Sound Module Research Articles

SPECTROGRAM ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL SOUND PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT Spectrograms visualise the time-frequency content of a signal. They are commonly used to analyse animal vocalisations. Here, we analyse how far we can deduce the mechanical origin of sound generation and modulation from the spectrogram. We investigate the relationship between simple mathematical events such as transients, harmonics, amplitude- and frequency modulation and the resulting structures in spectrograms. This approach yields not only convenient statistical description, but also aids in formulating hypotheses about the underlying mathematical mechanisms. We then discuss to what extent it is possible to invert our analysis and relate structures in spectrograms back to the underlying mathematical and mechanical events using two exemplary approaches: (a) we analyse the spectrogram of a vocalisation of the Bearded Vulture and postulate hypotheses on the mathematical origin of the signal. Furthermore, we synthesise the signal using the simple mathematical principles presented earlier; (b) we use a simple mechanical model to generate sounds and relate experimentally observed mechanical events to characteristics of the spectrogram. We conclude that although knowledge of sound producing systems increases the explanatory power of a spectrogram, a spectrogram per se cannot present unambiguous evidence about the underlying mechanical origin of the sound signal.

Improvement in the reproducibility of region of interest using an auditory feedback loop: A pilot assessment using dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) breast MR images

To augment traditional visual data perception of complex multiparametric imaging data sets by adding auditory feedback to improve the delineation of regions of interest (ROIs) in tumor assessment in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. In addition to conventional display methodologies, we have created an application window which interfaces with audio output using dynamically loadable sound modules, providing goodness of fit (GF) information through auditory feedback. We have assessed effectiveness of conveying sound information with three independent readers on eight DCE-MR breast image data sets. The assessment was based on either conventional visual only mode or combined visual plus auditory mode. For statistical comparison between two sensory approaches, interobserver repeatability was measured with three different criteria. Adding auditory feedback improves repeatability significantly (P < 0.01), and the enhanced sensory approach had higher repeatability than visual only mode in visually complex breast tumor cases. However, in easy and moderate cases, visual only mode was more reproducible than the combined mode with very high significance (P < 0.001). Adding auditory information to visual based image analysis for identifying tumor ROIs provides higher interobserver repeatability for analyzing complex multidimensional/multiparametric medical image data sets with visually difficult lesions to delineate.

Stimulus intensity affects early sensory processing: Sound intensity modulates auditory evoked gamma-band activity in human EEG

We studied the effect of different sound intensities on the auditory evoked gamma-band response (GBR). Previous studies observed oscillatory gamma activity in the auditory cortex of animals and humans. For the visual modality, it has been demonstrated that the GBR can be modulated by top–down (attention, memory) as well as bottom-up factors (stimulus properties). Therefore, we expected to find a sound intensity modulation for the auditory GBR. 21 healthy participants without hearing deficits were investigated in a forced-choice discrimination task. Sinusoidal tones were presented at three systematically varied sound intensities (30, 45, 60 dB hearing level). The results of the auditory evoked potentials were predominantly consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, we observed an augmentation of the evoked GBR with increasing sound intensity. The analysis indicated that this intensity difference in the GBR amplitude most likely arises from increased phase-locking. The results demonstrate a distinct dependency between sound intensity and gamma-band oscillations. Future experiments that investigate the relationship between auditory evoked GBRs and higher cognitive processes should therefore select stimuli with an adequate sound intensity and control this variable to avoid confounding effects. In addition, it seems that gamma-band activity is more sensitive to exogenous stimulus parameters than evoked potentials.

Urban niche dynamics of Kaifeng city

Niche theory is one of the most important ecological theories. It is widely applied to analyzing such phenomena as competition among, and evolution of, urban ecosystem functional modules. This paper describes a study concerning different functional modules of Kaifeng city urban ecosystem. Niche theory and techniques were used to analyze the changes of these functional modules in the period 1994–2003. The results showed that, in the period 1994–2003: (1) Niche value of the atmospheric environment and urban virescence modules increased, while niche value of the water environment and sound environment modules decreased; (2) niche value of the tertiary industry module increased, niche value of the secondary industry module decreased, while niche value of the primary industry module showed little change; and (3) niche value of the infrastructure, resource distribution, and production & social security modules increased, while niche value of the population module decreased. This study may contribute to macroscopic planning of urban functional modules, economic development, and environmental protection.

