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.     

Nuclear orientation of156Tb in gadolinium matrix

The anisotropy of the angular distribution of gamma-rays from the decay of¹⁵⁶Tb, oriented in a gadolinium matrix at low temperatures, has been measured at the angles of 0 and π/2 with respect to the applied magnetic field direction in the range of temperatures from 14·6 to 68·4 mK. The temperature dependence of anisotropy was measured for the first time. The parameters of hyperfine magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole splittings have been determined and the values of the magnetic dipole moment ¦Μ¹⁵⁶¦=(9·6±1·3)×10^?27 J/T and the electric quadrupole momentQ ¹⁵⁶=(2·9±0·9)×10^?28 m² of the¹⁵⁶Tb ground state have been calculated. Multipole mixing ratios andB(E2) branching ratios of many gamma-ray transitions occurring in¹⁵⁶Gd have been found and the results have been discussed in terms of the rotational-vibration and pairing-plus-quadrupole models.     

THE BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS OF A CLASS OF ELLIPTIC EQUATION WITH A CURVE OF TURNING POINT

The boundary value problems of a class of elliptic equation with a curveof turning point are considered. Using the method of multiple scales and thecomparison theorem, the asymptotic behavior of solution for the boundary valueproblem is studied.     

Fabrication and characteristics of all YBCO sandwich-type junctions using highly crystalline DC sputtered superconducting a-axis oriented Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x films

We report on the fabrication and characteristics of sandwich-type tunnel junctions with highly crystalline sputtered a-axis oriented thin film of Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7-x (YBC) as the base and the counter electrode. The junctions have been fabricated on SrTiO₃ (100) and MgO (100) substrates. A non-superconducting phase of YBC corresponding to a lattice constant of 4.08 Å is used as the barrier layer making this an all YBC sandwich junction. For all temperatures below T_ce (R=0) of the device, a zero voltage current was observed. The critical current density (J_c) of the device was found to be dependent on the thickness of the barrier layer and the crystallinity of the a-axis oriented YBC electrodes. At 40 K, such a junction fabricated on a SrTiO₃ (100) substrate was found to have a J_c of 1.8 X 10⁴ A/cm² and an I_cR_n product of 0.2 mV.     

Γ andX bandgap hydrostatic deformation potentials for epitaxial In0.52Al0.48As on InP(001)

The pressure dependence of the direct and indirect bandgap of epitaxial In_0.52Al_0.48As on InP(001) substrate has been measured using photoluminescence up to 92 kbar hydrostatic pressure. The bandgap changes from Γ toX at an applied pressure of ∼ 43 kbar. Hydrostatic deformation potentials for both the Γ andX bandgaps are deduced, after correcting for the elastic constant (bulk modulus) mismatch between the epilayer and the substrate. For the epilayer we obtain and+(2.81±0.15)eV for the Γ andX bandgaps respectively. From the pressure dependence of the normalized Γ-bandgap photoluminescence intensity a Γ-X lifetime ratio, (τ_Γ/τ _X ), of 4.1×10⁻³ is deduced.     

传输线方程的高精度龙格−库塔数值求解方法

提出了一种求解传输线方程的高精度龙格-库塔（RK）方法。此方法在空间上采取高阶泰勒展开,提高了对空间微分的近似精度,减少了数值色散所带来的误差。与传统的时域有限差分法（FDTD）方法相比,在每波长采样数相同时,RK方法的计算精度更高。同时,根据Taylor模型,对外界平面波激励源进行离散,成功利用RK方法对外部场激励传输线进行求解,扩大了龙格−库塔方法在求解传输线方程时的应用范围。通过编程对平面波辐照下无限大地平面上的单导体与双导体的算例分别应用FDTD方法与RK方法进行了计算,验证了RK方法的正确性。结果表明同等计算条件下RK方法的计算精度更高。