Objective acoustic voice-quality parameters in the computer phonetogram

A phonetogram is a plot of the dynamic range of the voice as a function of fundamental frequency. Traditionally, the phonetogram only records the sound-pressure level (SPL) of the threshold of phonation and the upper limit in SPL the voice can reach with sustained phonation as a function of the fundamental frequency (F₀). In this study, the phonetogram is extended by including acoustic voice-quality parameters. Three additional parameters are tested: jitter, shimmer, and crest factor. For each individual voice, the variation in the three parameters is evaluated over the entire phonetogram area. By averaging individual phonetograms, standard or norm phonetograms are obtained revealing general patterns in voice-quality variation. These patterns reflect the complex relations between F₀, SPL, and the acoustic voice-quality parameters just mentioned. Jitter and shimmer distributions over the phonetogram show that large variations in perturbation values can be expected when production conditions are altered. Highest perturbation values are found for the low F₀ and low SPL phonations. For all voices, a gradual decrease of the crest factor is found with increasing F₀, reflecting the degrading of spectral complexity with F₀. The crest-factor parameter can also be used to mark those areas in the phonetogram where the fundamental dominates the waveform and where flow control is the main SPL regulating mechanism in voice production. The strong quality variations within the phonetogram stress the need for accurate control of F₀ and SPL in objective voice-quality measurement.     

A pitch-synchronous analysis of hoarseness in running speech

A method of pitch-synchronous acoustic analysis of hoarseness requiring a voice sample of only four fundamental periods is presented. This method calculates a noise-to-signal (N/S) ratio, which indicates the depth of valleys between harmonic peaks in the power spectrum. The spectrum is calculated pitch synchronously from a Fourier transform of the signal, windowed through a continuously variable Hanning window spanning exactly four fundamental periods. A two-stage procedure is used to determine the exact duration of the four fundamental periods. An initial estimate is obtained using autocorrelation in the time domain. A more precise estimate is obtained in the frequency domain by minimizing the errors between the preliminary calculated power spectrum and the predicted spectrum spread of a windowed harmonic signal. Analysis of synthesized voices showed that the N/S ratio is sensitive to additive noise, jitter, and shimmer, and is insensitive to slow (8 Hz) modulation in fundamental frequency and amplitude. An analysis of pre- and postoperative voices of six patients with benign laryngeal disease showed that the N/S ratio for vowel /u/ in running speech consistently improved after surgery for all subjects, in agreement with their successful therapeutic results.     

Heartbeat-related fundamental frequency and amplitude variation in healthy young and elderly male voices

Modulation of the acoustic amplitude and fundamental frequency of a sustained vowel across the heart cycle was examined via signal-averaging. Ten normal young and ten normal elderly men prolonged phonations of the vowel /a/. Consistent with previous studies, the young men's maximal heart-beat-related frequency and amplitude variations averaged 1.0% and 8.4% of their respective means. Such modulation was estimated to account for 6.6% of the absolute jitter and 11.3% of the shimmer measured in these voice samples. The extent of this systematic variation was significantly greater in the older voices, averaging 2.4% of the mean frequency and 15.4% of the mean amplitude and was estimated to account for approximately 12.9% and 15.8% of their mean absolute jitter and shimmer, respectively. This age-related difference is thought to be a manifestation of involutional changes in laryngeal vascular and soft tissues and in ventilatory biomechanics.     

Effects of head extension and tongue protrusion on voice perturbation measures

Head extension with protruded tongue is the position for video-laryngoscopy and simultaneous glottographic recordings including photoglottographic signals. This study investigated the effect of head extension and tongue protrusion on the measures of fundamental frequency, frequency perturbation (jitter), and amplitude perturbation (shimmer). Acoustic signals recorded during sustained vowels were obtained from 49 women and 66 men with no speech or voice disorders in different head-tongue positions. Head extension was associated with increased fundamental frequency and decreased shimmer. In men, head extension did not appear to affect jitter. When the tongue was protruded, head extension tended to lower jitter. For both genders, tongue protrusion was associated with decreased fundamental frequency with head extension. In the men, tongue protrusion tended to increase shimmer when the head was in the neutral position. In the women, tongue protrusion was associated with increased jitter and increased shimmer and was most evident in the head-neutral position. These findings supported a physical linkage hypothesis of the relationship between vocal tract configuration and vocal fold vibration, suggesting that head-tongue position must be taken into account when comparing voice measures.     

