scholarly journals Bark Features for Identifying Resonance Spruce Standing Timber

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florin Dinulică ◽  
Cristian-Teofil Albu ◽  
Maria Magdalena Vasilescu ◽  
Mariana Domnica Stanciu
Keyword(s):  
Basic Density ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Romanian Carpathians ◽  
Criteria For Diagnosis ◽  
Standing Timber ◽  
Resonance Wood

Measuring the acoustic properties of wood is not feasible for most luthiers, so identifying simple, valid criteria for diagnosis remains an exciting challenge when selecting materials for manufacturing musical instruments. This article aims to verify whether the bark qualities as a marker of resonance wood are indeed useful. The morphometric and colour traits (in CIELab space) of the bark scales were compared with the structural (width and regularity of the growth rings and of the latewood) and acoustic features (transverse sound velocity, radiation ratio, impedance, and wood basic density) of the wood from 145 standing and 10 felled spruce trees, which are considered a resource of the resonance wood in the Romanian Carpathians. It has been emphasized that the spruce trees with acoustic and structural features that match the requirements for the manufacture of violins have a bark phenotype distinguishable by colour (higher redness, lower yellowness and brightness)—as well as by scale shape (higher slenderness and width). The south-facing side of the trunk and the external side of the scale are best for identifying resonance trees by their bark. Additionally, the mature bark phenotypes denote topoclinal variations and do not depend on tree age. Moreover, the differences among bark phenotypes are noticeable to the naked eye.

Acoustic Features of Rhesus Vocalizations and Their Representation in the Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 1470-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yale E. Cohen ◽  
Frédéric Theunissen ◽  
Brian E. Russ ◽  
Patrick Gill
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
First Order ◽  
Natural Stimuli ◽  
Spectrotemporal Receptive Field ◽  
Auditory Objects

Communication is one of the fundamental components of both human and nonhuman animal behavior. Auditory communication signals (i.e., vocalizations) are especially important in the socioecology of several species of nonhuman primates such as rhesus monkeys. In rhesus, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vPFC) is thought to be part of a circuit involved in representing vocalizations and other auditory objects. To further our understanding of the role of the vPFC in processing vocalizations, we characterized the spectrotemporal features of rhesus vocalizations, compared these features with other classes of natural stimuli, and then related the rhesus-vocalization acoustic features to neural activity. We found that the range of these spectrotemporal features was similar to that found in other ensembles of natural stimuli, including human speech, and identified the subspace of these features that would be particularly informative to discriminate between different vocalizations. In a first neural study, however, we found that the tuning properties of vPFC neurons did not emphasize these particularly informative spectrotemporal features. In a second neural study, we found that a first-order linear model (the spectrotemporal receptive field) is not a good predictor of vPFC activity. The results of these two neural studies are consistent with the hypothesis that the vPFC is not involved in coding the first-order acoustic properties of a stimulus but is involved in processing the higher-order information needed to form representations of auditory objects.

Differences in the viscoelastic properties between earlywood and latewood in the growth rings of Chinese fir as analyzed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) in the temperature range between −120°C and 120°C

Holzforschung ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anxin Li ◽  
Jiali Jiang ◽  
Jianxiong Lu
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Microfibril Angle ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Chinese Fir ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Dry Density ◽  
Mechanical Relaxation ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Dynamic Mechanical

AbstractTo clarify the viscoelasticity of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) within different growth rings of Chinese fir, the following data were determined: absolute dry density, percentage of tracheid cell wall, microfibril angle (MFA), modulus of elasticity (MOE), storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E″) within the 3rdand 6thgrowth rings (in heartwood, hW) and the 14thand 18thgrowth rings (in sapwood, sW). The E′ and E″ data were obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) between −120°C and 120°C, at a heating rate of 1°C min−1at the frequencies of 1, 2, 5 and 10 Hz under a dynamic load amplitude of 10 μm. All measured data were different between EW and LW. In the same growth ring, LW had a greater MOE and larger E′ than those of EW due to the higher density of LW. The MOE and E′ increased for both EW and LW with increasing tree age. The variation of MFA in different growth rings of EW influenced the MOE and E′. Both density and the MFA affected the MOE and E′ in LW. The profiles of E″ plots vs. DMA temperature reveal two maxima around −12°C (β mechanical relaxation process, βMRP) and 12°C (αMRP). The LW-MRP maxima are higher than those of EW, but in both cases increased with tree age. No frequency dependence was seen for the αMRP, whereas the loss peak temperature (LPT) of the βMRP increased with increasing frequency of DMA. Almost no difference in αLPT was observed between the four EW growth rings, and their βLPTs were similar. The LW-αLPT was almost the same in the four growth rings, but the hW-βLPT was higher than that of sW. In addition, the apparent activation energy (ΔH) of the hW-βMRP was greater than that of sW in both EW and LW, and the EW data>LW data in individual growth rings. These differences can be explained tentatively that hW and EW contain more extractives than sW and LW, and the deposited of extractives limit the motion of molecular segments within the cell walls.

scholarly journals Timbre and Affect Dimensions: Evidence from Affect and Similarity Ratings and Acoustic Correlates of Isolated Instrument Sounds

