Sonic System Research Articles

Wind shadowing of a sonic anemometer in low Reynolds number flows

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been carried out to better understand the wind shadowing effects on a sonic anemometer system. The anemometer will measure wind speed on the surface of Mars and the stratosphere of Earth.The wind velocity vector is measured through the difference in acoustic time of flight in 3 directions. However, the structure itself disrupts the flow and creates an internal wake. To understand this and generate correction factors, CFD simulations were run under Mars surface conditions while varying incident angle and flow speed. Spalart-Allmaras turbulence models were employed in both steady and unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) frameworks and compared to a laminar model. Due to the low Reynold’s number (<150) we observe no shedding at speeds below 10 m/s. At speeds below 10 cm/s the flow diverts around the structure and sensitivity drops. At intermediate speeds near 5 m/s the wind shadow ratio (WSR) varies substantially with incident wind angle. Design changes to the structure allowed us to improve the worst WSR from 38% to 47%. We were also able to quantify correction factors. Validating comparisons to water tunnel and wind tunnel measurements will be presented.

Comparison of Easydo Activator, ultrasonic and needle irrigation techniques on sealer penetration and smear layer removal in vitro

The effects of Easydo Activator (EA), a new sonic irrigation system, on sealer penetration at the root apex were compared to needle irrigation (NI) and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) in this study. Forty-two single-rooted teeth were prepared and randomly divided into three groups (n = 14): group 1: NI; group 2: PUI; and group 3: EA. A solution of 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was used for irrigation. Nine teeth in each group were filled with AH Plus sealer mixed with CY5 fluorescent dye and a single gutta-percha cone. The sealer penetration area, maximum penetration depth and percentage of sealer penetration at 5 mm and 1 mm from the apex were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The remaining 5 teeth in each group were subjected to test smear layer scores by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The CLSM evaluation showed that increases in the area, depth and percentage of sealer penetration were detected at 1 and 5 mm from the root apex in the PUI group compared with the NI group, and greater increases were observed in the EA group (P < 0.05). The SEM experiment showed that the lowest scores for the smear layer and debris removal were achieved by the EA group when compared with the PUI and NI groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, EA was superior to PUI and NI regarding sealer penetration at the root apex during endodontic treatment, and it could provide a new technical idea for clinical root canal therapy.

Bacteria debridement efficacy of two sonic root canal irrigant activation systems

ObjectiveTo evaluate the bacteria debridement efficacy of two generations of sonic root canal irrigant activation systems: EndoActivator (Dentsply Sirona), the first generation, and SmartLite Pro EndoActivator, the second generation. MethodsInstrumented, autoclaved, single-rooted human premolars were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC-29212) for 21 days. The bacteria biofilm-containing teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups (N=8): Group 1: Syringe-side-vented needle (S-N) delivery of saline for 1 min; Group 2: S-N delivery of 2% NaOCl for 1 min; Group 3: S-N delivery of 2% NaOCl for 5 min; Group 4: EndoActivator activation of 2% NaOCl for 1 min; Group 5: SmartLite Pro EndoActivator activation of 2% NaOCl for 1 min. The teeth were evaluated for bacterial reduction using CFU counts, and the percentages of dead bacteria within the dentinal tubules using confocal laser scanning microscopy. ResultsActivation of NaOCl with EndoActivator or SmartLite Pro EndoActivator significantly reduced the overall intracanal bacterial load, compared with S-N irrigant delivery (P<0.05), with no significant difference between the two agitation devices (P>0.05). Nevertheless, S-N delivery of 2% NaOCl for 5 min produced better bacteria debridement than either sonic agitation system. Different degrees of bacteria kill were identified in the coronal-middle portions and apical portion of the canal space. ConclusionDelivery time of NaOCl affects the efficacy of bacteria disinfection. Activation for 1 min with the EndoActivator or SmartLite Pro EndoActivator demonstrated comparable canal wall biofilm and intracanal bacteria reduction efficacy when 2% NaOCl was used as irrigant for disinfecting E. faecalis in single-rooted teeth. Clinical significanceAlthough the sonic root canal irrigant activation devices investigated do not completely eliminate live bacteria biofilms from the canal space, they help reduce bacteria load during irrigant activation.

