Intelligibilities of 1-octave rectangular bands spanning the speech spectrum when heard separately and paired

There is a need, both for speech theory and for many practical applications, to know the intelligibilities of individual passbands that span the speech spectrum when they are heard singly and in combination. While indirect procedures have been employed for estimating passband intelligibilities (e.g., the Speech Intelligibility Index), direct measurements have been blocked by the confounding contributions from transition band slopes that accompany filtering. A recent study has reported that slopes of several thousand dBA/octave produced by high-order finite impulse response filtering were required to produce the effectively rectangular bands necessary to eliminate appreciable contributions from transition bands [Warren et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 115, 1292-1295 (2004)]. Using such essentially vertical slopes, the present study employed sentences, and reports the intelligibilities of their six 1-octave contiguous passbands having center frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz when heard alone, and for each of their 15 possible pairings.     

Intelligibility of bandpass filtered speech: steepness of slopes required to eliminate transition band contributions

Despite the recognition that the steepness of filter slopes can play an important role in the intelligibility of bandpass speech, there has been no systematic examination of its importance. The present study used high orders of finite impulse response (FIR) filtering to produce slopes ranging from 150 to 10,000 dB/octave. The slopes flanked 1/3-octave passbands of everyday sentences having a center frequency of 1500 Hz (the region of highest intelligibility for the male speaker's voice). Presentation levels were approximately 75 and 45 dB. No significant differences were found for the two presentation levels. Average intelligibility scores ranged from 77% at 150 dB/octave down to the asymptotic intelligibility score of 12% at 4800 dB/octave. These results indicate that slopes of several thousand dB/octave may be required for accurate and unambiguous specification of the range of frequencies contributing to intelligibility of filtered speech. In addition, the extremely steep slopes are needed to ensure that none of the spectral components contributing to intelligibility has its relative importance diminished by spectral tilt.     

The role of contrasting temporal amplitude patterns in the perception of speech

Despite a lack of traditional speech features, novel sentences restricted to a narrow spectral slit can retain nearly perfect intelligibility [R. M. Warren et al., Percept. Psychophys. 57, 175-182 (1995)]. The current study employed 514 listeners to elucidate the cues allowing this high intelligibility, and to examine generally the use of narrow-band temporal speech patterns. When 1/3-octave sentences were processed to preserve the overall temporal pattern of amplitude fluctuation, but eliminate contrasting amplitude patterns within the band, sentence intelligibility dropped from values near 100% to values near zero (experiment 1). However, when a 1/3-octave speech band was partitioned to create a contrasting pair of independently amplitude-modulated 1/6-octave patterns, some intelligibility was restored (experiment 2). An additional experiment (3) showed that temporal patterns can also be integrated across wide frequency separations, or across the two ears. Despite the linguistic content of single temporal patterns, open-set intelligibility does not occur. Instead, a contrast between at least two temporal patterns is required for the comprehension of novel sentences and their component words. These contrasting patterns can reside together within a narrow range of frequencies, or they can be integrated across frequencies or ears. This view of speech perception, in which across-frequency changes in energy are seen as systematic changes in the temporal fluctuation patterns at two or more fixed loci, is more in line with the physiological encoding of complex signals.     

The behavioral response of mice to gaps in noise depends on its spectral components and its bandwidth

The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether detecting brief decrements in noise level ("gaps") varies with the spectral content and bandwidth of noise in mice as it does in humans. The behavioral effect of gaps was quantified by their inhibiting a subsequent acoustic startle reflex. Gap durations from 1 to 29 ms were presented in five adjacent 1-octave noise bands and one 5-octave band, their range being 2 kHz to 64 kHz. Gaps ended 60 ms before the startle stimulus (experiment 1) or at startle onset (experiment 2). Asymptotic inhibition was greater for higher-frequency 1-octave bands and highest for the 5-octave band in both experiments, but time constants were related to frequency only in experiment 1. For the lowest band (2-4 kHz) neither noise decrements (experiment 1 and 2) nor increments (experiment 3) had any behavioral consequence, but this band was effective when presented as a pulse in quiet (experiment 4). The lowest frequencies in the most effective 1-octave band were one octave above the spectral region where mice have their best absolute thresholds. These effects are similar to those obtained in humans, and reveal a special contribution of wide band, high-frequency stimulation to temporal acuity.     

