The membranous contact quotient: A new phonatory measure of glottal competence

The membranous contact quotient (MCQ) is introduced as a measure of dynamic glottal competence. It is defined as the ratio of the membranous contact glottis (the anterior-posterior length of contact between the two membranous vocal folds) and the membranous vocal fold length. An elliptical approximation to the vocal fold contour during phonation was used to predict MCQ values as a function of vocal process gap (adduction), maximum glottal width, and membranous glottal length. MCQ is highly dependent on the vocal process gap and the maximum glottal width, but not on vocal fold length. Five excised larynges were used to obtain MCQ data for a wide range of vocal process gaps and maximum glottal widths. Predicted and measured MCQ values had a correlation of 0.93, with an average absolute difference of 9.6% (SD = 10.5%). The model is better at higher values of MCQ. The theory for MCQ is also expressed as a function of vocal process gap and subglottal pressure to suggest production control potential. The MCQ measure is obtainable with the use of stroboscopy and appears to be a potentially useful clinical measure.     

Consistency of acoustic and aerodynamic measures of voice production over 28 days under various testing conditions

The value of any measure of voice production is dependent on its repeatability over time. The purpose of the present study was to determine the consistency of selected acoustic and aerodynamic measures of voice production over 28 days, under various test/retest conditions. Three groups of healthy young adult females sustained three vowels at comfortable, high, and low pitch levels. Subjects in Group 1 chose their own intensity levels, but matched the fundamental frequencies produced at Test 1 during Test 2. Group 2 controlled intensity levels during both tests, but fundamental frequency was free to vary. Group 3 controlled both intensity and fundamental frequency. Measures of fundamental frequency, jitter, maximum phonation time, phonation volume, and flow rate were compared. Subjects who matched both fundamental frequency and intensity showed repeatable, consistent results for all measures during both tests. Controlling intensity but not fundamental frequency resulted in statistically significant differences in fundamental frequency at comfortable and high pitches, but there was minimal effect on other variables. Controlling fundamental frequency but not intensity led to the most inconsistency between tests, affecting both acoustic and aerodynamic measures. Results underscore the need to control the conditions under which measures are obtained.     

空气中被动声定位系统定位精度分析

本文对影响被声定位系统定位精度的几种因素进行了比较全面及深入的分析。推导出了测时差定位系统在均匀煤质和非均匀媒质中一些因素对定位精度影响的公式；给出了误差曲线；得出了一些有益的结论并提出了提高定位精度的几种方法。     

Perceptual evaluation of voice quality and its correlation with acoustic measurements

To determine whether a correlation exists between the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Aesthenia, Strain (GRBAS) scale (a subjective measure of voice) and the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) scale (an objective measure of voice). A retrospective review of 37 voice patients (12 male/25 female) was conducted. Each voice was perceptually evaluated using the GRBAS scale by an experienced speech pathologist and acoustically analyzed using the MDVP scale. Statistical analysis using a multivariate regression model identified a significant correlation between the noise-related parameters of MDVP and the components of the GRBAS scale. Grade correlated with voice turbulence index (VTI), noise harmonic ratio (NHR), and soft phonation index (SPI). Roughness correlated with NHR only. Breathiness correlated with SPI only. Aesthenia also correlated with SPI only. Of the 19 acoustic variables measured by the MDVP system, only three noise parameters significantly correlated with the GRBAS perceptual voice analysis. Perhaps "noise" is the perceived acoustical quality of the dysphonic voice. A voice quantifying measure such as a "voice index score" could be proposed using the GRBAS scoring and the three clinically relevant MDVP values following further studies.     

Comparison of acoustic and perceptual measures of voice in male-to-female transsexuals perceived as female versus those perceived as male

The present study explored significant differences between male-to-female transgendered speakers perceived as male and those perceived as female in terms of speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and its variability, vowel formants for /a/ and /i/, and intonation measures. Fifteen individuals who identified themselves as male-to-female transsexuals served as speaker subjects, in addition to 6 biological female control subjects and 3 biological male control subjects. Each subject was recorded reading the Rainbow Passage and producing the isolated vowels /a/ and /i/. Twenty undergraduate psychology students served as listeners. Results indicated that subjects perceived as female had a higher mean SFF and higher upper limit of SFF than subjects perceived as male. A significant correlation between upper limit of SFF and ratings of femininity was achieved.     

The effects of excessive vocalization on acoustic and videostroboscopic measures of vocal fold condition

Although dysphonia is a recognized consequence of acute vocal abuse, associated changes in vocal fold appearance and function are not well understood. To document these presumed effects of vocal abuse, audio recordings of sustained vowel production were obtained from 42 drill sergeants daily during the first 6 days of a vocally demanding training exercise. Acoustic analysis showed abnormal levels of jitter and shimmer on Day 1 in 16 of the 42 subjects. Considering only the 26 subjects who showed normal voice acoustics on Day 1, the median levels of jitter and shimmer varied little over the course of training, and significant increases in jitter and shimmer were not seen during the study period. However, the distributions for both jitter and shimmer became more positively skewed and showed a greater number of positive outliers over the course of training. This trend was attributed to 11 subjects who showed two or more instances of abnormal voice acoustics over Days 2 through 6. Laryngeal videostroboscopic recordings of sustained vowel production also were obtained prior to and following training. Perceptual ratings of these recordings by 2 observers revealed significant increases in vocal fold edema, erythema, and edge irregularity, and decreases in vocal fold mucosal wave and amplitude of excursion following the 5-day training period. In general, there was considerable intersubject variability in the extent of acoustic and videostroboscopic effects over the course of training. Of the two types of data, videostroboscopy appears to provide a more sensitive indication of the effects of excessive vocalization.     

