In recent years, the fishery production has been drastically decreased in Taiwan, mainly due to overfishing and coast pollutions, therefore fishermen and corporation are encouraged by government to invest in ocean cage aquaculture. However the high price fishes in the net cage are often coveted, so the incidences of fish stealing and net cage breaking were found occasionally, which cause great economical loss. Security guards or visual monitoring system has limited effect especially in the night when these intrusions occur. This study is based on acoustic measure to build a net cage alarm system, which includes the sonobuoy and monitor station on land. The sonobuoy is a passive sonar that collects the sounds near the net cage and transmits the suspected signal to the monitor station. The signals were analyzed by the control program on the personal computer in the monitor station, and the alarms at different stages could be activated by the sound levels and durations of the analyzed signals.

Abstract Determination of blood glucose level is a frequently occurring procedure in diabetes care. As the most common method involves collecting blood drops for chemical analysis, it is invasive and liable to afflict a degree of pain and cause a skin injury. To eliminate these disadvantages, this thesis focuses on pulsed photoacoustic techniques, which have potential ability in non-invasive blood glucose measurement. The fundamental theory of photoacoustics in liquid and soft tissue was studied systematically. The distributions of photoacoustic sources in a near-infrared optical skin model were simulated by the Monte Carlo method. Expansion coefficient and specific heat of glucose solution were measured by thermodynamic method, while the sound velocity in it was determined by photoacoustic approach. The effect of glucose on blood optical scattering was studied by a picosecond pulsed laser together with a streak camera. A photoacoustic apparatus comprising a pulsed laser diode and a piezoelectric transducer was built and applied to measure glucose concentration in water and scattering media. Moreover, this apparatus was also used to non-invasive experiment on human fingers. The measurements showed that the expansion coefficient, specific heat and acoustic velocity change by 1.2%, -0.6% and 0.28%, respectively, in response to a 1% change in glucose concentration. The sum effect of these parameters to photoacoustic signal was much larger than that of optical absorption of glucose in near infrared wavelengths, which provided photoacoustic technique a higher degree of sensitivity than offered by the optical absorption method. At the wavelength of 905 nm, the measured glucose detection sensitivity in a 3% milk solution, a tissue sample and whole human blood was 5.4%, 2.5% and 14%, respectively. Each figure is higher than that of glucose in water, about 2%, for a one percent change in glucose concentration. This was supported by the temporal dispersion curves of glucose in blood samples, which demonstrated that glucose decreased the optical scattering of tissues. The currently photoacoustic apparatus could detect the minimal glucose concentration of 100 mg/dl in whole blood samples. It is sensitive to physiological changes in non-invasive measurement, but insufficient for evaluating change in the physiological glucose concentration. Current photoacoustic techniques have apparently advantages in study of scattering media and made great progress in tissue imaging and diagnosis. However, in non-invasive blood glucose measurement they met similar problems as optical approaches based on scattering effect.

The project aims to detect rear approaching vehicles for cycslist with a low power consumption. Study focuses on acoustic features of the sound of rear approaching vehicles and examines the useful indicators to detect the vehicles. The project includes more then one correlation and reveals their success rates for as many as samples possible.

<p><b></b>Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a tool with immense potential to evaluate the response of wildlife to ecosystem disturbances. PAM allows to evaluate wildlife dynamics by means of acoustic indices that estimate the diversity or complexity of sounds in a recording, as well as to study ecological aspects at the species level by training machine learning-based automatic acoustic detector. In this study, five deep learning approaches for automatic song detection were evaluated of the near-threatened Bachman's Sparrow in data scarcity scenarios, and then used this classifier to study the response of this bird to the number of days following a prescribed burn in six subtropical habitats in central Florida. At the same time, the response of avifauna acoustic activity to prescribed burning was quantified by means of three of the most used acoustic indices used in the literature (Acoustic Complexity Index, Acoustic Diversity Index and Bioacoustic Index). I found that it is possible to construct competitive birdsong detectors with small datasets using pre-trained models regardless. Furthermore, the use of data augmentation can lead to a detriment of the detector performance, especially of lower quality recordings, and that increasing the dataset does not necessarily increase the generalizability of the model. On the other hand, I found that unlike Acoustic Diversity Index, the Bioacoustic and Acoustic Complexity indices are negatively correlated with time after a burn, the same trend that Bachman's Sparrow presence showed, even though it was more influenced by habitat type than by the effect of the prescribed burns. This study shows the potential of tools including automatic song detection and acoustic indices to model at different scales the dynamics of avifauna in response to ecosystem disturbances. Their development can provide efficient tools for the study and conservation of both threatened wildlife species and the ecosystems they inhabit.</p>

