Effects of Inhalatory Abdominal Wall Movement on Vertical Laryngeal Position During Phonation

The configuration of the body resulting from inhalatory behavior is sometimes considered a factor of relevance to voice production in singing and speaking pedagogy and in clinical voice therapy. The present investigation compares two different inhalatory behaviors: (1) with a "paradoxical" inward movement of the abdominal wall, and (2) with an expansion of the abdominal wall, both with regard to the effect on vertical laryngeal position during the subsequent phonation. Seventeen male and 17 female healthy, vocally untrained subjects participated. No instructions were given regarding movements of the rib cage. Inhaled air volume as measured by respiratory inductive plethysmography, was controlled to reach 70% inspiratory capacity. Vertical laryngeal position was recorded by two-channel electroglottography during the subsequent vowel production. A significant effect was found; the abdomen-out condition was associated with a higher laryngeal position than the abdomen-in condition. This result apparently contradicted a hypothesis that an expansion of the abdominal wall would allow the diaphragm to descend deeper in the torso, thereby increasing the tracheal pull, which would result in a lower laryngeal position. In a post-hoc experiment including 6 of the subjects, body posture was studied by digital video recordings, revealing that the two inhalatory modes were clearly associated with postural changes affecting laryngeal position. The "paradoxical" inward movement of the abdominal wall was associated with a recession of the chin toward the neck, such that the larynx appeared in a lower position in the neck, for reasons of a postural change. The results suggest that the laryngeal position can be affected by the inhalatory behavior if no attention is paid to posture, implying that instructions from clinicians and pedagogues regarding breathing behavior must be carefully formulated and adjusted in order to ensure that the intended goals are reached.     

Consistency of phonatory breathing patterns in professional operatic singers

Breathing strategy is generally regarded as an important factor in operatic singing, because it is assumed to affect phonation. If so, professional singers should exhibit well-controlled, replicable breathing movements when repeating the same phrase. The purpose of the present study was to investigate to what extent professional opera singers show a consistent, exhalatory breathing behavior in a quasi-realistic concert situation. Respiratory movements were documented in 5 professional operatic singers, two women and three men, by means of respiratory inductive plethysmography. Comparison of respiratory data gathered from 3 renderings of the same phrases revealed high consistency with regard to lung volume (LV) behavior. The same applied to rib cage (RC) movements, suggesting a great relevance of RC control in singing. Consistency in abdominal wall (AW) movement was observed in 2 singers. These observations are in accordance with the idea that the breathing strategy plays an important role in voice production during singing. In addition, the correlation between LV changes, on the one hand, and RC and AW movements on the other, was examined. The contribution to LV changes from the RC and the AW varied across singers, thus suggesting that professional operatic singing does not request a uniform breathing strategy.     

Mass-spectrometric monitoring of the stress reaction during anesthesia

Clinical testing data for a mass-spectrometric method of estimating the patient’s stress reaction to an injury done during anesthesia are presented. The essence of the method is monitoring the respiratory coefficient, which is defined as ratio N of the expiratory mass concentration of CO₂ to the inspiratory mass concentration of O₂ at each breathing cycle. For on-line monitoring of N, an electron ionization mass spectrometer connected to the breathing circuit of an inhalational anesthesia machine is used. Estimates of the anesthesia adequacy obtained with this method are compared with those obtained with the method that analyzes induced acoustic encephalographic potentials. It is shown that the method suggested is more sensitive to the level of the patient’s stress reaction during anesthesia than the induced potential method.     

On the Lie-Trotter theorems inL p -spaces

In this paper we consider operatorsH ₀ andV possessing the following properties:

1. H ₀ is a positive self-adjoint operator acting inL ²(M, γ) with γ a probability measure, so that exp(?tH ₀) is a contraction onL ¹(M, γ) for eacht>0.
2. V is a semibounded multiplicative operator acting inL ²(M, γ) {fx379-1}

Under these assumptions theorems of Lie-Trotter type are derived for the operatorsH, H ₀, V, whereH is a self-adjoint extension of the algebraic sumH ₀+V, and is built by the form method. Under the additional assumption thatV(·)∈L ²(M, γ) we prove an essential self-adjointness ofH ₀+V. The results obtained are applicable to non-relativistic quantum mechanics.     

