonstrated when either the fore or aft row is locked, respectively. Using the effective perceived noise level metric, this result corresponded to 7 and 12 Effective Perceived Noise Level (in Decibels), respectively, for the same flyover.

Night-time Noise Levels and Patients’ Sleep Experiences in a Medical Assessment Unit in Northern England

Background:Hospital in-patients need sleep so that restorative process and healing can take place. However, over one third of in-patients experience sleep disturbance, often caused by noise. This can compromise patients’ perceptions of care quality and cause physical and psychological ill health.Aims:To assess 1) in-patients sleep quality, quantity, reported sources of sleep disturbance and their suggestions for improvement 2) objectively measure decibel levels recorded at night.Methods:This descriptive study conducted in a Medical Assessment Unit used multi-methods; a semi-structured ‘sleep experience’ questionnaire administered to a purposive sample of in-patients; recording of night-time noise levels, on 52 consecutive nights, using two calibrated Casella sound level meters.Results:Patient ratings of ‘in-hospital’ sleep quantity (3.25; 2.72 SD) and quality (2.91; 2.56 SD) was poorer compared to ‘home’ sleep quantity (5.07; 2.81 SD) and quality (5.52; 2.79 SD). The difference in sleep quality (p<0.001) and quantity (p<0.001) ratings whilst in hospital, compared to at home, was statistically significant. Care processes, noise from other patients and the built environment were common sources of sleep disturbance. Participants’ suggestions for improvement were similar to interventions identified in current research. The constant noise level ranged from 38-57 decibels (equivalent to an office environment), whilst peak levels reached a maximum of 116 decibels, (equivalent to banging a car door one metre away).Conclusion:The self-rated patient sleep experience was significantly poorer in hospital, compared to home. Noise at night contributed to sleep disturbance. Decibel levels were equivalent to those reported in other international studies. Data informed the development of a ‘Sleep Smart’ toolkit designed to improve the in-patient sleep experience.

Performance Analysis of Multi-Body Modeled Washing Machines (MBomWM)

One of the key features of washing an automated machines is the noise and vibration it produces, or more technically, the decibel level it produces. Numerous of home appliance companies have put in much effort to solve this problem but there is still large room for further improvements especially in the rinse and the spin cycles of the washing machine. This work illustrates the performances of a multi-body modelled of washing machines realized with the aim to analyze the vibrational acoustic emission. An experimental measurement has been carried out using a digital sound level meter (SLM) to determine the overall noise produced by four different models of automated washing machines with a view of noting the model that has the highest sound pressure level during the three different cycles (the wash, rinse and spin). Result shows that all the machines produced their highest noise during the spinning cycle. Out of the four different model considered. IPSO HF: 304 has the highest sound level of 99.62dB during its spin cycle when maximum load of 30Kg was applied, followed by Imesa RC 23 with a 96.13dB. On the other hands, LG: Direct Drive 13 has the least sound pressure level of 84.75dB. With this knowledge in mind, one can advise a buyer which model to purchase from the market and if an operator must use the machine, how long he can operate such machine without health challenges.

