<p>Detta examensarbete omfattar akustiska undersökningar utav en desinficerande diskmaskin av typ Getinge 8666/8668 och har utförts på Getinge Desinfection AB i Växjö. Vi har undersökt hur man med enkla medel kan sänka ljudtrycksnivån i maskinens närhet. Mätningar har utförts på diskmaskinens torkprogram, där torkfläktarna är de mest dominerande ljudkällorna och ljudet främst är luftburet. En systematisk analysmetod bestående av införandet av successiva dämpningsåtgärder visade att de dominerande ljudvägarna går via taket, golvet samt till viss del spalter i maskinens väggar. Genom att isolera både tak, golv och spalter kunde ljudtrycksnivån sänkas med totalt hela 5,9 dB. Med enkla produktionsanpassade lösningar, i form utav en isolerad golvsockel och en bättre kåpa runt fläktarna, kan man sänka nivån med så mycket som 3,6 dB. Rapporten ska även kunna användas som ett underlag för vidare akustiska undersökningar på Getinge Desinfection AB.</p> / <p>This dissertation examines acoustic research of a disinfecting dishwasher type Getinge 8666/8668. The research has been performed in collaboration with Getinge Desinfection AB, a world wide known manufacturer of disinfecting equipment for healthcare, located in Växjö, Sweden. We have examined how to reduce noise from the dishwasher with simple measures. Measurements have been performed during the drying program of the machine. The drying fans are the dominating sources of sound, and the sound is air bourn. A systematic method by reducing the sound step by step shows that the major ways of sound is through the ceiling and through the floor. There is also a minor noise leakage through the gaps in the walls of the dishwasher. By isolating the ceiling, the floor and the gaps in the walls, it is possible to reduce the noise with totally 5.9 dB. With more production adapted solutions, in shape of an isolated floor base and a more efficient fan cover, it is possible to reduce the noise with as much as 3.6 dB. This dissertation is thought to be used as a basis for further acoustic research at Getinge Desinfection AB.</p>

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) relies on visualizing the growth of new blood vessels (i.e. tumor angiogenesis) to provide sufficient materials for cell proliferation during the development of cancer. Since cancers will accumulate an injected contrast agent more than other tissues, it is possible to use one of several methods to enhance the area of lesions in the x-ray image and remove the contrast of normal tissue. Large area flat panel detectors may be used for CEM wherein the subtraction of two acquired images is used to create the resulting enhanced image. There exist several methods to acquire the images to be subtracted, which include temporal subtraction (pre- and post-contrast images) and dual-energy subtraction (low- and high-energy images), however these methods suffer from artifacts due to patient motion between image acquisitions. In this research the use of a multilayer flat panel detector is examined for CEM that is designed to acquire both (low- and high-energy) images simultaneously, thus avoiding motion artifacts in the resulting subtracted image. For comparison, a dual-energy technique prone to motion artifacts that uses a single-layer detector is also investigated. Both detectors are evaluated and optimized using amorphous selenium as the x-ray to charge conversion material, however the theoretical analysis could be extended to other conversion materials. Experimental results of single pixel prototypes of both multilayer and single-layer detectors are also discussed and compared to theoretical results. For a more comprehensive analysis, the motion artifacts present in dual-exposure techniques are modeled and the performance degradation due to motion artifacts is estimated. The effects of noise reduction techniques are also evaluated to determine potential image quality improvements in CEM images.

Une onde acoustique plane propagée dans un guide couplée à des parois vibrantes, siège d'ondes transversale ou de flexion, donne un ensemble d'ondes dans le fluide et dans la structure. Les ondes dans le fluide sont évanescentes, propagatives, ou encore propagatives avec un amortissement. Il n'est pas besoin que l'ensemble soit dissipatif pour en arriver là car les résultats proviennent d'interférences destructives on constructives. Un amortissement dans la structure donne un système cette fois-ci dissipatif et ajoute ses effets à la dissipation mais pas de façon classique puisqu'il s'agit ici d'ondes couplées acoustique/structure. En présence d'un flux stationnaire et uniforme la capacité d'une paroi vibrante à produire de l'atténuation acoustique se réduit. Les opérateurs en jeu, les méthodes pour les résoudre dont celle des éléments finis donnent accès à des prédictions. Elles sont confrontées à des résultats expérimentaux. Sans écoulement, les prédictions font sens. En revanche, avec écoulement, il n'en est pas de même et le mémoire tentera d'analyser les raisons. En conclusion technologique, une atténuation d'une quinzaine de décibels en moyenne sur une gamme de fréquences de quelques centaines de Hz centrées dans les médiums (500Hz) est envisageable avec une paroi mince qui n'encombre pas le guide. / A plane acoustic wave propagated in a duct some walls of which are vibrating due to transversal or flexural waves gives rise to a set of various waves within the fluid and the structure. Within the fluid, the waves are evanescent, propagatives or propagatives with decreasing amplitudes. There is no need for the global operator to be dissipative for such a result since it is arising from destructive or constructive interferences. When the structural damping exists, as in the real life, it adds its effect to the coupling but not in a classical way as coupled acoustic/structure waves are at play rather than pure acoustic or structural waves. Now in presence of a convection of the fluid that bears the acoustic wave (a stationary and uniform flow), the attenuation is reduced sligtly at the very low Mach numbers, and significantly at higher Mach numbers. As far as technological conclusions are sought, an averaged acoustic attenuation of around fifteen dB in a frequency range of some hundreds Hz centered at 500Hz can be obtained with this system very light and needing almost no room.

