Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Helping noisy data centers fit into residential neighborhoods #ASA188

Noise ordinances can protect residents and guide developers toward quieter designs

Acoustical Society of America

NEW ORLEANS, May 19, 2025 – The past few years have seen an explosion in data centers built across the country, as developers try to keep up with demand created by artificial intelligence, cloud storage, and e-commerce. Many of these data centers are being built near residential areas, and the people who live there keep complaining about the noise.

Gregory Miller and his colleagues at Trinity Consultants will present their work on noise control strategies for data centers on Monday, May 19, at 8:05 a.m. CT as part of the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and 25th International Congress on Acoustics, running May 18-23.

A key protection communities have from excessive noise is a well-crafted noise code. Local governments can pass laws or regulations limiting the amount of noise facilities like data centers can produce, along with more detailed rules regarding the types of noise, how often those noises occur, and how far away that noise can be perceived. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions lack detailed noise ordinances for data centers.

“Over the course of our work on noise control for data centers, one of the greatest challenges we kept facing was the lack of reliable noise codes that our clients could use, with conflicting noise requirements between local, county, and state authorities,” said Miller.

The absence of explicit noise ordinances means residents cannot be protected from extreme noise and developers have no clear guidance when designing new data centers. This problem is exacerbated by the addition of dedicated power plants and transformer stations.

“Having exhausted many of the sites that readily have enough power to run a data center, many new data centers are accompanied by power generation stations,” said Miller. “In many cases, the power generation is at least as noisy — if not noisier — than the data center it serves.”

To help develop proper guidance, Miller and his colleagues identified many of the worst sources of data center noise, along with the most effective means of controlling that noise. Some of the potential solutions include sound barriers, thick walls around power plants, and low-frequency resonators on some of the biggest sources of noise.

During the conference, Miller will also discuss his team’s efforts to help both data center developers and residential communities find solutions that work.

“We are continuing to work with data center developers on strategies for interacting with communities and demonstrating their interest in being reliable neighbors,” said Miller. “We are also working with communities to try to help them understand the types of information they need to develop robust noise ordinances.”

By encouraging a spirit of collaboration between both groups, Miller hopes that everyone can benefit from a quieter breed of data center.

“Ultimately, we want to help foster an environment in which residents are protected from excessive noise, and in which developers can reliably build new data centers within parameters that are reliable and reasonable,” said Miller.

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ASA PRESS ROOM

In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS

ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are summaries (300-500 words) of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION

ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the in-person meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org. For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

The Acoustical Society of America is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ACOUSTICS

The purpose of the International Commission for Acoustics (ICA) is to promote international development and collaboration in all fields of acoustics including research, development, education, and standardization. ICA’s mission is to be the reference point for the acoustic community, becoming more inclusive and proactive in our global outreach, increasing coordination and support for the growing international interest and activity in acoustics. Learn more at https://www.icacommission.org/.

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Here comes the boom! Studying the effects of rocket launch sonic booms on neighboring communities #ASA188

Lower-frequency sonic booms from Falcon 9 launches can feel like mini-earthquakes

Acoustical Society of America

View of the Falcon 9 rocket launch from a park in Ventura County — image:
A view of the Falcon 9 rocket launch from a park in Ventura County.
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Credit: Kent Gee

NEW ORLEANS, May 19, 2025 – Rocket launches are amazing spectacles, but close-up viewers know to bring a set of earplugs or earmuffs to protect their hearing. However, the boom of a launch isn’t reserved for those who sign up to watch it – it can also be heard and felt in surrounding communities.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a rocket used for both human and nonhuman space missions. Since 2010, the rocket has been launched over 400 times, and one of the launch sites for Falcon 9 is the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

“Although Ventura County is 60-100 miles from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, sonic booms and other noise from rockets launched over the ocean are sometimes heard on land,” said Brigham Young University physics professor Kent Gee. “As the number of launches with satellite orbits requiring trajectories along the California coastline increases, these booms are being heard more frequently.”

Motivated by noise concerns from residents in Ventura County, a team of researchers from BYU and California State University, Bakersfield collected 132 measurements from sonic booms over an area of 200 square miles during the summer of 2024.

Makayle Kellison, a BYU graduate student, and Gee will present their group’s work Monday, May 19, at 2:20 p.m. CT as part of the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and 25th International Congress on Acoustics, running May 18-23.

“Right now, residents may hear a sonic boom up to five times per month, or not at all,” Gee said.

In 2024, the Falcon 9 rocket was launched 46 times out of the Vandenberg base, averaging almost one launch per week. But not every launch makes an audible boom, and not every launch sound is created equal.

