The Performance of the Time-Frequency Analysis Software (TF32) in the Acoustic Analysis of the Synthesized Pathological Voice

The purpose of this study was to examine the algorithm-measuring capabilities used in the Time-Frequency Analysis Software Program for 32-bit Windows (TF32) for measuring fundamental frequency (F0), its dependent measures, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The stability, accuracy, and linearity of its algorithm to systematic changes in aspiration noise and/or spectral slope (to mimic the perceptual characteristics of breathiness, roughness, and hoarseness) were evaluated using its analysis output to five female and five male synthesized voices. TF32 was used to calculate F0, Jitter%, Shimmer%, and SNR for each of the synthesized signals. The findings indicate that although TF32 produced stable results for male synthesized samples, they were not accurate when measuring F0, Jitter%, and Shimmer% with the addition of noise and variations in open quotient independently and in combination. In contrast, TF32 was neither stable nor accurate in making the same measurements for female synthesized samples. However, TF32 was stable and accurate in measuring SNR for male and most of female voices. These results point to an inappropriate F0 extraction algorithm in TF32 and stress the need for further research to remediate the algorithm or to identify a superior one.     

Temperature induced effects in the coadsorption system: CO/D2/Ni(100)

The temperature dependent changes in the CO/D/Ni(100) system have been examined using thermal desorption spectroscopy, work function change measurements, ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Three forms of CO(a) have been found, one of which exists only in the intermediate temperature range of 130–215 K. This form is believed to be a CO(a) tilted with respect to the surface normal, with significant ONi interaction. In addition, a new interpretation of several UPS parameters measured for CO(a) is presented. It is proposed that for CO(a), the 5σ?1π separation is a probe of bonding geometry, the 4σ?1π separation reflects COCO repulsion, and the $\text{4σ}\text{5σ}$ intensity ratio reflects the NiCO bond strength.     

Perceptual Evaluation of Voice Disorder in Children Who Have Had Laryngotracheal Reconstruction Surgery and the Relationship Between Clinician Perceptual Ratingof Voice Quality and Parent Proxy/Child Self-Report of Voice-Related Quality of Life

Reliability of the GRBAS tool for perceptual evaluation of paediatric voice disorder is measured in this study of children with a history of laryngotracheal reconstruction surgery (LTR). Additionally, the relationship between parent proxy/child self-report of voice-related quality of life with clinician perceptual rating of voice quality is analysed. Eleven children with a history of LTR provided voice recordings following the stimuli set by the CAPE-V protocol. Subjective impact of voice quality on life was measured using the paediatric voice-related quality of life questionnaire. Four trained judges rated the sound files according to both the GRBAS and CAPE-V protocol. Intra-class correlation coefficients were high for both intra-rater and inter-rater judgments across all parameters of the GRBAS protocol, and a strong correlation was found between the grade rating of the GRBAS and the overall severity rating of the CAPE-V. Some elements of parent proxy reporting of voice-related quality of life were significantly negatively correlated with clinician perceptual rating of voice quality, while there was no significant relationship between child self-report and clinician perceptual rating.     

Anisotropic thermopower of (TMTSF)2PF6: 1D–2D cross over and SDW ordering

The thermopower of (TMTSF)₂PF₆ has been measured along the a-axis as well as along the b-axis. Marked anisotropy is seen in the whole temperature region studied. Close to 100 K, an anomaly is attributed to cross over from dominating one-dimensionality to dominating two-dimensionality. Precursor effects seen in S_a near T_c are attributed to SDW fluctuations. Well below T_c, both thermopower components exhibit typical semiconducting properties.     

D(A) steps and 2D islands of double layer height in the SiGe(001) system

The surfaces of step graded, partially relaxed Si(1-x)Ge(x)/Si(001) buffers were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. The surface slips along <110> forming the crosshatch pattern, consisting of bunches of D(A) steps of double layer height. The D(A) steps are present in regions of large surface gradients close to the slips, as well as in planar regions between the slips. These regions are also characterized by the appearance of 2D islands of double layer height. The observations can be explained by assuming the strain due to the misfit dislocations to be locally anisotropic. Anisotropic misfit strain and efficient strain relaxation by the ( 2x8) Ge reconstruction were identified as the main factors causing the unusual step structure.     

Correlation between defect structures and dielectric constant in gallia-doped rutile (TiO2)

Dielectric constants and a.c. resistivities of rutile (TiO₂) doped with gallia (Ga₂O₃) have been measured as a function of frequency in the range 30–60 kHz at 20°C. The specimens were prepared by heating rutile single crystals on Ga₂O₃ pellets, at 1300°C, in air for various times. The dielectric constants depend on the frequency of measurement. In the c axis, the dielectric constant at low frequencies (30–100 Hz) increases as the sample heating time is extended to 1 week, but it decreases rapidly when the heating time is prolonged over 1 week. However, in the a axis, the dielectric constant does not change from the value of the starting material, being independent of the heating time. Besides dielectric measurements, the defect structures were determined using transmission electron microscopy, which showed that low concentrations of planar faults on {120} planes occur. The changes in dielectric constant are interpreted as being due to space change effects associated with Ga³⁺ ions located in the tunnels which lie parallel to the rutile c axis. Calculations are also included which show why other defects in the crystals have no effect on the value of the dielectric constant compared to pure rutile.     

Surface temperature effects in the dissociative adsorption of D2/Cu(111) revisited

We have calculated the dissociation probability of H₂ and D₂ on low dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) including substrate motion by attaching the PES to a simple harmonic oscillator or to a free mass. For all potentials examined, we find that the dissociation curve has a fixed midpoint while the width increases with surface temperature as observed experimentally. This is in agreement with earlier calculations by Hand and Harris and in disagreement with more recent ones. We conclude that the explanation of Hand and Harris, which ascribes the broadening to the approaching (receding) part of the oscillator phase increasing (decreasing) the relative velocity of the incident atom, is correct. This has the further consequence that the broadening is greater for D₂ than for H₂. We speculate that yet more broadening may be caused by thermally increased corrugation of the surface.