Investigating bird call identification uncertainty using data from processed audio recordings

Noise pollution is one of the growing issues in our cities. Every day the streets are full of vehicles of all kinds and works using noisy machinery; it seems difficult to find a quiet area that away from this acoustic environment. Presently, multiple studies are being carried out in the area of engineering in order to be able to attenuate the causes of this noise pollution, in order to improve citizens’ lives. Nevertheless, are cars the only cause of the noise in the city? Are there other noise sources that may affect the quality of life of the citizens? What defines a city as heavily polluted or not? Maybe it can be assumed that truck noise is annoying and that it contributes to noise pollution, while the sound of birds does not and it is pleasant for people. This paper pretends to analyze the physical parameters that allow us to define if any sound causes annoyance, taking into account its acoustic environment. To do this, a specific case will be analysed; we will study three locations measured in Andorra La Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. The audio recordings will be studied deeply, and compared one to the other using data from two different days and all day schedule. We will finally evaluate the annoyance of each location using parameters such as loudness, sharpness and roughness, and taking into account both day and time, as well as giving details about the several types of sound labelled in each recording.

Download Full-text

Vocal development in a large-scale crosslinguistic corpus

10.31234/osf.io/9vzs5 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Meg Cychosz ◽

Alejandrina Cristia ◽

Elika Bergelson ◽

Marisa Casillas ◽

Gladys Baudet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Linguistically Diverse ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Fine Grained ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Using Data ◽

Future Work ◽

Multiple Languages ◽

Analyze Data

This study evaluates whether early vocalizations develop in similar ways in children across diverse cultural contexts. We analyze data from daylong audio-recordings of 49 children (1-36 months) from five different language/cultural backgrounds. Citizen scientists annotated these recordings to determine if child vocalizations contained canonical transitions or not (e.g., "ba'' versus "ee''). Results revealed that the proportion of clips reported to contain canonical transitions increased with age. Further, this proportion exceeded 0.15 by around 7 months, replicating and extending previous findings on canonical vocalization development but using data from the natural environments of a culturally and linguistically diverse sample. This work explores how crowdsourcing can be used to annotate corpora, helping establish developmental milestones relevant to multiple languages and cultures. Lower inter-annotator reliability on the crowdsourcing platform, relative to more traditional in-lab expert annotators, means that a larger number of unique annotators and/or annotations are required and that crowdsourcing may not be a suitable method for more fine-grained annotation decisions. Audio clips used for this project are compiled into a large-scale infant vocal corpus that is available for other researchers to use in future work.

Download Full-text

Impact of the caller’s emotional state and cooperation on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest recognition and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Emergency Medicine Journal ◽

10.1136/emermed-2018-208353 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 595-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cheng-Yu Chien ◽

Wei-Che Chien ◽

Li-Heng Tsai ◽

Shang-Li Tsai ◽

Chen-Bin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Arrest ◽

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽

Chest Compression ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

Emotional State ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Using Data ◽

Key Events ◽

The Impact ◽

Hospital Cardiac Arrest

ObjectiveThis study determined the impact of the caller’s emotional state and cooperation on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) recognition and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) performance metrics.MethodsThis was a retrospective study using data from November 2015 to October 2016 from the emergency medical service dispatching centre in northern Taiwan. Audio recordings of callers contacting the centre regarding adult patients with non-traumatic OHCA were reviewed. The reviewers assigned an emotional content and cooperation score (ECCS) to the callers. ECCS 1–3 callers were graded as cooperative and ECCS 4–5 callers as uncooperative and highly emotional. The relation between ECCS and OHCA recognition, time to key events and DA-CPR delivery were investigated.ResultsOf the 367 cases, 336 (91.6%) callers were assigned ECCS 1–3 with a good inter-rater reliability (k=0.63). Dispatchers recognised OHCA in 251 (68.4%) cases. Compared with callers with ECCS 1, callers with ECCS 2 and 3 were more likely to give unambiguous responses about the patient’s breathing status (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.4), leading to a significantly higher rate of OHCA recognition (AOR=2.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.0). Thirty-one callers were rated uncooperative (ECCS 4–5) but had shorter median times to OHCA recognition and chest compression (29 and 122 s, respectively) compared with the cooperative caller group (38 and 170 s, respectively). Nevertheless, those with ECCS 4–5 had a significantly lower DA-CPR delivery rate (54.2% vs 85.9%) due to ‘caller refused’ or ‘overly distraught’ factors.ConclusionsThe caller’s high emotional state is not a barrier to OHCA recognition by dispatchers but may prevent delivery of DA-CPR instruction. However, DA-CPR instruction followed by first chest compression is possible despite the caller’s emotional state if dispatchers are able to skilfully reassure the emotional callers.

