Sound Evaluation Research Articles

Integrating ICAP theory in learning analytics

This paper introduces a conceptual evaluation learning analytics (LA) model developed by Keypath Education and Melbourne Business School to analyse student engagement in an online learning environment. The paper describes how a targeted LA intervention was grounded within the ICAP theory for active learning to identify, visualise and analyse student engagement metrics in a 100% online setting. The architecture of the model, including its design principles and underlying assumptions, are broadly examined against the latest research in educational, LA, and data analytics research. This includes a discussion of our initial phase testing results of captured student data alongside a discussion of key questions and desired study outcomes for the upcoming phase 2 of the data intervention. As a result, this paper provides both specific insights into how we created an evidence based and pedagogically sound evaluation model of online student engagement within a specific suite of asynchronous educational tools, as well as more general and practical insights into how other universities could develop similar approaches to enhance understanding and support of a growing online student population.

The Promotion and Obstacles of the Double Reduction Policy for Educational Equity

China’s Double Reduction policy advances educational equity by reducing student workload and regulating extracurricular tutoring. The policy’s original intent is laudable, and some progress has been made in balancing educational resources and reducing the financial burden on families. Furthermore, this policy seeks to achieve a better study-life balance by reducing the academic burden so that students will have more time to develop their all-around qualities. However, its implementation has faced several challenges, including inconsistent policy implementation, regional disparities in education resources, chronic parental anxiety about education, and social pressure. These issues undermine the effectiveness of the policy. In this context, this essay comprehensively analyses the present state of the Double Reduction policy, identifies the primary challenges, and proposes corresponding recommendations for improvement. These recommendations include establishing a sound long-term evaluation mechanism, increasing investment in rural education, guiding parents to manage educational expectations, and strengthening the vocational training system. Continuously optimizing and improving the implementation of the policy, will ultimately promote balanced education in China and help students grow more holistically.

Objective quantification of sound sensory attributes in side-by-side vehicles using multiple linear regression models

The evaluation of sound quality is a pivotal area of research within audio and acoustics. The sound quality evaluation methods commonly used include both objective and subjective, the latter being time-consuming and costly as they rely on listening tests. This research work aims to investigate the use of predictive sound quality models as a way to objectively assess the Desire-to-buy of side-by-side vehicles, in a more efficient, faster, and less costly way than conventional methods. Multiple linear regression algorithms were used to validate the objective models derived from objective physical metrics and perceptual psycho-physical metrics. The sensory profile objective models reported in this paper were constructed using parsimonious linear Lasso and Elastic-net algorithms. Our results show that linear objective models effectively account for each of the perceptual attributes of the sensory profiles and the Desire-to-buy, while only requiring a few physical and psychophysical metrics.

Prediction of Noise Reduction Effect of Sound Barriers and Evaluation of Noise Annoyance

This study was conducted to assess noise annoyance following the installation of various types of sound barriers on elevated roads and to forecast the noise reduction effect. The level of annoyance was evaluated using a five-level linguistic rating scale, and noise values were anticipated for each floor of the building using Cadna/A software based on different road service levels. The results showed that for each service level road, the sound barrier’s noise reduction impact was most pronounced at heights of 3.5–5[Formula: see text]m, and the ratio of the acoustic barrier’s length extension to its distance from the building should not be greater than 4:1. After comparison, it was found that the fully enclosed sound barrier has the best noise reduction effect. Additionally, the noise annoyance level varied significantly at different service levels, with 60.5[Formula: see text]dB chosen as the noise threshold value. This study could offer an optional path for noise reduction facility design.

Sound quality evaluation tendency according to driving situation

In near future, autonomous vehicles are expected to be more popular due to the technology development. Through this transition from active driving situation to passive driving, the drivers' psychological state may change. This may cause change of impression to vehicle interior sound. If the sound evaluation tendency is changed, we should improve autonomous vehicle interior sound by considering the difference. In this study, we investigated whether drivers' impression to interior sound change or not according to the driving situation through subjective evaluation test using a driving simulator. In the test, an original driving simulator was prepared to reproduce identical sounds at both active and passive driving situation. EV and ICEV interior sounds were presented in the simulator for the sound quality evaluation about discomfort and sporty. Participants drove the simulator under various driving conditions including acceleration and deceleration and evaluated the sound quality. As the result, interior sounds were found to be evaluated as more discomfort at passive driving situation than that at active situation. Furthermore, this tendency was observed regardless the driving experience of participants. Accordingly, more interior sound reduction will be necessary for satisfying the customer in the autonomous vehicle development.