Os equipamentos elétricos instalados em linhas de transmissão e distribuição de energia são normalmente submetidos a condições anormais e intensos campos elétricos, que, eventualmente, levam, entre outros fenômenos, as descargas parciais (DPs). Estas descargas têm sido apontadas como uma das principais causas de falhas de equipamentos e envelhecimento precoce. Portanto, detectar DPs se tornou uma questão importante na busca de uma energia elétrica eficiente e confiável. No que se refere a detecção de DPs existem vários sensores que podem ser aplicados, a exemplos: óptico, magnético ou acústico, e cada um deles apresentando vantagens particulares e limitações. Uma das desvantagens de tais sensores é o custo elevado, o que restringe o monitoramento de DPs no âmbito da distribuição de energia mais especificamente em transformadores de potência. Embora, se o foco do monitoramento é apenas detectar a ocorrência de DPs, uma nova classe de sensores acústicos implementados com piezoeletretos pode ser uma alternativa econômica viável. Deste modo, nesta dissertação, foi investigado o comportamento acústico de tais transdutores expostos a diferentes condições de DPs, onde o sensor piezoelétrico foi utilizado na detecção de DPs produzidas por uma configuração de eletrodos ponta - ponta separados por diferentes gaps de ar (único ou múltiplo) e excitado por altas tensões alternadas. As amplitudes dos sinais registrados foram correlacionadas com a distância do gap e com a amplitude da tensão aplicada. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível observar que a intensidade do som das DPs, capturado com o transdutor piezoelétrico, está relacionada com o tamanho do gap e da amplitude da tensão, como relatado na literatura. / Electrical equipment installed in power transmission and distribution lines are usually subjected to abnormal conditions and intense electric fields, which eventually lead, among others phenomena, to partial discharges (PDs). These discharges have been pointed as one of the main causes of equipment failures and premature aging. Therefore, detect PDs became an important issue in the prospect of efficient and reliable electric energy. Concerning PD detection there are several sensors that can be employed e.g. optical, magnetic or acoustic, and each of them presenting particular advantages and limitations. One of the drawback of such sensors is their elevated cost, which restricts the PD monitoring within the distribution of energy more specifically in power transformers. Although, if the intention of monitoring is only to detect the PD occurrence a new class of acoustic sensors implemented with piezoelectrets may be a feasible economic alternative. Therefore, in this work was investigated the acoustic behavior of such transducers exposed to different PD conditions, for instance, the piezoelectret sensor was employed on the detection of PD produced by a single or multiple point-to-point electrode setup with different air gaps excited by high AC voltages. The recorded signals amplitudes were correlated with the gap distance and voltage amplitude applied. Based on the results obtained it was observed that the intensity of the DPs sound, captured with the piezoelectric transducer, is related to the size of the gap and voltage amplitude, as reported in the literature.

Os equipamentos elétricos instalados em linhas de transmissão e distribuição de energia são normalmente submetidos a condições anormais e intensos campos elétricos, que, eventualmente, levam, entre outros fenômenos, as descargas parciais (DPs). Estas descargas têm sido apontadas como uma das principais causas de falhas de equipamentos e envelhecimento precoce. Portanto, detectar DPs se tornou uma questão importante na busca de uma energia elétrica eficiente e confiável. No que se refere a detecção de DPs existem vários sensores que podem ser aplicados, a exemplos: óptico, magnético ou acústico, e cada um deles apresentando vantagens particulares e limitações. Uma das desvantagens de tais sensores é o custo elevado, o que restringe o monitoramento de DPs no âmbito da distribuição de energia mais especificamente em transformadores de potência. Embora, se o foco do monitoramento é apenas detectar a ocorrência de DPs, uma nova classe de sensores acústicos implementados com piezoeletretos pode ser uma alternativa econômica viável. Deste modo, nesta dissertação, foi investigado o comportamento acústico de tais transdutores expostos a diferentes condições de DPs, onde o sensor piezoelétrico foi utilizado na detecção de DPs produzidas por uma configuração de eletrodos ponta - ponta separados por diferentes gaps de ar (único ou múltiplo) e excitado por altas tensões alternadas. As amplitudes dos sinais registrados foram correlacionadas com a distância do gap e com a amplitude da tensão aplicada. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível observar que a intensidade do som das DPs, capturado com o transdutor piezoelétrico, está relacionada com o tamanho do gap e da amplitude da tensão, como relatado na literatura. / Electrical equipment installed in power transmission and distribution lines are usually subjected to abnormal conditions and intense electric fields, which eventually lead, among others phenomena, to partial discharges (PDs). These discharges have been pointed as one of the main causes of equipment failures and premature aging. Therefore, detect PDs became an important issue in the prospect of efficient and reliable electric energy. Concerning PD detection there are several sensors that can be employed e.g. optical, magnetic or acoustic, and each of them presenting particular advantages and limitations. One of the drawback of such sensors is their elevated cost, which restricts the PD monitoring within the distribution of energy more specifically in power transformers. Although, if the intention of monitoring is only to detect the PD occurrence a new class of acoustic sensors implemented with piezoelectrets may be a feasible economic alternative. Therefore, in this work was investigated the acoustic behavior of such transducers exposed to different PD conditions, for instance, the piezoelectret sensor was employed on the detection of PD produced by a single or multiple point-to-point electrode setup with different air gaps excited by high AC voltages. The recorded signals amplitudes were correlated with the gap distance and voltage amplitude applied. Based on the results obtained it was observed that the intensity of the DPs sound, captured with the piezoelectric transducer, is related to the size of the gap and voltage amplitude, as reported in the literature.