Twin Boundaries in Zinc Oxide with Additions of Gallium Oxide

Twin boundaries (TBs) in ZnO sintered with small additions of Ga₂O₃ have been characterized with advanced methods of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TBs and accompanying inversion domain boundaries are on {011¯3} planes of ZnO. The Ga content of the TB corresponds to an effectively half occupied {011¯3} plane determined from compositional maps calculated from electron spectroscopic images using electron filtering TEM. The structure of the TBs were investigated by high-resolution TEM, and images of focus series were used to reconstruct the complex electron wave. Simulated electron waves based on structure models of the TB were quantitatively compared with the reconstructed wave to identify and to refine atom positions. The twins can be considered to be created by a mirror operation on a {011¯3} plane of ZnO, and two alternating closed-packed polyhedral clusters of oxygen ions can be identified as building units of the TB structure. Unit 1 is occupied with Zn²⁺ by simply continuing ZnO₄ tetrahedra of the same type from both crystals to the TB. Using arguments of local charge balance unit 2 can only be occupied with the trivalent Ga³⁺ ion. The Ga³⁺ position was refined with high precision (±5 pm), and the resulting polyhedron is a GaO₅ square pyramid. The pyramids form densely occupied columns parallel to the twin axis [21¯1¯0]. The analysis of the TB structure yields a fractional occupancy of the boundary plane by Ga of 0.5, which is in good agreement with the result of the chemical composition measurement with energy filtered TEM.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the anilinolysis of aryl 4‐nitrophenyl thionocarbonates in aqueous ethanol

The reactions of bis(4‐nitrophenyl), 3‐chlorophenyl 4‐nitrophenyl, and 3‐methoxyphenyl 4‐nitrophenyl thionocarbonates ( 1 , 2 , and 3 , respectively) with a series of anilines are subjected to a kinetic investigation in 44 wt.% ethanol–water, at 25.0 °C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M. Under aniline excess, pseudo‐first‐order rate coefficients (k_obs) are found. Plots of k_obs versus aniline concentration are linear, with the slopes (k_N) pH independent, k_N being the rate coefficient for the anilinolysis of the thionocarbonates. The Brønsted plot (log k_N vs. pK_a of anilinium ions) for thionocarbonate 1 is linear, with slope (β) 0.62, which is consistent with a concerted mechanism. The Brønsted plots for thionocarbonates 2 and 3 are curved, with slopes 0.1 at high pK_a for both reaction series and slopes 0.84 and 0.79 at low pK_a for the reactions of 2 and 3 , respectively. The latter plots are in accordance to stepwise mechanisms, through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T^±) and its anionic analogue (T^?), the latter being formed by deprotonation of T^± by the basic form of the buffer (HPO). The Brønsted curves are explained by a change in the rate‐limiting step, from deprotonation of T^± at low pK_a, to its formation at high pK_a. The influence of the amine nature and the non‐leaving and electrophilic groups of the substrate on the kinetics and mechanism is also discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contribution of spectral cues to human sound localization

The contribution of spectral cues to human sound localization was investigated by removing cues in 1/2-, 1- or 2-octave bands in the frequency range above 4 kHz. Localization responses were given by placing an acoustic pointer at the same apparent position as a virtual target. The pointer was generated by filtering a 100-ms harmonic complex with equalized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Listeners controlled the pointer via a hand-held stick that rotated about a fixed point. In the baseline condition, the target, a 200-ms noise burst, was filtered with the same HRTFs as the pointer. In other conditions, the spectral information within a certain frequency band was removed by replacing the directional transfer function within this band with the average transfer of this band. Analysis of the data showed that removing cues in 1/2-octave bands did not affect localization, whereas for the 2-octave band correct localization was virtually impossible. The results obtained for the 1-octave bands indicate that up-down cues are located mainly in the 6-12-kHz band, and front-back cues in the 8-16-kHz band. The interindividual spread in response patterns suggests that different listeners use different localization cues. The response patterns in the median plane can be predicted using a model based on spectral comparison of directional transfer functions for target and response directions.     

仅用一根局部微结构长周期光纤光栅实现温度与弯曲曲率的同时测量

提出并制作了一种具有微结构缺陷的局部微结构长周期光纤光栅,该光栅是用氢氟酸局部腐蚀长周期光纤光栅,在包层区域形成局部缺陷得到的.理论分析与实际制作表明,局部腐蚀会改变包层模的有效折射率调制,相当于在缺陷部分引入一个相移,在其光谱图上表现为在透射阻带中打开一个透射窗口,形成两个透射阻带和一个透射通带.在此基础上对其进行了传感实验,研究了两个透射阻带和透射通带的温度和弯曲特性.实验结果表明:透射通带和两透射阻带的温度灵敏度相同,均约为0.05 nm/?C;而透射通带的弯曲曲率灵敏度(约为-2.61 nm/m-1)小于透射阻带的弯曲曲率灵敏度(约为-4.71 nm/m-1),因此利用敏感矩阵,可以仅用一根光栅对弯曲曲率和温度双参量进行同时测量.     