Noise induced hearing loss has been extensively researched and commented on, yet it remains prevalent among industrial workers. The real-world attenuation properties of the Noise Clipper® custom-made hearing protection device and the comfort levels it afford are unknown. Furthermore, research in hearing conservation is seldom focused on the critical/biological thresholds for temporary threshold shift. Field studies on hearing protection devices have demonstrated that laboratory derived measures bear little relation to attenuation achieved in workers. Research has consistently demonstrated that noise reduction ratings that are derived from the laboratory real-ear-at-threshold method do not accurately represent the attenuation of noise that these devices actually provide and the matter remains unclear. Too many important variables are neglected in current real-ear-atthreshold evaluation protocols. This study used an alternative method, the microphone-inreal- ear approach where a dual-element microphone probe was inserted into the Noise Clipper® to measure noise reduction by recording the difference in noise levels outside and behind the device. The sub aims of the study were to record ambient noise levels and frequency spectra; to determine the attenuation characteristics; and to compare the attenuation thresholds to biological thresholds for temporary threshold shift. Using this protocol, measurements were made on 20 subjects in real world situations in order to match the attenuation characteristics of the Noise Clipper® to the actual noise exposure. The microphone-in-real-ear derived attenuation thresholds were compared to the real-earat- threshold values provided by the manufacturer of the Noise Clipper®. Additional subaims were to determine the comfort levels of the Noise Clipper® and record the selfreported wearing time of the device. Wearing comfort was evaluated using a bipolar rating scale. The researcher interviewed 240 mine workers at a platinum mine. Several comfort related sub-scales were used to quantify reported comfort levels. Simultaneously, usage time of the device was self-reported by each worker. Results of the microphone-in-real-ear measurements indicated that ambient noise levels fluctuated from day to day. The attenuation results indicated that most of the measurements suggested protection against noise induced hearing loss through the use of the Noise Clipper®. It was found that the REAT results over estimated the attenuation ability of the Noise Clipper® when compared to the results of the F-MIRE measurements. Eighty seven percent of the measurements indicated protection from thresholds below the biological threshold for temporary threshold shift. Seventy five percent of the workers indicated that the Noise Clipper® was comfortable to wear and 79% indicated that they used it for a full eight hour shift. The results provide an opportunity to assess the use of a protection device and its effectiveness among mineworkers combined with information regarding noise exposure levels. The findings highlight the importance of evaluating variability in terms of individual-specific protection. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

With arrival of affordable digital technology we are increasingly coming into contact with digital images. Cameras are no longer dedicated devices, but part of almost every mobile phone, PDA and laptop. This paper discusses methods for enhancing quality of digital images with focus on removing noise, creating high dynamic range (HDR) images and extending depth of field (DOF). It contains familiarization with technical means for acquiring digital image, explains origin of image noise. Further attention is drawn to HDR, from explaining the term, physical basis, difference between HDR sensing and HDR displaying, to survey and historical development of methods dealing with creating HDR images. The next part is explaining DOF when displaying, physical basis of this phenomenon and review of methods used for DOF extension. The paper mentions problem of acquiring images needed for solving given tasks and designs method for acquiring images. Using it a database of test images for each task was created. Part of the paper also deals with design of a program, that implements discussed methods, for solving the given tasks. With help of proposed class imgmap, quality of output images is improved, by modifying maps of input images. The paper describes methods, improvements, means of setting parameters and their effects on algorithms and control of program using proposed GUI. Finally, comparison with free software for extending DOF takes place. The proposed software provides at least comparable results, the correct setting of parameters for specific cases allows to achieve better properties of the resulting image. Time requirements of image processing are worse because designed software was not optimised.

