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20 pages, 6816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Noise from Motorised Transport in the Context of Infrastructure Management

by Piotr Jaskowski, Marcin Koniak, Jonas Matijošius and Artūras Kilikevičius

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031277 - 26 Jan 2025

Viewed by 625

Noise pollution presents significant challenges for urban infrastructure management, highlighting the need for practical assessment tools such as noise maps. These maps enable the visualization and geo-referencing of noise levels, identifying areas requiring immediate intervention and long-term strategic responses. Road sections with traffic [...] Read more.

Noise pollution presents significant challenges for urban infrastructure management, highlighting the need for practical assessment tools such as noise maps. These maps enable the visualization and geo-referencing of noise levels, identifying areas requiring immediate intervention and long-term strategic responses. Road sections with traffic exceeding 3 million vehicles per year were selected for measurement. The findings are presented in detail, revealing that the Long-term Day-Night Average Noise Level (L_den) exceeds acceptable limits, affecting approximately 1.899 km² and impacting around 1200 residents within the exceedance zone. Similarly, the equivalent noise level (L_Aeq) surpasses acceptable thresholds over an area of 1.220 km², affecting an additional 700 residents. Notably, there were no exceedances of the key noise impact indicators, including high annoyance (HA), high sleep disturbance (HSD), and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Changes in traffic organisation were implemented to address areas that exceed the applicable noise standards, including a ban on trucks and the introduction of local speed limits. The measures have successfully mitigated the noise problem in Grodzisk County (Poland). Further anti-noise initiatives are planned, including planting vegetation along the roadways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Acoustics and Vibrations)

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11 pages, 1174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Cochlear Implants in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Across Multiple Hearing Domains

by Alessandra Pantaleo, Luigi Curatoli, Giada Cavallaro, Debora Auricchio, Alessandra Murri and Nicola Quaranta

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15010006 - 20 Jan 2025

Viewed by 604

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the subjective experiences of adults with different cochlear implant (CI) configurations—unilateral cochlear implant (UCI), bilateral cochlear implant (BCI), and bimodal stimulation (BM)—focusing on their perception of speech in quiet and noisy environments, music, environmental [...] Read more.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the subjective experiences of adults with different cochlear implant (CI) configurations—unilateral cochlear implant (UCI), bilateral cochlear implant (BCI), and bimodal stimulation (BM)—focusing on their perception of speech in quiet and noisy environments, music, environmental sounds, people’s voices and tinnitus. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 130 adults who had undergone UCI, BCI, or BM was conducted. Participants completed a six-item online questionnaire, assessing difficulty levels and psychological impact across auditory domains, with responses measured on a 10-point scale. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the subjective experiences of the three groups. Results: Patients reported that understanding speech in noise and tinnitus perception were their main concerns. BCI users experienced fewer difficulties with understanding speech in both quiet (p < 0.001) and noisy (p = 0.008) environments and with perceiving non-vocal sounds (p = 0.038) compared to UCI and BM users; no significant differences were found for music perception (p = 0.099), tinnitus perception (p = 0.397), or voice naturalness (p = 0.157). BCI users also reported less annoyance in quiet (p = 0.004) and noisy (p = 0.047) environments, and in the perception of voices (p = 0.009) and non-vocal sounds (p = 0.019). Tinnitus-related psychological impact showed no significant differences between groups (p = 0.090). Conclusions: Although speech perception in noise and tinnitus remain major problems for CI users, the results of our study suggest that bilateral cochlear implantation offers significant subjective advantages over unilateral implantation and bimodal stimulation in adults, particularly in difficult listening environments. Full article

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8 pages, 234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Total Score: What Really Counts? Experience on a Sample of 1156 Patients

by Roberto Teggi, Iacopo Cangiano, Marco Familiari, Vittorio Gioffrè, Alessandro Nobile and Omar Gatti

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15010004 - 16 Jan 2025

Viewed by 518

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is a frequent symptom, and is present in 10–15% of people who suffer from chronic tinnitus, defined as heard every day for at least 6 months. Among these, 1–2% develop a strong emotive reaction, anxiety, and depression, leading to poor quality [...] Read more.