Dispersion compensation of a 1x N passive optical router with low loss, a flat passband, and low cross talk

A 1xN interferometer-based router with single-stage all-pass filters in the arms has low loss, a flat passband, and low cross talk. However, we show that the router has substantial cubic dispersion over the channel passband, which is identical from channel to channel. For a 1x4 router with a free spectral range of 100 GHz, the average dispersion slope over a 60% passband is -8x10(3)ps/nm(2), and thus a cascade of four routers incurs a significant system power penalty. A three-stage all-pass filter placed on the input arm reduces the dispersion of all channels by a factor of 16. The router is quite insensitive to variations in the all-pass filter design parameters.     

Loudness growth in 1/2-octave bands (LGOB)--a procedure for the assessment of loudness

In this paper, a method that has been developed for the assessment and quantification of loudness perception in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired persons is described. The method has been named LGOB, which stands for loudness growth in 1/2-octave bands. The method uses 1/2-octave bands of noise, centered at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz, with subjective levels between a subject's threshold of hearing and the "too loud" level. The noise bands are presented to the subject, randomized over frequency and level, and the subject is asked to respond with a loudness rating (one of: VERY SOFT, SOFT, OK, LOUD, VERY LOUD, TOO LOUD). Subject responses (normal and hearing-impaired) are then compared to the average responses of a group of normal-hearing subjects. This procedure allows one to estimate the subject's loudness growth relative to normals, as a function of frequency and level. The results may be displayed either as isoloudness contours or as recruitment curves. In its present form, the measurements take less than 30 min. The signal presentation and analysis is done using a PC and a PC plug-in board having a digital to analog converter.     

Exploring azimuth effects with an anthropometric manikin.

In these experiments, the effects of sound direction on the eardrum response of an anthropometric manikin (the KEMAR manikin) were investigated. Pure tones and pink noise (analyzed in 1/3-octave bandwidths) over a wide frequency range were used as signals as the manikin rotated 360 degrees with respect to a point source in a anechoic chamber. The simulated eardrum SPL was compared with the averaged human field-to-eardrum data reported by Shaw [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 56, 1848--1861 (1974)]. It was concluded that the KEMAR manikin can be used up to frequencies of approximately 8.0 kHz, with (1) 1/3-octave pink noise signals to measure a response equivalent to tht obtained by averaging over a number of humans, and (2) pure-tone signals to measure the response equivalent to that of a single human having average head and ear dimensions.     

Atomistic simulation study on twin orientation and spacing distribution effects on nanotwinned Cu films

Affected by twin orientation and spacing distribution, different deformation and failure mechanisms of nanotwinned (NT) Cu films are discovered. For films with the same twin spacing, transition from brittle to ductile and ductile to localized necking with the increase of the slanted angle of twin boundary (TB) from 0° to 90° is examined. Two dominant slip mechanisms: (1) slip intersecting with the TBs; (2) slip parallel to the TBs can uncover the transition mechanisms with consideration of twin orientation. To maintain both relatively high strength and good ductility, the slanted angle can be set close to the ductile to localized necking transition border. Besides, the stress–strain curves obtained in this article show that the mechanical responses on both sides of the turning point 45° are asymmetric. On the other hand, the twin spacing distributions affect the ductility of NT Cu films and have almost no contribution to strengthening. The strength of the NT Cu films mainly depends on the twin density. NT Cu films with different twin spacing have worse ductility than equal twin spacing films due to the local twin spacing asymmetry. The failures can be predicted appearing at TBs adjacent to large twin spacing regions, and the failure propagation direction can also be predicted by knowing the obtuse angle decided by stacking faults and TBs.     

汉语语调音高下倾的实验研究

通过提取和分析特定声调组合的实验室语句的音高曲线,探讨了确定条件下的汉语语句音高下倾趋势。分析结果表明,在不同类型声调组合的陈述句中,低音线清晰地呈现出以韵律短语为基本单元的下倾现象,下倾的斜率与韵律短语长度成反比.声调组合不同,以及承载下倾特征点的音节在韵律词中的位置不同,都会导致低音线下倾的斜率不同。具体表现为:(1)当低音点处于韵律词词首时,低音线斜率的绝对值大于低音点处于韵律词词末时的绝对值;(2)韵律短语音高下倾程度还受其在句中所处位置的影响,句首韵律短语的下倾程度大于旬末韵律短语的下倾程度;(3)主句包含多个韵律短语时,它们的低音线起点可以是依次单调递降的,具体的下倾模式受短语之间句法语义关系的制约。      

Rheological Behaviors of Polypropylene/Poly(1-butene) Blends

The rheological behaviors of polypropylene (PP)/poly(1-butene) (PB) blends with homo-polypropylene (PP₁) or impact polypropylene (PP₂), a poly(propylene-co-ethylene) as the PP component were studied. With increasing of PB resin content for both PP/PB blends, the blends showed higher G'(ω), G''(ω) and η*(ω) at low frequencies but lower values at high frequencies which implied that the processability was improved. A two-phase morphology was observed through the various rheological responses, including G'(ω)-ω terminal region curves, Cole-Cole plots and the weighted relaxation spectra with the PB contents up to 40?wt%. With the same PB content, the rheological parameters of the PP₂/PB blends were quite different from those of the PP₁/PB, which can be attributed to the stronger interaction between PB chains and the ethylene-co-propylene copolymer in PP₂. The impact strength of the PP₂/PB blends was improved dramatically over that of the PP₁/PB. The more significant toughening effect for the PP₂/PB blends can be attributed to the special responses of its rheological behaviors.     

