Sound Technique Research Articles

The Haunted Theatre: Mark Ravenhill’s The Haunting of Susan A

Different art forms such as music, light, sound, digital art, dance, painting, sculpture, ritual, and film can be part of the theatre. Through these components, theatre might be used to stage human existence, behaviours, places, historical dimensions, cultural history, emotions, passions, fears, and various narratives and experiences in the social dimension. Mark Ravenhill, focusing on the history of the King’s Head pub, famous people’s stories over ale, and the possibilities of what once could have happened in the room where the audiences are gathered, represents cultural history, passions, and fears and portrays a ghost story using light and sound techniques and various narratives related to the King’s Head Theatre in London. Ravenhill portrays a distinctive ghost and haunted story in his newest play, The Haunting of Susan A (2022). The ghost takes place in the world of Susan, and a private trauma is witnessed when Susan mentions the ghost or feels the ghost during the performance. This paper seeks to study the impact of Ravenhill’s play, which centres on the theatre’s past and, using Suzanne Ahmet’s ghost story, tries to activate audiences’ memories and fear and observe uncanny feelings in audiences. This study will explore the performance at King’s Head and the history of the pub, along with the theoretical approach of hauntology, envisaging which celebrities stopped by for an ale in the King’s Head history and Susan’s story (Suzanne Ahmet), an actress before, a real story (Susan insists) in The Haunting of Susan A.

Sound prediction of an electric car using numerical simulation and sound synthesis techniques

The automotive industry's transition to electrification raises new challenges to maintain a comfortable acoustics environment both inside and outside the car. This paper presents an innovative way to make an early prediction of the overall sound of a vehicle at driver's ear by mixing noise sources that can be simulated and noise sources measured at component level. This hybrid approach combining Test and Simulation data helps define acoustic and vibration specifications at component level and take decisions on design strategies. For instance, the mounting method of the Electric motor to the body can be decided using a combination of Electric motor numerical simulation and Rolling noise sound synthesis techniques. Realistic signals could be generated and compared with sound quality metrics to choose the best vibration isolation strategy.

Moving sound source localization in 3D space based on time delay and energy ratio technique

Moving sound source localization has numerous applications in interdisciplinary realms such as in teleconferencing, in defense, in robotics, and fault localization in vehicles. Localization of moving source is more challenging than localizing stationary sources because the motion disturbs the sound field and manipulates the frequency and amplitude of the acoustic pressure at recording location, which hampers the accuracy of source localization. Existing moving source localization techniques have numerous restrictions such as source trajectory should be known beforehand as a straight line perpendicular to the array geometry, source should be in same plane or parallel to the microphone array plane, and source velocity should be known. Moreover, when the source elevation is high, these techniques give high error. This study proposes the time delay and energy ratio based real-time moving sound source localization technique that is free from above-mentioned restrictions and can track the source's 3D coordinates accurately. Six microphones are used to localize a moving source by processing the time delay and energy ratios between sensor pairs. The root mean square error found for low source speed and high source speed conditions are 0.73 m and 1.8 m respectively.

Sound quality improvement technique for inverter-driven motors

Motor-driven products are becoming increasingly popular along with the trend toward carbon neutrality. Motor units driven by PMW inverters are one of the key components of motor-driven products, but since they are also one of the dominant sound sources, there are high demands for quietness, including sound quality improvement, in terms of comfort. During the DC-AC conversion process, the PWM inverter generates harmonic current distortions and, moreover, the electromagnetic excitation forces generated in the air gap between the rotor and stator induce harmonic vibrations in the motor. Therefore, this presentation describes the mechanism of motor noise generation from the excitation source to propagation and radiation, and activities to improve sound quality for the motor unit driven by inverters.

Ethical issues in organ procurement: donation after normothermic regional perfusion in liver transplantation.

With ongoing organ shortages, new perfusion technologies are being embraced to help fill the unmet requirement. Improvement in utilization of donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors has the potential to greatly expand the pool of usable liver allografts. Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) has been shown to increase usage of DCD donors and improve recipient outcomes. Yet, there remains heterogeneity in its usage worldwide. Results from the first US multicenter study show improved biliary outcomes with NRP, consistent with prior data from Europe. Internationally, there are wide variations in DCD and NRP usage, highlighting the opportunities for improvement and increased utilization. The ethics of this technique continue to be considered. NRP is a sound technique that can improve utilization for DCD donors, thereby increasing organ supply. Its usage is increasing worldwide. New data continue to show the benefit of this procurement strategy. NRP agrees with the principles of ethics.