"Tasting" sounds by A.I. Sommelier - Unsupervised machine learning of wine evaluation applied for sound quality evaluation

Wine produced countries in European Union categorize quality of wine as three classes by subjective judgements (called as "Appellation" in French) like taste, land of producer, type of grape seed and so on. In order to evaluate those wine quality, unsupervised machine learning with measured optical and chemical data of wine enables to categorize those 3 subjective classes at high accuracies. With those "A.I. Sommelier" techniques, vacuum cleaner sounds are categorized with psychoacoustic parameters and then modeling by image recognition AI of sFFT images correlate with annoyance rating at high rate. Although unsupervised machine learning technique is uncommon, it shows unsupervised machine learning technique is useful for sound quality evaluation

Annoyance evaluation of impact sounds on lightweight, concrete and cross-laminated timber floors - A comparative study

For people living in multi-unit residential buildings, neighbor noise and especially impact noise from neighbors, such as dropping objects or footsteps, can affect the quality of living of those who hear the noise. In order to support the inclusion of limits for impact noise in a future edition of the National Building Code of Canada, a project at the National Research Council of Canada has focused on the perceived annoyance from different types of impact sounds for various timber floor-ceiling assemblies. The results from listening experiments showed poor correlation between subjective ratings and objective single number metrics for impact noise due to persons walking without shoes. To extend this evaluation to a wider variety of floor-ceiling assembly types and to validate previous results, another listening experiment was conducted at the National Research Council. Annoyance ratings for ball drops, hammer impacts and footsteps on different lightweight, concrete and cross-laminated timber floor-ceiling assemblies were compared.

Prediction and analysis of interior sound quality of high-speed trains based on XGBoost

This paper primarily investigates the objective quantification of subjective perceptions of sound quality in high-speed trains. The study measures and analyzes the sound quality in high-speed trains under high-speed operating conditions and calculates psychoacoustic parameters. A subjective evaluation of the interior sound quality is conducted using the grading scale method. An Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm is utilized to construct a predictive model for sound quality in high-speed trains and get high predictive accuracy for sound quality evaluation. Employing AI-based evaluation models to evaluate the sound quality in high-speed trains offers a more effective method for studying the interior sound quality of high-speed trains.

Sound quality evaluation of small fan noise by tonal components

As Covod-19 has made online meetings from home offices the norm, the noise from small fans installed in information devices has increasingly become a factor disrupting a comfortable environment. In addition, as global warming accelerates, the use of new small fans called wearable fans has expanded, and the distance between small fans and humans has become even closer. In this study, we investigated whether T-TNR and T-PR, which are two methods for evaluating the tone characteristics of small fans, can be applied to the noise of projectors and wearable fans. We investigated a method for selecting dominant components and searched for a method for determining the harshness threshold using T-TNR and T-TPR.

Review of floor impact sound insulation performance measurement evaluation methods and timber floor specifications in Japan

Since the 1970s, heavy-weight floor impact noise has been a concern in Japan, prompting the development of unique measurement and evaluation methods standardized by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). JIS A 1418-1 specifies the measurement method for light-weight floor impact sound insulation performance, while JIS A 1418-2 defines the measurement method for heavy-weight floor impact sound insulation performance. Two types of standard impact sources, namely car-tire impact source and rubber ball impact source, are specified for measuring the heavy-weight floor impact sound insulation performance. JIS A 1419-2 defines the evaluation method for floor impact sound insulation performance. These methods differ from the international ISO standards, making performance comparison challenging. This paper provides an overview of these Japanese methods. Furthermore, since the enforcement of "the Act on Promotion of Use of Wood in Buildings to Contribute to the Realization of a Decarbonized Society," construction of timber buildings has been promoted in Japan with the aim of encouraging wood usage and contributing to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). However, the floor impact sound insulation performance of timber floors tends to be low, with various specifications for timber floor cross-sections differing among private companies. This paper introduces these specifications and also compares driving-point impedances.

Sound quality evaluation in special vehicles based on multiple linear regression

The issue of interior sound quality in specialized vehicles has received widespread attention, which could directly affect the riding comfort of the vehicle. This research primarily focuses on the objective quantification of subjective perception of sound qualitySQ in special vehicles. The noise of special vehicles under different working conditions is measured and analyzed, and psychoacoustic parameters and A-weighted sound pressure levels are calculated. The subjective evaluation of interior sound quality was conducted using the grading scale method. A multiple linear regression model is used to establish the correspondence between subjective perceptions and objective parameters. It provides a reference basis for evaluating the sound quality of special vehicles.