0780 Effect Of A Sleep/Circadian Friendly Protocol On The Outcomes Of Patients Admitted To The Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract Introduction Critically ill patients often suffer from fragmented sleep due to light and noise in the intensive care unit (ICU). We investigated whether placing patients in a sleep/circadian friendly protocol improved patient-reported sleep quality and ICU outcomes. Methods Patients were included if they were expected to have a >24-hour stay. Exclusion criteria included age <18 years, pregnancy, frequent overnight assessments, poor prognosis, pre-existing cognitive impairment, and severe psychological disorders. Patients were randomized to a sleep/circadian protocol or control protocol. Demographic, treatment, sound (dB), light (lux), patient-reported sleep, and medical outcomes were collected. Those who were not maintained in the sleep/circadian protocol were combined with the controls for statistical analysis. Univariate analysis was performed with Chi-Square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Sixty-one patients were enrolled: 28 randomized to sleep/circadian protocol, 33 to control protocol. 14 subjects were excluded from analysis due to developing criteria for exclusion. Nine patients (median age 50 years, 6 females) maintained in the sleep/circadian protocol, 13 patients were not maintained in sleep/circadian protocol and 25 patients in control protocol (median age 64 years, 20 females). There was no difference in age, gender, or race between groups (p> 0.05). Median ICU first overnight dB level (10:00pm-6:00am) was 44.2 (±2.7) for sleep/circadian protocol and 50.5 (±4.9) for combined group (p= 0.008). Median ICU first overnight lux (10:00pm-4:00am) was 2.28 (±61.3) in sleep/circadian protocol and 18.42 (±90.9) in combined group (p=0.0374). A continued stay in the sleep/circadian protocol resulted in decreased total decibel level (p= 0.0018) decreased total overnight lux exposure (p= 0.0025) and decreased reported awakenings in first night (p= 0.0175). There were no differences in ICU length of stay, inpatient mortality, or readmission rates between groups (p>0.05). Three patients developed delirium, all originally randomized to control group. Conclusion We report on the successful outcomes associated with a sleep/circadian friendly protocol within a large tertiary center medical ICU which resulted in significant decreases in objectively assessed noise and light, and subjectively reported nocturnal awakenings. We continue to collect data to determine if the sleep/circadian friendly protocol should be permanently implemented in the ICU. Support None.

3D Printing: The Effect of Adapted Mallets on the Participation of Children with Severe and Multiple Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in two measures of participation for a small sample of children with severe and multiple disabilities when using adapted mallets for instruments. The two measures of participation were: decibel level (dB) and frequency of sound produced. Three children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old participated in a single music therapy session testing four different popular adapted mallets, and a control mallet. A 3D-printed mallet grip was among the adapted mallets and was customized to the individual’s hand contour. The sessions tested all five mallets in random order on the each of the three children. Although no noticeable pattern of preference was found for any type of mallet grip, the data indicated that across all the subjects, they produced the lowest dB level and the least frequency of sounds on the control mallet. The results show that there are different preferences for each individual child based on the material and design, not just the hand contour. There are several implications for future research on customizing the 3D-printed adaptive grips to not only their hand contour but the material and design preferences of each child to further increase their participation in music making.

Comparison of crown fit and operator preferences between tooth preparation with electric and air-turbine handpieces

Statement of problemTooth preparations for ceramic crowns require precision and accuracy, which may be influenced by the choice of dental handpiece. However, comparisons of the accuracy of tooth preparations made with traditional air-turbine handpieces and electric handpieces are lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate operator preferences and tooth preparation performance by using electric and air-turbine handpieces with self-reported preferences, sound levels, surface roughness, and the fit of the crown produced. Material and methodsTwenty dentists were asked to use the air-turbine or the electric handpiece. Feedback on the noise, weight, feel of grip, flexibility, and tooth preparation in general was scored according to a visual analog scale (VAS). Additionally, the dentists were asked to complete a questionnaire on their handpiece preference. The noise of the 2 handpieces was measured by using a precision sound level meter. The surface roughness of 10 teeth was measured by using a profilometer. The other 18 teeth were prepared to measure the marginal and internal fit of ceramic crowns by the replica technique. The VAS scores of operator preferences were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Decibel levels were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test. The McNemar test was used to compare the ratio of preferred handpiece. The surface roughness and marginal and internal fit were analyzed with the independent t test to determine significant differences (all α=.05). ResultsThe electric handpiece was heavier, had a poorer grip feel, was less flexible (P<.001), produced lower noise and better feeling of the tooth preparation in general (P<.001), and was preferred in the finishing stage for its greater smoothness (P<.05). The noise produced by the electric handpiece was lower during both idling and tooth preparation at 15-cm, 30-cm, and 45-cm distances (P<.01). The electric handpiece produced surface roughness values (Sa) similar to those of the air-turbine handpiece (P>.05). No significant differences were noted for the marginal and internal crown fit between the air-turbine handpiece and electric handpiece groups (P>.05). ConclusionsDespite its heavier weight, poorer grip feel, and less flexibility, the electric handpiece emitted lower noise, produced better feeling of the tooth preparation in general, and was preferred in the finishing step of tooth preparation for its greater smoothness than the air-turbine handpiece. The surface roughness of the prepared teeth and the crown fit between the tooth and ceramic crown were not affected by the air-turbine or electric handpiece.