Background: Tinnitus is a frequent symptom, and is present in 10–15% of people who suffer from chronic tinnitus, defined as heard every day for at least 6 months. Among these, 1–2% develop a strong emotive reaction, anxiety, and depression, leading to poor quality of life. Objectives: to evaluate the comorbidities in tinnitus sufferers. Methods: In our retrospective study, we collected data on 1156 subjects with tinnitus present for at least 3 months, including age, audiometric exam, THI questionnaire, vascular disorders, fluctuations, causal factors, lifetime psychiatric disorders, and the presence of migraine. A linear regression model was used to assess the independent role of these variables on the THI total score representing tinnitus annoyance. A lifetime history of psychiatric disorders and migraine were predictive for the development of a disabling tinnitus. Results: Among comorbidities a history of previous psychiatric disorders was predictive for developing tinnitus. Moreover, no correlation has been found between hearing level and THI total score. Conclusions: Our data are not inconsistent with the hypothesis that psychological disorders and a particular personality trait may be the main causal factors for tinnitus annoyance. Full article

16 pages, 5641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Battery Electric Vehicles’ DC Fast Charging Noise Emissions: Proposals to Reduce Environmental Noise Caused by Fast Charging Stations

by David Clar-Garcia, Hector Campello-Vicente, Miguel Fabra-Rodriguez and Emilio Velasco-Sanchez

World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16010042 - 14 Jan 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 817

Abstract

The potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector, crucial for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, is obvious. Despite their advantages, the adoption of electric vehicles faces limitations, particularly those related to battery range [...] Read more.

The potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector, crucial for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, is obvious. Despite their advantages, the adoption of electric vehicles faces limitations, particularly those related to battery range and charging times, which significantly impact the time needed for a trip compared to their combustion engine counterparts. However, recent improvements in fast charging technology have enhanced these aspects, making EVs more suitable for both daily and long-distance trips. EVs can now deal with long trips, with travel times only slightly longer than those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Fast charging capabilities and infrastructure, such as 350 kW chargers, are essential for making EV travel times comparable to ICE vehicles, with brief stops every 2–3 h. Additionally, EVs help reduce noise pollution in urban areas, especially in noise-saturated environments, contributing to an overall decrease in urban sound levels. However, this research highlights a downside of DC (Direct Current) fast charging stations: high-frequency noise emissions during fast charging, which can disturb nearby residents, especially in urban and residential areas. This noise, a result of the growing fast charging infrastructure, has led to complaints and even operational restrictions for some charging stations. Noise-related disturbances are a significant urban issue. The World Health Organization identifies noise as a key contributor to health burdens in Europe, even when noise annoyance is subjective, influenced by individual factors like sensitivity, genetics, and lifestyle, as well as by the specific environment. This paper analyzes the sound emission of a broad sample of DC fast charging stations from leading EU market brands. The goal is to provide tools that assist manufacturers, installers, and operators of rapid charging stations in mitigating the aforementioned sound emissions in order to align these infrastructures with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11 adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fast-Charging Station for Electric Vehicles: Challenges and Issues)

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18 pages, 2059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of the Occurrence and Significance of Noise Effects on Pedestrians Using Acoustic Variables Related to Sound Energy in Urban Environments

by Juan Miguel Barrigón Morillas, David Montes González, Rosendo Vílchez-Gómez and Guillermo Rey-Gozalo

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11212; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311212 - 2 Dec 2024

Viewed by 686

Abstract

The impact of environmental noise on the health and well-being of people living in cities is an issue that has been addressed in the scientific literature to try to develop effective environmental policies. In this context, road traffic is the main source of [...] Read more.

The impact of environmental noise on the health and well-being of people living in cities is an issue that has been addressed in the scientific literature to try to develop effective environmental policies. In this context, road traffic is the main source of noise in urban environments, but it is not the only source of noise that pedestrians hear. This paper presents an experimental study using in situ surveys and acoustic measurements to analyse the capacity of acoustic variables related to sound energy to estimate the occurrence and importance of noise effects in urban environments. The results revealed that average sound energy indicators can be considered most significant in terms of the perception of the noise effects studied on pedestrians. When estimating noise effects from them, frequency weightings related to flat or nearly flat spectra (Z and C weightings) were found to provide better results than an A weighting; however, it was also concluded that if the average energy is considered, the use of a temporal I weighting did not lead to improvements. The perception of how noisy a street is, it is strongly associated with a low frequency, and annoyance was the effect that generally showed the strongest significant correlations with acoustic indicators. The indicators of minimum sound levels explained a larger proportion of the variability of noise effects than the indicators of maximum energy; they were even better in this regard than any of the average energy indicators in terms of explaining the variability of startle and annoyance in the ears, and they were found to be equivalent when interruption of a telephone conversation was assessed. Both acoustic variables associated with sound energy in different parts of the audible spectrum and Leq in each one-third octave band showed significant correlations with the effects of noise on pedestrians. Similarities in the structure of the spectra were found between some of these effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soundscape and Environmental Noise)