Sound quality evaluation and quantification for power seat operating noise

In recent years, vehicle interior condition at running has been quiet due to progress of noise reduction technology. On the other hand, quietness is not required only at running condition but also at parking where slight operating noise is generated by various devices. In this study, we then focused on an operating noise during power seat operation as one of the devices radiated noise in cabin. The impression to power seat operating noise were investigated through subjective evaluation test. For the test, power seat radiated noise at various operating modes and seat types were recorded binaurally and presented in the subjective evaluation test. Participants evaluated the presented sound quality in several evaluation terms such as "loudness," "pitch," and "discomfort." As the results, representative power seat operating mode, in which sound impression varies widely among presented sounds, was found out and suitable evaluation terms for describing the sound quality characteristics well were also extracted. In addition, the representative sound quality tendency was attempted to be evaluated quantitatively using psychoacoustic metrics from recorded sound pressure signal of the power seat.

Simulation of pulse width modulation strategies: validation based on sound quality evaluations

Though the noise emitted by an electrical machine is less loud than the one from a combustion engine, the existing literature shows it is not always more pleasant. This is because of its strong tonal content, due to deterministic excitations (e.g. electromagnetic slotting and switching effects, mechanical gear mesh effects). The main source of magnetic noise is the radiation of the stator submitted to electromagnetic forces, which are harmonic by nature. Their highest frequency components are generated by the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique designed to vary the supply frequency and operating speed of the electric machine. Several PWM strategies exist, leading to specific harmonic spectra. A temporal simulation model has been developed to auralize the corresponding electromagnetic noise emitted by the machine, considering its mechanical and electrical parameters. A testbench has been adapted to test the relevance of the model, both from an electrical and acoustic point of view. The simulation model and the testbench can be used to generate virtual and real sound stimuli to be assessed in a jury testing. The subjective evaluations allow to assess the relevance of the auralization model, but also to identify the least annoying strategies.

Sound quality characteristics of reciprocating hermetic refrigeration compressors

In recent years, sound quality (SQ) has become an increasingly important factor in the home appliance industry, enhancing the customer experience and comfort. Manufacturers that prioritize SQ in their designs can gain a competitive advantage in the market and increase customer satisfaction. The compressor is one of the main sources of noise in a refrigerator. While manufacturers typically provide refrigerator sound quality and noise labels, research that specifically evaluates the compressor sound quality metrics at a component level is not common. Therefore, this study aims to isolate the compressor from the refrigerator to investigate SQ metrics for hermetic refrigeration compressors. To achieve this, compressors with different capacities are operated and recorded at different working speeds for different thermal conditions. Objective parameters are calculated and tested using time domain signals and analyzed with spectral analysis methods. In addition to the objective parameters, subjective results are obtained through jury tests consisting of 75 people of different genders and age ranges. By considering objective parameters of sound quality as input and sound quality evaluation values as output, a regression model is established. It is found that Loudness, Sharpness, and Degree of Modulation play an important role in compressor sound quality evaluations consider.

German mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (G-MAUQ) and short version (G-MAUQ-S): Translation and validation study

BackgroundThe use of mobile health applications is increasingly common among the general public and in healthcare systems. With such apps percolating into the classic healthcare sector, the necessity of sound and standardized evaluation grows. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) provides a novel and custom-tailored psychometrically validated instrument to capture users’ perception of the usefulness and usability of an mHealth application. So far, this questionnaire is only available in English, Malay and Chinese. The aim of this study was to translate and validate a German version of the MAUQ (G-MAUQ). Further, we developed a short scale with 6 items (G-MAUQ-S) in German. MethodsWe used the Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretest and Documentation (TRAPD) method to translate the MAUQ. Subsequently, we assessed content validity with 15 expert ratings and face validity with 15 German speaking mHealth users. To further validate the questionnaire, we used data from 148 participants of an RCT examining symptom checkers in the Emergency Department to assess convergent validity by correlating the G-MAUQ with the German version of the System Usability Scale and discriminant validity by correlating the G-MAUQ with other unrelated questionnaires. Lastly, we developed a short version by assessing item discrimination, factor loadings, correlation with the full scale and construct validity. ResultsAll but one item showed sufficient content validity with item-level content validity index values between CVI-I = 0.8 and 1.0. Face validity was excellent with item-level face validity index values ranging from FVI-I = 0.87 to 1. Convergent validity was sufficient with r = 0.769, and discriminant validity was sufficient with values between r = −0.014 and r = 0.220. An internal consistency of Cronbach's α = 0.93 demonstrated high reliability. The short scale showed sufficient convergent validity (r = 0.762) and discriminant validity (r between −0.012 and 0.201). ConclusionsA validated and reliable G-MAUQ can be used by researchers and practitioners to assess the usability of mHealth interventions. We also provide the German mHealth App Usability Questionnaire – Short Version (G-MAUQ-S) with six questions to quickly assess the usability of an intervention.