Geometric Characterization of the Mateur Plain in Northern Tunisia Using Vertical Electrical Sounding and Remote Sensing Techniques

The Mateur aquifer system in Northern Tunisia was examined using data from 19 water boreholes, 69 vertical electrical sounding (VES) stations, and a Sentinel-2 satellite image. Available boreholes and their corresponding logs were compared to define precisely the multi-layer aquifer system, including the Quaternary and Campanian aquifers of the Mateur plain. Quantitative interpretation and qualitative evaluation of VES data were conducted to define the geometry of these reservoirs. These interpretations were enhanced by remote sensing imagery processing, which enabled the identification of the Mateur plain’s superficial lineaments. Based on well log information, the lithological columns show that the Quaternary series in the Ras El Ain region contains a layer of clayey, pebbly, and gravelly limestone. Additionally, in the Oued El Tine area, a clayey lithological unit has been identified as a multi-layer aquifer. The study area, exhibiting apparent resistivity values ranging between 20 and 170 Ohm·m, appears to be rich in groundwater resources. The correlation between the lithological columns and the interpreted VES data, presented as geoelectrical cross-sections, revealed variations in depth (8–106 m), thickness (10 to 55 m), and resistivity (20–98 Ohm·m) of a coarse unit corresponding to the Mateur aquifer. Twenty-three superficial lineaments were extracted from the Sentinel-2 image. Their common superposition indicated that both of them are in a good coincidence; these could be the result of normal faults, creating an aquifer system divided into raised and sunken blocks.

Complex Fractures of the Radial and Ulnar Shaft.

Successful management of radial and ulnar shaft fractures is an essential skill for all orthopaedic surgeons. The frequent presentation of these injuries coupled with the nuanced anatomic considerations that must be observed for successful outcomes dictate that these injuries require a thorough understanding by the treating surgeon. Intraoperative care to restore the anatomic radial bow and rotation is essential for the resumption of functional forearm rotation postinjury. Often, problems arising during the operative treatment of radial and ulnar shaft fractures come in predictable patterns that can be mitigated with preoperative planning and sound technique. Cases of increased complexity with segmental bone defects and soft tissue defects require a variety of advanced reconstructive techniques.

Review of Phonocardiogram Signal Analysis: Insights from the PhysioNet/CinC Challenge 2016 Database

The phonocardiogram (PCG) is a crucial tool for the early detection, continuous monitoring, accurate diagnosis, and efficient management of cardiovascular diseases. It has the potential to revolutionize cardiovascular care and improve patient outcomes. The PhysioNet/CinC Challenge 2016 database, a large and influential resource, encourages contributions to accurate heart sound state classification (normal versus abnormal), achieving promising benchmark performance (accuracy: 99.80%; sensitivity: 99.70%; specificity: 99.10%; and score: 99.40%). This study reviews recent advances in analytical techniques applied to this database, and 104 publications on PCG signal analysis are retrieved. These techniques encompass heart sound preprocessing, signal segmentation, feature extraction, and heart sound state classification. Specifically, this study summarizes methods such as signal filtering and denoising; heart sound segmentation using hidden Markov models and machine learning; feature extraction in the time, frequency, and time-frequency domains; and state-of-the-art heart sound state recognition techniques. Additionally, it discusses electrocardiogram (ECG) feature extraction and joint PCG and ECG heart sound state recognition. Despite significant technical progress, challenges remain in large-scale high-quality data collection, model interpretability, and generalizability. Future directions include multi-modal signal fusion, standardization and validation, automated interpretation for decision support, real-time monitoring, and longitudinal data analysis. Continued exploration and innovation in heart sound signal analysis are essential for advancing cardiac care, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing user trust and acceptance.

Improving Prefrontal Oxygenation and Cardiac Autonomic Activity Following Meditation: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study.