Acoustic Noise Computation of Electrical Motors Using the Boundary Element Method

This paper presents a numerical method and computational results for acoustic noise of electromagnetic origin generated by an induction motor. The computation of noise incorporates three levels of numerical calculation steps, combining both the finite element method and boundary element method. The role of magnetic forces in the production of acoustic noise is established in the paper by showing the magneto-mechanical and vibro-acoustic pathway of energy. The conversion of electrical energy into acoustic energy in an electrical motor through electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic platforms is illustrated through numerical computations of magnetic forces, mechanical deformation, and acoustic noise. The magnetic forces were computed through 2D electromagnetic finite element simulation, and the deformation of the stator due to these forces was calculated using 3D structural finite element simulation. Finally, boundary element-based computation was employed to calculate the sound pressure and sound power level in decibels. The use of the boundary element method instead of the finite element method in acoustic computation reduces the computational cost because, unlike finite element analysis, the boundary element approach does not require heavy meshing to model the air surrounding the motor.

Acoustic quality and health in urban environments (SALVE) – a pilot study in the metropolitan Ruhr region, Germany

ABSTRACT Acoustic quality has long been a concern in the disciplines of architecture, building technology, and construction engineering. In health research, acoustic quality has been understood as a health risk factor of noise and, thus, limited to reducing sound decibel levels. Noise mitigation measures exclusively aim to reduce noise levels below a threshold. In contrast, acoustic environments are a composition of all acoustic events of the natural and physical setting, typically determined by sound level, frequency, time, and space. Thus, soundscape ecology provides a suitable methodical approach to analyze associations between acoustic quality, the built environment, and human health. This paper debates how SALVE, a two-year interdisciplinary pilot study, may fill the knowledge gap and contribute to sound and health research. SALVE aims to identify criteria for human health-promoting acoustic environments. By making annual direct and automated auditory measurements of a robust land-use sample, a large multi-seasonal urban sound dataset will be established. This data is merged with health data from the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study and will form a starting point for an innovative approach to better understand the impacts of acoustic quality on urban public health beyond noise protection.

Snoring: a source of noise pollution and sleep apnea predictor.

Snoring is a highly prevalent condition associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep disturbance in bed partners. Objective measurements of snoring in the community, however, are limited. The present study was designed to measure sound levels produced by self-reported habitual snorers in a single night. Snorers were excluded if they reported nocturnal gasping or had severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2). Sound was measured by a monitor mounted 65 cm over the head of the bed on an overnight sleep study. Snoring was defined as sound ≥40 dB(A) during flow limited inspirations. The apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and breath-by-breath peak decibel levels were measured. Snore breaths were tallied to determine the frequency and intensity of snoring. Regression models were used to determine the relationship between objective measures of snoring and OSA (AHI ≥ 5 events/h). The area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to predict OSA. Snoring intensity exceeded 45 dB(A) in 66% of the 162 participants studied, with 14% surpassing the 53 dB(A) threshold for noise pollution. Snoring intensity and frequency were independent predictors of OSA. AUCs for snoring intensity and frequency were 77% and 81%, respectively, and increased to 87% and 89%, respectively, with the addition of age and sex as predictors. Snoring represents a source of noise pollution in the bedroom and constitutes an important target for mitigating sound and its adverse effects on bed partners. Precise breath-by-breath identification and quantification of snoring also offers a way to risk stratify otherwise healthy snorers for OSA.

