Vibration and sound signatures of human footsteps in buildings

The acoustic signature of a footstep is one of several signatures that can be exploited for human recognition. Early research showed the maximum value for the force of multiple footsteps to be in the frequency band of 1-4 Hz. This paper reports on the broadband frequency-dependent vibrations and sound pressure responses of human footsteps in buildings. Past studies have shown that the low-frequency band (below 500 Hz) is well known in the literature, and generated by the force normal to the ground/floor. The seismic particle velocity response to footsteps was shown to be site specific and the characteristic frequency band was 20-90 Hz. In this paper, the high-frequency band (above 500 Hz) is investigated. The high-frequency band of the vibration and sound of a human footstep is shown to be generated by the tangential force to the floor and the floor reaction, or friction force. The vibration signals, as a function of floor coverings and walking style, were studied in a broadband frequency range. Different walking styles result in different vibration signatures in the low-frequency range. However, for the walking styles tested, the magnitudes in the high-frequency range are comparable and independent of walking style.     

Controlling the generation of high frequency electromagnetic pulses with relativistic flying mirrors using an inhomogeneous plasma

A method for the controlled generation of intense high frequency electromagnetic fields by a breaking Langmuir wave (relativistic flying mirrors) in a gradually inhomogeneous plasma is proposed. The wave breaking threshold depends on the local plasma density gradient. Compression, chirping and frequency multiplication of an electromagnetic wave reflected from relativistic mirrors is demonstrated using Particle-In-Cell simulations. Adjusting the shape of the density profile enables control of the reflected light properties.     

Insight into 3D micro‐CT data: exploring segmentation algorithms through performance metrics

Three‐dimensional (3D) micro‐tomography (µ‐CT) has proven to be an important imaging modality in industry and scientific domains. Understanding the properties of material structure and behavior has produced many scientific advances. An important component of the 3D µ‐CT pipeline is image partitioning (or image segmentation), a step that is used to separate various phases or components in an image. Image partitioning schemes require specific rules for different scientific fields, but a common strategy consists of devising metrics to quantify performance and accuracy. The present article proposes a set of protocols to systematically analyze and compare the results of unsupervised classification methods used for segmentation of synchrotron‐based data. The proposed dataflow for Materials Segmentation and Metrics (MSM) provides 3D micro‐tomography image segmentation algorithms, such as statistical region merging (SRM), k‐means algorithm and parallel Markov random field (PMRF), while offering different metrics to evaluate segmentation quality, confidence and conformity with standards. Both experimental and synthetic data are assessed, illustrating quantitative results through the MSM dashboard, which can return sample information such as media porosity and permeability. The main contributions of this work are: (i) to deliver tools to improve material design and quality control; (ii) to provide datasets for benchmarking and reproducibility; (iii) to yield good practices in the absence of standards or ground‐truth for ceramic composite analysis.     

Low temperature magnetic ordering of a series of structurally characterized chloroferrates

Iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopic results for a new series of related chloroferrate salts of complex ammonium cations are presented. In particular, spectra of materials based on FeCl ₄ ^– , FeCl ₅ ^2– , FeCl ₆ ^– , [FeCl₅(H₂O)]^2–, and [FeCl₅(CH₃OH)]^2– anions are discussed relative to the systematics of their isomer shifts, coordination numbers, and low temperature 3D critical ordering temperatures. The following specific systems have been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy and definitively characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis: [CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ ]₄[FeCl₆]^3–[Cl^–](A), [Me₂N(-CH₂CH₂)₂NMe ₂ ⁺ ][FeCl ₅ ^2– ] (B), [H₃NCH₂CH₂NH ₃ ²⁺ ][FeCl₅·H₂O^2–], (C), and [NH₃(CH₂)₆NH ₃ ²⁺ ]₄[(FeCl ₆ ^3– )(FeCl ₄ ^– )ClCl ₄ ^– ] (D). The spectral data for these complexes are considered in the light of results of previous studies for systems such as [K₂FeCl₅·H₂O], [Co(NH₃)₆][FeCl₆], diamethyltriethylenediammoniumpentachloroferrate (E), and the related [FeCl₅·CH₃OH]^2– salt (F). The critical 3D ordering temperatures are 1.45, 6.80, 3.45, and 1.22K forA, B, C, andD, respectively.     