Differences in Self-Rated, Perceived, and Acoustic Voice Qualities Between High- and Low-Fatigue Groups

Objectives

The present study was performed to examine which factors among self-rated scales, perceptual evaluations, and acoustic parameters, calculated from sustained vowels, are reliable indicators of physical and mental fatigues.

Methods

A total of 73 volunteers (male:female, 52:21), aged 19–24 years, were enrolled in this study. We defined the high- and low-fatigue groups using the Chalder Fatigue Scale score. For assessment of self-rated symptoms, each subject was asked to complete Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Voice Rating Scale (VRS). For perceptual evaluations, three clinicians assessed each subject’s vocal quality on the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain Scale. For acoustic analysis, each subject was asked to produce sustained vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ for 3 seconds. Then, the habitual fundamental frequency (F₀), jitter, shimmer, F₀ tremor, mean F₀, standard deviation of F₀, maximum F₀, minimum F₀, normalized noise energy, harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), amplitude tremor, and ratio within 2–4 kHz were calculated using Dr. Speech software.

Results

In men, VHI, VRS, F₀ tremor, shimmer, HNR, SNR, and amplitude tremor were related to mental fatigue. In women, only VHI was related to physical fatigue, and none of the acoustic parameters was related to the fatigue score. Perceptual evaluations were not related to fatigue in men or women.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that self-rated symptoms and acoustic parameters related to voice quality are indicative of mental fatigue, and these features are prominent in men.     

Amplitude modulation and demodulation of an electromagnetic wave in magnetised acousto-optic diffusive semiconductor plasmas: Hot carrier effects

In communication processes, amplitude modulation is very helpful to save power using a single band transmission. Using the hydrodynamical model of semiconductor plasma analytical investigations are made for the amplitude modulation as well as demodulation of an electromagnetic wave incorporating carrier heating (CH) effects in acousto-optic magnetised semiconductor plasma. The CH effects add new dimensions in the present analysis. Analysis are made under different wave number regions over a wide range of cyclotron frequencies. It is found that incorporation of CH effects modifies the amplitude modulation and demodulation processes effectively. Numerical estimations are made for III–V semiconductor crystal irradiated by pump wave of frequency 1.6×10¹³ s^?1. Complete absorption of the waves takes place in all the possible wavelength regimes when the cyclotron frequency ω_c becomes nearly equal to ω₀, the pump frequency on neglecting the collision term in modulation/ demodulation indices.     

Effects of simulated source of tremor on acoustic and airflow voice measures

To test the effects of different sources of tremor on the voice, tremor was simulated by external rhythmic perturbation of structures at the subglottal, glottal, and supraglottal levels in 10 healthy subjects. The acoustic and airflow signals simultaneously recorded during sustained phonation in the normal and the 3 simulated tremor conditions were analyzed and compared. Voice measures included: fundamental frequency, 2 short-term perturbation measures (jitter and shimmer), and 3 long-term tremor measures (prominence ratios of the spectral peaks of the acoustic frequency contour, acoustic amplitude contour, and airflow contour). Measures of fundamental frequency and percent shimmer were not significantly affected by the simulated tremors. Measures of percent jitter and the amplitudes of the long-term frequency and amplitude modulations were most prominently increased when respiratory drive was perturbed by simulated tremor. Spectral analysis of the acoustic amplitude contour was most useful in distinguishing the 3 sites of simulated tremor.     

Proposal for Fourier-Transform Phase-Modulation Fluorometer

I propose a concept of a novel Fourier-transform phase-modulation fluorometer by which a fluorescence decay waveform can be obtained. In the fluorometer, the modulation frequency of the excitation light source is swept continuously from a start frequency f_min to an end frequency f_max with a time duration T. The resultant fluorescence signal waveform is Fourier-transformed to obtain amplitude and phase spectra. The ratio of the amplitude spectrum and the difference of the phase spectrum over those of the reference spectra that are obtained from a non-fluorescent material are calculated, respectively, and the pair of both spectral data is inverse-Fourier-transformed again to obtain the fluorescence decay waveform. To verify and demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept, I carried out (1) numerical simulations, (2) determination of a time constant of a passive resistor-capacitor (RC) differential circuit, and (3) measurement of a fluorescent decay waveform of YAG materials packed in Nichia’s white LED.     