An automated sonic tomography system for the inspection of historical masonry walls.

Background: The conservation of the built masonry heritage requires a comprehensive understanding of its geometrical, structural, and material characteristics. Non-destructive techniques are a preferred approach to survey historical buildings, given the cultural value of their fabric. However, currently available techniques are typically operated manually, consuming much time at operational and processing level and thus hindering their use for the on-site inspection of heritage structures. Methods: A novel automated sonic tomography system was designed and built to inspect and obtain information about the inner structure and damage of historic masonry walls. The system consists of a hitting device mounted on a frame that can be placed adjacent to the wall under analysis. The hitting device can move along the surface within the frame area in X, Y and Z directions, generating the sonic wave. The receiving system is a scanning laser vibrometer, able to measure from the distance the displacement of a focused point over time, recording the wave when it reaches the opposite surface. Results: Six stone masonry walls with different interior geometries were constructed at the laboratory by a professional stonemason. The construction of the walls was carefully documented, including the generation of detailed photogrammetric models of each single stone. The system was applied to survey the six masonry walls. Since the inner morphology of the walls is known, the resulting tomographic images could be compared with the ground truth. Conclusions: Automating the inspection allowed to collect thousands of data in a few hours. New software was also developed to automate the processing of the data. Results are expected to highlight the potential of tomography to obtain quantitative information about the interior of heritage structures, while providing new tools that make the implementation of the technique more practical for professionals. Data, software and models have been made publicly available.

An automated sonic tomography system for the inspection of historical masonry walls

An automated sonic tomography system for the inspection of historical masonry walls

Cleaning efficacy of EDDY versus ultrasonically-activated irrigation in root canals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundUltrasonically-activated irrigation (UAI) is effective in root canal irrigation but may damage canal walls. EDDY is a sonic activation system with flexible working tips that cause no harm to dentinal walls. This review explores the intracanal cleaning efficacy of EDDY compared with UAI in vitro.MethodsThe systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021235826). A literature search was conducted in six electronic databases. In vitro studies that compared the removal of smear layer, debris, soft tissue or microbes in root canals between EDDY and UAI were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Meta-analyses were conducted on smear layer removal and debris elimination with the standardized mean difference (SMD). Heterogeneity was measured using the I2 test and the Chi2 test. The random-effect model was used when I2 > 50%, or p < 0.1, otherwise the fixed-effect model was applied. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results19 articles were included in this systematic review and 7 articles were included in meta-analyses. Meta-analyses on smear layer removal showed unimportant differences between EDDY and UAI at any canal third (coronal [SMD = 0.08, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): -0.29 to 0.45; p = 0.44, I2 = 0%]; middle [SMD = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.44 to 0.47; p = 0.94, I2 = 0%]; apical [SMD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.35 to 0.38; p = 0.70, I2 = 0%]). Meta-analyses on debris removal evaluated by scanning electron microscope (coronal [SMD = 0.03, 95% CI: -0.41 to 0.46; p = 0.27, I2 = 23%]; middle [SMD = -0.24, 95% CI: -0.83 to 0.35; p = 0.80, I2 = 0%]; apical [SMD = 0.24, 95%CI: -0.20 to 0.67; p = 0.36, I2 = 2%]) and micro-CT (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI: -0.67 to 1.40; p = 0.03, I2 = 70%) both found insignificant differences. No meta-analysis was undertaken on soft-tissue removal and disinfection due to the various study designs, but the qualitative analyses implied that EDDY achieved similar performance to UAI in both aspects.ConclusionsLimited evidence indicated that EDDY was comparable to UAI in removing smear layer, debris, soft tissue and microbes ex vivo. Considering UAI may damage canal walls, EDDY might be a substitute for UAI in irrigation activation. But more randomized clinical trials are required to explore the clinical extrapolation of the results in this review.