Audiology Practices in the Preoperative Evaluation and Management of Adult Cochlear Implant Candidates

Currently, no clear guidelines exist regarding clinical testing methods for identifying adult cochlear implant (CI) candidates. Indications provided by the US Food and Drug Administration, Medicare, and private insurers are ambiguous concerning test materials and the level and mode of test presentation. This could lead to wide variability in clinical assessment and, potentially, unequal access to CIs for individuals with clinically significant hearing loss. To examine the preoperative testing methods used by audiologists in evaluating adult CI candidates across the United States. A survey assessing audiology practice patterns was created using a Research Electronic Data Capture system hosted at the University of Miami. A link to a survey (65 questions in multiple-choice or rank-order format was distributed electronically along with a request for completion to members of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance and to the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training forum. Responses were collected from January 17 to June 4, 2018. Participation was limited to audiologists who evaluate adult CI candidates, and respondents who do not provide adult CI care were excluded. Collected demographic information included work setting, years of experience, and highest level of education attained. Percentages, medians, and interquartile ranges were from aggregated responses concerning hearing aid verification methods; testing methods, materials, and practices; nonauditory factors that might affect CI candidacy; audiology practice patterns; and expanded indications for CIs. Anonymized surveys were returned by 99 respondents; because surveys were available electronically, the number of audiologists who viewed the survey but did not respond was not available. Seven respondents identified themselves as pediatric specialists and were excluded, resulting in a total of 92 surveys available for analysis (denominators vary because respondents could complete the survey without answering all questions). Seventy percent of respondents (51 of 72) were doctors of audiology, and nearly 50% (33 of 74) were employed at universities and academic centers performing more than 50 CIs per year. When assessing adult candidacy for implant, most respondents reported using test materials from the Minimum Speech Test Battery: 96% (51 of 53), using AzBio sentences in quiet; 89% (47 of 53), AzBio sentences in noise; and 100% (53 of 53), the consonant-vowel nucleus-consonant, monosyllabic words test. However, these tests were applied inconsistently, with 39 of 53 respondents (74%) reporting use of a sound pressure level scale and the other 14 (26%) a hearing level scale at various decibel levels, and with some using a single signal-to-noise ratio and others using multiple ratios for sound-in-noise tests. Respondents' definitions of the best aided listening condition for assessing implant candidates also varied widely. Among the nonauditory factors ranked most important for assessing CI candidacy were patient's level of cognition and expectations of CI; yet, few respondents reported including cognitive or psychological tests in the assessment protocol. Findings of this study reveal considerable variability in preoperative testing methods and practices across health care professionals assessing adult candidates for CI. This lack of standardization in the delivery of care may increase the risk for health care inequities, specifically in access to care for adults with clinically significant hearing loss.

Effectiveness of Noise-Attenuating Headphones on Physiological Responses for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proof of concept of an intervention to decrease sympathetic activation as measured by skin conductivity (electrodermal activity, EDA) in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and auditory hypersensitivity (hyperacusis). In addition, researchers examined if the intervention provided protection against the negative effects of decibel level of environmental noises on electrodermal measures between interventions. The feasibility of implementation and outcome measures within natural environments were evaluated.Method: A single-subject multi-treatment design was used with six children, aged 8–16 years, with a form of Autism (i.e., Autism, PDD-NOS). Participants used in-ear (IE) and over-ear (OE) headphones for two randomly sequenced treatment phases. Each child completed four phases: (1) a week of baseline data collection; (2) a week of an intervention; (3) a week of no intervention; and (4) a week of the other intervention. Empatica E4 wristbands collected EDA data. Data was collected on 16–20 occasions per participant, with five measurements per phase.Results: Separated tests for paired study phases suggested that regardless of intervention type, noise attenuating headphones led to a significance difference in both skin conductance levels (SCL) and frequency of non-specific conductance responses (NS-SCRs) between the baseline measurement and subsequent phases. Overall, SCL and NS-SCR frequency significantly decreased between baseline and the first intervention phase. A protective effect of the intervention was tested by collapsing intervention results into three phases. Slope correlation suggested constant SCL and NS-SCR frequency after initial use of the headphones regardless of the increase in environmental noises. A subsequent analysis of the quality of EDA data identified that later phases of data collection were associated with better data quality.Conclusion: Many children with ASD have hypersensitivities to sound resulting in high levels of sympathetic nervous system reactivity, which is associated with problematic behaviors and distress. The findings of this study suggest that the use of noise attenuating headphones for individuals with ASD and hyperacusis may reduce sympathetic activation. Additionally, results suggest that the use of wearable sensors to collect physiological data in natural environments is feasible with established protocols and training procedures.