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29 pages, 3406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Prediction Models for Sonic Boom Ground Signatures Under Realistic Flight Conditions

by Jacob Jäschke, Samuele Graziani, Francesco Petrosino, Antimo Glorioso and Volker Gollnick

Aerospace 2024, 11(12), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11120962 - 22 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1152

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of simplified and high-fidelity sonic boom prediction methods to assess their applicability in the conceptual design of supersonic aircraft. The high-fidelity approach combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for near-field shock analysis with ray-tracing and the Augmented Burgers [...] Read more.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of simplified and high-fidelity sonic boom prediction methods to assess their applicability in the conceptual design of supersonic aircraft. The high-fidelity approach combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for near-field shock analysis with ray-tracing and the Augmented Burgers Equation for far-field propagation through a non-uniform atmosphere, whereas the simplified Carlson method uses analytical approximations for rapid predictions. The comparison across selected climb, cruise, and descent conditions for a supersonic reference aircraft shows that the Carlson method captures general trends in sonic boom behavior, such as changes in peak overpressure and signal duration with varying Mach number and altitude. However, significant deviations are noted under realistic atmospheric conditions, highlighting limitations in the simplified model’s accuracy. Common psycho-acoustic metrics were evaluated to assess the potential annoyance on the ground. The results demonstrate that while the simplified method is effective for early-stage design assessments, the high-fidelity model is essential for precise sonic boom characterization under realistic conditions, particularly for regulatory and community impact evaluations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Civil Supersonic and Hypersonic Aircraft: Main Challenges and Latest Developments)

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25 pages, 5612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Approaches to Industrial Odour Monitoring: From Chemical Analysis to Predictive Models

by Claudia Franchina, Amedeo Manuel Cefalì, Martina Gianotti, Alessandro Frugis, Corrado Corradi, Giulio De Prosperis, Dario Ronzio, Luca Ferrero, Ezio Bolzacchini and Domenico Cipriano

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121401 - 21 Nov 2024

Viewed by 611

Abstract

This study evaluated the reliability of an electronic nose in monitoring odour concentration near a wastewater treatment plant and examined the correlation between four sensor readings and odour intensity. The electronic nose chemical sensors are related to the concentration of the following chemical [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the reliability of an electronic nose in monitoring odour concentration near a wastewater treatment plant and examined the correlation between four sensor readings and odour intensity. The electronic nose chemical sensors are related to the concentration of the following chemical species: two values for the concentration of VOCs recorded via the PID sensor (VPID) and the EC sensor (VEC), and concentrations of sulfuric acid (VH₂S) and benzene (VC₆H₆). Using Random Forest and least squares regression analysis, the study identifies VH₂S and VC₆H₆ as key contributors to odour concentration (C^c_OD). Three Random Forest models (RF0, RF1, RF2), with different characteristics for splitting between the test set and the training set, were tested, with RF1 showing superior predictive performance due to its training approach. All models highlighted VH₂S and VC₆H₆ as significant predictors, while VPID and VEC had less influence. A significant correlation between odour concentration and specific chemical sensor readings was found, particularly for VH₂S and VC₆H₆. However, predicting odour concentrations below 1000 ou_E/m³ proved challenging. Linear regression further confirmed the importance of VH₂S and VC₆H₆, with a moderate R-squared value of 0.70, explaining 70% of the variability in odour concentration. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of combining Random Forest and least squares regression for robust and interpretable results. Future research should focus on expanding the dataset and incorporating additional variables to enhance model accuracy. The findings underscore the necessity of specific sensor training and standardised procedures for accurate odour monitoring and characterisation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Odour (2nd Edition))

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9 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Innovative Methodologies in University Teaching: Pilot Experience of an Escape Room in Nursing Students

by Javier Fagundo-Rivera, Rocío Romero-Castillo, Miguel Garrido-Bueno and Pablo Fernández-León

Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14101097 - 9 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1270

Abstract

The presence of playful elements in learning environments is increasingly frequent in university settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gaming experience of the participants of an escape room activity developed in the second year of the Bachelor of Science [...] Read more.

