Unwanted Sounds Research Articles

Identifying optimal feature sets for acoustic signal classification in environmental noise measurements

Whatever the sound source to be evaluated, spurious events or unwanted sounds will always be present in environmental noise measurements. Spurious events are not characteristic of standard residual noise and must be removed prior to subsequent analyses. Currently, the removal step is deferred solely to the objective evaluation of the sound pattern and/or spectrogram by an operator. This results in the loss of many man-hours. Machine learning can be used to develop a tool capable of recognizing and removing spurious events in noise measurements. The tool must be able to account for various sounds, whether human-made or animal, and must be applicable to any environmental scenario. This is not a straightforward task, in fact if humans can easily distinguish between two sounds, such as a birds' chirps and a car passing by, based on prior experience, a machine may not be able to do so without apprenticeship. Therefore, a learning methodology must be constructed for the machine by establishing recognizable patterns. The aim of this paper is to identify the feature sets which allow the algorithm to differentiate spurious sounds in the best way. These features will represent the semantic value of the signal.

Designing for sonic citizenship in Danish nursing homes

With the aim of improving the soundscape in Danish nursing homes, this paper explores how a sonic citizenship perspective can be unfolded and discussed through a design-oriented research approach. Based on the experiences from an intervention study we argue that this perspective is important in expanding the focus further than formulating final solutions and making citizens proactive beyond the transformation phase. Building on thorough analysis of 45 nursing home soundscapes various interventions were implemented in 8 nursing homes from 2022-23. Evaluation of the interventions, through a mixed-method study, showed major improvements in perceived soundscape assessment. Through interventions that attenuate unwanted institutional sounds and introduce positive sound experiences, a better balance is found between foreground and background sounds, increasing the appropriateness of the soundscapes. The assessment also showed how the improvement of the soundscapes is closely connected to the engagement and behavioral changes of the staff and how they attune themselves to the soundscape. In that regard, the authors wish to emphasize the importance of anchoring soundscape interventions in the culture, and routines of the people being and living in the environments, to make sustainable changes in an environment and empower staff to become sonic citizens.

How to deal with unsuspected source of annoyance in electric vehicle cabin using the "sonic augmented" concept?

The disappearance of the main source of noise with electric vehicles resulted in a breakthrough in car cabin sound experience. Despite significantly lowering the sound level pressure, one cannot claim perfect quietness is achieved. Indeed, as the auditory masking produced by the internal combustion engine is not effective anymore, unsuspected sounds such as electric whistling, whining or switching are now part of this sound environment and may be identified as unpleasant sounds. However, drivers' expectations are to have audible feedback indicative of vehicle operation that matches their expectations. Therefore, the presence of unwanted and unpleasant sounds, on the one hand, and the absence of desired and informative sounds, on the other hand, is an opportunity for sound design to create a new sound environment inside car cabins. The present work proposes a "sonic augmented" concept based on the idea of adding designed sounds, called "masks", participating both in the overall soundscape augmentation and in the attenuation of unpleasant sounds, called "defects". Sound design strategies with different parametrizations will be presented, as well as the results of two perceptive experiments whit the aims at evaluating the impact on perceptive attenuation of "defects" and the overall sound quality.

Cochlear implant induced changes in cortical networks associated with tinnitus severity