Fluctuations of trading volume in a stock market

We consider the probability distribution function of the trading volume and the volume changes in the Korean stock market. The probability distribution function of the trading volume shows double peaks and follows a power law, P(V/〈V〉)∼(V/〈V〉)^−α at the tail part of the distribution with α=4.15(4) for the KOSPI (Korea composite Stock Price Index) and α=4.22(2) for the KOSDAQ (Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations), where V is the trading volume and 〈V〉 is the monthly average value of the trading volume. The second peaks originate from the increasing trends of the average volume. The probability distribution function of the volume changes also follows a power law, , where V_r=V(t)−V(t−T) and T is a time lag. The exponents β depend on the time lag T. We observe that the exponents β for the KOSDAQ are larger than those for the KOSPI.     

Characteristic electron energy loss structure for clean and oxidized chromium surfaces

AES and EELS spectra have been measured on clean and oxidized chromium surfaces. Auger peaks at 31.0 and 44.0 eV of the oxide are attributed to cross transitions between chromium and oxygen: {M_2,3(Cr)V(Cr)V(O)} and {M₁(Cr)L₁(O)V(Cr)} respectively. Core loss features are consistent with valence band structure with a newly observed loss peak at 41.1 eV for the oxidized surface being ascribed to a core exciton with binding energy E_b = 1.6 eV.     

Vocalization and breathing during the first year of life

Vocalization and breathing were studied in 40 healthy infants, including five boys and five girls each at ages 5 weeks, 2.5 months, 6.5 months, and 12 months. Breathing was monitored through the use of a variable inductance plethysmograph that enabled estimates of the volume changes of the rib cage, abdomen, and lung, as well as estimates of selected temporal features of the breathing cycle. Four vocalization types were studied intensively. These included cries, whimpers, grunts, and syllable utterances. Breathing behavior was highly variable across the four vocalization types, demonstrating the degrees of freedom of performance available to the infant to accomplish the aeromechanical drive required. Such behavior was influenced by body length, body position, and age, but not by vocalization type and sex. The protocol established is a useful tool for observing the natural course of the emergence of vocalization and breathing during the first year of life.     

Mirror supersymmetry in the space of (super) extended Poincaré algebras p(p,q)

We classify extended Poincaré Lie superalgebras and Lie algebras of any signature (p, q), i.e. Lie superalgebras and ₂-graded Lie algebras g = g₀ + g₁, where g₀ = s₀(V) + V is the (generalized) Poincaré Lie algebra of the pseudo Euclidean vector space V = ^{p, q} of signature (p, q) and g₁ is a spin 1/2 s₀(V)-module extended to a s₀-module with kernel V.As a result of the classification, we obtain, if g₁ = S is the spinor module, the numbers L ⁺(n, s) (resp. L ^–(n, s)) of independent such Lie super algebras (resp. Lie algebras), which are periodic functions of the dimension n=p+q (mod 8) and the signature s=p–q (mod 8) and satisfy: L ⁺(–n, s)=L ^– (n, s).Supported by Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik (Bonn).Supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, MSRI (Berkeley) and SFB 256 (Bonn University).     