Hearing aid device

A hearing aid device includes a signal transforming unit for converting an analog sound signal received by a signal receiving unit to a digital signal; a memory unit for temporarily storing the digital signal; a sound processing module for reprocessing the sound signal stored in the memory unit via a microprocessing unit according to parameters set by a user; a sound control module for receiving the sound signal processed by the sound processing module and adjusting an output volume via the microprocessing unit; and a signal output unit for receiving and outputting the sound signal adjusted by the sound control module. By such arrangement, a speed, tone and/or volume of an output sound can be controlled using the hearing aid device to thereby help the user to receive and recognize the sound signal.

Phylogenetic review of tonal sound production in whales in relation to sociality.

BackgroundIt is widely held that in toothed whales, high frequency tonal sounds called 'whistles' evolved in association with 'sociality' because in delphinids they are used in a social context. Recently, whistles were hypothesized to be an evolutionary innovation of social dolphins (the 'dolphin hypothesis'). However, both 'whistles' and 'sociality' are broad concepts each representing a conglomerate of characters. Many non-delphinids, whether solitary or social, produce tonal sounds that share most of the acoustic characteristics of delphinid whistles. Furthermore, hypotheses of character correlation are best tested in a phylogenetic context, which has hitherto not been done. Here we summarize data from over 300 studies on cetacean tonal sounds and social structure and phylogenetically test existing hypotheses on their co-evolution.ResultsWhistles are 'complex' tonal sounds of toothed whales that demark a more inclusive clade than the social dolphins. Whistles are also used by some riverine species that live in simple societies, and have been lost twice within the social delphinoids, all observations that are inconsistent with the dolphin hypothesis as stated. However, cetacean tonal sounds and sociality are intertwined: (1) increased tonal sound modulation significantly correlates with group size and social structure; (2) changes in tonal sound complexity are significantly concentrated on social branches. Also, duration and minimum frequency correlate as do group size and mean minimum frequency.ConclusionStudying the evolutionary correlation of broad concepts, rather than that of their component characters, is fraught with difficulty, while limits of available data restrict the detail in which component character correlations can be analyzed in this case. Our results support the hypothesis that sociality influences the evolution of tonal sound complexity. The level of social and whistle complexity are correlated, suggesting that complex tonal sounds play an important role in social communication. Minimum frequency is higher in species with large groups, and correlates negatively with duration, which may reflect the increased distances over which non-social species communicate. Our findings are generally stable across a range of alternative phylogenies. Our study points to key species where future studies would be particularly valuable for enriching our understanding of the interplay of acoustic communication and sociality.

Method and system for defining a sequence of sound modules for synthesis of a speech signal in a tonal language

The invention relates to a method for defining a sequence of sound modules for synthesis of a speech signal in a tonal language corresponding to a sequence of speech modules. The method according to the invention differs from known methods in that the speech modules represent triphones, which each comprise one phoneme with the respective context, and with syllables in the tonal language being composed of one or more triphones. This results in a high level of flexibility for the synthesis of tonal languages.

Auditory alarms for physiological data monitoring

The present invention provides methods and devices for monitoring physiological data such that a health care provider is able to effectively monitor a patient's health status, including, for example, blood flow characteristics, without having to maintain constant visual contact. In one embodiment of the present invention, a physiological data monitoring system measures at least one physiological characteristic wherein the physiological data monitoring system comprises a sensor unit and a monitoring unit in data communication with the sensor unit. The monitoring unit has a sonification module that comprises one programmable sound generator module to produce a plurality of signals indicative of a physiological parameter and a memory module for storing a plurality of control parameters for managing the programmable sound generator module, wherein the plurality of signals produced have a plurality of frequencies modified in accordance with at least one physiological data value. More specifically, the present invention provides a pulse oximetry sonification system that generates fixed frequency singular and/or combined amplitude-adjusted dual audio tones corresponding to predetermined transition and/or intermediate points over a range of SpO 2 measurements.