Gender presentation: Perceptual and acoustical analysesof voice

This study investigated the perceptual and acoustical characteristicsof vocal presentation in both the masculine and the feminine modes by the same group of male subjects. Listeners (N = 88) evaluated 22 voice samples by using 18 semantic differential scales and 57 adjectives. The 22 voice samples were provided by I I biologically male speakers, who described themselves as heterosexual crossdressers. Each speaker read a standard passage under controlled conditions. In one reading, they demonstrated their typical masculine voice and in the other they spoke in their feminine voice. Acoustical analyses included mean fundamental frequency, frequency range, overall passage duration, and duration of a sample of stressed vowels. Results indicated that listeners heard significant differences between masculine and feminine presentations across the I I speakers and the 18 semantic differential scales. Masculine-feminine and high-low pitch were the most salient scales in the perceptual judgments. Acoustical analyses indicated wide variation according to speaker and condition. Clinical applications are provided.     

Effects of environmental noise on computer-derived voice estimates from female speakers

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of noise on voice profile statistics from female samples. Six young adult females served as subjects. Five had normal voices; one had a pathological voice with accompanying bilateral vocal nodules. Each female subject was required to match a generated 235 Hz tone (+/- 2 Hz) while maintaining a constant output level of 70 dB SPL (+/- 5 dB). Data collected from a previous study involving a normal male subject were included for comparative purposes. Noise was generated from a personal computer fan which had a strong center frequency component at 235 Hz. Six different A-weighted signal-to-noise [S/N(A)] conditions were created, ranging in 5 dB increments from 25 to 0 dB. Results revealed that fundamental frequency was reasonably resistant to the effects of noise and to the effects of the noisy (pathological) voice signal. Jitter and shimmer estimates generally increased as noise floors elevated. The greatest amount of measurement error was found for the pathological female voice when captured in the presence of environmental noise. Findings are discussed relative to clinical issues surrounding measurement error.     

The effect of magnetic stress and stiffness modulus on resonant characteristics of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloy actuators

The prospect of using ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) is promising for a resonant actuator that requires large strain output and a drive frequency below 1 kHz. In this investigation, three FSMA actuators, equipped with tetragonal off-stoichiometric Ni₂MnGa single crystals, were developed to study their frequency response and resonant characteristics. The first actuator, labeled as A1, was constructed with low-k bias springs and one Ni-Mn-Ga single crystal. The second actuator, labeled as A2, was constructed with high-k bias springs and one Ni-Mn-Ga crystal. The third actuator, labeled as A3, was constructed with high-k bias springs and two Ni-Mn-Ga crystals connected in parallel. The three actuators were magnetically driven over the frequency range of 10 Hz-1 kHz under 2 and 3.5 kOe magnetic-field amplitudes. The field amplitude of 2 kOe is insufficient to generate significant strain output from all three actuators; the maximum magnetic-field-induced strain (MFIS) at resonance is 2%. The resonant MFIS output improves to 5% under 3.5-kOe amplitude. The frequency responses of all three actuators show a strong effect of the spring k constant and the Ni-Mn-Ga modulus stiffness on the resonant frequencies. The resonant frequency of the Ni-Mn-Ga actuator was raised from 450 to 650 Hz by increasing bias spring k constant and/or the number of Ni-Mn-Ga crystals. The higher number of the Ni-Mn-Ga crystals not only increases the magnetic force output but also raises the total stiffness of the actuator resulting in a higher resonant frequency. The effective modulus of the Ni-Mn-Ga is calculated from the measured resonant frequencies using the mass-spring equation; the calculated modulus values for the three actuators fall in the range of 50-60 MPa. The calculated effective modulus appears to be close to the average modulus value between the low twinning modulus and high elastic modulus of the untwined Ni-Mn-Ga crystal.     