Interpretation of auger energy shifts of silicon in solid silicon compounds

Chemical shifts of Auger transitions and photoelectron binding energies of silicon have been measured and interpreted using the quasi-atomic approach. The Si KL_2,3L_2,3 and L_2,3V₁V₁ Auger transitions and the binding energies of Si 2p and of the valence electrons at the maximum of the density of states V₁ have been investigated in solid silicon and in the compounds SiC, Si₃N₄, SiO₂, Na₂SiF₆ and T₃Si (T = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni). The relaxation-energy shift ΔR^ea_S(2p, 2p) describing the polarization effect (final-state effect) has been evaluated by AES and XPS measurements. Furthermore, the extra-atomic relaxation energy R^ea_D(2p) of the 2p electrons has been determined experimentally for silicon atoms in differing environments. This allows estimation of the potential parameter V(2p) describing the potential effect (initial-state effect). In general R^ea_D(2p) was found to be more sensitive to changes in chemical bonding than V2p). The behaviour of the quasi-atomic Si V₁ electrons seems to be the converse.     

Interfacial auger transitions in oxidised sodium and magnesium

A study of the oxidation of sodium and magnesium under precisely controlled U.H.V. conditions using Auger electron spectroscopy has revealed the presence of Auger transitions which may be interpreted as arising from the interface between the oxide and the underlying metal. These Auger peaks have been assigned transitions of the type: M¹(L_2,3) M(V) O¹(L) where M¹ and O¹ are ionic levels present in the oxide and one of the final state holes M(V) is in the conduction band. The experimentally observed Auger energies agree well with those calculated for the proposed transitions. It is expected that transitions of this type might occur in other metal—oxide systems.     

Liquid-fog and liquid-gas phase transitions in hot nuclei

Thermal multifragmentation of hot nuclei is interpreted as the nuclear liquid-fog phase transition inside the spinodal region. The exclusive data for p(8.1 GeV) + Au collisions are analyzed within the framework of the statistical model SMM. It is found that the partition of hot nuclei is specified after expansion to a volume equal to V _t = (2.6 ± 0.3)V ₀. The freeze-out volume is found to be twice as large: V _f = (5 ± 1)V ₀. The similarity between multifragmentation and ordinary fission is discussed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

The metallofullerene Tm@C82: isomer-selective electronic structure

82 using photoemission and electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. In particular, the impact of the isomer symmetry of the C₈₂ cage (C_s or C_3v) on the electronic structure and on the optical properties is analysed in detail. For both isomers, combined XPS and XAS measurements of the Tm 4f and 4d states offer conclusive proof of a divalent encaged Tm ion. No significant change of the valence of the rare earth ion upon changes in the cage symmetry is observed. From the C 1s excitation spectra we find a more pronounced LUMO for the C_3v(8) isomer, as is expected for the higher symmetry of the cage. Additional information about the optical properties was obtained from the low-energy loss function. With use of a Kramers–Kronig analysis, the dielectric function, ε, and the optical conductivity, σ, have been derived. ε(0) and the onset of the spectral weight are found to be 7.7 [12.8] and 0.6 eV [0.8 eV] for the C_s(6) {C_3v(8)} isomer, respectively. Received: 14 October 1997/Accepted: 28 October 1997     

Covering group and graph of discretized volumes

We consider a discretized volume V consisting of finite, congruent and attached copies of a tile t. We find a group L _V the orbit of which, when applied to t, is just V. We show the connection between the structural matrixQ in the formal solution of a boundary value problem formulated for volume V and the so called auxiliary matrix of the graph Γ _v associated with V. We show boundary value problems to be isomorphic if the graphs associated with the volumes are isomorphic, or, if the covering groups are Sunada pairs.     

Symmetries of physical theories

A physical theory is, by definition, a complete orthomodular atomic lattice having the covering property. GivenL a quantum logic andS _L the set of all its states, a theorem is proved which asserts that, if certain reasonable assumptions concerningS _L are satisfied, then for any bijective convex mappingU: S _LS_L, satisfying also certain physically meaningful conditions, there exists a unique automorphismV: L L such thatU(p)=p oV ^–1 for allp S _L.     