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of articular cartilage in the goat knee with magnetization transfer imaging

We investigated the role of collagen in the magnetization transfer (MT) effect in contrast to other macromolecules. By means of phantoms made of collagen, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and albumin, MR parameters have been optimized in order to reduce the acquisition time and improve the sensitivity, as well as to minimize the contributions from CS and albumin to the MT induced signal attenuation. The same method was used to study cartilage ex vivo (bovine articular and nasal cartilage plugs) and in vivo (goat knee femoral chondyle). In phantom samples, the MT signal attenuation depended on the collagen concentration while contributions from the other macromolecules were found to be minimal. In average, analysis of MT images revealed a 25%, 35% and 30% signal attenuation in 10% w/v type I collagen gels, cartilage plugs, and cartilage from the weight-bearing areas of the goat knee, respectively. Biochemical data revealed that treatment of cartilage plugs with bacterial collagenase led to collagen depletion and correspondingly to a decrease of the MT response. In contrast, trypsin-induced proteoglycan loss in cartilage plugs did not alter the MT effect. A significant correlation was observed between the collagen content in these plugs and their respective MT ratios and the rate constant k for the exchange process bound versus free water. Finally, data obtained from in vivo MT measurement of the goat knee demonstrated that intra-articular injection of papain might not only cause degradation of proteoglycans but also a change in collagen integrity in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that in vivo measurement of MT ratios gives quantitative and qualitative information on the collagen status and may be applied for the routine evaluation of normal and abnormal articular cartilage.     

Conditional spin squeezing of a large ensemble via the vacuum Rabi splitting

We use the vacuum Rabi splitting to perform quantum nondemolition measurements that prepare a conditionally spin squeezed state of a collective atomic psuedospin. We infer a 3.4(6) dB improvement in quantum phase estimation relative to the standard quantum limit for a coherent spin state composed of uncorrelated atoms. The measured collective spin is composed of the two-level clock states of nearly 10(6) (87)Rb atoms confined inside a low finesse F=710 optical cavity. This technique may improve atomic sensor precision and/or bandwidth, and may lead to more precise tests of fundamental physics.     

Rhythm analysis of orthogonal signals from human walking

In physical terms, periodic movements of a human body resulting from walking produce a pulse sequence with repetition time T(1) (instant cadence frequency, 1/T(1)) and duration time T(2). Footstep forces generate periodic T(1) broadband seismic and sound signals due to the dynamic forces between the foot and the ground/floor with duration time T(2), which is equal to the time interval for a single footstep from heel strike to toe slap and weight transfer. In a human gait study (for normal speeds of walking), T(1) was detected as 0.5-0.69 s and double limb support takes up about 12% of the gait cycle (2T(1)), so T(2) is greater than 0.12-0.17 s. Short range (of about 50 m) signatures for 30 humans were recorded simultaneously by four orthogonal sensor types at two locations. The sensor types were active Doppler sonar/radar and passive seismic/acoustics. Analysis of signals from these four sensors collected for walking humans showed temporal synchronization and stability of the cadence frequencies, and the cadence frequency from each sensor was equivalent. The time delay between signals from these sensors due to the differences in speeds of propagation for seismic, sound, and electromagnetic waves allows calculation of the distance from a walker to the sensor suite.     

Method for vector characterization of polar liquids using frequency-domain spectroscopy

A device for performing vector transmission spectroscopy on aqueous and polar solvent specimens at terahertz frequencies is presented. The device enables the direct measurement of the complex dielectric function across the terahertz band using a Fourier transform IR spectrometer for lossy solutions. Using microfluidic sampling, specimen handling is straightforward and direct measurements on polar specimens are made possible. The method is scalable to longer or shorter wavelengths.