Speech Waveform Perturbation Analysis

Anders G. Askenfelt; Britta Hammarberg

doi:10.1044/jshr.2901.50

Speech Waveform Perturbation Analysis

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2901.50 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 50-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Anders G. Askenfelt ◽

Britta Hammarberg

Keyword(s):

Relative Frequency ◽

Clinical Applications ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Frequency Of Occurrence ◽

Pitch Period ◽

Acoustic Measures ◽

Before And After ◽

Perturbation Data ◽

Acoustic Measure ◽

Pathological Voice

The performance of seven acoustic measures of cycle-to-cycle variations (perturbations) in the speech waveform was compared. All measures were calculated automatically and applied on running speech. Three of the measures refer to the frequency of occurrence and severity of waveform perturbations in special selected parts of the speech, identified by means of the rate of change in the fundamental frequency. Three other measures refer to statistical properties of the distribution of the relative frequency differences between adjacent pitch periods. One perturbation measure refers to the percentage of consecutive pitch period differences with alternating signs. The acoustic measures were tested on tape recorded speech samples from 41 voice patients, before and after successful therapy. Scattergrams of acoustic waveform perturbation data versus an average of perceived deviant voice qualities, as rated by voice clinicians, are presented. The perturbation measures were compared with regard to the acoustic-perceptual correlation and their ability to discriminate between normal and pathological voice status. The standard deviation of the distribution of the relative frequency differences was suggested as the most useful acoustic measure of waveform perturbations for clinical applications.

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The Effect of Dual Language Activation on L2-Induced Changes in L1 Speech within a Code-Switched Paradigm

Languages ◽

10.3390/languages6030114 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 114

Author(s):

Ulrich Reubold ◽

Sanne Ditewig ◽

Robert Mayr ◽

Ineke Mennen

Keyword(s):

Dual Language ◽

Native Speakers ◽

Predictor Variable ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Acoustic Measures ◽

Before And After ◽

Language Activation ◽

Dual Activation ◽

Induced Changes

The present study sought to examine the effect of dual language activation on L1 speech in late English–Austrian German sequential bilinguals, and to identify relevant predictor variables. To this end, we compared the English speech patterns of adult migrants to Austria in a code-switched and monolingual condition alongside those of monolingual native speakers in England in a monolingual condition. In the code-switched materials, German words containing target segments known to trigger cross-linguistic interaction in the two languages (i.e., [v–w], [ʃt(ʁ)-st(ɹ)] and [l-ɫ]) were inserted into an English frame; monolingual materials comprised English words with the same segments. To examine whether the position of the German item affects L1 speech, the segments occurred either before the switch (“He wants a Wienerschnitzel”) or after (“I like Würstel with mustard”). Critical acoustic measures of these segments revealed no differences between the groups in the monolingual condition, but significant L2-induced shifts in the bilinguals’ L1 speech production in the code-switched condition for some sounds. These were found to occur both before and after a code-switch, and exhibited a fair amount of individual variation. Only the amount of L2 use was found to be a significant predictor variable for shift size in code-switched compared with monolingual utterances, and only for [w]. These results have important implications for the role of dual activation in the speech of late sequential bilinguals.

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Multidimensional acoustic analysis of pathological voice

Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo ◽

10.2298/sarh0906234p ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 137 (5-6) ◽

pp. 234-238

Author(s):

Mirjana Petrovic-Lazic ◽

Snezana Babac ◽

Zoran Ivankovic ◽

Rade Kosanovic

Keyword(s):

Vocal Fold ◽

Acoustic Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Acoustic Parameters ◽

Vocal Rehabilitation ◽

Voice Treatment ◽

Before And After ◽

The Voice ◽

Vocal Fold Nodules ◽

Pathological Voice

Introduction. There are subjective and objective ways to examine the effects of vocal therapy in voice disorders. The most precise and objective check-up is the use of computer voice analysis. Objective. The aim of the research was to perform a detailed analysis of acoustic structure of the vowel A before and after voice treatment in patients with vocal fold nodules in order to obtain objective verification of the vocal rehabilitation success. Methods. We examined 30 female patients, aged 34.6?6.69 years, with vocal fold nodules. Acoustic parameters of voice were compared with the control group consisting of 21 subjects without voice pathology. In all persons the vowel A was recorded and analyzed before and after a month of vocal therapy. The success of the vocal therapy was tracked using computer analysis of vocal structure. Signal, noise and tremor parameters were processed. Results. Of the analyzed vowel A parameters: STD, PER, JITA, JITT, RAP, vFO, ShdB, SHIM, APQ, VTI, SPI, F0, NHR, FTRI, eleven improved (p<0.05 and p<0.01). Three parameters (F0, NHR, FTRI) changed showing improvement, but the obtained differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that vocal therapy gave satisfactory results, but that it should be continually applied until full stabilization of the voice.