We investigated tinnitus-related cortical networks in cochlear implant users who experience tinnitus and whose perception of tinnitus changes with use of their implant. &#xD;&#xD;Tinnitus, the perception of unwanted sounds which are not present externally, can be a debilitating condition. In individuals with cochlear implants, use of the implant is known to modulate tinnitus, often improving symptoms but worsening them in some cases. Little is known about underlying cortical changes with use of the implant, which lead to changes in tinnitus perception. In this study we investigated whether changes in brain networks with the cochlear implant turned on and off, were associated with changes in tinnitus perception, as rated subjectively.&#xD;&#xD;Approach: Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we recorded cortical activity at rest, from 14 cochlear implant users who experienced tinnitus. Recordings were performed with the cochlear implant turned off and on. For each condition, participants rated the loudness and annoyance of their tinnitus using a visual rating scale. Changes in neural synchrony have been reported in humans and animal models of tinnitus. To assess neural synchrony, functional connectivity networks with the implant turned on and off, were compared using two network features: node strength and diversity coefficient. &#xD;&#xD;Main results: Changes in subjective ratings of loudness were significantly correlated with changes in node strength, averaged across occipital channels (r=-0.65,p = 0.01). Changes in both loudness and annoyance were significantly correlated with changes in diversity coefficient averaged across all channels (r=-0.79,p<0.001 and r = -0.86,p<0.001). More distributed connectivity with the implant on, compared to implant off, was associated with a reduction in tinnitus loudness and annoyance. &#xD;&#xD;Significance: A better understanding of neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus suppression with cochlear implant use, could lead to their application as a tinnitus treatment and pave the way for effective use of other less invasive stimulation-based treatments. &#xD.

Analysis of Traffic Noise on the Sutan Soripada Mulia Road, Padang Sidimpuan City

Highways are infrastructure for smooth traffic, both in cities and in regions. Noise and vibration are one of the environmental health problems in large and developing cities, such as Padangsidimpuan City. The transportation sector is the main cause of environmental problems today, according to Minister of Health Regulation No.78/Men.Kes/Per/XI/1987, which is called Noise is the occurrence of unwanted sounds that disturb and/or endanger health. The noise level quality standard is used as a reference standard that ensures that a certain area/region does not cause disturbances, especially to human health and environmental comfort. (Ruly Asmarani, 2017) said that noise is a type of environmental stimulus to which each individual can respond differently. Based on the noise level captured by the SLM (Sound Level Meter), the highest noise level occurs at 07:00 - 08:00 WIB at 72.80 dB compared to other hours and is reviewed based on the characteristics of land use for the school area. The noise level limit value is 55 d.B(A) and the highest noise occurs at 07-08 am with a noise level of 72.8 decibels and the lowest noise occurs at 10-11 WIB with a noise level of 47.8 decibels. From the results of this research, it is recommended that schools close windows during the learning process to reduce the noise caused by passing vehicles.

Noise and the Other in Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind

This article engages with noise studies to foreground their importance in the perception and the creation of the Other in Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind. The essay draws from Michel Serres’s The Parasite and Marie Thompson’s Beyond Unwanted Sound to contend that the pair sound/noise structures the characters’ response to difference and alterity. While initially pitting sound vs noise and English vs Spanish, the article shows how those pairs are impossible to maintain as the novel moves from the Other as noise to the self as noise. Although initially associated to the externality and vulnerability attributed to a Spanish-speaking woman stranded by the side of the road, noise becomes center stage, a parasitic presence that restructures reality and creates a void in signification. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the errantry of noise dismantles protocols of ordering and labeling and creates new configurations of power. There is no longer self vs Other, inside vs outside, belonging vs non-belonging as noise spreads vulnerability and relationality.

Analisis Tingkat Kebisingan dari Aktivitas Landing Pesawat di Kawasan Bandara Djalaluddin Gorontalo