Electronic device having sound output module

the output amplifiers requiring a bias voltage can be activated or deactivated individually, and a bias acceleration circuit for rapidly increasing the magnitude of a bias voltage in time can be provided in or with the bias circuit, whereby even in case of the capacitance of the capacitor included in the bias circuit being increased for improving the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), the rise in the bias voltage can be increased so that the pop sound which arises when the bias circuit is activated can be still diminished.

ClassTalk system for predicting and auralizing speech in noise with reverberation in classrooms

This paper discusses and demonstrates the ClassTalk system for predicting, visualizing and auralizing speech in noise with reverberation in classrooms. The classroom can contain a speech-reinforcement system (SRS). Male or female speech sources, SRS loudspeakers and overhead, slide or digital projectors, or ventilation-noise sources, can have four output levels. Empirical models are used to predict speech and noise levels, and Early Decay Times, from which Speech Transmission Index (STI) and Speech Intelligibility (SI) are calculated. ClassTalk visualizes the floor-plan, speech- and noise-source positions, and the receiver position. The user can walk through the room at will. In real time five quantities, background-noise level, speech level, signal-to-noise difference, STI and SI, are displayed along with occupied and unoccupied reverberation times. The sound module auralizes male or female speech mixed with the relevant noise signals, with predicted, frequency-varying reverberation superimposed using MaxxVerb. Technical issues related to the development of the sound module are discussed. The potential of the systems auralization module for demonstrating the effects of the acoustical environment and its control on speech is discussed and demonstrated.

Prenatal auditory enrichment with species-specific calls and sitar music modulates expression of Bcl-2 and Bax to alter programmed cell death in developing chick auditory nuclei

Postnatal auditory stimulation influences early perceptual learning. Previously we reported morphological effects of prenatal auditory stimulation by species-specific and sitar musical sounds on the chick brainstem auditory nuclei—nucleus magnocellularis and nucleus laminaris. At hatching, these two nuclei of auditory enriched embryos showed higher neuronal numbers, amongst other morphological changes. There were also increases in synaptophysin and syntaxin1 expressions in the sound enriched groups and modulation of the developmental expression of transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun. We hypothesized that prenatal auditory enrichment may have reduced embryonic apoptosis in these nuclei with possible alteration of molecular mechanisms enhancing the postsynaptic neuron's ability to survive. In the present study, therefore, we examined apoptotic cell death by TUNEL technique and Bcl-2 expression using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. In the controls, a peak percentage in the TUNEL-positive cells was noted in the auditory nuclei at embryonic day 12, which was reduced at embryonic day 16. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity decreased from embryonic day 8 to embryonic day 12 overlapping the period of embryonic cell death in these nuclei. The stimulated groups, however, showed fewer apoptotic neurons and higher Bcl-2 level than that in the controls. On the other hand, Bax immunohistochemistry showed correlated reverse changes compared to Bcl-2 expression. Thus prenatal extra-acoustic stimulation appears to alter Bcl-2 and Bax expression to support cell survival and differentiation, thereby augmenting the development of auditory nuclei.

Personal sound link module

A personal sound link module (60) is inserted into a tunnel (40) made through the soft tissue connecting the retro-auricular space (50) with the ear canal (30). The module contains an acoustic transducer (65), located at the distal part (68) of the module, close to or inside the ear canal, an antenna (64) that receives and also potentially sends signals to a remote source, signal processing circuitry (67), telemetry circuitry (69), a power source (66) that powers the module, and possibly a microphone (63). Signals transmitted from a remote source are received through the antenna and telemetry circuitry, processed, and presented to the acoustic transducer, where they are converted to sound waves broadcast into the user's ear canal. The remote source may be a radio station, radio receiver, CD player, DVD player, tape player, audio system, telephone, TV receiver or station, or other source of audio signals intended to be heard privately by the user.