The presence of playful elements in learning environments is increasingly frequent in university settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gaming experience of the participants of an escape room activity developed in the second year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. An escape room activity was carried out, based on 10 tasks, on the thematic content of the subject ‘History, Theory and Methods of Nursing II’, with students in the second year. After the game experience, the Gameful Experience Scale (GAMEX) questionnaire of 27 items in the validated version in Spanish and for nursing students was applied. An open-ended question was also included to allow the students to give their opinion on aspects of improvement, or their feelings during their performance, and a thematic analysis was utilized for this qualitative approach. A total of 107 students participated in the escape room activity, and 75 individuals acceded to the request to be surveyed. The results in the Enjoyment dimension showed that five of the six questions were assessed with the maximum score by the majority of respondents. In the Absorption dimension, between 15% and 25% of the sample did not manage to abstract themselves from the real world. In the dimensions of Creative Thinking and Activation, up to 70% managed to feel imaginative, creative, or exploratory, feeling active and excited. Nearly 85% of the sample reported the Absence of Negative Affect (hostility, annoyance, or frustration) during the game. In the Dominance dimension, up to 70% of the sample considered feeling influential during the game. Two categories were identified after analyzing the participants’ responses: room for improvement in the activity and feelings during the activity. In conclusion, the escape room is positioned as a useful tool for university teaching in nursing. This didactic game allows students to have fun while learning, and to value the knowledge and techniques provided by the subject while being able to work as a team. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Using Game- and Play-Based Learning to Foster Critical Thinking Skills)

20 pages, 4368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurement of the Direct Impact of Hematophagous Flies on Feeder Cattle: An Unexpectedly High Potential Economic Impact

by Phoompong Boonsaen, Adèle Nevot, Sathaporn Onju, Clément Fossaert, Piangjai Chalermwong, Kornkanok Thaisungnoen, Antoine Lucas, Sophie Thévenon, Roungthip Masmeatathip, Sathaporn Jittapalapong and Marc Desquesnes

Insects 2024, 15(10), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100735 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1318

Abstract

In addition to blood pathogen transmission, insects of the order Diptera affect livestock through visual and contact harassment; blood-feeders are responsible for painful bites and blood despoliation, generating behavioral modifications, anemia, and production losses. Knowledge of their economic impact is a basis for [...] Read more.

In addition to blood pathogen transmission, insects of the order Diptera affect livestock through visual and contact harassment; blood-feeders are responsible for painful bites and blood despoliation, generating behavioral modifications, anemia, and production losses. Knowledge of their economic impact is a basis for cost-effective control. Here, we measured the global impact of diptera insects by comparing two batches of six feeder cattle, one in the open air and the other protected by a mosquito net. The analytical data were insect density in the open air and, for feeder cattle, tail flick counts, hematocrit values (Ht), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and live body weight gain (LBWG). Over a period of five months, the results showed significant losses in the LBWG of cattle exposed to insects, estimated at 8.0 ± 1.5 kg/month [2.7; 13.3], with a total loss reaching 40.0 ± 5.5 kg/head. Main diurnal insects were Stomoxys spp. and Musca crassirostris. There was a strong correlation between fly density and diurnal tail flicks. Night trapping and tail flicks showed a potentially important role of mosquitoes to be further explored. The Ht levels of exposed animals were 3–4% lower than those of controls. FCRs indicated that exposed animals needed 33% more dry matter intake/kg of LBWG. An economic assessment showed that dipterans were responsible for a 10–11% loss in LBWG during the main growing period of feeder cattle (10–15 months). A feedlot of 100 calves would register a total loss of USD 16,000 within 5 months, which appears to be an unexpectedly huge loss caused by dipterans. Investing part of this money into fly control would probably be beneficial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical and Livestock Entomology)