Noise is defined as unwanted sound that can cause discomfort to the listener. Airports are one of the public facilities that have a vital role as a gateway for mobility in a city. The large number of planes landing and taking off causes high noise levels around the airport. Noise is the flow of energy in the form of waves, unwanted sounds with pressure that can vary based on the origin of the noise, so that it reaches the ears and improves hearing. Noise can disturb workers in the workplace due to psychological disorders and focus problems, which can cause a decrease in worker productivity. Workers with a working duration of 8 hours/day have a safe threshold value of 85 dB. That way, workers can work well, without experiencing disruption while working due to excessive noise levels. This research aims to determine the analysis of noise levels on Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air aircraft in the Djalaludin Gorontalo Airport working area in 2023. The research method used is quantitative descriptive. This activity will be carried out for 1 day, namely on Tuesday, October 3 2023 at Djalaludi Airport, Gorontalo. The data collected is primary data obtained directly from the results of measuring the noise level generated by Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air aircraft at Djalaludin Gorontalo Airport. From the results of measuring the noise level generated by Garuda Indonesia aircraft when landing, the result was 76.32. dB(A) and the results of measuring the noise level produced by the Lion Air plane when landing was 77.3 dB(A), where this measurement was carried out on the airport apron. Based on the threshold value of PERMENKES Number 2 of 2023, namely 75-85 dB(A) and based on the Decree of the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 52 of 2023 concerning the Master Plan for Djalaludin Airport, Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province, namely 70-80 dB(A). The noise level produced by Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air planes is considered to be still normal

Clarification of Frequency Bands Affecting Attentional Mechanisms Using Event-Related Potentials

In recent years, with the spread of electric vehicles, impressions of the sound of automobiles have changed. As automated driving becomes more widespread, we assume that a decrease in cognitive load will make it easier for drivers to pay attention to vehicle sounds, thereby increasing their discomfort. This study focused on selective attention and aimed to quantify the attentional mechanisms of vehicle sounds from event-related potentials (ERPs). In addition, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of vehicle sounds that attract attention and awareness more easily, reduce unwanted vehicle sounds, and make them more pleasant from a neurophysiological perspective. In this study, an experiment was conducted to measure brain responses while driving to identify the characteristics of sounds that are likely to attract attention, by observing changes in ERPs for different frequency bands. These results may help investigators examine practical approaches to reduce vehicle sounds and improve comfort within car interiors.

Noise and Legal Dispute: Applications and Limits of the Italian Standard UNI/TS 11844

In forensic acoustics, a possible area of analysis is represented by unwanted sound that is perceived as a source of intrusion or disturbance within a certain auditory context. This context is defined as the “auditory scene” and refers to the set of sounds present in a specific environment. The presence of unwanted sounds in the auditory scene can cause a wide range of negative effects, including disturbance, discomfort, moral or immoral harm, and other types of negative impacts on the health and well-being of individuals exposed to noise. In 2022, the technical specification UNI/TS 11844:2022 dedicated to the measurement and analysis of intrusive noise was published. The standard introduces the concept of intrusive noise and defines its calculation methods based on environmental measurements. The purposes of this technical specification is to provide an objective support to methods already in used in acoustic disputes, where the assessment of the annoyance of a noise is often a subjective evaluation of the technician. This work delves into application to some real cases, identifying the potentiality and limits of the standardized method.

Improving the quality of the acoustic environment in neonatal intensive care units: a review of scientific literature and technological solutions

There is an increased awareness of how the quality of the acoustic environment impacts the lives of human beings. Several studies have shown that sound pollution has adverse effects on many populations, from infants to adults, in different environments and workplaces. Hospitals are susceptible environments that require special attention since sound can aggravate patients' health issues and negatively impact the performance of healthcare professionals. This paper focuses on Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) as an especially sensitive case representing a hostile acoustic environment in which healthcare professionals have little awareness of how unwanted sounds impact the perceived quality of the soundscape. We performed a semi-systematic review of scientific literature on sound assessment studies in NICU from 2001. A thematic analysis was performed to identify emerging themes that informed the analysis of 27 technological solutions for the assessment of sound quality in indoor and outdoor environments. Solutions were categorized by functions and evaluation methods and grouped according to the characteristics of the design components, i.e., acquisition, computation, and communication strategies. Results highlight a lack of solutions to assess the qualitative characteristics of indoor environments such as NICU and forecast the footprint that different sound sources have on the indoor soundscape. Such solutions are urgently needed to empower healthcare professionals, and especially nurses, to actively modify and prevent the negative impact of unwanted sounds on NICU and critical care soundscape.