Dynamic response of drill string when sonic drilling rig is applied to blasting hole operation

Sonic drilling technology has the advantages of high efficiency and good stratum adaptability, which is suitable for geophysical blasting hole drilling. The longitudinal vibration transmission law of drilling tools is not clear, which limits the improvement of drilling efficiency and drilling depth, resulting in low drilling speed of geophysical blasting holes. In this study, a longitudinal vibration model of sonic drill string considering vibration head and stratum coupling boundary is established. Through numerical simulation, the transfer law of longitudinal vibration between overburden layers and the drill string was obtained. The larger the elastic coefficient of the stratum is, the larger the resonance frequency of the sonic system is, and it plays a slight role in promoting the transmission of sound waves. The larger the damping coefficient of the stratum, the smaller the amplitude of the sonic system, but the resonance frequency is basically unchanged. There is a tiny new resonance due to frequency superposition. The results show that the changes of elastic coefficient and damping coefficient caused by stratum changes inevitably affect the vibration response of the drill string system. The model provides a theoretical basis for the vibration transmission law of drill string when a sonic drilling rig is used for geophysical blasting in the overburden layers. Reasonable selection of drilling parameters can improve drilling performance.

The effect of different irrigation and disinfection methods on post-operative pain in mandibular molars: a randomised clinical trial

BackgroundTo examine post-operative pain (PP) after conventional irrigation and sonic activation methods, with and without laser disinfection in mandibular molars.MethodsEighty patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis were included in this randomized clinical study. There were four study groups. In group 1, conventional irrigation only was applied. In group 2, a sonic irrigation activation system (EDDY (VDW, Munich, Germany)), was applied. In groups 3 and 4, irradiation with a 980-nm diode laser was performed, following irrigation with the conventional method and sonic irrigation activation system, respectively. The patients were instructed to record their PP and analgesic intake using a numerical rating scale 8, 24, 48 h and 7 days post-procedure. A chi-square test, Fisher’s exact chi-square test and Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test were used to assess qualitative data. Inter-group and intra-group parameters were assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxon’s test at a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of age, sex, pre-operative pain, PP and analgesic intake (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe use of sonic irrigation activation system in the final irrigation protocol and irradiation with the 980-nm diode laser did not significantly reduce PP levels and analgesic intake.

Efficacy of four different irrigation systems on the removal of calcium hydroxide from the root canal, study: Original research

: Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) has been used as a root canal medicament due to its antimicrobial activity and organic tissue dissolution capacity. To, increase the efficiency and success of root canal/endodontics treatment calcium hydroxide has to be removed from the canals walls. This study evaluate and compare four different irrigation system i.e. Conventional Irrigation (plastic 30 gauge needle), Sonic Irrigation ( Endoactivator), Ultrasonic Continuous Irrigation and Negative pressure with Endo Irrigation plus.For carrying out this study we have used 50 extracted premolar roots, preserved in sodium hypochlorite. Then they were randomly allocated five in four groups (n=10) and a control group. Specimen were statistically analysed by Kruskal Wallis test. All Testing was performed at significance level P-values 0.05. The analysis was carried out with social sciences version (SPSS)17.0 for Windows(SPSSInc.,Chicago, IL,USA). : In our present study we have found that None of the techniques used was completely able to remove Ca(OH)2 from the root canals. But the Sonic irrigation system (Endoactivator) has some potential benefit in removal of calcium hydroxide.