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomas Eerola ◽  
Rafael Ferrer ◽  
Vinoo Alluri
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Behavioral Experiments ◽  
Acoustic Correlates

considerable effort has been made towards understanding how acoustic and structural features contribute to emotional expression in music, but relatively little attention has been paid to the role of timbre in this process. Our aim was to investigate the role of timbre in the perception of affect dimensions in isolated musical sounds, by way of three behavioral experiments. In Experiment 1, participants evaluated perceived affects of 110 instrument sounds that were equal in duration, pitch, and dynamics using a three-dimensional affect model (valence, energy arousal, and tension arousal) and preference and emotional intensity. In Experiment 2, an emotional dissimilarity task was applied to a subset of the instrument sounds used in Experiment 1 to better reveal the underlying affect structure. In Experiment 3, the perceived affect dimensions as well as preference and intensity of a new set of 105 instrument sounds were rated by participants. These sounds were also uniform in pitch, duration, and playback dynamics but contained systematic manipulations in the dynamics of sound production, articulation, and ratio of high-frequency to low-frequency energy. The affect dimensions for all the experiments were then explained in terms of the three kinds of acoustic features extracted: spectral (e.g., ratio of high-frequency to low-frequency energy), temporal (e.g., attack slope), and spectro-temporal (e.g., spectral flux). High agreement among the participants' ratings across the experiments suggested that even isolated instrument sounds contain cues that indicate affective expression, and these are recognized as such by the listeners. A dominant portion (50-57%) of the two dimensions of affect (valence and energy arousal) could be predicted by linear combinations of few acoustic features such as ratio of high-frequency to low-frequency energy, attack slope, and spectral regularity. Links between these features and those observed in the vocal expression of affects and other sound phenomena are discussed.

Magnetic resonance imaging of wood

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurance D. Hall ◽  
Vasanthan Rajanayagam ◽  
Wendy A. Stewart ◽  
Paul R. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Annual Growth ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Scanner ◽  
Annual Growth Rings ◽  
Do So

A magnetic resonance scanner has been used to obtain images at 0.14 T, based on the water in aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.). In addition to visualization of the expected structural features such as annual growth-rings and knots, several additional features appear that require further study. Kiln-dried wood does not contain sufficient water to give an image, but can do so after impregnation with water.

scholarly journals Acoustic properties in Arizona cypress logs: A tool to select wood for sounding board

BioResources ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 386-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehran Roonia ◽  
Mohammad-Ali Hossein ◽  
Seyed-Ehsan Alavi-Tabar ◽  
Ajang Tajdini ◽  
Ahmad Jahan-Latibari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Friction ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Modulus Of Elasticity ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Sound Radiation ◽  
Musical Instruments ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Growth Ring Width

In this study, variation in acoustic properties of Arizona cypress wood was monitored from pith to bark as affected by tapering of the growth ring width. Specific modulus of elasticity, acoustic coefficient, damping, and acoustic conversion efficiency were calculated. It was shown that the outer parts of the stem, close to the bark containing narrower growth rings, exhibited lower damping due to internal friction and higher sound radiation. Our finding theoretically justified the luthier craftsmen’s traditional preference toward timbers with narrow growth rings to make sounding boards in musical instruments.

scholarly journals Variability in the basic density of silver birch wood in Poland

Silva Fennica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hubert Lachowicz ◽  
Anna Bieniasz ◽  
Rafał Wojtan
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Basic Density ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Birch Wood ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Forest District

This work presents the findings of a study concerning variability in the basic density of silver birch ( Roth) wood, depending on the geographical location of tree stands, the age and thickness of the trees, the forest habitat type, and interactions between some of these factors. The study was carried out on wood from trees aged approximately 30, 50 and 70 years in 12 forest districts located throughout Poland. In total 4777 wood samples, taken from 306 trees from 51 test plots, were measured. The location, the age of the trees, the thickness of the trees and the forest habitat type, as well as interactions between these factors, proved to have a significant influence on the basic density of silver birch wood. The highest mean values of the basic density of the birch wood were found in Sokołów forest district on the FBF habitat type (549 kg m) and in Giżycko forest district on the FMBF habitat type (548 kg m). For the entire set of examined material, the average values of the basic density of wood increase with tree age. For the examined material originating in FBF and FMBF habitats the average values of basic density showed no significant differences; however, in the cases of the forest districts of Giżycko, Łobez and Rudziniec, significant differences in the analysed property were observed.Betula pendula–3–3

scholarly journals INFLUÊNCIA DA IDADE E ALTITUDE NAS CARACTERÍSTICAS ANATÔMICAS, QUÍMICAS E DE DENSIDADE BÁSICA DA MADEIRA DE CANDEIA - Eremanthus erythropappus

FLORESTA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Lopes Selvati de Oliveira Mori ◽  
José Otávio Brito ◽  
Mario Tomazello Filho ◽  
José Roberto Soares Scolforo ◽  
Francides Gomes Junior
Keyword(s):  
Basic Density ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Anatomical Characteristics ◽  
Random Samples ◽  
Total Extractives ◽  
Altitude Level ◽  
Parenchyma Tissue

