Noise mapping of highly trafficked roads of the province of Bologna according to D.Lgs. 194/2005

The European Community has stressed the importance of achieving a common understanding to deal with the environmental noise through community actions of the Member States. This implies the use of harmonized indicators and specific information regarding the values of indicators, the exceedance of limits and the number of people and dwellings exposed to noise. The D.Lgs. 149/2005 in compliance with the European Directive 2002/49/EC defines methodologies, noise indicators and types of outputs required. In this dissertation the work done for the noise mapping of highly trafficked roads of the Province of Bologna will be reported. The study accounts for the environmental noise generated by the road infrastructure outside the urban agglomeration of Bologna. Roads characterized by an annual traffic greater than three millions of vehicles will be considered. The process of data collection and validation will be reported, as long as the implementation of the calculation method in the software and the procedure to create and calibrate the calculation model. Results will be provided as required by the legislation, in forms of maps and tables. Moreover results regarding each road section accounted will be combined to gain a general understanding of the situation of the overall studied area. Although the understanding of the noise levels and the number of people exposed is paramount, it is not sufficient to develop strategies of noise abatement interventions. Thus a further step will be addressed: the creation of priority maps as the basis of action plans for organizing and prioritizing solutions for noise reduction and abatement. Noise reduction measures are reported in a qualitative way in the annex and constitute a preliminary research.

Evaluation of noise environments during daily activities of university students

Noise conditions specifically in areas inside university facilities and its impact on the quality of life of university students aretopics that have received little attention. In this paper, a study of the noise conditions in which university students of various institutions in Madrid carry out their daily studies. A representative number of measurements were carried out using noise dosemeters and dataloggers in order to evaluate the levels of noise, noise dose and exposure to noise during study period and extracurricular activities. The results obtained in these measurements were compared with the recommendations given by current environmental noise regulations.This paper was complemented with a survey to get to know how students perceive the exposure to noise inuniversity environments.

Perceptual learning reflects external noise filtering and internal noise reduction through channel reweighting

To investigate the nature of plasticity in the adult visual system, perceptual learning was measured in a peripheral orientation discrimination task with systematically varying amounts of external (environmental) noise. The signal contrasts required to achieve threshold were reduced by a factor or two or more after training at all levels of external noise. The strong quantitative regularities revealed by this novel paradigm ruled out changes in multiplicative internal noise, changes in transducer nonlinearites, and simple attentional tradeoffs. Instead, the regularities specify the mechanisms of perceptual learning at the behavioral level as a combination of external noise exclusion and stimulus enhancement via additive internal noise reduction. The findings also constrain the neural architecture of perceptual learning. Plasticity in the weights between basic visual channels and decision is sufficient to account for perceptual learning without requiring the retuning of visual mechanisms.

The effects of noise exposure and genetic background on auditory-evoked behaviors in larval zebrafish

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

'There's a hell of a noise':living with a hearing loss in residential care

Background: hearing loss is common in older age. Research with older people in residential care settings has identified high prevalence of hearing loss and low uptake of hearing aids. Hearing loss in these settings is associated with reduced social engagement. Although hearing aids remain the default treatment for presbyacusic hearing loss, these are not well used. We do not know what other modifiable factors contribute to communication problems for older people with hearing loss living in residential care. Objectives: to explore the factors affecting communicating with a hearing loss in residential care. Methods: an ethnographic study in two residential care homes comprised 19 sessions of observation, and in-depth interviews with 18 residents. Observations explored communication behaviour in everyday interactions, including mealtimes, structured groups and informal group activities. Interviews were informed by the observations and identified reasons for these behaviours and communication preferences. Observational data were recorded in field notes and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Analysis was conducted using constant comparison methods. Results: hearing loss affected whether residents were able to access social opportunities. Two key themes influenced this (i) contextual issues compounded communication difficulties and (ii) environmental noise restricted the residents' communication choices. Problems were observed at every mealtime and during formal and informal group activities. The use of hearing aids and access to hearing services did not improve social engagement. Conclusions: environmental and social factors are key to maximising communication opportunities. Improvements to communication in residential care settings could be based on changes in these with input from residents and staff. Further work is needed to develop effective communication strategies in residential care.

Sustaining sleep spindles through enhanced SK2-channel activity consolidates sleep and elevates arousal threshold.