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Pictures of the experimental devices; Group A and Pen A: fly-proof system; Group B and Pen B: open-air system. Full article ">Figure 2
Pictures of feeder cattle under a mosquito net (A) with tail pedometer disposal (B) and in open air (C), Nzi trap collection (D), Vavoua trap (E), and some hematophagous flies: Musca crassirostris (F) and a tabanid: Haematopota sp. (G). Full article ">Figure 3
Fly densities observed during Experiment 1. Full article ">Figure 4
Fly densities observed during Experiment 2. Full article ">Figure 5
Mean PCV (95% CI) in Groups A and B and hematophagous fly densities in Experiment 1, from weeks 1 to 9. The broad lines indicate smooth mean values, the thin solid line indicates insect density, the bold solid line represents Group A, and the bold long dashed line represents Group B. Shaded parts correspond to the confidence interval of the means (at 95%). Full article ">Figure 6
Mean PCV (95% CI) in Groups A and B and hematophagous fly densities in Experiment 2, from weeks 1 to 24. The broad lines indicate smooth mean values, the thin solid line indicates insect density, the bold solid line represents Group A, and the bold long dashed line represents Group B. Shaded parts correspond to the confidence interval of the means (at 95%). Full article ">Figure 7
Mean cattle live body weight (95% CI) in Groups A and B and hematophagous fly densities in Experiment 1. The broad lines indicate smooth mean values, the thin solid line indicates insect density, the bold solid line represents Group A, and the bold long dashed line represents Group B. Shaded parts correspond to the confidence interval of the means (at 95%). Full article ">Figure 8
Mean cattle live body weight (95% CI) in Groups A and B and hematophagous fly densities in Experiment 2. The broad lines indicate smooth mean values, the thin solid line indicates insect density, the bold solid line represents Group A, and the bold long dashed line represents Group B. Shaded parts correspond to the confidence interval of the means (at 95%). Full article ">

17 pages, 319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional and Work-Related Factors in the Self-Assessment of Work Ability among Italian Healthcare Workers

by Nicola Magnavita, Igor Meraglia and Carlo Chiorri

Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171731 - 30 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1026

Abstract

The Work Ability Index (WAI) is the most commonly used tool for evaluating work capacity. Self-assessments made by workers can be influenced by various occupational and emotional factors. We wanted to study the association of work-related factors, such as work annoyance, stress, overcommitment, [...] Read more.

The Work Ability Index (WAI) is the most commonly used tool for evaluating work capacity. Self-assessments made by workers can be influenced by various occupational and emotional factors. We wanted to study the association of work-related factors, such as work annoyance, stress, overcommitment, job satisfaction, social support, and emotional factors, such as anxiety, depression, and happiness, with work ability, in a sample of 490 healthcare workers from an Italian public health company. A principal component analysis indicated the presence of two components of the WAI questionnaire; the first expresses “subjectively estimated work ability” (SEWA), and the second refers to “ill-health-related work ability” (IHRWA). Using stepwise multiple hierarchical linear regression, we identified the factors that best predicted the total score on the WAI and on the two components. The total score was negatively predicted by anxiety, depression, a lack of happiness, low job satisfaction, overcommitment, and work annoyance. Age, being female, anxiety, and occupational stress were associated with a reduction in the IHRWA component score, while overcommitment, work annoyance, a lack of social support, depression, and a lack of happiness were negatively associated with the SEWA component. These results can help interpret those of epidemiological studies and provide guidance on ways to improve work ability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Exploring the Interplay of Psychology and Work-Related Health and Well-Being)

18 pages, 5160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification, Evaluation, and Influencing Factors of Soundscapes in Public Open Spaces in High-Density Residential Areas

by Zeyu Xu, Ming Yang and Lei Yu

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 6946; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14166946 - 8 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1291

Abstract

Public open spaces make crucial contributions to the livability of communities and promote physical and mental health. Soundscapes play an important role in the overall physical comfort of public open spaces. However, owing to insufficient studies of high-density situations, soundscapes are ignored in [...] Read more.

