The effect of voice lessons on the clinical and perceptual skills of graduate students in speech-language pathology

Two groups of 10 speech-language pathology graduate students were each given 7 weeks of singing lessons to determine whether voice lessons could have an effect on their clinical and perceptual skills. Pre-, mid-, and posttests to measure various skills were designed and implemented. With use of paired sample statistical testing, statistically significant results were obtained. In addition, the subjective responses of the students show that the lessons were effective in improving pitch perception, breath control, and legato production or easy onset. This study supports efforts to integrate curricula in vocal performance and speech-language pathology.     

Infraglottic aspect of canine vocal fold vibration: Effect of increase of mean airflow rate and lengthening of vocal fold

The mucosal upheaval (MU), where the mucosal wave starts and propagates upward, appears only when the vocal fold vibrates. The location of the MU histologically and the effect of changes in mean air flow rate (MFR) and vocal fold length on occurrence of the MU were studied in twelve excised canine larynges. The lower surface of the vocal fold was marked to serve as a landmark for subsequent study. Cricothyroid approximation was performed to lengthen the vocal fold. After taking high-speed pictures or recording stroboscopic images from the tracheal side, a small cut wound was made at the mark. This wound served to compare the position of the MU with the histologically identified location of the mark. The larynx was then sectioned in the frontal plane. Before lengthening the vocal fold, the MU occurred on the area where the lamina propria became thinner and where the muscular layer neared the epithelial layer. After lengthening the vocal fold, the MU actually shifted medially compared with its original position. The subglottic area surrounded by the bilateral MUs became longer and thinner. Whether or not complete glottal closure during a vibratory cycle was achieved did not alter these findings. In contrast, with a fixed vocal fold length the MU appeared more laterally as MFR increased, but, based on the relation with the mark, its location on the vocal fold did not change from its original position before increase of MFR.     

Approximations of open quotient and speed quotient from glottal airflow and egg waveforms : Effects of measurement criteria and sound pressure level

Noninvasive measures of vocal fold activity are useful for describingnormal and disordered voice production. Measures of open and speed quotient from glottal airflow and electroglottographic (EGG) waveforms have been used to describe timing events associated with vocal fold vibration. To date, there has been little consistency in the measurement criteria used to calculate quotient values. In this study, criteria of 20% and 50% were applied to the AC amplitude of glottal airflow and inverted EGG waveforms for measurement of open quotient. Criteria of 20%, 50%, and 80%, and a midslope criterion that segmented the waveform between 20% and 80% of the waveform amplitude, were used for the calculation of speed quotient. Subjects produced waveforms at sound pressure levels (SPL) of 70, 75, 80 and 85 dB. Results indicated that approximations of open quotient obtained from the glottal airflow waveform significantly decreased using both the 20% and 50% criteria as SPL increased from 80 to 85 dB. No significant changes were found in open quotient from the EGG waveform as a function of SPL. Results of speed quotient measures from the glottal airflow and EGG waveforms showed a generally increasing trend as SPL increased, although the differences were not statistically significant. The data suggest that the signal type, measurement criterion and SPL must be considered in interpreting quotient measures.     

气管支气管树内气流和颗粒运动的大涡模拟

为更精确地描述真实人体呼吸道内的空气流动,明晰颗粒的运动沉积规律,本文从直接医学CT扫描得到的原始数据出发,利用图像辨识技术,重构了一个男性真人气管支气管树前三级的三维几何模型.采用大涡模拟的方法计算了非规则几何曲面结构内的气体流动现象,并在拉格朗日框架下跟踪颗粒的运动规律.数值计算得到了气流场的三维分布,以及颗粒的运动轨迹情况,结果表明现有基于Weibel的对称模型与真实人体的几何结构有较大的差异,而几何结构对流动影响较大;受非对称复杂结构影响,在不同截面的二次气流速度的分布规律不同;分叉后颗粒进入左右支气管的数量有明显的不同.     

A preliminary study of particle velocity during phonation in an in vivo canine model

The particle velocity across the glottis was measured with simultaneous electroglottography, photoglottography, and subglottic pressure in an in vivo canine model of phonation. A constant temperature anemometer measured flow velocity at five midline anterior to posterior glottal positions. Tracheal input air flow was varied in five steps from 175 to 500 cc/s, while vocal fold approximation was achieved by constant electrical stimulation of the laryngeal nerves. For all levels of air flow, a decreasing peak velocity gradient was observed from the anterior commissure to the arytenoids. Time-varying features of the flow velocity are discussed in relation to glottal vibratory events and aerodynamics.     

三电极共面介质阻挡放电的放电特性及诱导气流实验研究

等离子体流动控制激励器由于其响应速度快、激励频带宽、能量损耗低、可靠性强的优势,在航空航天领域的主动流动控制等方面得到了广泛应用.文章提出了一种新型的等离子体气动激励器——三电极共面介质阻挡放电激励器,研究了该激励器电极结构对放电特性和诱导气流速度的影响,并与传统共面介质阻挡放电和沿面介质阻挡放电激励器进行了比较.结果表明:（1）随着激励电压的提高,高压电极和地电极之间先出现了丝状放电并逐渐延伸到第三电极;（2）随着第三电极与高压电极之间的距离增大,诱导气流速率从2.4 m/s下降到0 m/s,而第三电极宽度的变动对诱导气流速度影响可忽略不计;（3）相同外部条件下,该激励器诱导的气流速度小于沿面介质阻挡放电激励器,但高于共面介质阻挡放电激励器.