Evaluation of Noise Levels in a University Dental Clinic

Noise levels in a dental office can be produced by different specialty instruments. Exposure to high levels of noise (unwanted sounds) may cause auditory and non-auditory health problems in dentists. The aim of this study was to (a) measure the noise levels within different clinics and laboratories of the Department of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (b) promote information sharing on this serious health issue among stakeholders, and (c) collect data to organize preventive measures for students and personnel (faculty members, collaborators, administrative, and technical staff). Since the study did not apply to acoustics and acoustic measurements, a digital sound level meter and noise-integrating dosimeters with an analogue electronic transducer were used to collect data from certain postgraduate (PG) and undergraduate (UG) clinics and laboratories (LAB) during peak working periods and with a duration of 1 h per clinic/lab. Both personal (dosimeters) and static (area monitoring) noise exposure assessments were evaluated, resulting in various teaching-related activities in dental clinics. At all locations, the maximum exposure limit value of 87 dB(A) was not exceeded. However, chairside personal measurements during ultrasonic work revealed that the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A) was exceeded. PG clinics were noisier than UG. LAB training settings, even with the new equipment, were close to the upper exposure limit due to the simultaneous use of airotors. In this context, targeted research and investigations into measures are proposed to safeguard the health and safety of students during their duties at the dental school.

Designing Public Soundscapes through Social Architecture and Soundscape Approaches: Reflective Review of Architectural Design Studio

This paper provides a reflective review of an architectural design studio that utilized both social architecture and soundscape approaches to create human-centered and context-based designs for urban public spaces. During field research, students in the studio analyzed four different public spaces in Marina Central BID, Singapore, employing a combination of social architecture (behavioral trace and activity mapping) and soundscape (acoustic measurement and soundwalk) methods. Through this process, the students identified issues related to social architecture and soundscapes and developed soundscape design strategies to improve the quality of the public spaces. The soundscape design strategies were categorized into three groups: the introduction of desirable sounds, the reinforcement of desired sounds, and the reduction in unwanted sounds. This paper shows that the integration of social architecture into soundscape design education enables students to better comprehend the social–behavioral aspects of the environment and create more comprehensive and enjoyable public soundscapes.

Concept and considerations of a medical device: the active noise cancelling incubator.

An increasingly 24/7 connected and urbanised world has created a silent pandemic of noise-induced hearing loss. Ensuring survival to children born (extremely) preterm is crucial. The incubator is a closed medical device, modifying the internal climate, and thus providing an environment for the child, as safe, warm, and comfortable as possible. While sound outside the incubator is managed and has decreased over the years, managing the noise inside the incubator is still a challenge. Using active noise cancelling in an incubator will eliminate unwanted sounds (i.e., from the respirator and heating) inside the incubator, and by adding sophisticated algorithms, normal human speech, neonatal intensive care unit music-based therapeutic interventions, and natural sounds will be sustained for the child in the pod. Applying different methods such as active noise cancelling, motion capture, sonological engineering. and sophisticated machine learning algorithms will be implemented in the development of the incubator. A controlled and active sound environment in and around the incubator can in turn promote the wellbeing, neural development, and speech development of the child and minimise distress caused by unwanted noises. While developing the hardware and software pose individual challenges, it is about the system design and aspects contributing to it. On the one hand, it is crucial to measure the auditory range and frequencies in the incubator, as well as the predictable sounds that will have to be played back into the environment. On the other, there are many technical issues that have to be addressed when it comes to algorithms, datasets, delay, microphone technology, transducers, convergence, tracking, impulse control and noise rejection, noise mitigation stability, detection, polarity, and performance. Solving a complex problem like this, however, requires a de-disciplinary approach, where each discipline will realise its own shortcomings and boundaries, and in turn will allow for innovations and new avenues. Technical developments used for building the active noise cancellation-incubator have the potential to contribute to improved care solutions for patients, both infants and adults.Code available at: 10.3389/fped.2023.1187815.