Towards the Objective Speech Assessment of Smoking Status based on Voice Features: A Review of the Literature

Background and ObjectiveIn smoking cessation clinical research and practice, objective validation of self-reported smoking status is crucial for ensuring the reliability of the primary outcome, that is, smoking abstinence. Speech signals convey important information about a speaker, such as age, gender, body size, emotional state, and health state. We investigated (1) if smoking could measurably alter voice features, (2) if smoking cessation could lead to changes in voice, and therefore (3) if the voice-based smoking status assessment has the potential to be used as an objective smoking cessation validation method.MethodsA systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted to compile studies on smoking status assessment based on voice features. We searched nine scientific databases for original studies involving the effects of smoking on voice features, the effects of smoking cessation on voice features.ResultsA total of 34 studies were identified for review. We found that fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonics to noise ratio, and other voice features are affected by smoking and could be used to assess smoking status.ConclusionSpeech assessment of smoking status based on voice features has potential as a smoking status validation method, as it is simple, reliable, and less time-consuming. Furthermore, this study provides recommendations for future research on the objective speech assessment of smoking status based on voice features.     

斜向磁化的YIG波导中静磁波传播特性

分析了斜向静磁场作用下磁光薄膜波导中传播的静磁正向体波特性,计算了YIG薄膜波导中静磁波传播常数以及与磁光耦合系数相联系的动态磁化强度对静磁波模数、频率和斜向场等的依赖关系.计算表明：静磁波频率f及模数m越大、磁场H_i及其偏角θ越小,静磁波传播常数K_s越大;零模静磁体波的（动态磁化强度）振幅远大于高模数的静磁体波振幅.在适当的静磁体波频率范围内,斜向偏置磁场可提高静磁体波的振幅,进而可以改善静磁波与导波光的相互作用特性和提高导波光的衍射效率. 关键词：     

The Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Voice: Preliminary Observations

Most studies investigating the effect of sex hormones on the larynx and vocal folds focused on the voice quality of women either around menopause or during the menstrual cycle. To our knowledge, however, there have been no studies that investigated the effect of oral contraceptives on the female voice. In the present study five women who ingest oral contraceptives (pill group) and five women who do not (natural group) were recorded producing the vowels /i/ and /a/ repeatedly over a period of 40 days. Acoustic analyses were performed on these recordings including F0, amplitude, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR). Results indicated that jitter and shimmer values of the pill group were significantly lower than those of the natural group. No group differences were found for F0, amplitude, or HNR. In addition, the pill group demonstrated significantly smaller variance for all variables tested. The results suggest that oral contraceptives might increase voice stability associated with smaller hormonal changes. Thus the present study provides preliminary evidence of the effect of oral contraceptives on the female voice.     

采用光谱色散平滑和连续相位板实现靶面均匀辐照的实验研究

为了改善高功率激光装置的靶面辐照均匀性, 在神光-Ⅲ原型装置的一路光上开展了结合光谱色散平滑(SSD) 和连续相位板(CPP)的高通量实验研究．实验基于调制频率9.2 GHz的体相位调制器开展, 输出的相位调制脉冲光谱展宽稳定, 脉冲波形顶部剩余调制很小. 结果表明SSD色循环数为1时预放和主放各级空间滤波器过孔顺利, 包含焦斑95%能量的通量对比度由窄带时的1.71下降到加SSD和CPP时的0.47．三倍频光脉宽1 ns, 能量1115 J时, CPP和终端光学组件元件未见损伤．通过实验解决了在高功率激光装置上采用SSD和CPP进行靶面均匀辐照的若干关键技术, 为将其应用于物理实验奠定了坚实基础.     

Hearing Aid Use and Auditory Verbal Therapy Improve Voice Quality of Deaf Children

BackgroundAdequate phonation is self-regulated by auditory feedback. Children with bilateral profound hearing loss (PHL) lack this feedback resulting in abnormal voice. Adequate hearing aid use and auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) may improve voice quality in deaf children.ObjectiveTo study whether hearing aid use and AVT approach improve acoustic parameters of voice of children with bilateral PHL.Materials and methodsNineteen children with bilateral PHL were studied. Age range 2–5 years (X = 53.04 months; SD = 9.54). All children were fitted with hearing aids according to auditory testing and they underwent a 1-year auditory habilitation period using the AVT approach. Acoustic analysis of voice including F0, shimmer, and jitter was performed at the onset and at the end of the auditory habilitation period. Final acoustic data were compared to a matched control group of 19 children, age range 2–5 years (X = 52.85; SD = 9.74) with normal hearing.ResultsMean fundamental frequency (F0) was significantly increased after AVT intervention. Shimmer and jitter significantly (P < 0.05) improved after the intervention period. However, despite the improvements, mean F0 at the end of the intervention period was still significantly (P < 0.05) decreased as compared to controls. Also, mean shimmer and jitter at the end of the habilitation period were still significantly (P < 0.05) higher as compared to controls.ConclusionsThe results of this preliminary study suggest that hearing aid use and auditory habilitation with AVT approach improved acoustic voice parameters of children with PHL. However, acoustic parameters persisted abnormal as compared to matched normal hearing controls. AVT approach and regular hearing aid use seem to be safe and reliable clinical tools for improving voice quality of children with PFL.     

