Six Noise Type Military Sound Classifier

Blast noise from military installations often has a negative impact on the quality of life of residents living in nearby communities. This negatively impacts the military's testing \& training capabilities due to restrictions, curfews, or range closures enacted to address noise complaints. In order to more directly manage noise around military installations, accurate noise monitoring has become a necessity. Although most noise monitors are simple sound level meters, more recent ones are capable of discerning blasts from ambient noise with some success. Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh previously developed a more advanced noise classifier that can discern between wind, aircraft, and blast noise, while simultaneously lowering the measurement threshold. Recent work will be presented from the development of a more advanced classifier that identifies additional classes of noise such as machine gun fire, vehicles, and thunder. Additional signal metrics were explored given the increased complexity of the classifier. By broadening the types of noise the system can accurately classify and increasing the number of metrics, a new system was developed with increased blast noise accuracy, decreased number of missed events, and significantly fewer false positives

Computational study of human head response to primary blast waves of five levels from three directions

Human exposure to blast waves without any fragment impacts can still result in primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). To investigate the mechanical response of human brain to primary blast waves and to identify the injury mechanisms of bTBI, a three-dimensional finite element head model consisting of the scalp, skull, cerebrospinal fluid, nasal cavity, and brain was developed from the imaging data set of a human female. The finite element head model was partially validated and was subjected to the blast waves of five blast intensities from the anterior, right lateral, and posterior directions at a stand-off distance of one meter from the detonation center. Simulation results show that the blast wave directly transmits into the head and causes a pressure wave propagating through the brain tissue. Intracranial pressure (ICP) is predicted to have the highest magnitude from a posterior blast wave in comparison with a blast wave from any of the other two directions with same blast intensity. The brain model predicts higher positive pressure at the site proximal to blast wave than that at the distal site. The intracranial pressure wave invariably travels into the posterior fossa and vertebral column, causing high pressures in these regions. The severities of cerebral contusions at different cerebral locations are estimated using an ICP based injury criterion. Von Mises stress prevails in the cortex with a much higher magnitude than in the internal parenchyma. According to an axonal injury criterion based on von Mises stress, axonal injury is not predicted to be a cause of primary brain injury from blasts. Copyright

The Influence of Building Positive Student-Teacher Relationships on Classroom Management in a South Carolina High School: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how secondary school teachers develop positive relationships with students and the resulting impact of these relationships on classroom management in South Carolina public secondary schools. An extensive review of the literature was conducted which included the topics of classroom management and teacher training. This study was based on a qualitative research design, combined with Glasser’s theoretical framework to add more extensive information to the current body of research on classroom management components, design, and impact. Secondary students possess a human desire to belong and feel connected in the world; therefore, this desire drives their actions to meet these personal needs. This study explored the results of teachers acknowledging student needs, getting to know their students in a positive manner, and focusing on relationships as part of their classroom management. For this qualitative phenomenological study, data was collected and analyzed from individual interviews, focus group discussions, and participant questionnaires. This research study revealed that adding positive student-teacher relationships as a critical component of class management was a more effective means to establishing a safe learning environment and providing improved opportunities for academic achievement. This research study also showed that the impact of positive student-teacher relationships is cyclical in nature. Teacher attitude and effort in initiating the positive relationship with students directly correlates to student attitude and effort as related to behavior and academics