Public open spaces make crucial contributions to the livability of communities and promote physical and mental health. Soundscapes play an important role in the overall physical comfort of public open spaces. However, owing to insufficient studies of high-density situations, soundscapes are ignored in public open spaces in high-density residential areas. This paper presents a case study of a soundscape in the overseas Chinese town (OCT) of Shenzhen, China. Through in situ observation, four distinct soundscapes were easily identified by performing soundscape conceptualization according to the ISO. In terms of the four identified soundscape areas, subjective evaluations of acoustic comfort and annoyance and their influencing factors were thoroughly explored. The results reveal that the natural soundscape had the best evaluations, whereas the artificial one did not have the worst result. It is interesting to note that acoustic factors do not always significantly influence a soundscape’s evaluation. A non-acoustic factor such as the spatial function may play a role as it is related to the context of an individual perceiving an acoustic environment. This study provides first-hand empirical evidence for understanding soundscapes and the influencing factors present in high-density residential public open spaces. The results provide useful knowledge for enhancing soundscape quality in such spaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sciences)

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54 pages, 26713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal–Acoustic Interaction Effects on Physiological and Psychological Measures in Urban Forests: A Laboratory Study

by Ye Chen, Taoyu Li, Shaoyou Chen, Hangqing Chen and Yuxiang Lan

Forests 2024, 15(8), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081373 - 6 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1041

Abstract

The environment in which people live is a complex system influenced by multiple factors interacting with each other, and therefore, it is crucial to deeply explore the influences of various factors on environmental perception. Among the numerous factors affecting the experience of urban [...] Read more.

The environment in which people live is a complex system influenced by multiple factors interacting with each other, and therefore, it is crucial to deeply explore the influences of various factors on environmental perception. Among the numerous factors affecting the experience of urban forests visits, the thermal–acoustic environment stands out prominently. This study focuses on urban forests located in subtropical regions, with specific research conducted in the Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China. The study explores the thermal–acoustic interaction in urban forest environments. A total of 150 participants evaluated the perception of sound, thermal sensation, and overall perception through laboratory experiments, with 36 of them having their objective physiological indicators monitored. Different levels of sound and temperature were selected for the experiments, with three levels for each type of sound. Our results show that increasing temperature enhanced the perceived loudness of sound, especially when the environment was quiet. Sound type and loudness had a significant impact on thermal sensation, but no interaction was observed with temperature. Moreover, we found that certain sounds could improve overall comfort, and the effect was most evident at moderate loudness. Temperature had a significant influence on both comfort and annoyance, with increasing temperature leading to higher annoyance. These findings provide important insights into how the interplay between sound and heat affects human perception and emotional state, providing scientific guidance for the design of more human-centered environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soundscape in Urban Forests - 2nd Edition)

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31 pages, 2390 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Noise Annoyance as a Determinant of Physiological Changes Linked to Disease Promotion

by Emily Senerth, Tejanth Pasumarthi, Neha Tangri, Bhavya Abbi, Skye Bickett, James P. McNamee, David S. Michaud and Rebecca L. Morgan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070956 - 22 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1492

Abstract

This systematic review investigates the certainty of evidence (CoE) regarding noise annoyance as a determinant of biological changes known to contribute to disease development. We searched PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL for English-language comparative studies conducted on humans of any age [...] Read more.

This systematic review investigates the certainty of evidence (CoE) regarding noise annoyance as a determinant of biological changes known to contribute to disease development. We searched PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL for English-language comparative studies conducted on humans of any age from 1 January 1940, to 28 August 2023. Further, studies that provided quantitative data on the relationship between noise annoyance and biomarkers of interest were included. Where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios of noise annoyance on biomarkers and biological conditions considered to be risk factors for developing health effects. The risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias of Non-randomized Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) instrument. The CoE for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The search identified 23 primary studies reporting on relevant biomarkers. Although some studies and pooled estimates suggest a possible association between noise annoyance and biological measures, the CoE overall is very low due to concerns with the risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision in the estimates of effects. In the context of environmental impact assessment, where guidelines aim to mitigate the prevalence of populations experiencing a high level of noise annoyance, our results suggest that such practices should be grounded in the understanding that annoyance is health-relevant because it reflects an undesirable reaction to noise, rather than a precursor to chronic physical health conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Response to Environmental Noise)

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18 pages, 1918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acoustic Comfort Prediction: Integrating Sound Event Detection and Noise Levels from a Wireless Acoustic Sensor Network

by Daniel Bonet-Solà, Ester Vidaña-Vila and Rosa Ma Alsina-Pagès

Sensors 2024, 24(13), 4400; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24134400 - 7 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in accurately evaluating urban soundscapes to reflect citizens’ subjective perceptions of acoustic comfort. Various indices have been proposed in the literature to achieve this purpose. However, many of these methods necessitate specialized equipment or extensive data collection. This [...] Read more.