Impact of ocean noise on mammalian life (case study: Samarinda waters)

Noise pollution, or unwanted sounds in the ocean, can have a negative impact on marine mammals, especially on their biological behaviour when hunting for prey and changes in diving habits when leaving their habitat. This noise study was carried out in the waters of Samarinda with the help of a passive system acoustic instrument, which captures the range of sound intensity in the water column and supporting data in the form of sound range and activity above sea level. The sound range of 38.10-78.60 dB (A) above the water surface is safe for both everyday activities and as a habitat for mammals. Similarly, the underwater sound intensity between 0.84 and 138.47 dB re 1 Pa falls within this range. The noise condition in the study area is still expected. It can be used as an initial reference for the tolerance of sound intensity that applies to living things around the research location. The noise of the sea in Samarinda's waters has no effect on the lives of animals.Keywords:NoiseSound intensityMarine mammalHydrophoneSmartNoise

Localization and externalization of speech through hearing aids with adaptive features

Hearing aids with advanced digital signal processing features that analyze acoustic scenes can amplify wanted sounds (e.g., speech) while utilizing complex noise reduction features to attenuate unwanted sounds (e.g., noise). These adaptive features can be programmed to be more or less aggressive in order to prioritize listening comfort or speech detail. Importantly, these adaptive features may alter the interaural cues of relevant target talkers located in front of the listener, causing unwanted effects on spatial perception. Here, we explored these effects. Spondees were presented from 11 different loudspeakers (located between ±75° azimuth separated by 15°) in an anechoic chamber. Binaural recordings were obtained from the ear canals of a Bruel &amp; Kjaer Head and Torso Simulator, which was fitted with Oticon More hearing aids. The recordings were then presented over headphones to listeners, who indicated the perceived direction and degree of externalization of the spondees. Several conditions were tested, which differed in the acoustics of the room (anechoic and simulated reverberation), the background (quiet and noise), and the hearing-aid coupling (unaided, open-fit, and occluded). Behavioral data will be compared to measured interaural cues in the corresponding binaural recordings.

High ECG diagnosis rate using novel machine learning techniques with Distributed Arithmetic (DA) based gated recurrent units

A classifier for patient adaptability is vital to overcome instances of inter and intra-patient variance using the automatic arrhythmia diagnosis approach is currently a high focus. The design of an automated cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis system to detect and classify the heartbeats is an active research topic. The paper describes an efficient heart monitoring system in remote areas where cardiologists are scarce and therapies are highly-priced. The proposed technique incorporates the pre-processing of the ECG (electrocardiogram) signals, detecting the Quick Reaction Strike (QRS) beats, characteristics extraction from ECG, identifying abnormality in ECG waveforms and categorizing the ECG beats with a profile curve. A mathematical procedure adopted to filter out unwanted sounds that adjust the window length depending on the proximity. The shifting window mean technique eradicates high-frequency noise that includes interference from a power line and noise from electromyography. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) eliminates the low-frequency noise baseline drifting and motion artefact. The most distinguishable waveforms noticed in ECG are QRS beats. Hence, the detection of the complexes in QRS is vital for the analysis of an ECG. The suggested work showcases high rate accuracy, minimal sensitivity, and high specificity.

Application of Deep Learning to Enforce Environmental Noise Regulation in an Urban Setting

Reducing environmental noise in urban settings, i.e., unwanted or harmful outdoor sounds produced by human activity, has become an important issue in recent years. Most countries have established regulations that set maximum permitted noise levels. However, enforcing these regulations effectively remains challenging as it requires active monitoring networks and audio analysis performed by trained specialists. The manual evaluation of the audio recordings is laborious, time-consuming, and inefficient since many audios exceeding the noise level threshold do not correspond to a sound event considered by the regulation. To address this challenge, this work proposes a computational pipeline to assist specialists in detecting noise sources in the built environment that do not comply with the Chilean noise regulation. The system incorporates a deep neural model following a pre-trained audio neural network architecture transferred to a dataset compiled from public sources and recordings in Valdivia, Chile. The target dataset follows a customized taxonomy of urban sound events. The system also uses a public API so potential users can post audio files to obtain a prediction matrix reporting the presence of noise sources contributing to environmental noise pollution. Experiments using recordings from two continuous noise monitoring stations showed that the amount of data to be inspected by the specialist is decreased by 97% when the deep-learning tools are used. Therefore, this system efficiently assists trained experts in enforcing noise legislation through machine-assisted environmental noise monitoring.