Sleep spindles are synchronized 11-15 Hz electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations predominant during nonrapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). Rhythmic bursting in the reticular thalamic nucleus (nRt), arising from interplay between Ca(v)3.3-type Ca(2+) channels and Ca(2+)-dependent small-conductance-type 2 (SK2) K(+) channels, underlies spindle generation. Correlative evidence indicates that spindles contribute to memory consolidation and protection against environmental noise in human NREMS. Here, we describe a molecular mechanism through which spindle power is selectively extended and we probed the actions of intensified spindling in the naturally sleeping mouse. Using electrophysiological recordings in acute brain slices from SK2 channel-overexpressing (SK2-OE) mice, we found that nRt bursting was potentiated and thalamic circuit oscillations were prolonged. Moreover, nRt cells showed greater resilience to transit from burst to tonic discharge in response to gradual depolarization, mimicking transitions out of NREMS. Compared with wild-type littermates, chronic EEG recordings of SK2-OE mice contained less fragmented NREMS, while the NREMS EEG power spectrum was conserved. Furthermore, EEG spindle activity was prolonged at NREMS exit. Finally, when exposed to white noise, SK2-OE mice needed stronger stimuli to arouse. Increased nRt bursting thus strengthens spindles and improves sleep quality through mechanisms independent of EEG slow waves (<4 Hz), suggesting SK2 signaling as a new potential therapeutic target for sleep disorders and for neuropsychiatric diseases accompanied by weakened sleep spindles.

Aktiivinen meluntorjunta ulkotiloissa

Ympäristömelu on nyky-yhteiskunnassa kasvava ongelma. Perinteisesti tätä melua on pyritty vähentämään passiivisen melunvaimennuksen avulla, kuten tienvarsien melumuureilla. Melua voidaan kuitenkin vaimentaa myös aktiivisellameluntorjunnalla (ANC, active noise control). Tässä työssä selvitetäänmitä ongelmia kohdataan, kun ANC-järjestelmää suunnitellaan ulkotiloihin ja mitä ominaisuuksia tällaiselta järjestelmältä vaaditaan. Työssä tutkitaan myös miten vaihtuvat ympäristöolosuhteet ja ulkoakustiset ilmiöt vaikuttavat ANC-järjestelmän toimintaan. Tutkimuksen pohjalta toteutetaan oma ANC-järjestelmä, jonka suorituskykyä työssä mitataan sekä komponentti- että järjestelmätasolla. Myös järjestelmän toimivuuteen vaikuttavia tekijöitä kartoitetaan mittausten avulla. Erikoistapauksena työssä selvitetään voiko suunnitellulla ANC-järjestelmällä vaimentaa impulssimaista melua paikallisesti.

Ympäristövaikutusten velvoitetarkkailun tulosten epävarmuuden arviointi

Tämä diplomityö tehtiin Neste Oil Oyj:n Kehittäminen ja Laboratoriot yksikön HSE-palveluille. Työn tavoitteena oli arvioida Neste Oilin ympäristövaikutusten velvoitetarkkailujen mittaustulosten epävarmuutta. Tarkastelu koski ilmanlaadun SO2-, NO2-, TRS- sekä O3-mittauksia, ympäristömelumittauksia sekä pohjavesinäytteenottoa. Ympäristönsuojelulaki (86/2000) velvoittaa tuotantolaitoksia selvittämään toimintansa ympäristövaikutukset. Myös esimerkiksi akkreditoitaessa menetelmiä mittausepävarmuus on tunnettava. On arvioitu, että tulevaisuudessa direktiivit tulevat tiukentamaan päästöraja-arvoja ja mittausepävarmuuden käsite tulee käyttöön kaikilla ympäristösektoreilla.Tässä työssä ilmanlaadun mittausepävarmuus arvioitiin vertaamalla Neste Oilin mittaustuloksia Ilmatieteenlaitoksen vertailumittausten ja kalibrointien tuloksiin. Ympäristömelun mittausepävarmuus arvioitiin Ympäristöministeriön ympäristömelunmittausohjeen (1/1995)mukai-sesti. Pohjavesinäytteenoton mittausepävarmuus arvioitiin laskemalla haitta-aineiden ajallisen vaihtelun, näytteenottomenetelmien, näytteiden kuljetuksenja säilytyksen aiheuttaman kontaminaation sekä analyysivaiheen epävarmuustekijöiden yhdistetty mittausepävarmuus. Tarkastelussa todettiin, että ilmanlaadunmittaustulokset eivät poikenneet merkittävästi vertai-lumittausten ja kalibrointien tuloksista. Menetelmien laajennetuksi mittausepävarmuudeksi saatiin 6-8 %. Ympäristömelun mittausepävarmuus vastasi ympäristömelunmittausohjeessa esitettyjä arvoja ja vaihtelivat 2-10 dB:n välillä, riippuen mittausetäisyydestä ja mittauskertojen lukumäärästä. Pohjavesinäytteenoton mittausepävarmuudelle ei ole asetettu laatutavoitteita. Tässä tarkastelussa pohjavesinäytteenoton mittausepävarmuudeksi saatiin 33 %.