326 Relationship between activity and social interactions of beef bulls during the pre-breeding period and siring capacity in multi-sire breeding groups

Abstract It is currently unknown whether the behavior of bulls during pre-breeding is related to their siring capacity. This information could help producers anticipate the reproductive potential of their bulls and include it in their decision-making. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the activity and characteristics of social interaction of beef bulls expressed in drylot pens during the pre-breeding period and their siring capacity. Collars with 3-axis accelerometers and proximity sensors were placed on bulls for 12 d prior to breeding season in 2020 (n = 11 bulls) and in 2021 (n = 10 bulls). Bulls were satisfactory at the breeding soundness evaluation, and ages ranged from 1.5 to 5.4 yr. Afterward, bulls were exposed to cows in multi-sire groups at a 1:30 ratio for 2 mo, however, some bulls were removed early due to injuries (range = 15 to 62 d). DNA samples were collected from bulls and calves to calculate the number of calves sired per bull (SRC), adjusted to days exposed to cows. Daily proportion of time active (AC) was measured through a machine learning algorithm created in Python for beef bulls to differentiate activity vs. non-activity from accelerometer data every 20 sec (Precision = 95%). Daily non-directional social networks were created from proximity perceived by the sensors (Precision = 91%, <3m) in Python, where nodes represented bulls and a connection represented one second in proximity. Eigencentrality (how well connected a bull is to others, EC) and strength (proportion of connections among overall connections, ST) were calculated for each bull daily, where greater EC and ST values indicated more interactions. The statistical analyses were performed in RStudio. Negative binomial mixed effect models were fitted to AC (mean ± S.E., 26.05 ± 0.31 %), EC (26.50 ± 0.89), and ST (8.90 ± 0.21 %) as repeated measures, age (3.3 ± 0.3 yr), days exposed to cows (54 ± 3.1 d), and year as covariates, identification of bull as a random effect, and SRC as the outcome variable (21 ± 2, 2 to 45 calves). Estimates were transformed into percentage change. Days exposed to cows, year, and interactions were not significant (P > 0.05). Separate models with EC or ST (model-EC and model-ST) were built due to collinearity (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). In model-EC (marginal-R2 = 0.26, conditional-R2 = 0.70) bulls with increased AC (estimate = 2.16±0.67, P = 0.001), increased EC (0.56±0.24, P = 0.019), and younger (-20.75 ± 5.51, P < 0.001) had greater SRC. In model-ST (marginal-R2 = 0.25, conditional-R2 = 0.72) bulls with increased AC (2.29 ± 0.65, P < 0.001), increased ST (3.57 ± 0.98, P < 0.001), and younger (-19.90 ± 5.49, P < 0.001) had greater SRC. These preliminary results suggest that activity and social interactions during pre-breeding of beef bulls are related to SRC when accounted for age. Therefore, the behavior of beef bulls during the pre-breeding period might have the potential to predict their SRC, and future studies could investigate using this information to select bulls and form breeding groups aiming at optimization of the use of the bulls.

Interior sound quality evaluation and forecasting of passenger vehicles based on hybrid optimization neural networks

The interior noise of vehicles directly affects the comfort of the occupants, necessitating precise evaluation and control. Existing research has focused on constructing mappings between objective parameters and subjective perceptions of noise, where back propagation neural networks (BPNNs) are widely used due to their strong nonlinear mapping capabilities. However, the selection of initial weights and thresholds can affect the predictive accuracy of BPNN. This study developed a BPNN model optimized by an intelligent algorithm for predicting the level of subjective annoyance of passengers during the movement. Initially, objective parameters of interior noise were obtained through acoustic signal processing techniques, and five parameters were selected for studying subjective annoyance through correlation analysis and two-tailed tests. Meanwhile, the actual subjective ratings of passengers on interior noise were captured for subsequent training of the model and testing of the results. Finally, the established sparrow search algorithm (SSA) and genetic algorithm (GA) optimized BPNN were used to predict subjective evaluations. The predictive accuracy and efficiency of the model were significantly improved upon validation, providing a viable alternative to traditional passenger vehicle noise assessment experiments and valuable references for future noise control and optimization efforts. The experimental results are consistent with the view that the neural network model optimized with a mixture of intelligent algorithms is closer to the passenger’s subjective annoyance level having higher accuracy and efficiency.