IDENTIFYING DIGITAL BIOMARKERS OF DEMENTIA-RELATED AGITATION: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE MODERATE STUDY

Agitation is a challenging dementia-related behavioral symptom and disconcertingly leads to an undesirable increase in pharmaceutical intervention. Agitation is primarily assessed subjectively by time-impoverished caregivers or clinicians, who may not be able to provide comprehensive or sensitive enough reporting to detect early signs of agitation or identify its precipitants. The purpose of the MODERATE (Monitoring Dementia Related Agitation Using Technology Evaluation) study is to characterize dementia-related agitation and its potential catalysts using wearables and sensors installed in participants’ private living quarters within memory care (skilled nursing) facilities. Preliminary data from seven episodes of agitation–reported by nursing staff and treated by pharmaceutical intervention–were captured and characterized with an integrated network consisting of research-grade actigraphy, passive infrared presence sensors, door contact sensors, ambient environmental sensor boards, and bed sensor mats. Behaviors (e.g. pacing, space transitions) during 8-hour nursing shifts that included episodes of agitation were compared with 8-hour nursing shifts without any episodes of agitation. The environmental conditions (temperature, lighting, humidity, and decibel level) during agitated periods and non-agitated periods were also compared. There was a statistically significant difference between agitated periods and non-agitated periods for the number of space transitions in the living room (p<0.01) and for the measured amount of ambient light and humidity (p <0.05). Passive monitoring of behavioral activity is a promising method of unobtrusive, early, and objective detection of dementia-related agitation, expanding the window of opportunity for identifying factors associated with behavioral change and delivering appropriate evidence-based interventions.

Effects of assembly and operation of an amusement ride on the behaviour of a pair of captive Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica)

The effects of construction, noise, and visitors on behavioural and physiological responses in zoo animals have become increasingly well documented. However, scientific data are lacking on the impact of amusement rides on the welfare of captive animals. Capital developments in 2014 at Tayto Park, Ireland included expansion of their theme park. This project provided an opportunity to investigate the effects of visual and auditory stimuli of an amusement ride on the behaviour of two Amur tigers. Data on the behaviour and spatial location of the tigers in the enclosure, as well as visitor numbers and noise levels, were collected across four phases of the project; pre-assembly, assembly, operation and when the park closed in the off-season. Differences in the tigers’ behaviour across phases were analysed with Kruskal-Wallis tests, correlations were tested with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and enclosure use was calculated using a modified SPI Index. Time tigers spent off-show (in-house) was proportionately higher during Phase Two and findings were statistically significant for the male (X2(3) = 7.935, p=0.047). SPI values show that the female tiger had a strong bias when utilizing her enclosure in Phase Two with an SPI of 0.87 and spent 87% of her time off-show (in-house). There was no significant difference between phases in the proportion of time tigers spent in observed behaviours. Further, there was no statistical difference in behaviours exhibited by the tigers in Phases with high and low decibel levels and visitor numbers. It was concluded that visual disturbance from the ride was more aversive to the tigers that either noise or visitor levels. Zoological collections should consider the potential negative impacts of novel visual stimuli and provide free access to off-show retreat, as well as to ensure visual barriers are sufficient to minimize environmental disturbance.