小阻尼界面房间声传输函数和声脉冲响应函数的有限元素法

有限元法可用于以声波动方程为基础通过数值计算求解室内声场,适用于分析界面阻抗非均匀分布和复杂形状房间内声场的低频特性。本文首先介绍了小阻尼界面条件下室内声场简正方式、声衰变系数、混响时间的ＦＥＭ计算方法。在此基础上导出了房间内两点之间声传输函数和声脉冲响应函数的ＦＥＭ计算模型,并以矩形房间为例详细讨论了有关细节。本文所讨论的计算模型可以映房间内不同的声源点,接收点位置上的声压频谱特性和脉冲响应的时     

Comparison of fundamental frequency and perturbation measurements among three analysis systems

The need for standardization of procedures in approaches to voice measurement has been recently emphasized. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the acoustic perturbation measurements from three different analysis systems agree when standardized recording and analysis procedures are used. High-quality acoustic voice recordings from 20 patients were analyzed. The results showed that, although fundamental frequency measurements were in strong agreement among the three systems tested, frequency and amplitude perturbation measurements were not in agreement. The underlying approaches to perturbation measurement appeared to be sufficiently different to produce different results. An argument is made for a standardized set of acoustic signals representing normal, dysphonic, and synthesized voices with known characteristics to facilitate testing of new acoustic analysis systems and confirm measurement accuracy and sensitivity.     

概率盒框架下混合认知不确定声场的响应预测

针对含概率盒-证据混合认知不确定参数声场的响应预测问题,提出了一种概率盒框架下的改进区间蒙特卡洛方法。该方法首先将混合认知不确定参数转换为纯概率盒形式,然后结合有限元方法推导出混合认知不确定声场的盖根鲍尔多项式代理模型,再采用蒙特卡洛方法求解代理模型得到声压响应。以含概率盒-证据混合认知不确定参数的二维管道声场模型和卡车乘客舱声腔模型为例,计算结果表明混合认知不确定参数影响下的声压响应为概率盒形式,其包括声压响应极值和相应的概率信息,并且所提方法较常规混合离散方法效率更优,较基于一阶摄动法的区间蒙特卡洛方法准确性更高。研究结果表明:所提方法可以有效预测混合认知不确定声场的声压响应,并可进行声学性能的风险和保守估计。     

阻抗复合消声器声学性能有限元预测方法及分析

为计算和分析具有复杂结构的阻抗复合式消声器的宽频消声性能,建立了一种高效声学有限元方法,给出了不同边界条件下的边界积分处理细节,得到有限元全局系数矩阵表达式,设计出计算程序框架以实现这些算法,其求解规模和计算速度与商业软件相比有优势。为计算阻抗复合式消声器的传递损失,通过阻抗管测量和数据拟合得到了吸声材料声学特性的经验公式。计算和测量了两通穿孔阻抗复合式消声器的传递损失,二者良好的吻合验证了声学有限元方法和计算程序的正确性。研究表明,插管长度影响消声器在中高频段的消声特性,右侧隔板上穿孔会消除共振峰,中高频消声性能随着出口管穿孔率的增加而提升。     

Energetic analysis of an actively controlled one-dimensional acoustic waveguide

The aim of this work is to show the energetic behavior when an active noise controller is applied in a one-dimensional waveguide, namely an ideal duct under the first critical frequency. In order to model the duct, a spectral element method, which is shown to be more practical for analyzing pipe networks than other commonly used analytical models, was used. The model used here consists of a duct with two sources, the primary source at one end of the duct, and the secondary source at the middle section. The error sensor was placed downstream from secondary source, and the other end of the duct was open with no flange. Three optimal control methods were applied: minimization of the potential energy density, minimization of the active intensity, and minimization of the total acoustic power radiated by the sources. It was observed that the three control methods achieved the same final result, and when the volume velocity of the secondary source was driven to the optimal volume velocity, neither the primary source nor the secondary source radiated any acoustic power. Furthermore, the controlled duct was equivalent to a duct opened-ended at the secondary source position with radiation impedance equal to zero.     

Comparison of sonochemiluminescence images using image analysis techniques and identification of acoustic pressure fields via simulation

One common method to determine the existence of cavitational activity in power ultrasonics systems is by capturing images of sonoluminescence (SL) or sonochemiluminescence (SCL) in a dark environment. Conventionally, the light emitted from SL or SCL was detected based on the number of photons. Though this method is effective, it could not identify the sonochemical zones of an ultrasonic systems. SL/SCL images, on the other hand, enable identification of ‘active’ sonochemical zones. However, these images often provide just qualitative data as the harvesting of light intensity data from the images is tedious and require high resolution images. In this work, we propose a new image analysis technique using pseudo-colouring images to quantify the SCL zones based on the intensities of the SCL images and followed by comparison of the active SCL zones with COMSOL simulated acoustic pressure zones.     