Paperitehtaan melukartoitus

Tässä diplomityössä on selvitetty Stora Enso Publication Papers Oy Ltd:n Summan tehtaiden ympäristömelun leviämistä tehtaiden ympärillä oleviin häiriintyviin kohteisiin. Ympäristömelua tutkittiin ympäristömelumittauksilla ja mallintamalla SoundPLAN –ohjelmalla. Työssä on ympäristömelun lisäksi tarkastelu työsuojelumielessä Summan tehtaiden voimalaitoksen melua. Työssä selvitettiin Summan tehtaiden merkittävimpien äänilähteiden äänitehotasot. Maastotietojen ja äänitehotasojen perusteella luotiin melumallit koko tehtaalle ja melua tuottaville osastoille. Melumallien avulla saatiin selville, miten melu leviää ympäristöön. Suurimpiin melulähteisiin, kuorimoon ja PK2:n ilmastointikoneisiin, laadittiin meluntorjuntaehdotukset ja tarkasteltiin uusien mallien avulla toimenpiteiden vaikutusta melun leviämiseen. Tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että Summan tehtaiden ympäristömelu ei ylitä lupa-arvoja häiriintyvissä kohteissa. Summan tehtaiden voimalaitoksella suoritettiin annosmelumittaukset ja laadittiin meluntorjuntaohjelma. Meluntorjuntaohjelmassa selvitettiin melun syyt, esitettiin meluntorjuntatoimenpiteitä ja niiden toteuttamissuunnitelma sekä ohjelman uusimisajankohta.

Ampumaratojen kunnostustarpeen selvittäminen

Suomessa arvioidaan olevan kaikkiaan 2000 - 2500 ampumarataa joista aktiivisessa käytössä on noin 1000 kpl. Useimmat ulkoradat on perustettu paljon ennen nykyisten ympäristölakien voimaantuloa. Tästä syystä ammunnan ympäristövaikutukset melua lukuun ottamatta, eivät varmaan ole olleet tarkasteltavien asioiden listan kärjessä ampumaratoja suunniteltaessa. Sopivan maa alueen saatavuus sopivalla paikalla rakennuskustannusten minimoimiseksi on täytynyt olla yksi tärkeimmistä kriteereistä. Joissakin tapauksissa tämä valitettavasti on johtanut siihen, että ratojen paikoiksi on valittu sellaisia, mitä tämän päivän tietämyksellä ei suositeltaisi, kuten esimerkiksi pohjaveden muodostumisalueet. Ampumaratojen, etenkin haulikkoratojen, on todettu aiheuttaneen paikallisesti varsin laajaa maaperän pilaantumista. Toiminnan jatkuessa, runsaasti raskasmetalleja kertyy maahan ja taustapenkkoihin josta se rapautuu ja kulkeutuu alueelta pohjavesiin. Pohjaveden mukana haitta-aineet saattavat kulkeutua vedenpuhdistamoihin muodostaen riskiä paikallisasukkaiden terveydelle sekä jossain määrin alueen kasvillisuudelle ja faunalle. Vuoden 2007 valtioneuvoston PIMA-asetus muutti joitakin ohje-arvoja, joten näitä uusia arvoja on otettavaa huomioon niin riskiarvioinnissa kuin alueen käyttömahdollisuuksien kannalta tulevaisuudessa. Asetuksen voimaantulo edellyttää tapauskohtaisten riskiarviointien tekemistä ampumarata-alueiden kunnostuksen yhteydessä jolloin saavutetaan mahdollisemman tehokasta hyöty-kustannustasoa. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kartoittaa uuden asetuksen mukaisesti ampumaratojen muodostamaa riskiä sekä rajata kunnostettavat alueet ja valita sopivammat kunnostusvaihtoehdot. Esimerkkitapauksina käytetään Kokkolan kaupungin alueella sijaitsevaa ampumarata-aluetta.