This master’s thesis deals with the wavelet transform and its use in processing and removing noise from images acquired by nuclear magnetic resonance. It defines fundamental terms for this work as mother wavelet or thresholding. Above all, it describes the principle of wavelet transform, thresholding techniques and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of filtration. It describes the relation between wavelet transforms and digital filter banks. The experimental section describes the designed filtering method for removing noise from an image captured by the technique of nuclear magnetic resonance. We applied to different kinds of mother wavelets. Evaluation of the effectiveness of filtering was performed using the signal to noise ratio, relative contrast and the steepness of the intensity changes in signal intensity. It also discusses the comparison of properties of the image and selecting the mother wavelets based on image characteristics. Images were compared in terms of a histogram, cumulative histogram, k-space and the difference image.

The aim of this thesis is implementation of wavelet transform algorithm for noise reduction. The noise reduction itself is focused on improving informative capabilities of sonographic (ultrasound) images in medicine. For this purpose, thresholding of detailed coefficients on individual levels of multiresolution analysis was used. Common procedures were not used for searching for the most suitable thresholds of those levels. The alternative concept's design is based on fundamental empirical approach, where the individual thresholds are optimised by evolution algorithms. However, with this algorithmic procedure, more problems manifest regarding the objective evaluation of the success of noise reduction. Because of this, the program uses commonly used parameters such as mean square error of the whole image, linear slope edge approximation, relative contrast of two differently bright and distinct points and the standard deviation of compact surface. Described theoretical knowledge is used in developed application DTWT. It executes multilevel decomposition and reversed reconstruction by discrete time wavelet transform, thresholding of detailed coefficients and final evaluation of performed noise reduction. The developed tool can be used separately to reduce noise. For our purposes, it has been modified in way, that it executed through the component for evolutionary optimization of parameters (Optimize Parameters) in created scenario in RapidMiner program. In the optimization process, this component used evaluation received from DTWT program as fitness function. Optimal thresholds were sought separately for three wavelet families - Daubeschies, Symmlets and Coiflets. The evolution algorithm chose soft threshold for all three wavelet families. In comparison to hard threshold, it is more suitable for noise reduction, but it has tendencies to blur the edges more. The devised method had in most cases greater evaluated success of noise reduction with wavelet transform with threshold search done by evolution algorithms, than commonly used filters. In visual comparison however the wavelet transform introduced some minor depreciating artefacts into the image. It is always about compromise between noise reduction and maximal preservation of image information. Objectively evaluating this dilemma is not easy and is always dependant on subjective viewpoint which in case of sonographic images is that of the attending physician.

Noise levels in hospital settings have risen beyond the recommended range of 35-40 decibels, resulting in poor patient healing outcomes and other health conditions ranging from sleep deprivation, anxiety, agitation, delirium, depression, and high heart rate and blood pressure. These negative patient health experiences are evidenced by poor scores for the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, which are indicators of patients' perceptions of care. This project explored whether an educational activity for 48 direct care staff, who include registered nurses and nursing assistants, in a cardiac unit on the impact of noise pollution on patient healing would increase staff members' knowledge of interventions to reduce noise pollution. The information processing theory guided this project. Eighty-nine percent of the participants strongly agreed that the educational activity was relevant to their practice as health care providers on the cardiac monitored unit. All participants strongly agreed that they would be able to identify when the unit was noisy and when noise was impacting a patient both physiologically and psychologically. Participants indicated that they could implement the suggested behavioral modifications to promote a healing environment. Participants strongly agreed that the speaker was effective in communicating the importance of noise pollution and its impact on patient healing and ways in which to combat the problem (89%), and they were generally satisfied with the learning activity (91%). Reducing noise pollution might create a healing environment for cardiac patients, thus positively impacting patient satisfaction and well-being.

Innowearable AB has developed a product called Inno-XTM that calculates musclefatigue during three exercises: squat jumps, wall sit, and leg extension. Inno-X uses an accelerometer and a surface electromyography sensor. The goal of thisproject was to create the signal processing part of a machine-learning (ML) pipeline that classifies the exercises in real-time. Data was collected from the sensors to create a training environment that could later be translated to a real-time environment using a sliding window technique. A Savitsky-Golay filter (SG), lowpass, and highpass filters were tested in order to remove noise from the signal. The best filter proved to be the SG filter. Both time and frequency domain features were used in feature extraction. The finished product used 24 features from both domains combined. These methods together with the ML algorithms created in a collabora-tive project led to a classification accuracy for the training environment of 98.62%, while the real-time environment reached 90%. By collecting a larger and more diverse dataset, and addressing the issue of leg extension and wall sit exercises being too similar, real-time classification can be further improved which will make the ML pipeline usable for Innowearables’ customers. / Innowearable AB har utvecklat en produkt som heter Inno-XTM som räknar ut muskeltröttheten vid 3  övningar: upphopp, jägarvila och benextensioner. Inno-X använder en accelerometer och en yt-elektromyografi-sensor. Målet med projektet var att skapa signalprocesseringsdelen av en machine learning (ML) pipelinesom klassificerar dessa övningar i realtid. Data samlades in från sensorerna för att skapa en träningsmiljö som sedan kunde gå  över i realtidsmiljö genom attanvända en sliding-window teknik. Savitsky-Golay (SG) filter, högpassfilter, och lågpassfilter användes för att reducera brus i sensorsignalerna. SG filtret presterade bäst. Features från både tids- och frekvensdomän användes i feature extraction. Slutprodukten använde 24 features kombinerat från båda domänen. Dessa metoder tillsammans med ML algoritmer som togs fram i ett partnerprojekt gav ett resultat i träningsmiljön på 98.62% i klassificeringsnoggrannhet och 90% för realtidsmiljön. Genom att samla större mängd data med mer diversitet och lösa problemetatiken i att jägarvila och benextensioner  är för lika, kommer realtidsklas-sifikationen förbättras vilket hade gjort att ML pipelinen blir användbar för Innowearables kunder.