Download Full-text

Polar Magnetic Field Reversals of the Sun in Maunder Minimum

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100064472 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 179 ◽

pp. 193-196

Author(s):

V. I. Makarov ◽

A. G. Tlatov

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Maunder Minimum ◽

The Sun ◽

Annual Rings ◽

Field Reversal ◽

Polar Magnetic Field ◽

Pine Trees ◽

Using Data ◽

Magnetic Field Reversal

AbstractA possible scenario of polar magnetic field reversal of the Sun during the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715) is discussed using data of magnetic field reversals of the Sun for 1880–1991 and the14Ccontent variations in the bi-annual rings of the pine-trees in 1600–1730 yrs.

Download Full-text

A Device to Mark Inaudible Behaviors on Audio Recordings

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/0161-1461.1803.238 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 238-240

Author(s):

Edward A. Shirkey ◽

Ruben D. Kelly

Keyword(s):

Speech And Language ◽

Audio Tape ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Audio Recordings

A need exists for speech-language pathologists to have convenient and inexpensive ways to record, on audio tape, occurrences of important inaudible speech- and language-related behaviors. The device described below can be used to mark occurrences of such events.

Download Full-text

Classification of Infant Vocalizations by Untrained Listeners

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-s-18-0494 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (9) ◽

pp. 3265-3275

Author(s):

Heather L. Ramsdell-Hudock ◽

Anne S. Warlaumont ◽

Lindsey E. Foss ◽

Candice Perry

Keyword(s):

Formal Education ◽

Additional Insight ◽

Listener Responses ◽

Infant Vocalization ◽

Early Infant ◽

Infant Vocalizations ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Speech And Language Development ◽

Insight Into

Purpose To better enable communication among researchers, clinicians, and caregivers, we aimed to assess how untrained listeners classify early infant vocalization types in comparison to terms currently used by researchers and clinicians. Method Listeners were caregivers with no prior formal education in speech and language development. A 1st group of listeners reported on clinician/researcher-classified vowel, squeal, growl, raspberry, whisper, laugh, and cry vocalizations obtained from archived video/audio recordings of 10 infants from 4 through 12 months of age. A list of commonly used terms was generated based on listener responses and the standard research terminology. A 2nd group of listeners was presented with the same vocalizations and asked to select terms from the list that they thought best described the sounds. Results Classifications of the vocalizations by listeners largely overlapped with published categorical descriptors and yielded additional insight into alternate terms commonly used. The biggest discrepancies were found for the vowel category. Conclusion Prior research has shown that caregivers are accurate in identifying canonical babbling, a major prelinguistic vocalization milestone occurring at about 6–7 months of age. This indicates that caregivers are also well attuned to even earlier emerging vocalization types. This supports the value of continuing basic and clinical research on the vocal types infants produce in the 1st months of life and on their potential diagnostic utility, and may also help improve communication between speech-language pathologists and families.