COVID-19 Recommendations for Assisted Living: Implications for the Future

OBJECTIVES: Assisted living (AL) emerged over 2 decades ago as a preferred residential care option for older adults who require supportive care; however, as resident acuity increased, concern has been expressed whether AL sufficiently addresses health care needs. COVID-19 amplified those concerns, and an examination of recommendations to manage COVID-19 may shed light on the future of AL. This review summarizes recommendations from 6 key organizations related to preparation for and response to COVID-19 in AL in relation to resident health and quality of life; compares recommendations for AL with those for nursing homes (NHs); and assesses implications for the future of AL. DESIGN: Nonsystematic review involving search of gray literature. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Recommendations from key governmental bodies and professional societies regarding COVID-19 in AL, long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in general, and NHs. MEASURES: We collected, categorized, and summarized these recommendations as they pertained to quality of life and health care. RESULTS: Many recommendations for AL and NHs were similar, but differences provided insight into ways the pandemic was recognized and challenged AL communities in particular: recommending more flexible visitation and group activities for AL, providing screening by AL staff or an outside provider, and suggesting that AL staff access resources to facilitate advance care planning discussions. Recommendations were that AL integrate health care into offered services, including working with consulting clinicians who know both the residents and the LTC community. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Long-term care providers and policy makers have recognized the need to modify current long-term care options. Because COVID-19 recommendations suggest AL communities would benefit from the services and expertise of social workers, licensed nurses, and physicians, it may accelerate the integration and closer coordination of psychosocial and medical care into AL. Future research should investigate different models of integrated, interdisciplinary health care in AL

A Study Into The Factors That Have The Greatest Effect On Job Satisfaction For North Carolina Paramedics

This study seeks to determine which factors have the greatest influence on paramedic job satisfaction. More specifically, it seeks to determine if intrinsic or extrinsic factors have the greater effect. Additionally, the effects of education on paramedic job satisfaction are examined. Finally, it seeks to determine if the generation to which the paramedic belongs has an effect on job satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey was utilized to assess how paramedics felt about how their organizations rated regarding various motivational factors. In addition, the surveys sought to determine the paramedics’ current level of job satisfaction. The surveys were sent to various EMS agencies in North Carolina so as to only receive results from currently employed paramedics. The Human Services Job Satisfaction Questionnaire developed by Shapiro, Burkey, Dorman, and Welker (1997) was utilized to formulate the survey. Data was collected via an online survey during the period of October to December 2018. The number of returned surveys totaled 254. Only surveys completed by paramedics were retained for analysis, which reduced the sample size to 222. Analysis revealed that both intrinsic (rs = .68, p = < .001) and extrinsic (rs = .73, p = < .001) factors had strong positive relationships with job satisfaction, with extrinsic factors being slightly stronger. Education level, while showing a minimal negative relationship, did not have a statistically significant correlation with job satisfaction (rs = -0.108, p = .111). Further analysis did reveal statistically significant differences in job satisfaction levels between education groups (X2(3) = 2.840, p = 0.014). Finally, differences in job satisfaction levels between generations did prove statistically significant (X2(4) = 12.756, p = 0.013).INTRODUCTION 1 -- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 2 -- CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY 3 -- Purpose of the Study 6 -- RESEARCH QUESTIONS 7 -- Hypotheses 7 -- Procedures 8 -- Significance of Study 10 -- Limitations of This Study 10 -- Summary of the Research Layout 10 -- A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 12 -- Introduction to the Literature 12 -- The History of EMS 13 -- Early Military History 13 -- The Civil War and Beyond 15 -- Early Civilian Emergency Medical Services 17 -- Modern EMS: 1960 to Today 18 -- Paramedic Education 22 -- Job Satisfaction 24 -- Employee Motivation 26 -- The Origins of Motivation 27 -- Classical Studies of Motivation 27 -- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivators 38 -- Public Service Motivation 40 -- Education’s Effect on Motivation 44 -- Generational Differences 45 -- Summary 46 -- METHODOLOGY 48 -- OVERVIEW 48 -- Instrumentation 52 -- Validity 53 -- Participants 54 -- Outcome Variables 54 -- Dependent Variable 54 -- Independent Variables 55 -- Demographics 56 -- Data Analysis 57 -- Ethical Considerations 59 -- Summary 59 -- CHAPTER IV 60 -- RESULTS 60 -- OVERVIEW 60 -- Sample Overview 60 -- Exploratory Questions 62 -- Primary Question 62 -- Secondary Question Number 2 65 -- Summary 67 -- CONCLUSION 68 -- Summary 68 -- DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS 69 -- Primary Research Question 69 -- Do intrinsic or extrinsic factors have the greater effect on paramedic job satisfaction? 69 -- Secondary Research Questions 71 -- Does a higher educational level affect the job satisfaction of the paramedic? 71 -- Does a paramedic’s generation affect the level of perceived job satisfaction? 73 -- Implications for the Field of EMS 74 -- Public Administration Theory 76 -- Limitations of Study 77 -- Recommendations for Future Research 77 -- Conclusion 78 -- APPENDIX A 90 -- JOB SATISFACTION SURVEY 90 -- APPENDIX B 101.Bamfo, Napoleon A.Stanford, Leigh R.Hubble, Michael W.Cruz, Becky K. daD.PA.Public Administratio