The empirical evidence explicitly demonstrates that meditation practice enhances both brain functions and mental well-being. A meditative relaxation approach called the mind sound resonance technique (MSRT) has shown promising effects on children, adolescents, and people with psychological illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MSRT practice on brain hemodynamics, heart rate variability (HRV), mindfulness, and anxiety levels in college students. Fifty volunteers in all genders (females, n = 30; males, n = 20) aged between 19 and 30 years were chosen from an educational institute and allocated into two groups, i.e., MSRT (n = 25) and supine rest (SR; n = 25). Enrolled participants were measured cerebral hemodynamics and HRV before, during, and after the MSRT or SR practice. The self-reported assessments including state anxiety and mindfulness were assessed before and after the intervention. The results demonstrated that practicing MSRT significantly improved oxygenation (p < 0.05) in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) and increased low-frequency (LF) (p < 0.05) and decreased high-frequency (HF) (p < 0.05) component of HRV when compared to the baseline. The between-group analysis showed a significant difference between MSRT and SR in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal (SDNN)(p < 0.05) component of HRV. These crumbs of evidence imply that MSRT sessions may foster the development of anxiety-related coping skills by elevating mindfulness, promoting PFC oxygenation, and modulating HRV in MSRT practitioners.

Outcomes of Zone II Flexor Tendon Repair Under General Versus Wide Awake Local Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) is gaining popularity with flexor tendon repair. We hypothesized that results of zone II flexor tendon repair performed under WALANT would be superior to those performed under general anesthesia (GA). A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare results of repair of zone II flexor tendon lacerations under WALANT versus GA. Following sample size estimation, 86 digits were included and randomized into two groups. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon using a six-stranded core stitch and running epitenon suture. All patients followed the same early active rehabilitation protocol. The primary outcome was recovery calculated using the Strickland and Glogovac criteria. Secondary outcomes included rupture rate, complication rate, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. All outcomes were reported at the 6-month visit for all patients. Of the 86 digits, three were lost to follow-up. Analysis was performed on 43 digits in the WALANT group and 40 in the GA group. Demographic characteristics including age and sex were comparable in both groups. Rupture of the repair occurred in two digits in each of the WALANT and GA groups. An excellent or good outcome was achieved in 49% and 56% of the digits in the WALANT and GA groups, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. DASH scores averaged 12.9 and 8.4 for the WALANT and GA groups, respectively. WALANT may not be superior to GA in regards function, rates of rupture, and patient-reported outcomes in repair of zone II flexor tendon lacerations. Surgeons can be confident in choosing either technique if rigorous patient selection, sound surgical technique, and proper hand therapy are employed. Therapeutic I.

Effect of mind sound resonance technique on physiological and psychological parameters among geriatric population: a structured study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Effect of mind sound resonance technique on physiological and psychological parameters among geriatric population: a structured study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Assessment of groundwater resources from geophysical and remote sensing data in a basement complex environment using fuzzy-topsis algorithm

This study addresses the pressing global water challenge by focusing on a typical basement complex area experiencing acute water shortage. Indiscriminate well siting without reliable hydrogeological maps has resulted in failed attempts to address water shortages. To overcome these challenges, this research aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of groundwater potential assessments by incorporating crucial groundwater-related factors.The Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) method was adopted due to its ability to improve multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for effective groundwater resource management. Unlike TOPSIS, FTOPSIS better reflects decision-makers' intentions, especially concerning geological boundaries and natural phenomena. To achieve the objectives of the study, geophysical and remote sensing datasets were utilized. The study employed the electrical resistivity method, utilising the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) technique with the Schlumberger array while the remote sensing data used were the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) image and Landsat ETM image which were processed to generate key groundwater conditioning factors. These factors were integrated using the FTOPSIS algorithm. This algorithm facilitated the calculation of the groundwater potential indices by assigning weights based on their level of significance to influencing groundwater potential in order to generate the groundwater potential map (GPM). The GPM was classified into five zones of varying groundwater potential, with very low and low potential occupying 74 % of the total area. Validation with well data yielded an impressive 79 % accuracy, showcasing the model's enhanced precision. Beyond improved accuracy, the study's implications extend to practical applications in groundwater resource management. By providing a clearer understanding of groundwater potentiality, the research can inform more robust decision-making frameworks, promoting sustainable water use not only in the study area but also in similar geological settings of the world.