O trabalho teve por objetivo: verificar a influência da idade da árvore de candeia sobre os elementos anatômicos, teores de extrativos totais, lignina, cinzas e densidade básica, relacionado a duas condições de relevo (1.000 m e 1.100 m de altitude), em Aiuruoca, Minas Gerais. Em cada área de estudo foram amostradas 15 árvores distribuídas em 3 classes diamétricas, das quais foram retirados discos da base da árvore para determinações da idade, características anatômicas e densidade básica. Os fustes foram reduzidos na forma de cavacos onde foram retiradas amostras aleatórias de material para análises químicas. As características anatômicas das madeiras das duas áreas foram semelhantes, com variações na quantidade de vasos e tamanho de pontoações. As células de óleo apresentaram-se nas células do parênquima radial. A freqüência de vasos foi menor em árvores mais velhas. A densidade básica variou de 0,74 g/cm3 na área com 1.000 m e 0,68 g/cm3 para a área de 1.100 m de altitude, sendo maior em árvores mais velhas. Os teores de extrativos totais, lignina e cinzas, diferiram estatisticamente entre as madeiras das duas áreas estudadas. As árvores mais jovens apresentaram maior teor de material inorgânico; o teor de extrativos totais e de lignina, não foi influenciado pela idade.Palavras-chave:Caracterização anatômica; composição química; densidade básica; Eremanthus erythropappus.                                                                                                                                                AbstractInfluence of altitude and stand age on basic density, anatomical, and chemical characteristics of candeia wood - Eremanthus erythropappus. This work aimed to study the influence of tree age and altitude on some anatomical elements characteristics (basic density, total extractives, lignin, and leached ashes) of candeia wood. The sampled trees were collected in the Aiuruoca County, Minas Gersis State, Brazil, in two different altitudes (1,000 and 1,100m above sea level). From each altitude level 15 trees, enclosed in 3 diametric classes, were cut. Disks were taken from the trunk base of each tree in order to determine the age, the anatomical characteristics, and the basic density. Random samples from the trees trunks were collected for the chemical analyses. The wood density varied from 0.74 to 0.68 g/cm3 in the trees collected at 1,000 and 1,100m of altitude respectively, being higher in the older trees. The wood anatomical characteristics of both sites were similar, with some variations in the amount of vases and pit sizes. Oily cells were observed in the radial parenchyma tissue. The vases frequency was lower in the older trees. The content of total extractives, amount of lignin, and leached ashes were statistically different in the two studied sites. The youngest trees presented higher leached ashes content; total extractives and lignin were not influenced by tree age.Keywords:Anatomical characterization; chemical components; basic density; Eremanthus erythropappus.

scholarly journals Nature and Periodicity of Growth Rings in two Bangladeshi Mangrove Species

IAWA Journal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Qumruzzaman Chowdhury ◽  
Nele Schmitz ◽  
Anouk Verheydens ◽  
Ute Sass-Klaassen ◽  
Nico Koedam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Vessel Diameter ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Mangrove Species ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Heritiera Fomes ◽  
The Sundarbans

Nature and periodicity of growth rings were investigated in Sonneratia apetala and Heritiera fomes, two Bangladeshi mangrove species. From both species we collected three stem discs in the natural forest reserve of the Sundarbans. In addition, three discs were sampled from plantation- grown S. apetala trees of known age. Sanded stem discs revealed distinct growth rings but no periodic fluctuations in vessel variables (vessel density, vessel diameter, vessel grouping), which were measured at high resolution along a transect from pith to bark. The number of growth rings in plantation-grown S. apetala trees corresponded with the documented tree age, hence strongly suggesting the growth rings to be annual. Within species, the annual nature of the rings was further supported by a good match between the tree-ring series. The similar mean curves of S. apetala and H. fomes, growing at the same site in the Sundarbans, pointed to the presence of an external factor influencing their growth. A combination of precipitation and temperature was suggested influencing substrate salinity and phenological events. It became evident that tree-ring research in combination with the analysis of vessel patterns is a valuable tool to further investigate the complex interactions between tree growth and site ecology in mangrove forests.

Acoustic Features of Filled Pauses in Polish Task-Oriented Dialogues

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73
Author(s):  
Maciej Karpiński
Keyword(s):  
Speaker Recognition ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Filled Pauses ◽  
Recognition Systems ◽  
Occurrence Patterns ◽  
Task Oriented

Abstract Filled pauses (FPs) have proved to be more than valuable cues to speech production processes and important units in discourse analysis. Some aspects of their form and occurrence patterns have been shown to be speaker- and language-specific. In the present study, basic acoustic properties of FPs in Polish task-oriented dialogues are explored. A set of FPs was extracted from a corpus of twenty task- oriented dialogues on the basis of available annotations. After initial scrutiny and selection, a subset of the signals underwent a series of pitch, formant frequency and voice quality analyses. A significant amount of variation found in the realisations of FPs justifies their potential application in speaker recognition systems. Regular monosegmental FPs were confirmed to show relatively stable basic acoustic parameters, which allows for their easy identification and measurements but it may result in less significant differences among the speakers.

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