An Open-Set Recognition and Few-Shot Learning Dataset for Audio Event Classification in Domestic Environments

The problem of training with a small set of positive samples is known as few-shot learning (FSL). It is widely known that traditional deep learning algorithms usually show very good performance when trained with large datasets. However, in many applications, it is not possible to obtain such a high number of samples. This paper deals with the application of FSL to the detection of specific and intentional acoustic events given by different types of sound alarms, such as door bells or fire alarms, using a limited number of samples. These sounds typically occur in domestic environments where many events corresponding to a wide variety of sound classes take place. Therefore, the detection of such alarms in a practical scenario can be considered an open-set recognition (OSR) problem. To address the lack of a dedicated public dataset for audio FSL, researchers usually make modifications on other available datasets. This paper is aimed at providing the audio recognition community with a carefully annotated dataset1 for FSL in an OSR context comprised of 1360 clips from 34 classes divided into pattern sounds and unwanted sounds. To facilitate and promote research on this area, results with state-of-the-art baseline systems based on transfer learning are also presented.

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette (too-RET) syndrome is a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can't be easily controlled1. For example, someone with Tourette's might blink or clear their throat over and over again. Some people may blurt out words they don't intend to say2. About 100,000 Americans have full-blown Tourette's syndrome, but more people have a milder form of the disease. It often starts in childhood, and more boys than girls get it2. The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is not known. It is a complex disorder likely caused by a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses (neurotransmitters), including dopamine and serotonin, might play a role1. Tics can be simple or complex. A simple tic affects one or just a few parts of the body, like blinking the eyes or making a face. A complex one involves many parts of the body or saying words. Jumping and swearing are examples. Symptoms often get better as children grow up. For some people, they go away completely3. Although there is no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available. Many people with Tourette syndrome donot need treatment when symptoms are not troublesome. Tics often lessen or become controlled after the teen years. People with Tourette syndrome often lead healthy, active lives. However, Tourette syndrome frequently involves behavioral and social challenges1.

Effects of Soundscape Complexity on Urban Noise Annoyance Ratings: A Large-Scale Online Listening Experiment.

Noise annoyance has been often reported as one of the main adverse effects of noise exposure on human health, and there is consensus that it relates to several factors going beyond the mere energy content of the signal. Research has historically focused on a limited set of sound sources (e.g., transport and industrial noise); only more recently is attention being given to more holistic aspects of urban acoustic environments and the role they play in the noise annoyance perceptual construct. This is the main approach promoted in soundscape studies, looking at both wanted and unwanted sounds. In this study, three specific aspects were investigated, namely: (1) the effect of different sound sources combinations, (2) the number of sound sources present in the soundscape, and (3) the presence of individual sound source, on noise annoyance perception. For this purpose, a large-scale online experiment was carried out with 1.2k+ participants, using 2.8k+ audio recordings of complex urban acoustic environments to investigate how they would influence the perceived noise annoyance. Results showed that: (1) the combinations of different sound sources were not important, compared, instead, to the number of sound sources identified in the soundscape recording (regardless of sound sources type); (2) the annoyance ratings expressed a minimum when any two clearly distinguishable sound sources were present in a given urban soundscape; and (3) the presence (either in isolation or combination) of traffic-related sound sources increases noise annoyance, while the presence (either in isolation or combination) of nature-related sound sources decreases noise annoyance.