There is an increasing interest in accurately evaluating urban soundscapes to reflect citizens’ subjective perceptions of acoustic comfort. Various indices have been proposed in the literature to achieve this purpose. However, many of these methods necessitate specialized equipment or extensive data collection. This study introduces an enhanced predictor for dwelling acoustic comfort, utilizing cost-effective data consisting of a 30-s audio clip and location information. The proposed predictor incorporates two rating systems: a binary evaluation and an acoustic comfort index called ACI. The training and evaluation data are obtained from the “Sons al Balcó” citizen science project. To characterize the sound events, gammatone cepstral coefficients are used for automatic sound event detection with a convolutional neural network. To enhance the predictor’s performance, this study proposes incorporating objective noise levels from public IoT-based wireless acoustic sensor networks, particularly in densely populated areas like Barcelona. The results indicate that adding noise levels from a public network successfully enhances the accuracy of the acoustic comfort prediction for both rating systems, reaching up to 85% accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Industrial Internet of Things: From Theory to Real-World Applications)

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Locations of the Barcelona sound sensor network and the videos collected during the 2021 Sons al Balcó campaign. Full article ">Figure 2
Distribution of the Barcelona sound sensors deployed in 2021 by the predominant noise sources in their locations. Full article ">Figure 3
Subjective Assessment of the Soundscapes in Barcelona (Likert scale). Full article ">Figure 4
Enhanced Dwelling’s Soundscape Quality Estimator (Binary). Full article ">Figure 5
Enhanced Dwelling’s Acoustic Comfort Index Estimator. Full article ">Figure 6
Performance of the nearest sensor-based prediction depending on the maximum distance between sensor and studied location accepted. Full article ">Figure 7
Error distance for the ACI assessment for the ASED, nearest-based and combined approaches. Full article ">Figure 8
Quarterly evolution of the <math display="inline"><semantics> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> <mi>e</mi> <mi>q</mi> </mrow> </msub> </semantics></math> measured in the subset of BCN sound meters network used during this present study that were continuously collecting data from 2017 to 2022. Full article ">

14 pages, 1909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Computer-Mediated Educational Counseling for Tinnitus Relief: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Sumin Lee, Tae-Jun Jin, Donghyeok Lee and In-Ki Jin

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(7), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070629 - 24 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Counseling can help alleviate tinnitus-caused emotional distress and correct misconceptions, making it an effective rehabilitation option for people with tinnitus. Advances in communication technology have increased the demand for computer-mediated tinnitus counseling; however, the effectiveness of such counseling in reducing tinnitus is unclear. [...] Read more.

Counseling can help alleviate tinnitus-caused emotional distress and correct misconceptions, making it an effective rehabilitation option for people with tinnitus. Advances in communication technology have increased the demand for computer-mediated tinnitus counseling; however, the effectiveness of such counseling in reducing tinnitus is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to determine the tinnitus-relieving effects of computer-mediated counseling. Thirty-six participants with tinnitus were randomly assigned to online counseling (15 participants) or video-based counseling (21 participants) groups, defining how remote counseling was conducted. Tinnitus counseling, comprising 100 items, lasted 2 weeks and was separated into six sessions for the online counseling group and 8–9 items daily for 12 days for the video-based counseling group. The effectiveness of counseling was determined based on score changes between baseline and 2-week follow-up using the Korean version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire and Visual Analog Scales for annoyance and loudness. While no significant improvements were observed in other domains, average emotional aspect-related scores showed significant improvements in both groups. Regarding individual results, four and seven participants in the online and video-based counseling groups reported significant improvements in the emotional domain, respectively. Overall, computer-mediated educational counseling might be a rehabilitation option for individuals with tinnitus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tinnitus and Hearing Disorders)

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