Optimizing the manufacturing parameters of carbon nanotubes stiffened speaker diaphragm using Taguchi method

This study developed a thermal transfer printing (TTP) technique to fabricate a carbon nanotubes (CNTs) stiffened speaker diaphragm. The self-developed TTP stiffening technique does not require a high curing temperature that decreases the mechanical property of CNTs. Therefore, the inherent strength of CNTs was preserved. In addition to increasing the stiffness of diaphragm substrate, this technique alleviates the middle and high frequency attenuation associated with the sound pressure curve of a speaker, thereby smoothing the sound pressure curve and achieving a full sound range as well as reducing bass distortion and enhancing treble clarity. Furthermore, the TTP technique can stiffen a localized area on a diaphragm substrate, thus increasing diaphragm stiffness without markedly raising diaphragm weight. The Taguchi quality engineering method was applied to identify the optimal process parameters (i.e., transfer area, stiffening pattern, coating layers, and transfer temperature). Finally, the optimal process parameters were employed to fabricate a stiffened diaphragm, which was then assembled onto a speaker. The result indicated that the stiffened diaphragm improved the smoothness of the sound pressure curve for the speaker, which produced a mid-frequency dip difference (ΔdB) of 1.9 dB and an attenuation peak frequency (f_peak) of 4220 Hz.     

Impact of spatial modulation on the third harmonic wave propagation and far-field focal spot in frequency conversion system

Third harmonic generation (THG) of high power laser is discussed in KDP crystals utilized in frequency conversion systems of large laser facilities. The far-field focal spot of the third harmonic wave is presented based on numerical simulation of the nonlinear coupled-wave equations, in which the walk-off and paraxial diffraction are taken into account and the electric field of the fundamental wave (1053 nm, 1ω) pulse is phase and amplitude modulated in spatial domain. Impact of the modulation depth and frequency on the focal spot energy, the side lobes location and conversion efficiency are analyzed in detail. The results show that the side lobes location is equivalently determined by the modulation frequency of both phase modulation and amplitude modulation, while the energy-concentration is decreased mostly because of the 1ω modulation depth. Relatively, the phase modulation plays a more important role than the amplitude modulation in decreasing main lobe energy for different reasons. The phase modulation makes the energy flowing from the main lobe to side lobes, while amplitude modulation not only makes the energy flowing but also decreases tripling efficiency significantly.     

Effects of Muscle Tension Dysphonia on Tone Phonation: Acoustic and Perceptual Studies in Vietnamese Female Teachers

Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a hyperfunctional voice disorder commonly seen in professional voice users. To date, published acoustic studies of this disorder have mainly focused on nontonal language speakers, and no publication has documented its impact on lexical tone characteristics. In this study, we examined whether and how this voice disorder affected acoustically and perceptually the characteristics of tones in Vietnamese teachers. Voice data were obtained from 42 Vietnamese female primary school teachers diagnosed with MTD and 30 vocally healthy teachers. Tonal data were analyzed using Computerized Speech Lab (CSL-4300B) and Speech Analyzer. Parameters analyzed included the two most important acoustic cues in Vietnamese tones, that is, tonal fundamental frequency (F₀) and laryngealization. Tonal F₀ was assessed using a factorial analysis of variance with group and career durations as independent variables. Tonal samples were also perceptually assessed by a panel of native speakers of the same dialect. The results showed that MTD lowered tonal F₀ in high tones and tones with extensive fundamental frequency variation. There was also a significant main effect for career duration; in MTD group, tonal F₀ was lower in teachers with longer career duration. The teachers with MTD showed different patterns of laryngealization compared with the control group. Tone perception was poorer for tones with extensive fundamental frequency variation and without a typical phonation type. The results in this group of teachers supported our hypothesis that MTD impairs lexical tone phonation.