Equidae belong to a group of large herbivores, which survival in natural environment depends beside others on their capability of fast predator recognition and detection. They can sensually recognise a possible threat in advance and react by immediate escape, which increases their survival. Also domestic horses still show very sensitive reaction to sudden (unexpected) stimuli. So we assume, that the ability to detect predator immediately is conserved despite of the long domestication process. The supportive indirect evidence is given by the successful breeding of the feral herds all over the world. However, studies showing the direct reaction of domestic horse toward the canids (as the most common predators), are still absent. Aim of the work was to find, if the horses (Equus caballus) could recognize acoustic sign of dogs like predators and if they could recognize the level of potential threat according to the number of predators, similarly as their wild ancestors. The recordings of barking of big dog breeds were obtained and modified. The final recording contained the set of barking coming from one individual or three different. The recording was played to the experimental horses, under controled conditions, together with white sound as a control. The reactions were recorded. Altogether 12 horses out of...

Equidae belong to a group of large herbivores, which survival in natural environment depends beside others on their capability of fast predator recognition and detection. They can sensually recognise a possible threat in advance and react by immediate escape, which increases their survival. Also domestic horses still show very sensitive reaction to sudden (unexpected) stimuli. So we assume, that the ability to detect predator immediately is conserved despite of the long domestication process. The supportive indirect evidence is given by the successful breeding of the feral herds all over the world. However, studies showing the direct reaction of domestic horse toward the canids (as the most common predators), are still absent. Aim of the work was to find, if the horses (Equus caballus) could recognize acoustic sign of dogs like predators and if they could recognize the level of potential threat according to the number of predators, similarly as their wild ancestors. The recordings of barking of big dog breeds were obtained and modified. The final recording contained the set of barking coming from one individual or three different. The recording was played to the experimental horses, under controlled conditions, together with white sound as a control. The reactions were recorded. Altogether 12...