Two-dimensional acoustic cloaks of arbitrary shape with layered structure based on transformation acoustics

Acoustic metamaterials have attracted much attention in recent years. Acoustic cloaks, which make objects invisible to acoustic waves, are the most common use for acoustic metamaterials. In this paper, acoustic cloaks with arbitrary shapes are presented based on transformation acoustics. This method interprets the compression and dilation of space as appropriate properties of materials. The derived properties of the cloak with irregular shapes are highly inhomogeneous and anisotropic, much more complex than the annulus cloaks. The materials for this kind of cloak are impossible to find in nature, and difficult to fabricate with artificial materials. In order to overcome this difficulty, layered structure with isotropic materials is adopted to approximate the required properties of the cloak. Numerical simulations of cloaks of arbitrary shape are performed to validate the design

Performance of artificial neural network-based classifiers to identify military impulse noise

Noise monitoring stations are in place around some military installations to provide records that assist in processing noise complaints and damage claims. However, they are known to produce false positives (by incorrectly attributing naturally occurring noise to military operations) and also fail to detect many impulse events. In this project, classifiers based on artificial neural networks were developed to improve the accuracy of military impulse noise identification. Two time-domain metrics-kurtosis and crest factor-and two custom frequency-domain metrics-spectral slope and weighted square error-were inputs to the artificial neural networks. The classification algorithm was able to achieve up to 100% accuracy on the training data and the validation data, while improving detection threshold by at least 40 dB. © 2007 Acoustical Society of America

Non-singular three-dimensional arbitrarily shaped acoustic cloaks composed of homogeneous parts

Acoustic metamaterials are artificial materials with unique acoustic properties, permitting interesting behaviors, such as acoustic cloaking. Acoustic cloaks can make an object appear acoustically “invisible.” Prior cloaks that were designed based on transformation methods have been limited by inhomogeneous, anisotropic, and extreme material parameters. In this paper, a multistep transformation is proposed for a general tetrahedron. Each tetrahedron contains three homogeneous parts. Since most cloaks can be approximated as polyhedra, they can be divided into a series of tetrahedra. As a result, most of the 3D cloaks can be constructed of homogeneous parts by first approximating them as polyhedra. Two examples of the polyhedral cloaks are given, which are simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software. The results show that the cloaks work well at acoustically concealing 3D objects. Although the properties of each part are non-singular, a balance is still required between cloaking performance and moderation of the material property values

Two-dimensional arbitrarily shaped acoustic cloaks composed of homogeneous parts

Acoustic cloaking is an important application of acoustic metamaterials. Although the topic has received much attention, there are a number of areas where contributions are needed. In this paper, a design method for producing acoustic cloaks with arbitrary shapes that are composed of homogeneous parts is presented. The cloak is divided into sections, each of which, in turn, is further divided into two parts, followed by the application of transformation acoustics to derive the required properties for cloaking. With the proposed mapping relations, the properties of each part of the cloak are anisotropic but homogeneous, which can be realized using two alternating layers of homogeneous and isotropic materials. A hexagonal and an irregular cloak are presented as design examples. The full wave simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software show that the cloaks function well at reducing reflections and shadows. The variation of the cloak properties is investigated as a function of three important geometric parameters used in the transformations. A balance can be found between cloaking performance and materials properties that are physically realizable