Eftersom användningen av små UAV:s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) fortsätter att öka, harbullret från deras framdrivningssystem blivit ett ökande problem. Denna rapport är resultatetav ett masterprojekt med målet att utveckla en framdrivningsmetod med låga bullernivåerför små UAV:s.Projektet startade med en informationssökning där målet var att hitta information ombullerkällor i nuvarande system samt information om de fundamentala sätten på vilket luftflödekan skapas.När informationssökningen var färdig, genererades ett stort antal olika koncept. Konceptetsom författarna ansåg ha mest potential, var en propeller med en ny metod för passivkontroll av gränsskiktet. Konceptet har ett luftintag nära rotationscentrum. Efter att luftenhar kommit in i detta luftintag, leds den genom interna kanaler och accelereras radiellt utåtpå grund av centrifugalkraften. Luften sprutas sedan ut genom en slits nära framkantenpropellerbladets lågtryckssida. Denna ström av luft färdas över propellerbladet och sugsin genom en slits nära vingens bakkant. Därefter sprutas luften ut genom ett utlopp närapropellerbladets spets.Tanken är att den beskrivna metoden ska fördröja eller förhindra avlösning. Detta skullepotentiellt möjliggöra högre lyftkraft vid lägre rotationshastigheter, vilket därigenom potentielltsänker bullernivåerna. Förenklade modeller av det valda konceptet har utvecklats ochanalyserats med hjälp av CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) och jämförts med simuleringarav en referensmodell utan gränsskiktskontroll. Resultaten indikerar att flödet ikonceptmodellen strömmar genom kanalerna och över propellerbladet som det var tänkt.Lyftkraften och effektiviteten ökade med 4.3 % respektive 1.9 %, jämfört med referensmodellen,vid samma rotationshastighet. Den möjliga minskningen av rotationshastigheten pågrund av ökningen i lyftkraft resulterar i en minskning av bullernivån med 0.9 dB. Detbör noteras att resultaten från simuleringarna bör ses med försiktighet och att ytterligarearbete måste göras innan några definitiva slutsatser kan dras beträffande potentiella prestandaökningarav konceptet jämfört med en konventionell propeller. / As the use of small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) keeps increasing, the noise emittedfrom their propulsion systems have become an increasing issue. This report is the resultof a master thesis project with the aim of developing a propulsion method with low noiseemissions for small UAVs.The project started with a background study, where the aim was to find informationabout sources of noise in current systems and information about the fundamental ways inwhich air flow can be created.When the background study was finished, a large number of different concepts were generated.The concept that the authors considered having the most potential, was a propellerwith a new method for passive circulation control. The concept has an air intake close tothe rotational center. After air has entered this inlet it is led through internal channels andis accelerated radially outwards due to centrifugal forces. The air is then ejected through aslot close to the leading edge on the low pressure side on the propeller blade. This stream ofair travels over the propeller blade and is the sucked in through a slot close to the trailingedge. After this, the air is ejected through an outlet close to the propeller blades tip.The idea is that the method described should delay or prevent boundary layer separation.This would potentially allow for higher thrust at lower rotational speeds, thus potentiallylowering the noise emissions. Simplified models of the chosen concept have been developedand analyzed using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and compared to simulations ofa baseline model with no circulation control. The results indicate that the fluid flow in theconcept model flows through the channels and over the propeller blade, as intended. Thethrust and efficiency were increased by 4.3 % and 1.9 % respectively, compared to the baselinemodel, at the same rotational speed. The possible reduction of the rotational speed due tothe increase in thrust, results in a reduction of the noise level by 0.9 dB. It should be notedthat the results from the simulations should be viewed with caution and the that furtherwork needs to be done before any clear conclusions can be drawn regarding the potentialperformance increase of the concept compared to a conventional propeller.