Ultrasonic propagation properties of articular cartilage at 100 MHz

A pilot study on articular cartilage assessed the contributions of individual matrix components to ultrasound propagation. The influence of collagen fibril orientation and collagen cross linking was also assessed. Sections of adult bovine articular cartilage cut both parallel and perpendicular to the articular surface were examined using the scanning laser acoustic microscope (SLAM) operating at an ultrasonic frequency of 100 MHz. A set of samples was evaluated that had been sequentially treated by enzymes to (1) remove 85% of the chondroitin sulfate; (2) remove remaining glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, and other noncollagen proteins, leaving only the collagen fibril network; and (3) disrupt the collagen intermolecular cross links. Two striking observations were made: a profound effect of the "preferred" collagen fibril orientation on ultrasonic speed and a marked increase in attenuation coefficient when intermolecular cross links were broken in the collagen.     

Similarities of vowels in nonreverberant and reverberant fields

Perceptual distances among single tokens of American English vowels were established for nonreverberant and reverberant conditions. Fifteen vowels in the phonetic context (b-t), embedded in the sentence "Mark the (b-t) again" were recorded by a male talker. For the reverberant condition, the sentences were played through a room with a reverberation time of 1.2 s. The CVC syllables were removed from the sentences and presented in pairs to ten subjects with audiometrically normal hearing, who judged the similarity of the syllable pairs separately for the nonreverberant and reverberant conditions. The results were analyzed by multidimensional scaling procedures, which showed that the perceptual data were accounted for by a three-dimensional vowel space. Correlations were obtained between the coordinates of the vowels along each dimension and selected acoustic parameters. For both conditions, dimensions 1 and 2 were highly correlated with formant frequencies F2 and F1, respectively, and dimension 3 was correlated with the product of the duration of the vowels and the difference between F3 and F1 expressed on the Bark scale. These observations are discussed in terms of the influence of reverberation on speech perception.     

Nanoscale Structure of Urethane/Urea Elastomeric Films

The nanostructure of urethane/urea elastomeric membranes was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in order to establish relationships between their structure and mechanical properties. The networks were made up of polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polybutadiene (PB) segments. The structural differences were investigated in two types of membranes with the same composition but with different thermal treatment after casting. Type I was cured at 70–80 °C and type II at 20 °C. Both membranes showed similar phase separation by TEM, with nanodomains rich in PB or PPO and 25 nm dimensions. The main difference between type I and type II membranes was found by SAXS. The type I membrane spectra showed, besides a broad band at a 27-nm q value (modulus of the scattering vector), an extra band at 6 nm, which was not observed in the type II membrane. The SAXS spectra were interpreted in terms of PPO, PB soft segments, and urethane/urea links, as well as hard moiety segregation in the reaction medium. This additional segregation (q = 7 nm), although subtle, results in diverse mechanical behavior of in both membranes.     

The benefit of binaural hearing in a cocktail party: effect of location and type of interferer

The "cocktail party problem" was studied using virtual stimuli whose spatial locations were generated using anechoic head-related impulse responses from the AUDIS database [Blauert et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 3082 (1998)]. Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were measured for Harvard IEEE sentences presented from the front in the presence of one, two, or three interfering sources. Four types of interferer were used: (1) other sentences spoken by the same talker, (2) time-reversed sentences of the same talker, (3) speech-spectrum shaped noise, and (4) speech-spectrum shaped noise, modulated by the temporal envelope of the sentences. Each interferer was matched to the spectrum of the target talker. Interferers were placed in several spatial configurations, either coincident with or separated from the target. Binaural advantage was derived by subtracting SRTs from listening with the "better monaural ear" from those for binaural listening. For a single interferer, there was a binaural advantage of 2-4 dB for all interferer types. For two or three interferers, the advantage was 2-4 dB for noise and speech-modulated noise, and 6-7 dB for speech and time-reversed speech. These data suggest that the benefit of binaural hearing for speech intelligibility is especially pronounced when there are multiple voiced interferers at different locations from the target, regardless of spatial configuration; measurements with fewer or with other types of interferers can underestimate this benefit.