Study on Long-term Mechanism of Financial Support to Agriculture from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization -- Take the Agriculture of Baise City as an Example

Based on the background and task deployment of rural revitalization strategy, this paper, taking Baise City s financial support for agriculture as an example, focuses on analyzing the system and mechanism of Baise City s financial support for agriculture in promoting rural revitalization strategy, mainly includes: The management system of financial support for agriculture is not perfect, the structure of financial support for agriculture is unreasonable, the total amount of funds is too small, and there is a lack of sound performance evaluation system. It is proposed to optimize the investment mechanism of financial support for agricultural machinery, broaden the channels of fund raising, strengthen financial support for agricultural science and technology, and strengthen the supervision and management of financial support for agriculture. In order to promote the rural revitalization strategy of the financial system mechanism innovation and the optimization of agricultural policy system to provide reference.

Effect of access to natural shade on scrotal thermoregulatory capacity, integrity of the testicular parenchyma and sperm morphology of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Canchim (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) bulls.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using naturally shaded pastures on scrotal thermoregulatory capacity, testicular echotexture, and sperm morphology of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus x 3/8 Bos indicus) bulls in a tropical climate region. Sixty-four adult Nelore and Canchim bulls were used, equally allocated in Full Sun (FS, n = 32) or Crop-Livestock-Forestry (CLF, n = 32) pasture systems. During five consecutive climate seasons, the bulls underwent monthly breeding soundness evaluations and the biometeorological variables in the systems were continuously monitored. Microclimate was significantly different between systems. CLF system had lower BGHI than FS throughout the experimental period. No triple interaction (Season x Breed x Treatment, P > 0.05) was observed for any of the variables. Animals in CLF showed lower body temperature in Summer (FS:39.41 ± 0.05 vs. CLF:39.30 ± 0.05°C; P = 0.005) and in Autumn (FS:39.54 ± 0.05 vs. CLF:39.35 ± 0.05°C; P = 0.005). Access to shading did not determine differences in the evolution of scrotal biometry, temperatures, and scrotal thermal gradients (P > 0.05). Regardless of breed, animals in CLF showed greater right testicular volume (FS:247.5 ± 5.7 vs. CLF:259.0 ± 5.7cm³; P < 0.05), more suitable parenchyma echotexture, and fewer microlithiasis spots in the Spring and Summer. Testosterone concentration was higher in FS (FS:2.6 ± 0.2 vs. CLF:2.1 ± 0.2 ng/mL; P = 0.035). Canchim bulls presented higher total sperm defects during the Autumn and Winter (P = 0.010), but the total defects levels for Canchim and Nelore bulls were in normal range for adult bulls. Thus, the natural shade in CLF system was effective in improving the microclimate of pastures and minimizing adverse environmental effects on some reproductive features of interest in beef cattle.

Remote pulmonary pathology diagnosis using a handheld device for acquiring lung sounds at the mouth: a proof of concept study

IntroductionObtaining relevant information about respiratory conditions is a unique challenge in the rapidly growing field of telehealth. While auscultation using a stethoscope remains the first-line method in primary care, it is not a practical solution in a home setting, as it requires the presence of both a skilled caregiver and experienced interpreter online. We conducted a proofofconcept study of a simple selfcheck thermometer-like device (OmnySense®), which acquires auscultatory data through a microphone in the head of the device.ObjectivesTo have a concept of proof that home handled simplified device can asure a remote opion in telemedicine enhancing prompt and ease way to diagnose lung pathologies.MethodsWe assessed the agreement between subjective evaluations of lung sounds using the device and those using a digital stethoscope for the presence of crackles and/or wheezes. A total of 385 recordings from 13 patients admitted to the internal department were blindly, individually, and randomly assessed by three experienced physicians. The intra-modality agreement for crackles between evaluators was moderate for both the device and the stethoscope, with kappa statistics of 0.44 and 0.6 for the device and stethoscope, respectively, for the detection of wheezing and 0.46 and 0.4, respectively, for the crackles. The intermodality agreement was moderate for wheezes, with a kappa of 0.53, and was substantial for crackles, with a kappa of 0.71. Comparing the ability of crackles to diagnose pulmonary findings by imaging showed comparable sensitivity and specificity for both modalities.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the diagnostic performance of OmnySense’s selfoperating device is similar to that of physician interpretation of digital stethoscope recordings; thus, OmnySense has the potential to become a useful tool in the remote assessment of respiratory conditions and pathologies.