Physical and chemical effects of acoustic cavitation in selected ultrasonic cleaning applications

Acoustic cavitation in a liquid medium generates several physical and chemical effects. The oscillation and collapse of cavitation bubbles, driven at low ultrasonic frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz), can generate strong shear forces, microjets, microstreaming and shockwaves. Such strong physical forces have been used in cleaning and flux improvement of ultrafiltration processes. These physical effects have also been shown to deactivate pathogens. The efficiency of deactivation of pathogens is not only dependent on ultrasonic experimental parameters, but also on the properties of the pathogens themselves. Bacteria with thick shell wall are found to be resistant to ultrasonic deactivation process. Some evidence does suggest that the chemical effects (radicals) of acoustic cavitation are also effective in deactivating pathogens. Another aspect of cleaning, namely, purification of water contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants, has also been discussed in detail. Strong oxidising agents produced within acoustic cavitation bubbles could be used to degrade organic pollutants and convert toxic inorganic pollutants to less harmful substances. The effect of ultrasonic frequency and surface activity of solutes on the sonochemical degradation efficiency has also been discussed in this overview.     

非同步的多普勒水声跟踪定位原理

提出了一种新的水声跟踪定位方法,它仅测量目标非同步声信标到达各测量基元的接收信号和频率,来对目标声学跟踪定位,称之为非同步多普勒定位方法,本文介绍其原理,处和仿真结果。     

声学立靶弹着点测试数学模型与误差分析

本文根据空气动力学理论和超音速弹丸的激波特性，建立了在使用L型立靶基础上正向射击和任意角度射击时的数学模型，并进行了误差分析，提出了减小误差的修正方法。     

声辐射阻测量系统设计及测量精度影响因素分析*

在噪声控制领域,声辐射阻是一个重要的声学变量,在产品的设计阶段,可以通过改变结构表面形状来改变结构的声辐射阻抗,从而达到降噪的目的。本文基于集中参数模型,设计了测量设备,搭建了实验测量系统,并通过对无限大障板上圆形活塞声源的声辐射阻的测量对影响实验测量结果的因素进行了研究,之后对消音器入口处辐射阻进行了测量。测量结果表明:该实验测量系统具有操作简单,测量方便快捷,测量结果精度高等特点,可用于确定结构表面声辐射阻矩阵。     

弱耦合封闭声腔的声辐射模态理论与计算

有源结构声控制是耦合封闭声腔的声辐射控制的有效方法。在此前的研究中有学者提出了\     

水下目标前向声散射探测的干涉声场畸变量分析与应用

前向声散射探测中的信直比SDR;能衡量目标前向散射波与直达波的相对大小,但未考虑两种波的干涉叠加。前向散射波与直达波实际上是干涉在一起的且很难分离,因而信直比在目标探测分析中难以直接应用。以信直比为基础并计入前向散射波与直达波的干涉效果,引入了新的参量——干涉声场畸变量ΔFTL——并给出了理论计算公式。与SDR;相比,ΔFTL可以直接从声场数据中得到,在一定程度上具有不依赖先验信息的优势。以该公式为基础并结合千岛湖缩比目标探测试验数据,(1)通过估算几何扩展损失系数发现试验中的声波为球面波,结果与依据实测水文参数的射线声场模型仿真结果相符;(2)定量地证实了ΔFTL与目标穿越位置的对应关系,同时也证明了ΔFTL理论计算公式的有效性;(3)建立了一种新的直达波抑制效果评估方案,并完成了对自适应直达波抑制方法的效能评估。目标透声和航行姿态扰动对试验结果的影响可以忽略。分析结果表明:ΔFTL能够有效代替SDR,为开展前向声散射探测性能分析或直达波抑制效果评估提供理论参考。     

On the behaviour of artificial head transfer system applied to acoustic evaluation researches for halls

The author has made tests for an artificial head transfer system whichis modelled on a Chinese male on its main physical behaviour such as frequencyresponses,frequency response differences between the front and the rear inci-dences,as will as on its important hearing behaviour such as localization,theperception of distance and room dimensions.The results verify that this kind ofartificial head transfer system can be used as one of effective tools of acousticevaluation researches for halls.     

Natural time analysis of critical phenomena: The case of acoustic emissions in triaxially deformed Etna basalt

Acoustic emissions exhibit complex correlations between space, time, and magnitude. As such, they present a unique example for a complex time series. We apply the recently introduced method of natural time analysis, which enables the detection of long-range temporal correlations even in the presence of heavy tails and find that the acoustic emissions exhibits features similar to that of other equilibrium or non-equilibrium critical systems such as worldwide seismicity as presented in the Centennial earthquake catalogue which includes global seismicity events with magnitude _Mw>7.0$M_w>7.0$. These results support the universal behaviour of the fracturing processes from the laboratory to the global scale.