“The magnitude of these sonic booms is not uniform across the county and can vary greatly with weather conditions, launch time, vehicle trajectory, and time of year,” Kellison said. “Communities near Edwards Air Force Base, a hub for supersonic aircraft testing, are familiar with occasional sonic booms; however, an aircraft sonic boom differs significantly from a rocket ascent sonic boom.”

Rocket ascent sonic booms are much lower in frequency and can, indoors, sound — and feel — like an earthquake. The boom’s dominant energy is at a frequency of less than 1 hertz, below the range of human hearing, meaning that the booms rattle homes rather than bursting eardrums.

By collecting data on multiple qualities of the Falcon 9 sonic booms, researchers can help discern how different launch-day variables affect a boom’s impact.

“With a better understanding of the underlying rocket sonic boom physics, we hope to inform Base operations and policy makers, allowing for the space launch industry to sustainably grow,” Kellison said.

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----------------------- MORE MEETING INFORMATION -----------------------

ASA PRESS ROOM

In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS

PRESS REGISTRATION

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ACOUSTICS

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DISARM, DEMILITARIZE, DEFUND

Can police be trained to be fairer? A groundbreaking study says yes

Officers trained in procedural justice are more respectful, transparent and trusted by the communities they serve

Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences

BALTIMORE, MD, May 19, 2025 – Can a few days of training transform how police interact with communities? A new study in the INFORMS journal Management Science says yes – and the results could reshape law enforcement training around the globe.

Researchers from Boston University and The World Bank conducted one of the largest-ever randomized controlled trials on police behavior, training nearly 1,000 officers in Mexico City on principles of procedural justice – the idea that how people are treated matters as much as the outcome of their interactions with law enforcement.

The results? Big improvements in how officers engaged with the public.

Trained officers showed greater respect, clearer communication and reduced escalation.
Negative behaviors – including dismissiveness or bias – significantly dropped.
These changes endured for months after training.

“At a time when public trust in police is under intense scrutiny worldwide, this research offers hard evidence that targeted training can make a measurable difference,” says Rodrigo Canales, lead researcher and professor at Boston University.

Training Translates to the Streets

The study, “Shaping Police Officer Mindsets and Behaviors: Experimental Evidence of Procedural Justice Training,” tested a simple but powerful question: Can we train officers to be fairer and more just in their interactions?

The answer? Yes – and it shows up in real-world policing.

The research team, consisting of Canales, alongside Juan Francisco Santini of The World Bank and Marina González Magaña and Alexis Cherem (the three of whom were part of Innovations for Poverty Action at the time of the study), used mystery shoppers – trained actors posing as citizens who needed police assistance – to assess how officers handled routine interactions. Those who received procedural justice training were noticeably more patient, neutral and transparent.

Four key principles drove these changes:

Voice – Officers listened before making decisions.
Neutrality – They treated people fairly, avoiding bias.
Respect – Every citizen was treated with dignity.
Trustworthiness – Officers explained their actions, building credibility.

“We found clear and consistent improvements in how officers approached their work,” says Canales, a professor in the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. “This isn’t just about policy – it’s about human interactions. When officers treat people fairly, trust increases and police work becomes more effective.”

Why This Matters for Law Enforcement

In an era in which police accountability and public trust are under the microscope, this study offers rare, hard evidence: well-designed, short-term training can create lasting behavioral change. Unlike many programs that fail to move the needle, procedural justice training showed sustained, measurable impact.

Even in higher-crime areas – where improvements were smaller – officers still benefited, pointing to the importance of leadership support and ongoing reinforcement.

Could This Be a Model for U.S. Policing?

With police departments across the U.S. and around the world looking for ways to improve public trust and community relationships, this study suggests that integrating procedural justice training into standard law enforcement education could be a high-impact, low-cost strategy.

“This research proves that we can train officers to be more just and effective,” says Canales. “When police approach every interaction with fairness, they’re not just following best practices, they’re making communities safer.”

Link to full study.

About INFORMS and Management Science

INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. Management Science, a leading journal published by INFORMS, publishes quantitative research on management practices across organizations. INFORMS empowers its community to improve organizational performance and drive data-driven decision-making through its journals, conferences and resources. Learn more at www.informs.org or @informs.

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Subscribe and stay up to date on the latest from INFORMS.

Journal

Management Science

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Shaping Police Officer Mindsets and Behaviors: Experimental Evidence of Procedural Justice Training

Inhaled microplastics inhibit key immune cell in the lungs

Study also shows how macrophage function can be restored after exposure

American Thoracic Society

image:
Adam Soloff, PhD, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and first author of the study.
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Credit: Adam Soloff, MD

Session: B15—Macrophages: The Pac-Man of the Immune System

Inhaled Microplastics Inhibit Tissue Maintenance Functions of Pulmonary Macrophages

ATS 2025, San Francisco – Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, and we all routinely inhale these tiny pollutants. Now new research published at the ATS 2025 International Conference has found that inhaled microplastics suppress pulmonary macrophages, a type of white blood cell found in the lungs that are critical to the immune system.