A draft model community noise ordinance

Once upon a time, it was hoped that the sound level meter would solve all noise pollution problems for communities with clear objective criteria for acceptable and unacceptable noise. That hope failed to be realized because the volume of noise complaints is overwhelming. In the real world, the police cannot respond with a sound level meter to each of the millions of noise calls they receive each year. Yet clearly, decibel levels and sound level meters are critical to noise regulation. This dilemma has stumped the ANSI Model Community Noise Ordinance Working Group for more than 20 years. To avoid this dilemma, this paper proposes a model noise ordinance developed so that police departments can respond to millions of calls each year due to noise, using not just one, but a number of regulatory tools, including (1) nuisance laws, (2) decibel based regulations, (3) operational restrictions (such as setbacks, time of day restrictions, or restrictions based on zoning district), (4) prohibitions (such as no non-emergency honking, no jake brakes, no radios on buses or beaches), (5) equipment requirements (such as muffers or the EPA stamp on motorcycle mufflers), and (6) the plainly audible standard at a specific distance.

Feminizing Rock Culture: A Revisit of Norma Coates’s “Teenyboppers, Groupies, and Other Grotesques”

Research Article| September 03 2019 Feminizing Rock Culture: A Revisit of Norma Coates’s “Teenyboppers, Groupies, and Other Grotesques” Leah Branstetter Leah Branstetter Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Popular Music Studies (2019) 31 (3): 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2019.313006 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Leah Branstetter; Feminizing Rock Culture: A Revisit of Norma Coates’s “Teenyboppers, Groupies, and Other Grotesques”. Journal of Popular Music Studies 3 September 2019; 31 (3): 49–54. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2019.313006 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentJournal of Popular Music Studies Search 18 August 2015, Columbus, Ohio: I’m behind the wheel of an eight-passenger van pulling out of Ohio Stadium. The van is full of dirty laundry belonging to the band One Direction and their crew, and I had barely shifted into drive before security was forced to remove a throng of young women—including one in a full-length wedding gown with a poster board that said “MARRY ME, HARRY”—from the hood of the vehicle. Some of the fans had been standing outside since 6 a.m., and later that night, their reactions would give the decibel levels at any Beatles performance reasonable competition. Backstage, though, the electric charge of celebrity culture I often sense at stadium shows, clearly felt by the fans outside, was replaced by a hum of annoyance. Just weeks earlier I had worked wardrobe for a Rolling Stones date in the same stadium, and the difference was remarkable. I accompanied... You do not currently have access to this content.

The natural progression of low-frequency hearing loss in patients who meet hybrid implant system candidacy criteria.

To investigate the natural progression of hearing loss in patients with high-frequency hearing loss whose audiograms met the criteria for a hybrid cochlear implant (CI). Retrospective database review. We retrospectively identified patients who met the criteria for a hybrid CI from our audiometric database. We also recorded the etiology of hearing loss in each patient and excluded patients with retrocochlear etiologies, those age <6 years, duration of observation <1 year, or those with a mixed or conductive hearing loss. We calculated the pre-CI progression of residual low-frequency (LF) hearing level in decibels per year and investigated the risk factor of the progression of hearing loss. A total of 1,083 ears of 944 patients were included in this study. The average rate of hearing loss progression for all etiologies was 1.70 ± 0.10 dB/yr at an average of 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1 kHz in the affected ear(s). The progression of hearing loss was 5.0 ± 0.93 dB/yr in patients with Meniere's disease and 3.5 ± 0.76 dB/yr in those with autoimmune disease, both of which were significantly faster than progression rates in other etiologies. In patients with idiopathic, genetic/hereditary, and congenital hearing loss, the progression of hearing loss was 1.46 ± 0.10 dB/yr. Patients with steeply sloping hearing loss experienced significantly faster progression in the ipsilateral ear compared to patients with another audiometric type. It is suggested that Meniere's disease, autoimmune-mediated inner ear disease, and steeply sloping hearing loss in the ipsilateral ear are risk factors for faster progression of residual LF hearing level. 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1299-1303, 2020.