Dynamic Encoding of Amplitude-Modulated Sounds at the Level of Auditory Nerve Fibers

The relationship between the mean spike frequency of auditory nerve fibers and the levels of tonal stimuli with frequencies equal to the characteristic frequency can be presented as the "input-output" characteristic. In real auditory nerve fibers, the slope of this characteristic increases and its width decreases with increases in the level of spontaneous activity or the ability of fibers to generate spikes in the absence of a stimulus. However, real fibers with low spontaneous activity reproduce the amplitude modulation of sinusoidally amplitude-modulated signal significantly better than fibers with high levels of spontaneous activity. The simulation experiment reported here shows that the reason for the good reproduction of amplitude modulation in auditory nerve fibers is not the static profiles of the "input-output" characteristic but the dynamic properties of fibers which support the tuning (adaptation) of the threshold of the fiber to the level of the stimulus being applied. Because of their steep "input-output" characteristic, auditory nerve fibers with high levels of spontaneous activity can reproduce the modulation of sounds at subthreshold levels when a weak noise is added to the signal, thus demonstrating the property of stochastic resonance.

Neural processing of amplitude-modulated sounds.

Amplitude modulation (AM) is a temporal feature of most natural acoustic signals. A long psychophysical tradition has shown that AM is important in a variety of perceptual tasks, over a range of time scales. Technical possibilities in stimulus synthesis have reinvigorated this field and brought the modulation dimension back into focus. We address the question whether specialized neural mechanisms exist to extract AM information, and thus whether consideration of the modulation domain is essential in understanding the neural architecture of the auditory system. The available evidence suggests that this is the case. Peripheral neural structures not only transmit envelope information in the form of neural activity synchronized to the modulation waveform but are often tuned so that they only respond over a limited range of modulation frequencies. Ascending the auditory neuraxis, AM tuning persists but increasingly takes the form of tuning in average firing rate, rather than synchronization, to modulation frequency. There is a decrease in the highest modulation frequencies that influence the neural response, either in average rate or synchronization, as one records at higher and higher levels along the neuraxis. In parallel, there is an increasing tolerance of modulation tuning for other stimulus parameters such as sound pressure level, modulation depth, and type of carrier. At several anatomical levels, consideration of modulation response properties assists the prediction of neural responses to complex natural stimuli. Finally, some evidence exists for a topographic ordering of neurons according to modulation tuning. The picture that emerges is that temporal modulations are a critical stimulus attribute that assists us in the detection, discrimination, identification, parsing, and localization of acoustic sources and that this wide-ranging role is reflected in dedicated physiological properties at different anatomical levels.

An approach to fault diagnosis of vacuum cleaner motors based on sound analysis

This paper addresses the problem of the detailed quality end-test of vacuum cleaner motors at the end of the manufacturing cycle. For the prototyping purposes a test rig has been constructed and is presented in short. The diagnostic system built hereto takes advantage of vibration, sound and commutation analysis as well as parity relation checks. The paper focuses on the sound analysis module and provides two main contributions. First, an analysis of sound sources is performed and a set of appropriate features is suggested. Second, efficient signal processing algorithms are developed in order to detect and localise bearing faults, defects in fan impeller, improper brush–commutator contacts and rubbing of rotating surfaces. A thorough laboratory study shows that the underlying diagnostic modules provide accurate diagnosis, high sensitivity with respect to faults, and good diagnostic resolution.