Sonic anemometry on a high altitude balloon

Recent results demonstrate the promise of sonic anemometry for accurate, three dimensional, high update relative wind measurements in high altitude (stratospheric) balloons and for planetary science missions on Mars, Venus, and other environments [Banfield, JASA (2016); White, ASA (2020); White, AIAA (2020)]. The Tufts sonic anemometer, operating at 40kHz with six commercial piezoelectric transducers and custom electronics and frame, flew out of Fort Sumner, New Mexico on August 30 2021, reaching a height of 106°000 feet at float. The entire duration of the flight was 4 h and 42 min, with 2 h at float. The three axis sonic anemometry system collected sound speed and three dimensional relative wind velocity in two modes, at 3.4 Samples/sec or 1.5 Samples/sec. Results reported include comparison to balloon inertial and GPS motion to attempt to establish accuracy. Analysis is ongoing. [Work supported by NASA-NNX16AJ24G and NASA-80NSSC20M0007. Thanks to Chris Yoder and NASA Wallops Balloon Programs Office for technical support.]

The Effectiveness of Automated Sonic Bloom Method in An IoT-Based Hydroponic System

One of the solutions for food security is planting using hydroponic method and to increase productivity and help hydroponic grow faster and facilitate in monitoring hydroponic growth, sonic bloom and Internet of Things (IoT) are two technologies that can be used. However, in previous studies, the two systems have not been interconnected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of the two systems mentioned, hence creating an automated sonic bloom method in an IoT-based hydroponic system. To test the proposed method, this system is implemented with bok choi as the hydroponic plant using the DFT technique. The automated sonic bloom is embedded to the IoT system with DF Player Mini module, RTC module, and speakers. The evaluation is done by comparing growth parameters and the crop parameters. The results show that the system with sonic bloom produces fresh weight of 0,44-0,56 g and dry weight of 0,21–0,33 g. The mentioned results are superior to the system without sonic bloom, where fresh weight is 0,17–0,25 g and dry weight is 0,08–0,13 g. It can be concluded that the IoT-based sonic bloom system is effective in increasing the growth rate and hydroponic production rate.

Effect of Herbal and Chemical Solution in Tissue Dissolution by using Conventional Irrigation and Sonic Irrigation System.

Introduction:An essential part of root canal cleaning is irrigating the system to remove any remaining debris and tissue remains. The purpose of root canal therapy is to shape and clean the endodontic space, reduce the bacterial burden, and remove the pulp tissue. In this research, several irrigation solutions with and without sonic irrigation were evaluated to see how quickly tissue dissolves.Method:A tissue sample was taken from a cow (68 ± 3 mg) with no statistically significant difference between groups. All five test tubes in each group were immersed in irrigant, and each group contained one subgroup with five test tubes. Separate weights were recorded for every irrigant that had been passed through the filter paper. Thus, the quantity of pulp dissolved by different irrigating solutions was quantified using a filtering technique.Results:It was revealed that there was a substantial difference between the groups. Sonic and non-sonic irrigation of sodium hypochlorite resulted in a substantial difference in tissue disintegration.Conclusion:This research found that sodium hypochlorite was more effective than EDTA and saline in dissolving pulp. Despite several studies claiming that neem has potent antibacterial activities, tissue dissolution has not been shown in experiments using this herb.

Establishment of super sonic inlet flow pattern monitoring system: A workflow

To reduce the negative effects of the buzz flow state of supersonic air inlets, this paper proposes a process in which an online monitoring system for the supersonic inlet flow patterns is established with pressure sensors. The first step in this workflow is to build an experimental system based on the objective air inlet and a large number of pressure sensors. After that, for each pressure sensor, based on Sliding Window Short-Time Fourier Transform (SW-STFT) pre-processing and Deep residual network (ResNet) structure, a method to train a sub classifier (Classifier trained by only one sensor signal) with each pressure sensor is proposed to achieve efficient extraction of highly perturbed signal information and high classification accuracy of different flow patterns. However, the main limitation of this workflow is that too many pressure sensors can increase the complexity of aero engine control systems and make the installation difficult. Therefore, in the third step, a multi-objective optimization model is built to solve this problem and find the best subset of sensors in the experimental system. Compared with previous studies, the flow modal monitoring system established in this paper has the advantages of real-time monitoring, higher classification accuracy, and better performance robustness. At the same time, this workflow allows the construction of individualized flow monitoring systems for different inlets.