Ingress of municipal solid waste into water resources: an environmental assessment and monitoring tool near dumpsites in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Municipal solid waste (MSW) dumping sites are only used for trash discarding. Beyond the reek that the dumpsites generate, which defiles the milieu, the primary issue is the spreading of fluid from the landfills. The thrust of this research is to utilize the contiguous data from geophysics and laboratory analysis of groundwater samples to decipher the influence of MSW on aquifer systems in Uyo and Eket Counties. Geo-electrical studies featured vertical electrical sounding (VES) and constant electrode separation techniques to generate 1D and 2D electrical resistivity models. The analyzed field data were integrated with water sample analysis to deduce the influence of leachate on groundwater. The VES curve types conformed to A (7.1%), HK (21.4%), Q (21.4%), and K (50.0%). The created 2D image maps for MSW locations lay bare the fact that leachate dispersal between source and sink obeys the inverse square rule. The heavy ions, which were all higher than the approved standards have, chromium as the highest and nickel as the least. The anionic average relative abundance has hydrogen trioxocarbonate ion concentration as the highest and fluoride ions as the least. The survey demonstrates that leachate has a considerable impact on groundwater.

Piezoresistive sensors based on bacterial cellulose/ZnO/PPy composite materials for human signal monitoring and sound detection

Wearable piezoresistive sensors based on flexible electronics have gained considerable attention in motion monitoring, human-machine interface, disease diagnosis and health monitoring. Research on flexible wearable sensors can be applied not only to basic sensing and human motion monitoring, but also to sound visualization techniques. In this paper, a piezoresistive sensor was prepared from bacterial cellulose, zinc oxide and polypyrrole and its sensing performance as a sound detector was investigated. The sensor has good sensing performance and can monitor human motion signals. As a sound detector, it can not only recognize different sound signals by monitoring the movement of the laryngeal muscles, but also sense air vibration to detect and recognize various natural sounds. Due to its ability to capture and present sound signals, it is able to build a visual-centred information dissemination system through visualization technology.

Machine Learning and Sound Processing in Vocal Disease Detection

We present in this paper some of the existing machine learning and sound processing techniques involved in the medical process and show how they can be applied in the context of a vocal disease detection task. The machine learning techniques are the usual, ranging from decision trees to neural networks, and when it comes to the sound processing approaches some scientists probably are familiar with them from the speech processing or music analysis areas. However, the techniques are adapted to the particularities of the medical field -- data collection, verification, etc. Through the concrete example of the vocal disease detection task we worked on, we made some interesting observations, both on the classification ability of the model and on the influence of the data.

Vertical electrical sounding method and Dar Zarrouk analysis to identify the distribution of seawater intrusion in Pelauw Village, Maluku

Groundwater is one of the essential resources that support human life. Excessive exploitation activities can cause groundwater problems such as seawater intrusion, especially in coastal areas. Groundwater salination must be a concern and measured to determine the condition and level of distribution. One of the non-invasive, inexpensive, and efficient methods to see seawater intrusion phenomena is the vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique of electrical resistivity method. This research aimed to analyze the distribution of seawater intrusion in Pelauw Village, Maluku, Indonesia, using the VES and Dar-Zarrouk parameters S and T. The S and T are longitudinal conductance and transversal resistance, respectively. This study collected 16 VES stations spread across residential areas near the coast of Pelauw Village. Groundwater affected by seawater intrusion in the study area has S&gt;1.00 mho and T&lt;1,000 ohm m2. Three VES stations are suspected to have experienced seawater intrusion, namely V7, V8 and V12. These three stations are located near the shoreline and densely populated areas. Based on the 2D cross-section, the spread of seawater intrusion toward the land is about 200 meters. This seawater intrusion event is thought to have occurred due to groundwater exploitation by communities around the coast and active tectonic activity. The VES method and Dar Zarrouk Analysis proved compelling enough to delineate the spread of seawater intrusion, so based on these results, it can be a reference for mitigating groundwater pollution.

A Fused Deep Denoising Sound Coding Strategy for Bilateral Cochlear Implants.