L'os hyoïde et la dimension verticale

Located at the center of the neck and the pharyngeal column and, thanks to its attachments, tied to the base of the skull, to the mandible, to the tongue, to the larynx, and to the scapular belt, the hyoid bone is intimately related to an extensive tendino-muscular complex. From this strategic position, the hyoid bone participates in all functional and nutritional activities of the oro-facial complex. Heavily involved in the physiology of the pharyngeal column, it appears to enjoy a remarkable stability in relation to its surrounding structures as it participates in the critical process of vertical ontogenetic development. Deceptively simple in its shape and location it is anything but. While it would be easy to scorn it as a vestigial organ of little importance, the hyoid bone is actually an ancient witness of the evolution of the first human vertebrae and a vestige of the 2nd and 3rd brachial arches. Like a toy buffeted by powerful groups of muscles and tendons, the hyoid bone occupies a crossroads position where it is solicited by many vital functions, the most critical of which is respiration. Its functional behavior seems to have evolved considerably over the course of phylogeny. By piecing together the conceptions of many authors, we can conclude that the similarities--and, later, the differences--existing between the human fetus and those of other primates, and, then between young children and young primates, are related to an essentially different status quo, which modifies the delicate equilibrium of the pharyngeal region. In metamorphosing from a sagittal equilibrium to one that is vertical, this very status quo maintains an open respiratory airway during each time frame, continuously permitting the articulation and modulation of sounds, particularly during the vertical period. The hyoid bone is unpaired, in a mid-line position, symmetrical, and located just below the mandible with which it shares, to an astonishing extent, certain morphological characteristics. Its maturation and its ossification occur slowly and late even though it migrates much more rapidly to a vertical position than does the bulk of the cervical complex. True articulations between the body and the horns of the hyoid bone persist for a very long time; and so the junction between the small horns doesn't fully calcify until about the age of 50; and, in spite of its appearance, the hyoid bone is extremely supple, a quality that allows it to make substantial contributions to functional activity. If the hyoid bone itself scarcely moves during normal respiration, modern research attributes an increasing role to it in the maintenance of the equilibrium of the pharyngeal column. It seems to be called upon to respond to a number of demands that it manages to satisfy as it helps to maintain the permeability of the pharyngeal column and thus make respiration possible. In so doing, the hyoid bone adjusts its positioning, and, perhaps most important, its orientation to the physiological requirements imposed by pharyngeal obstruction and mouth breathing. Intimately connected to the larynx, the hyoid bone plays a part in phonation that has long been recognized. Recent studies now also show that the contribution the hyoid bone makes to respiratory equilibrium is far more important than its small size would suggest.

Water gun with sound effects module

A water gun includes a sound effects module. The water gun includes a trigger to squirt water. The trigger actuates a switch coupled to the sound effects module. The sound effects module has an interior volume with a speaker at one end. A speaker cover seals the periphery of the speaker. The sound effects module also has a sealed compartment containing a keypad to control the sound effects module and a printed circuit board.

Method for preventing polyphony shortage in an electronic organ

A method for handling with polyphony limits in an electronic organ, that is provided with at least one keyboard, one pedalboard, a series of organ stops, which can be turned on by a user to determine which voices are assigned to each key and to each pedal, and with a sound module, which is provided with a number of independent sound generators; when a user turns on a number of organ stops exceeding a maximum number depending on the number of independent sound generators, some organ stops are automatically turned off according to a pre-determined selection rule, in order to have a number of really operating stops that does not exceed the mentioned maximum number.

Water, dust and sound attenuating barrier and trim panel module and method for assembling within a vehicle door

A water and sound attenuating barrier for positioning between the interior surface of a vehicle door exterior panel and the door interior trim panel. The barrier is formed of a sheet of semi-rigid material having an inner face and an outer face. A thick layer of sound attenuating material is bonded to the sheet inner face and pressure sensitive adhesive is applied upon the sheet outer face. The sheet and trim panel are fastened together with the layer against the trim panel and with the adhesive bearing face exposed, to form a unitary module. To assemble the module with the door panel, the module exposed face is pressed against the door panel interior surface for securing the adhesive on the sheet outer face thereto. Mechanical fasteners removeably secure the sheet and the trim panel together and, also, secure the trim panel to the door panel during the assembly.

ClassTalk system for predicting and visualizing speech in noise in classrooms

This paper discusses the ClassTalk system for modeling, predicting and visualizing speech in noise in classrooms. Modeling involves defining the classroom geometry, sources, sound-absorbing features, and receiver positions. Empirical models, used to predict speech and noise levels, and reverberation times, are described. Male or female speech sources, and overhead-, slide-, or LCD-projector, or ventilation-outlet noise sources, can have four output levels; values are assigned based on ranges of values found from published data and measurements. ClassTalk visualizes the floor plan, speech- and noise-source positions, and the receiver position. The user can walk through the room at will. In real time, six quantities—background-noise level, speech level, signal-to-noise level difference, useful-to-detrimental energy fraction (U50), Speech Transmission Index, and speech intelligibility—are displayed, along with occupied and unoccupied reverberation times. An example of a large classroom before and after treatment is presented. The future development of improved prediction models and of the sound module, which will auralize speech in noise with reverberation, is discussed.