Aluminum nitride piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducers with applications in sonic anemometry

Recent results demonstrate the promise of sonic anemometry for accurate, three dimensional, high update relative wind measurements in high altitude (stratospheric) balloons and for planetary science missions on Mars, Venus, and other environments (Banfield, JASA 2016, White, ASA 2020, White, AIAA 2020). For these applications, low weight and small size is desirable. We propose an aluminum nitride piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) as a candidate for a small (∼1 cm3) low weight (∼10 g) sonic anemometry system. Two PMUT designs were fabricated using Vesper Technologies MEMS microphone process by Vanguard Semiconductor International on 1.4 × 1.4 mm2 die. The first device has 270 μm diameter diaphragms and operates at 610 kHz, the second 190 μm diameter diaphragms and operates at 890 kHz. By operating at these high frequencies, the acoustic path length can notionally be reduced to 1 cm, while still retaining sufficient phase resolution to measure wind with 1 to 10 cm/s accuracy. The substantial challenge is producing sufficient signal to overcome acoustic absorption at these elevated frequencies. This design is aggressively exploratory in nature. The PMUT devices have been fabricated and operate, but the sonic anemometry system has not yet been demonstrated. [Work supported by NASA PICASSO NNX16AJ24G, NSF 1934553 and NSF 2110083.]

The rock breaking capability analyses of sonic drilling

Sonic drilling technology uses the longitudinal vibration of a drill string to realize fast and effective drilling. By setting the top and bottom boundary conditions of the drill string during drilling, a dynamic model of flexible sonic string percussive drilling is established in this article. At a certain drilling depth, with the excitation frequencies as the control parameters, the maximum impact force and rock breaking energy utilization rate are used to evaluate the rock breaking capability of the sonic drilling system under the linear bit–rock model. A surface diagram of the maximum breaking force reached within the working frequencies and at varying drilling depths is obtained. The curve graph of the rock breaking energy utilization rate varying with drilling depth under the first six orders of resonance is also calculated. Analysing the influence of changing drilling parameters on the rock breaking capability of sonic drilling systems can provide theoretical guidance for the actual drilling process.

Cube Fest 2022

Cube Fest 2022

New Water and Air Pollution Sensors Added to the Sonic Kayak Citizen Science System for Low Cost Environmental Mapping

Sonic Kayaks are low-cost open-source systems for gathering fine-scale environmental data. The system is designed to be simple to fit on to standard kayaks or canoes, and full instructions have been made available for anyone wishing to build their own. The previous version included temperature sensors and a hydrophone for recording underwater sound. Here we outline the design and integration of two new sensors, for underwater turbidity and above water air particulate pollution. All sensors record continually, and the GPS location, time and date are also stored for every data point, allowing fine-scale environmental data mapping. The data being collected by the sensors is sonified (turned into sound) in real-time, allowing the paddler to hear the data as they are collecting it, making it possible to locate and follow interesting occurrences. We present proof-of principle data for the first time for all the sensors, demonstrating how the system can be used for environmental mapping, and discuss potential future applications and adaptations. We believe the Sonic Kayak system offers particular promise for citizen science and environmental activism, and allows professional researchers to gather data that was previously difficult or impossible to<br />obtain.