Cochlear implants (CIs) provide a solution for individuals with severe sensorineural hearing loss to regain their hearing abilities. When someone experiences this form of hearing impairment in both ears, they may be equipped with two separate CI devices, which will typically further improve the CI benefits. This spatial hearing is particularly crucial when tackling the challenge of understanding speech in noisy environments, a common issue CI users face. Currently, extensive research is dedicated to developing algorithms that can autonomously filter out undesired background noises from desired speech signals. At present, some research focuses on achieving end-to-end denoising, either as an integral component of the initial CI signal processing or by fully integrating the denoising process into the CI sound coding strategy. This work is presented in the context of bilateral CI (BiCI) systems, where we propose a deep-learning-based bilateral speech enhancement model that shares information between both hearing sides. Specifically, we connect two monaural end-to-end deep denoising sound coding techniques through intermediary latent fusion layers. These layers amalgamate the latent representations generated by these techniques by multiplying them together, resulting in an enhanced ability to reduce noise and improve learning generalization. The objective instrumental results demonstrate that the proposed fused BiCI sound coding strategy achieves higher interaural coherence, superior noise reduction, and enhanced predicted speech intelligibility scores compared to the baseline methods. Furthermore, our speech-in-noise intelligibility results in BiCI users reveal that the deep denoising sound coding strategy can attain scores similar to those achieved in quiet conditions.

Conversational Etudes for Cello and Nay to Consolidate Arabic Rhythmic Patterns for Nay Students in Music Department of Yarmouk University

This research contains conversational etudes for cello and Nay, aimed to consolidate Arabic rhythmic patterns for Nay students. The research relied on Descriptive method (Content analysis) These Exercises were in the most common rhythms in Arabic music in Egypt and the Levant, and they are: (Shaftatalli, Laff or Malfouf, bamb, duake, Samaii thaqeel, waltz, fox, Samaii sarband ta’er, wehda kabeera, karachi and ayyoub). Additionally, the major Arabic maqams were utilized in composing the exercises, as follows: (Rast, Bayati, Saba, Kurd, Hijaz, Ajam, Sikah, Nahawand, Huzam). Dokah and Nawa nais were utilized. The most important results of the search were the following: The use of harmony between Nay and cello in the form of rhythmic, interchangeable chords helps sustain the Arabic rhythms in the student’s mind. Playing phrases and intervals between the four registers of the Nay contributes to their development to control their sound production technique

Investigation of Aquifer Vulnerability under some Protective Measures in Ehime Mbano, South-Eastern Nigeria for Sustainable Groundwater Development

This study focuses on assessing aquifer vulnerability to contamination in Ehime Mbano South-Eastern Nigeria by applying the DRASTIC model. The data was obtained using (VES) vertical electrical sounding technique by applying Schlumberger configurations with AB/2 = 400 m. The VES data were interpreted using state of the art soft wares e.g. IP12WIN and Surfer 12 to obtain the final model for each VES, groundwater vulnerability map was also developed while aquifer media was gotten by taking into account, the depth at which water was struck and correlating those depths with the lithological description of the VES results obtained. The hydraulic conductivity was calculated from apparent resistivity of the aquifer. However, the net recharge, soil media, and topography was obtained from research documentaries. Aquifer vulnerability assessment carried out revealed areas with high, low and moderate vulnerability based on the DRASTIC Index. Locations with high vulnerability rating of 126 -165 includes: Umuokiri Umunumo and Ikperejere. Locations with moderate vulnerability rating of 86-125 includes: Ikpem, Ikweii Nzerem while locations with low vulnerability rating of 70-85 includes: Umuokara Uzinomi and areas close to Umueze II. The findings of the study can be used to identify regions of contamination of groundwater in the study area.

Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Ti/Al Composite using Squeeze Casting: Microstructural Analysis and Mechanical Properties

To segregate the Titanium (Ti) from the reinforcements of the molten scrap of Titanium/Aluminum (Ti/Al) composite, application of ultrasonic vibration is known to be one of the sound techniques. Various studies have been looked at the effect of ultrasonic vibration on the melting process, however not much have been investigated with respect to the solidification process. To fabricate Ti/Al composites in situ, ultrasonic vibration can be effectively used to compress the solidifying melt during the casting process. In this line, the present study focused to investigate the influence of ultrasonic vibration and squeeze pressure on solidification behavior of the α-Al matrix, characteristics of the matrix-reinforcements interface, and distribution of reinforcements. The experimental data indicated that when the amplitude was 60 μm, the Vickers hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength of composites increased by 8.6, 3.9, and 3.1 %, respectively, due to gravity casting. While the squeeze pressure was increased from 50 to 100 MPa, the mean grain size decreased from 90 to 60 μm during the ultrasonic aided squeeze casting (SC) process. However, as the squeeze pressure was raised, the microstructures became coarser and the mechanical characteristics weakened. Yield strength, and tensile strength were increased by 18.7% and 3.2%, respectively, when the squeeze pressure was 100 MPa.