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KOMUNITAS MAKRO ALGA DI PERAIRAN PANTAI ERI TELUK AMBON

TRITON : Jurnal Manajemen Sumberdaya Perairan ◽

10.30598/tritonvol15issue1page40-45 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 40-45

Author(s):

Frijona F Lokollo

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Species Composition ◽

Relative Frequency ◽

Occurrence Frequency ◽

Frequency Of Occurrence ◽

Gracilaria Salicornia ◽

Turbinaria Ornata ◽

Belt Transect ◽

Macro Algae

This research was conducted in Eri Beach, Ambon Bay on November 2016 to study community structure which consist of species composition, density and occurrence frequency of macro algae. Sample of macro algae was collected by using belt transect method. The results showed that there were 11 species of macro algae in the area which were belonged to 11 genera, 9 families, 8 orders, 3 classes and 3 divisions. Those species were Halimeda opuntia and Caulerpa serrulata (Chlorophyta), Padina minor and Turbinaria ornata (Phaeophya), Amphiroa rigida, Galaxaura rugosa, Ceratodictyon spongiosum, Gracilaria Salicornia, Laurencia papillosa, Acanthophora muscoides and Halymenia durvillaei (Rhodophyta). The highest density was represented by Amphiroa rigida (2.02 ind/m2) while the highest relative frequency of occurrence belonged to Padina minor (27%). Keywords : Community, macro algae, density, Eri, Ambon Bay ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui struktur komunitas makro alga meliputi komposisi jenis, frekuensi kehadiran serta kepadatan di Pantai Eri. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan November 2016. Stasiun pengamatan makro alga yaitu di perairan pantai Eri. Metode sampling menggunakan Belt Transect. Hasil penelitian ditemukan 11 spesies, 11 genus, 9 famili, 8 ordo, 3 kelas dan 3 devisi. Chlorophyta terdiri dari Halimeda opuntia dan Caulerpa serrulata. Phaeophya terdiri dari Padina minor dan Turbinaria ornata. Rhodophyta terdiri dari Amphiroa rigida, Galaxaura rugosa, Ceratodictyon spongiosum, Gracilaria Salicornia, Laurencia papillosa, Acanthophora muscoides dan Halymenia durvillaei. Kepadatan jenis tertinggi spesies A. rigida (2.02 ind/m2) dan frekuensi kehadiran relatif tertinggi spesies Padina minor (27%).

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An Event Study Analysis of Political Events, Disasters, and Accidents for Chinese Tourists to Taiwan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10114307 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 4307

Author(s):

Chia-Lin Chang ◽

Shu-Han Hsu ◽

Michael McAleer

Keyword(s):

Event Study ◽

Fundamental Equation ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Group Type ◽

Political Events ◽

Before And After ◽

Huge Impact ◽

Chinese Tourists ◽

Conditional Variance Models ◽

The Taiwan Strait

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan has been closely related to the political relationship across the Taiwan Strait. The occurrence of political events and disasters or accidents have had, and will continue to have, a huge impact on the Taiwan tourism market. To date, there has been relatively little empirical research conducted on this issue. Tourists are characterized as being involved in one of three types of tourism: group tourism (group-type), individual tourism (individual-type), and medical cosmetology (medical-type). We use the fundamental equation in tourism finance to examine the correlation that exists between the rate of change in the number of tourists and the rate of return on tourism. Second, we use the event study method to observe whether the numbers of tourists have changed abnormally before and after the occurrence of major events on both sides of the Strait. Three different types of conditional variance models, namely, the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity, GARCH (1,1), Glosten, Jagannathan and Runkle, GJR (1,1) and Exponential GARCH, EGARCH (1,1), are used to estimate the abnormal rate of change in the number of tourists. The empirical results concerning the major events affecting the changes in the numbers of tourists from China to Taiwan are economically significant, and confirm the types of tourists that are most likely to be affected by such major events.

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Effects of Vocal Training on Students’ Voices in a Professional Drama School

OTO Open ◽

10.1177/2473974x19866384 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 2473974X1986638

Author(s):

Jacob I. Tower ◽

Lynn Acton ◽

Jessica Wolf ◽

Walton Wilson ◽

Nwanmegha Young

Keyword(s):

Fundamental Frequency ◽

Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽

Voice Handicap Index ◽

First Year ◽

Medical Facility ◽

Acoustic Measures ◽

Vocal Training ◽

Before And After ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Over Time

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vocal training on acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of student actors’ voices. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary medical facility speech and swallow center. Subjects and Methods Acoustic, aerodynamic, and Voice Handicap Index–10 measures were collected from 14 first-year graduate-level drama students before and after a standard vocal training program and analyzed for changes over time. Results Among the aerodynamic measures that were collected, mean expiratory airflow was significantly reduced after vocal training. Among the acoustic measures that were collected, mean fundamental frequency was significantly increased after vocal training. On average, Voice Handicap Index–10 scores were unchanged after vocal training. Conclusion The cohort of drama students undergoing vocal training demonstrated improvements in voice aerodynamics, which indicate enhanced glottal efficiency after training. The present study also found an increased average fundamental frequency among the actors during sustained voicing and no changes in jitter and shimmer despite frequent performance.