The findings shed new light on the mechanisms through which microplastic exposure leads to long-term disruption of immune function and increases risk of cancer and other diseases. These risks aren’t limited to the lungs but can affect the entire body.

“For me, it’s a bit eye opening that although microplastics aren’t the most dangerous agent we may encounter, they are far from benign,” said Adam Soloff, PhD, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and first author of the study. “Respiratory microplastics disseminate systemically after passing through the lung and negatively affect macrophage function. Overall, these may have detrimental effects on any and all organ systems and contribute to a number of diseases.”

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cell of the lung and play a critical role. These cells work as immune housekeepers, devouring pathogens and maintaining tissue homeostasis. They also clear away dead lung cells, which can cause chronic inflammation when they’re left to accumulate.

For the study, researchers cultured macrophages with polystyrene microplastics at different sizes and concentrations. They also exposed mice to inhaled microplastics and then measured the effects on the animals’ macrophage function.

They found that within 24 hours of exposure to microplastics of any size, the macrophages showed a reduced ability to surround and absorb other bacteria, a critical process called phagocytosis. Microplastic particles were readily detected in the liver, spleen and colon with trace amounts in the brain and kidney for up to a week after being inhaled.

Researchers also found that the drug Acadesine, an AMP kinase activator, was able to partially restore macrophage function after microplastic exposures.

Dr. Soloff said the results were surprising.

“When we first started to discuss these microplastic exposures, I was sure that the macrophages would just eat (phagocytose) and digest them (lysosomally process), and that would be the end of it,” he said. “I was really surprised to see that not only did the macrophages struggle to break down the plastics in vitro, but macrophages in the lung retained these particles over time as well.”

In addition to driving public health measures to reduce the use of plastics overall, the findings could support the use of drugs like Acadesine in at-risk populations.

“Given the poor air quality in so many places around the world, you could imagine that developing a low-cost, low-side-effect therapeutic to restore pulmonary macrophage function may be an important tool to combat increasing rates of lung disease,” Dr. Soloff said.

Next, the team will examine microplastic exposure in lung tissues from patients, with a long-term goal of establishing biomarkers for lung disease and lung cancer risk that could be used to trigger early screening or intervention.

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VIEW ABSTRACT

You may also be interested in these abstracts.

A turning point in medicine: phage therapy moves from promise to practice

Berlin to host groundbreaking international conference targeting the clinical future of bacteriophages

Mitochondria-Microbiota Task Force

image:
A Turning Point in Medicine: Phage Therapy Moves from Promise to Practice

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Credit: @ Phage Therapy 2025 Meeting

Berlin, Germany – As antibiotic resistance accelerates into a global crisis, phage therapy is emerging as one of the most promising—and urgent—solutions in modern medicine. From June 10–11, 2025, the international scientific and medical community will gather in Berlin for Targeting Phage Therapy 2025, the leading global event focused on translating phage research into clinical reality.

With the theme “From Bench to Bedside: Accelerating Clinical Applications of Phage Therapy”, this year’s program brings together global leaders across infectious diseases, oncology, microbiome science, regulatory affairs, and biotechnology.

Strategic Aim: Clinical Implementation of Phage Therapy

This year’s edition is strategically designed to fast-track the integration of phage-based therapeutics into routine clinical practice. Key sessions will explore:

Ongoing clinical trials in cystic fibrosis, melanoma, and burn infections
Engineered phages for cancer and personalized microbiome modulation
Innovative delivery systems, from inhaled phages to hydrogels and tablets
Legal and regulatory frameworks enabling real-world phage deployment
GMP manufacturing pipelines and market access strategies

“The field has matured. The science is here. Now, our focus is clear: scale up production, secure regulatory approval, and deliver precision phage therapies to the patients who need them,” says Prof. Marvin Edeas, Chairman of the Scientific Committee.

Highlights from the 2025 Program – Major Speakers Include:

"Keynote Speech – Phage Therapy 2030: Getting from here to there"

Robert T. Schooley – University of California, San Diego (USA)

"Bacteriophage Therapy: A Renaissance – From Military Medicine to Civilian Healthcare"

Christian Willy – Academic Hospital Bundeswehr Berlin (Germany)

"Complex Phage Communities Control Gut (im)balances and May Hold the Key to Restore Gut Biosis"

Dennis Sandris Nielsen – University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

"Inhaled Bacteriophage Therapy for Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Advances & Perspectives"

Gail L. Stanley – Yale University (USA)

"KlebPhaCol: Novel Gut Phage Order Associated with the Human Gut"

Franklin Nobrega – University of Southampton (United Kingdom)

"Optimizing the Phage-Bacteria Ratio in Phage Therapy: Metagenomic Insights into Microbial Balance and Dysbiosis"

Domenico Frezza – University of Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)

"Phage Defense Systems: Are they an Obstacle for Phage Therapy?"