Download Full-text

Accent Policy and Accent Modification Enterprises as Potential Indicators of Intercultural Power Relations: A Call for an Updated Research Agenda

Perspectives on Global Issues in Communication Sciences and Related Disorders ◽

10.1044/gics3.1.22 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 22-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brynne D. Ovalle ◽

Rahul Chakraborty

Keyword(s):

International Relations ◽

Identity Construction ◽

Social Theory ◽

Power Relations ◽

Linguistic Diversity ◽

Cultural Organization ◽

Using Data ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.

Download Full-text

Modeling Self-Determination Theory Motivation Data by Using Unfolding IRT

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000629 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Philipp A. Freund ◽

Annette Lohbeck

Keyword(s):

Ideal Point ◽

Self Determination Theory ◽

Self Determination ◽

Dominance Model ◽

Irt Model ◽

Autonomous Behavior ◽

Location Parameters ◽

Unfolding Models ◽

Using Data ◽

Item Location

Abstract. Self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that the degree of autonomous behavior regulation is a characteristic of distinct motivation types which thus can be ordered on the so-called Autonomy-Control Continuum (ACC). The present study employs an item response theory (IRT) model under the ideal point response/unfolding paradigm in order to model the response process to SDT motivation items in theoretical accordance with the ACC. Using data from two independent student samples (measuring SDT motivation for the academic subjects of Mathematics and German as a native language), it was found that an unfolding model exhibited a relatively better fit compared to a dominance model. The item location parameters under the unfolding paradigm showed clusters of items representing the different regulation types on the ACC to be (almost perfectly) empirically separable, as suggested by SDT. Besides theoretical implications, perspectives for the application of ideal point response/unfolding models in the development of measures for non-cognitive constructs are addressed.

Download Full-text

From Bi-Dimensionality to Uni-Dimensionality in Self-Report Questionnaires

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000583 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bjarne Schmalbach ◽

Markus Zenger ◽

Michalis P. Michaelides ◽

Karin Schermelleh-Engel ◽

Andreas Hinz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Factor Model ◽

Common Factor ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Model Fit ◽

Self Report ◽

External Criterion ◽

Common Factor Model ◽

Random Intercept ◽

Using Data ◽

Core Self

Abstract. The common factor model – by far the most widely used model for factor analysis – assumes equal item intercepts across respondents. Due to idiosyncratic ways of understanding and answering items of a questionnaire, this assumption is often violated, leading to an underestimation of model fit. Maydeu-Olivares and Coffman (2006) suggested the introduction of a random intercept into the model to address this concern. The present study applies this method to six established instruments (measuring depression, procrastination, optimism, self-esteem, core self-evaluations, and self-regulation) with ambiguous factor structures, using data from representative general population samples. In testing and comparing three alternative factor models (one-factor model, two-factor model, and one-factor model with a random intercept) and analyzing differential correlational patterns with an external criterion, we empirically demonstrate the random intercept model’s merit, and clarify the factor structure for the above-mentioned questionnaires. In sum, we recommend the random intercept model for cases in which acquiescence is suspected to affect response behavior.

Download Full-text

Short Stress State Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000200 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 20-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

William S. Helton ◽

Katharina Näswall

Keyword(s):

Stress State ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Human Performance ◽

Self Report ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Stress States ◽

Related Stress ◽

Using Data ◽

Task Conditions ◽

Multiple Samples

Conscious appraisals of stress, or stress states, are an important aspect of human performance. This article presents evidence supporting the validity and measurement characteristics of a short multidimensional self-report measure of stress state, the Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ; Helton, 2004 ). The SSSQ measures task engagement, distress, and worry. A confirmatory factor analysis of the SSSQ using data pooled from multiple samples suggests the SSSQ does have a three factor structure and post-task changes are not due to changes in factor structure, but to mean level changes (state changes). In addition, the SSSQ demonstrates sensitivity to task stressors in line with hypotheses. Different task conditions elicited unique patterns of stress state on the three factors of the SSSQ in line with prior predictions. The 24-item SSSQ is a valid measure of stress state which may be useful to researchers interested in conscious appraisals of task-related stress.

Download Full-text