A detecção de descargas parciais em transformadores consiste em importante metodologia de manutenção preventiva e preditiva. Neste contexto, a proposta desta pesquisa com o uso de sensores acústicos de piezoeletreto apresenta-se como um tema original e altamente relevante no desenvolvimento da tecnologia brasileira. A multidisciplinaridade do tema exigiu a realização de uma extensa pesquisa bibliográfica envolvendo os temas descargas parciais, métodos de detecção das descargas, piezeletricidade, eletretos, piezoeletretos, técnicas de manufatura do piezoeletreto proposto para a detecção de descargas e ferramentas de processamento de sinais, sendo a principal a deconvolução homomórfica. O Trabalho evoluiu para a elaboração de um primeiro protótipo laboratorial, constituído basicamente de um sensor piezoeletreto e um circuito amplificador, ambos abrigados em um invólucro metálico para assegurar uma blindagem eletromagnética. Os primeiros ensaios, em face da característica \"sui generis\" do protótipo, apontaram para a necessidade de novos circuitos e aprimoramento das metodologias desses ensaios laboratoriais, as quais também fazem parte do escopo deste trabalho. O desenvolvimento de um sistema de alta tensão autônomo, eletromagneticamente blindado e gerador de descargas elétricas impulsivas é um exemplo dos circuitos mencionados. A nova metodologia de testes buscou apresentar a evolução do comportamento acústico de uma descarga em diferentes ambientes, isto é, desde sinais sem ecos até sinais carregados com ecos e distorcidos pelo meio. Finalizando o trabalho, outra contribuição importante foi a decisão de analisar os sinais acústicos das descargas parciais pela deconvolução homomórfica, que mostrou ser essencial na remoção de ecos e na reconstrução do sinal acústico original. / Partial discharges acoustic detection is a very important preventive and predictive maintenance tool for transformers. In this research, a new acoustic piezoelectric sensor, based in Brazilian technology, was presented. However, before the construction of the prototype, an extensive literature was analyzed, including partial discharge, methods of discharges detection, piezoelectricity, electrets, piezoelectrets, manufacturing of the piezoelectret proposed to detection of discharges and signal processing tools, in special the homomorphic deconvolution. Basically, the prototype developed consists of a piezoelectret sensor and an amplifier circuit, assembled in a special metallic box, to shield any electromagnetic interference. During the tests, it was detected the need to create new circuits and to improve laboratory methodologies. A new impulse high-voltage generator electromagnetically shielded can be cited as an example of these circuits here developed. The new testing methodology aimed to present the evolution of the acoustic behavior of a discharge in different environments, in other words, from signals without echoes to signals containing echoes and distorted by the environment. In the processing signals context, another important contribution was the decision to analyze the acoustic signals of partial discharges by homomorphic deconvolution, which has allowed the reconstruction of the original acoustic signal without echo.

A detecção de descargas parciais em transformadores consiste em importante metodologia de manutenção preventiva e preditiva. Neste contexto, a proposta desta pesquisa com o uso de sensores acústicos de piezoeletreto apresenta-se como um tema original e altamente relevante no desenvolvimento da tecnologia brasileira. A multidisciplinaridade do tema exigiu a realização de uma extensa pesquisa bibliográfica envolvendo os temas descargas parciais, métodos de detecção das descargas, piezeletricidade, eletretos, piezoeletretos, técnicas de manufatura do piezoeletreto proposto para a detecção de descargas e ferramentas de processamento de sinais, sendo a principal a deconvolução homomórfica. O Trabalho evoluiu para a elaboração de um primeiro protótipo laboratorial, constituído basicamente de um sensor piezoeletreto e um circuito amplificador, ambos abrigados em um invólucro metálico para assegurar uma blindagem eletromagnética. Os primeiros ensaios, em face da característica \"sui generis\" do protótipo, apontaram para a necessidade de novos circuitos e aprimoramento das metodologias desses ensaios laboratoriais, as quais também fazem parte do escopo deste trabalho. O desenvolvimento de um sistema de alta tensão autônomo, eletromagneticamente blindado e gerador de descargas elétricas impulsivas é um exemplo dos circuitos mencionados. A nova metodologia de testes buscou apresentar a evolução do comportamento acústico de uma descarga em diferentes ambientes, isto é, desde sinais sem ecos até sinais carregados com ecos e distorcidos pelo meio. Finalizando o trabalho, outra contribuição importante foi a decisão de analisar os sinais acústicos das descargas parciais pela deconvolução homomórfica, que mostrou ser essencial na remoção de ecos e na reconstrução do sinal acústico original. / Partial discharges acoustic detection is a very important preventive and predictive maintenance tool for transformers. In this research, a new acoustic piezoelectric sensor, based in Brazilian technology, was presented. However, before the construction of the prototype, an extensive literature was analyzed, including partial discharge, methods of discharges detection, piezoelectricity, electrets, piezoelectrets, manufacturing of the piezoelectret proposed to detection of discharges and signal processing tools, in special the homomorphic deconvolution. Basically, the prototype developed consists of a piezoelectret sensor and an amplifier circuit, assembled in a special metallic box, to shield any electromagnetic interference. During the tests, it was detected the need to create new circuits and to improve laboratory methodologies. A new impulse high-voltage generator electromagnetically shielded can be cited as an example of these circuits here developed. The new testing methodology aimed to present the evolution of the acoustic behavior of a discharge in different environments, in other words, from signals without echoes to signals containing echoes and distorted by the environment. In the processing signals context, another important contribution was the decision to analyze the acoustic signals of partial discharges by homomorphic deconvolution, which has allowed the reconstruction of the original acoustic signal without echo.