Stan J.J. Brouns – Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands)

"Biocontrol of Phage Resistance in Pseudomonas Infections – Fitness Trade-Offs Between Phages and Antibiotic Sensitivity"

Jumpei Fujiki – Rakuno Gakuen University (Japan)

"Yersinia Phage Stories: Impact on Phage Therapy"

Mikael Skurnik – University of Helsinki (Finland)

"Targeting Tumors with Engineered Phages: A New Frontier in Precision Oncology"

Alberto Danielli – University of Bologna (Italy)

"Engineering Phages for Cancer Therapy: Insights into Immune Interactions and Targeting in Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Models"

Alena Kaltenbrunner – University of Bologna (Italy)

"Endolysin B as a New Approach & Archetype in M. Tuberculosis Treatment"

Loris Rizzello – University of Milan (Italy)

"Ex vivo pig lung as a new Cystic Fibrosis model for the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infection and phage therapy application"

Marco Cafora – University of Milan (Italy)

"Translating Phage Therapy into the Clinic: Recent Accomplishments and Next Challenges"

Jeremy Barr – Monash University (Australia)

"Bacteriophage Therapy for Critical Infections Related to Cardiothoracic Surgery"

Christian Kühn – Hannover Medical School (Germany)

"Phage Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: Presentation of First Clinical Trial in Japan"

Hidetomo Iwano – Rakuno Gakuen University (Japan)

"Bacteriophages Applications in Broiler Farms: Strategies & Perspectives"

Sandra Sevilla-Navarro – Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana (Spain)

"Phage Therapy in Europe: Legal, Regulatory and Ethic Issues"

Barbara Brenner – Kanzlei BRENNER (Germany)

Among the companies who will attend the congress:

Jafral (Supporter)
Amazon
Apothekendienstleistungen
Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Centro de Calidad Avícola y Alimentación Animal de la Comunidad Valenciana
ArGe Teknoloji Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
FagoFarma
TiPHAGE
Grachtenhaus-Apotheke e.K.
German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH
Inteliphage
Kanzlei BRENNER
Komplementäre Tiermedizin GmbH
LABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KG
Laboklin Phage Center
Laboratorios Syva
MB Pharma
MicrobiotiX
Medios AG
Nordmark Pharma
Otsuka Pharmaceutical CO.
Phileo by Lesaffre
Phagos
Precise Health SA
PrecisionPhage
Poulpharm
Qiagen
Rime Bioinformatics
Salem Microbes

A Defining Moment for Antibacterial Innovation

As resistance to antibiotics continues to grow, phage therapy is moving from scientific promise to clinical necessity. With over 75 communications, live discussions, and poster sessions attendees from 27 countires, the event aims to chart the course for clinical access, regulatory harmonization, and global collaborations.

For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, visit: www.phagetherapy-site.com

MEDIA KIT

Phage Therapy: The Hottest Frontier in Tomorrow’s Medicine

Targeting Phage Therapy 2025
June 10–11, 2025 – Berlin, Germany
Website: www.phagetherapy-site.com

MEDIA CONTACT

Email: contact@phagetherapy-site.com

EVENT OVERVIEW

Title: Targeting Phage Therapy 2025
Dates: June 10–11, 2025
Location: Berlin, Germany
Format: In-person Conference
Organized by: International Society of Microbiota (ISM)

Strategic Theme:

“From Bench to Bedside: Accelerating Clinical Applications of Phage Therapy”

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

75+ talks and presentations from global experts coming from 27 Countries
Real-world clinical trials in cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, and TB
Live GMP manufacturing and regulatory strategy sessions
Cross-sector focus: Human health, oncology, veterinary, agriculture
Legal, ethical and market access discussions with EU stakeholders

PRESS MATERIALS

High-resolution conference logo
Poster & social media banners (JPEG/PNG)
Full program (PDF)
Press release
Interview coordination available upon request

SOCIAL MEDIA & TAGS

Hashtags:

#PhageTherapy2025 | #Microbiome | #FutureOfMedicine | #PrecisionInfectiousCare

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/phage-therapy-task-force/

QUOTES FOR MEDIA USE

“Phage therapy is no longer experimental—it’s strategic. This conference marks the inflection point where science becomes practice.”

— Prof. Marvin Edeas, Chair, Scientific Committee

SEE
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/search?q=PHAGES
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/search?q=PHAGE
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/search?q=BIOPHAGES

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