Large deviations and Lifshitz singularity of the integrated density of states of random Hamiltonians

We consider the integrated density of states (IDS) ρ_∞(λ) of random Hamiltonian H_ω=?Δ+V_ω, V_ω being a random field on ? ^d which satisfies a mixing condition. We prove that the probability of large fluctuations of the finite volume IDS |Λ|^?1ρ(λ, H_Λ(ω)), Λ ? ? ^d , around the thermodynamic limit ρ_∞(λ) is bounded from above by exp {?k|Λ|},k>0. In this case ρ_∞(λ) can be recovered from a variational principle. Furthermore we show the existence of a Lifshitztype of singularity of ρ_∞(λ) as λ → 0⁺ in the case where V_ω is non-negative. More precisely we prove the following bound: ρ_∞(λ)≦exp(?kλ^?d/2) as λ → 0⁺ k>0. This last result is then discussed in some examples.     

Characteristics of xLiFePO4·y Li3V2(PO4)3 electrodes for lithium batteries

A series of mechanical mixture of lithium–iron–vanadium–phosphate compositions that can be represented in two-component notation, xLiFePO₄·y Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (LFVP), has been evaluated as electrodes in lithium cells for x:y = 0:1, 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, and 1:0, in which an olivine component, LiFePO₄ (LFP), and a monoclinic component, Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (LVP), coexisted. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the end members and the electrochemical profiles of cells with these electrodes are consistent with those expected for the olivine LiFePO₄(x = 1, y = 0) and for monoclinic Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (x = 0, y = 1). XRD data and the changes of cell parameters indicate that there existed some V- and Fe-doping in the composite xLiFePO₄·y Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃, resulting with a good performance compared with single LiFePO₄ and Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃. Electrochemical characteristics were evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the electron transfer activity and the lithium ion diffusion rate in LFVP are better than single LFP and LVP.     

A regular potential which is nowhere in L 1

A nonnegative potential V: ℝ^v→ℝ is constructed for which V ∉ L _q (G) for any nonempty open G⊂→^v, q>0, and for which nevertheless W _inf2 ^sup1 ∩ Q(V) is dense in W _inf2 ^sup1 , i.e., is a form core for −1/2Δ in L ₂.     

AlGaN/GaN场板结构高电子迁移率晶体管的场板尺寸优化分析

对不同场板尺寸的AlGaN/GaN 场板结构高电子迁移率晶体管进行了研究,建立简化模型分析场板长度对沟道电场分布的影响.结果表明,调整钝化层厚度和场板长度都可以调制沟道电场的分布形状,当场板长度较小时,随着长度的增大器件击穿电压随之增加,而当长度增大到一定程度后器件击穿电压不再增加.通过优化场板长度,器件击穿电压提高了64%,且实验结果与模拟结果相符. 关键词： AlGaN/GaN 击穿电压 场板长度     

Sufficient condition for confinement of static quarks by a vortex condensation mechanism

We derive a sufficient condition for confinement of static quarks by a vortex condensation mechanism. It admits vortices that are thick at all times at the cost of constraining them to a finite volume Γ_i whose complement is not simply connected. The confining potential V(L) is estimated in terms of the change of free energy of a system enclosed in Γ_i which is induced by a change in vorticity (= singular gauge transformation applied to boundary conditions on ?Γ_i.) For Abelian gauge theories in 3 dimensions the confining Coulomb potential is reproduced as a lower bound.     

A Remark on Lp-Boundedness of Wave Operators¶for Two Dimensional Schrödinger Operators

Let H=−Δ+V be a two dimensional Schr?dinger operator with a real potential V(x) satisfying the decay condition , δ > 6. Let H ₀=−Δ. We show that the wave operators are bounded in L ^p (R ²) under the condition that H has no zero resonances or bound states. In this paper the condition , imposed in a previous paper (K. Yajima, Commun. Math. Phys. 208, 125–152 (1999)), is removed. Received: 13 September 2001 / Accepted: 15 October 2001