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Nature Enhanced Meditation: Effects on Mindfulness, Connectedness to Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916520952452 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 001391652095245

Author(s):

Travis N. Ray ◽

Scott A. Franz ◽

Nicole L. Jarrett ◽

Scott M. Pickett

Keyword(s):

Natural Environment ◽

Environmental Behavior ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Connectedness To Nature ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Before And After

Previous research suggests that meditation, a mindfulness exercise, could result in increased connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior. Exposure to nature also is associated with these outcomes. It was hypothesized that meditation alongside stimuli reminiscent of the natural environment would produce enhanced effects. Participants ( N = 97) were randomly assigned to complete a 4-week online meditation program consisting of a guided meditation paired with either nature sounds (“nature group”) or spa-like sounds (“control group”). Mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental behavior were assessed before and after the program. Meditation, in general, produced increases in mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental behavior. Additionally, the nature group had a greater rate of change in connectedness to nature when compared to the control group. The results extend previous cross-sectional research by demonstrating the beneficial effects of meditation on pro-environmental behavior and its theorized mechanisms, which may be informative for future research and interventions.

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Antidopaminergic treatment is associated with reduced chorea and irritability but impaired cognition in Huntington’s disease (Enroll-HD)

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2019-322038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 622-630

Author(s):

Kate L Harris ◽

Wei-Li Kuan ◽

Sarah L Mason ◽

Roger A Barker

Keyword(s):

Huntington's Disease ◽

Huntington’S Disease ◽

Case Reports ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Control Group ◽

Open Label ◽

Double Blind ◽

Before And After ◽

Rate Of Decline

ObjectivesAlterations in dopamine neurotransmission underlie some of the clinical features of Huntington’s disease (HD) and as such are a target for therapeutic intervention, especially for the treatment of chorea and some behavioural problems. However, justification for such an intervention is mainly based on case reports and small open label studies and the effects these drugs have on cognition in HD remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, we used the Enroll-HD observational database to assess the effects of antidopaminergic medication on motor, psychiatric and cognitive decline, over a 3-year period. We first looked at the annual rate of decline of a group of HD patients taking antidopaminergic medication (n=466) compared with an untreated matched group (n=466). The groups were matched on specified clinical variables using propensity score matching. Next, we studied a separate group of HD patients who were prescribed such medications part way through the study (n=90) and compared their rate of change before and after the drugs were introduced and compared this to a matched control group.ResultsWe found that HD patients taking antidopaminergic medication had a slower progression in chorea and irritability compared with those not taking such medications. However, this same group of patients also displayed significantly greater rate of decline in a range of cognitive tasks.ConclusionIn conclusion we found that antidopaminergic treatment is associated with improvements in the choreic movements and irritability of HD but worsens cognition. However, further research is required to prospectively investigate this and whether these are causally linked, ideally in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

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Acoustic Discrimination of Pathological Voice

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/1092-4388(2001/027) ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 327-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 175

Author(s):

Vijay Parsa ◽

Donald G. Jamieson

Keyword(s):

Operating Characteristic ◽

Classification Performance ◽

Spectral Measures ◽

Continuous Speech ◽

Roc Curve Analysis ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Acoustic Measures ◽

Acoustic Discrimination ◽

Pathological Voice

We investigated the ability of acoustic measures to discriminate between normal and pathological talkers. Two groups of measures were compared: (a) those extracted from sustained vowels and (b) those based on continuous speech samples. Nine acoustic measures, which include fundamental frequency and amplitude perturbation measures, long term average spectral measures, and glottal noise measures were extracted from both sustained vowel and continuous speech samples. Our experiments were performed on a published database of 53 normal talkers and 175 talkers with a pathological voice. The classification performance of the nine acoustic measures was quantified using linear discriminant analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. When individual measures were considered in isolation, classification was more accurate for measures extracted from sustained vowels than for those based on continuous speech samples. Classification accuracy improved when combinations of acoustic parameters were considered. For such combinations of measures, classification results were comparable for measures extracted from continuous speech samples and for those based on sustained vowels.

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