Educação sonora: encontro entre ciências, tecnologia e cultura

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Correlações entre ruído ambiental em sala de aula e voz do professor

OBJETIVO: Identificar se existe correlação entre ruído ambiental no interior da sala de aula, intensidade da voz e presença de alteração vocal em professores. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada medição do ruído ambiental em dez salas de escolas municipais de ensino fundamental. A intensidade das vozes das professoras foi medida durante atividade de ensino. Amostras de vogal prolongada [é] e contagem de 1 a 20 emitidas pelas professoras foram analisadas utilizando escala GRBASI. Os resultados obtidos foram correlacionados. RESULTADOS: A média de ruído ambiental sem a presença das crianças em sala de aula variou de 40 a 51 dB(A) e com a presença das crianças de 45 a 65 dB(A). Entre as professoras, houve 70% de ocorrência de vozes alteradas no grau geral (G) e 90% com tensão na voz (S), variando entre graus discreto e moderado. Constatou-se variação entre 52 dB(A) e 68 dB(A) na intensidade da voz das professoras, atingindo 7,48 dB(A) acima do nível do ruído ambiental. Houve correlação entre a intensidade vocal das professoras e ruído ambiental na presença das crianças durante a aula. CONCLUSÃO: Os níveis de ruído ambiental em sala de aula são altos e se correlacionam com o aumento da intensidade das vozes das professoras. Embora com alta ocorrência de vozes alteradas, não é possível correlacioná-las com o nível de ruído ambiental.

Analisi e valutazione delle performance acustiche degli aeromobili nella fase di atterraggio

Nella tesi si analizzano le principali fonti del rumore aeronautico, lo stato dell'arte dal punto di vista normativo, tecnologico e procedurale. Si analizza lo stato dell'arte anche riguardo alla classificazione degli aeromobili, proponendo un nuovo indice prestazionale in alternativa a quello indicato dalla metodologia di certificazione (AC36-ICAO) Allo scopo di diminuire l'impatto acustico degli aeromobili in fase di atterraggio, si analizzano col programma INM i benefici di procedure CDA a 3° rispetto alle procedure tradizionali e, di seguito di procedure CDA ad angoli maggiori in termini di riduzione di lunghezza e di area delle isofoniche SEL85, SEL80 e SEL75.

Influence of loudspeaker directivity on the measurement uncertainty

One of the most significant aspects of a building’s acoustic behavior is the airborne sound insulation of the room façades, since this determines the protection of its inhabitants against environmental noise. For this reason, authorities in most countries have established in their acoustic regulations for buildings the minimum value of sound insulation that must be respected for façades. In order to verify compliance with legal requirements it is usual to perform acoustic measurements in the finished buildings and then compare the measurement results with the established limits. Since there is always a certain measurement uncertainty, this uncertainty must be calculated and taken into account in order to ensure compliance with specifications. The most commonly used method for measuring sound insulation on façades is the so-called Global Loudspeaker Method, specified in ISO 140-5:1998. This method uses a loudspeaker placed outside the building as a sound source. The loudspeaker directivity has a significant influence on the measurement results, and these results may change noticeably by choosing different loudspeakers, even though they all fulfill the directivity requirements of ISO 140-5. This work analyzes the influence of the loudspeaker directivity on the results of façade sound insulation measurement, and determines its contribution to measurement uncertainty. The theoretical analysis is experimentally validated by means of an intermediate precision test according to ISO 5725-3:1994, which compares the values of sound insulation obtained for a façade using various loudspeakers with different directivities

Influence of loudspeaker directivity on the measurement uncertainty of the acoustic testing of facades.

One of the most significant aspects of a building?s acoustic behavior is the airborne sound insulation of the room façades, since this determines the protection of its inhabitants against environmental noise. For this reason, authorities in most countries have established in their acoustic regulations for buildings the minimum value of sound insulation that must be respected for façades. In order to verify compliance with legal requirements it is usual to perform acoustic measurements in the finished buildings and then compare the measurement results with the established limits. Since there is always a certain measurement uncertainty, this uncertainty must be calculated and taken into account in order to ensure compliance with specifications. The most commonly used method for measuring sound insulation on façades is the so-called Global Loudspeaker Method, specified in ISO 140-5:1998. This method uses a loudspeaker placed outside the building as a sound source. The loudspeaker directivity has a significant influence on the measurement results, and these results may change noticeably by choosing different loudspeakers, even though they all fulfill the directivity requirements of ISO 140-5. This work analyzes the influence of the loudspeaker directivity on the results of façade sound insulation measurement, and determines its contribution to measurement uncertainty. The theoretical analysis is experimentally validated by means of an intermediate precision test according to ISO 5725-3:1994, which compares the values of sound insulation obtained for a façade using various loudspeakers with different directivities. Keywords: Uncertainty, Façade, Insulation