Sonic branding: The value of intentional audio in the new normal

Recently, there has been a surge in interest in sonic branding, this untapped, valuable communication tool, and its ability to enhance customer experiences. Why are brands such as KitchenAid, Toshiba, Kentucky Fried Chicken and others investing in sonic branding? What is driving this brand imperative to new heights? 2020 has been a game-changing year. Businesses have had to adopt new ways of operating, employees are working remotely and students are facing distanced learning. At the same time, technology has advanced to deliver exceptional sonic communications. We are in a voice-first/sound-first world. And that will not change, even when the pandemic is under control. This is the new normal and everyone must adapt. This paper shares insights on what sonic branding is and why creating your proprietary sound is a brand imperative. You will learn how to: create valuable brand equity using sonic branding; elevate your brand through music, sound and voice; make your brand more relevant by embracing today’s technology; bring empathy and emotion to your brand’s narrative; improve your return on investment (ROI) by creating a sonic system that is flexible, sustainable and authentic; and most importantly, understand this new shift and what can be done to build a successful future.

In Vitro Assessment of Intracanal Calcium Hydroxide Removal Using Various Irrigation Systems: An SEM Study

The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of three different irrigation systems in elimination of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2]from root canals. This in vitro research included ninety recently extracted mandibular premolar teeth with a solitary root. The sample teeth were subjected to disinfection employing sodium hypochlorite at 5.25%. The root canal preparation was performed followed by placement of premixed Ca(OH)2 within every canal. The sample teeth were then randomly allocated into one of the three experimental groups (each comprising 30 samples) as follows: Group 1, NaviTip FX irrigation system; group 2, Vibringe sonic irrigation system; and group 3, EndoVac apical negative pressure irrigation system. Following the preparation, each of the sample teeth was examined beneath a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification of 1000×. An intragroup comparative analysis revealed that the highest Ca(OH)2 elimination was seen at middle third (0.82 ± 0.09, 0.30 ± 0.11) in NaviTip FX irrigation system and Vibringe sonic irrigation system, respectively. Higher Ca(OH)2 was eliminated at the apical third (0.26 ± 0.02) by the EndoVac irrigation system. At coronal third, maximum Ca(OH)2 removal was seen in EndoVac irrigation system (0.49 ± 0.03). A statistically significant difference was noted amid Vibringe sonic irrigation and EndoVac irrigation systems. The intergroup evaluation of Ca(OH)2 elimination at coronal, middle, and apical third showed a statistically significant difference between NaviTip FX irrigation and Vibringe sonic irrigation as well as between NaviTip FX irrigation and EndoVac irrigation at a p value of 0.001. The difference between EndoVac irrigation and Vibringe sonic irrigation was not statistically significant. Amid the limitations of this research, this research concludes that none among the irrigation methods employed could totally eliminate the Ca(OH)2 off the root canals. Nevertheless, EndoVac apical negative pressure irrigation has slightly superior potential in eliminating Ca(OH)2 from the root canals in comparison with Vibringe sonic irrigation as well as the NaviTip FX irrigation system. Even though the Ca(OH)2 is largely suggested as medicament, its elimination at the point of canal obturation is likewise significant and complex as any remaining portion may avoid sealer diffusion inside the dentinal tubules, consequently substantially escalating the apical leakage of endodontically treated teeth.

Interactive Computation of Timbre Spaces for Sound Synthesis Control

Expressive sonic interaction with sound synthesizers requires the control of a continuous and high dimensional space. Further, the relationship between synthesis variables and timbre of the generated sound is typically complex or unknown to users. In previous works, we presented an unsupervised mapping method based on machine listening and machine learning techniques, which addresses these challenges by providing a low-dimensional and perceptually related timbre control space. The mapping maximizes the breadth of the explorable sonic space covered by the sound synthesizer, and minimizes possible timbre losses due to the low­-dimensional control. The mapping is generated automatically by a system requiring little input from users. In this paper we present an improved method and an optimized implementation that drastically reduce the time for timbre analysis and mapping computation. Here we introduce the use of the extreme learning machines for the regression from control to timbre spaces, and an interactive approach for the analysis of the synthesizer sonic response, performed as users explore the parameters of the instrument. This work is implemented in a generic and open-source tool that enables the computation of ad hoc synthesis mappings through timbre spaces, facilitating and speeding up the workflow to get a customized sonic control system.